lilongwe, malawi – as the world’s population nears 9 billion by 2050 everyone from astronauts to zookeepers are trying to figure out innovations to feed our constantly populating planet. one creative design process that gained popularity in the late 1970s is gaining traction again. the concept is rather simple: mimic the patterns and relationships seen in nature and apply them to your everyday life. what is it called? permaculture.

coined by australians david holmgren and bill mollison, “permaculture” is defined as “a system of agricultural and social design principles centered around simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems.” with three core tenets — care for the earth, care for the people and return of surplus — the agricultural design focuses on sustainable land use.

at the kusamala institute of agriculture & ecology, luwayo biswick is an expert in permaculture. watch him explain the complexities of this method and how even the most novice farmers can make a huge impact.

(video editing by gina mcalpin)