Permaculture design makes responsible use of resources, with attention to not only natural elements such the sun, rain, and landscape, but also to living elements like animals and plants.

We recognise the particular characteristics of resources: that plants might grow better when we prune or pick from them, how water flows aren’t really affected by us using them for energy, or that fossil fuel reserves are limited and should be relied on sparingly.

We also note that some resources, such as chemical pesticides, are just too damaging to use.

In this way, we back away from the modern idea of progress for a concept based on living systems and end less supply lines.