Principles of a Permaculture Economy Quotes

“Productivity is about turning valuable inputs into valuable outputs. Individual people are more productive when all the elements of the permaculture economy are at work in their lives. When individuals are productive, then businesses become productive. When businesses become productive, the nation becomes productive.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“The Profit function: Individual profits cause collective growth and prosperity. It is necessary for individual people and businesses to profit in a Permaculture Economy where justice is maintained and fairly applied. Profits are earned when efficiency is mastered. With profits, individuals invest in (a) new and innovative means of production which will allow more profits, or (b) buying products and services from other individuals who are also seeking profit by providing value.

Profits also incentivize individuals to be productive participants in society to begin with. If there will be no profit in an activity, business or industry, then individuals will decline participation in that activity, business or industry. Since profits are only possible when buyers are satisfied with the productivity of sellers, then it is also true that an individuals willingness to participate in an activity, business or industry is preceded by the buyers satisfaction which allows the seller to profit. But when buyers are dissatisfied and decline participation, it forces sellers to decline participation. Inversely, if profits are eradicated through the force of price-controls by the government, then sellers will decline participation which then causes buyers to decline participation. And when both sellers and buyers decline participation, then whole industries and economies collapse.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“A circular economy is a step in the right direction towards a permaculture economy.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“In today's constantly evolving economy, business models cannot be static. The business model of each business must be consistently changing and evolving in order to stay relevant and to succeed.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Individual profits cause collective growth and prosperity. It is necessary for individual people, businesses, and companies to profit, in a Permaculture Economy where justice is maintained and fairly applied. Profits are earned when efficiency is mastered. With profits, individuals invest in (a) new and innovative means of production which will allow more profits, or (b) they use profits to buy products or services from other individuals who are also seeking profit by providing value. Profits also incentivize individuals to be productive to begin with. If there will be no profit in an activity, business or industry, then individuals will decline participation. Since profits are only possible when buyers are satisfied with the productivity of sellers, then it is also true that an individual's willingness to participate in an activity, business or industry is preceded by the buyers satisfaction which allows them to profit. So, when buyers decline participation it forces sellers to decline participation. Inversely, if profits are removed through force of price controls by the government, then sellers will decline participation which then causes buyers to decline participation.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Things nature is good at include - organizing matter in a way that is multi functional, mass customization, network adaptation to circumstance, responsive evolution, growth as a mechanism for construction, decentralization, data management and asset management. Regardless of what kind of business we are talking about, there's something vital to learn from nature.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“When we ask ourselves what is an economy; I think the best place to find the answer to that question is in a forest. Go and sit in a forest and observe with all of your sensory faculties, and meditate there. And while you're observing and meditating, ask yourself questions about everything.

And if you want maybe hit a few puffs of a certain herb while you're meditating there. And you'll find out exactly what an economy is. And you'll also find out exactly what business is. And all of the economic and business concepts like capital allocation and liquidity and service and profit and growth... It'll all start to make more sense as you sit there meditating in that forest.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Humans as a species will need to embed the concept of symbiosis into our global society such that in all of our activities - we are voluntarily benefitting from and providing benefit to a multitude of other life forms. And businesses should be leading the way with this.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“The real cost of something is its value in alternative uses. This truth always presents itself in prices. There is no benefit that may be gained without cost to the same individual who gained the benefit. There is no benefit that may be presented without cost to the same individual who present the benefit.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Capitalism emphasizes the utility of capital. Permaculture Economics emphasizes the stewardship of Capital.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Anytime there is a disassociation between the producer of value and the consumer of value - there will be waste, a lack of economic empathy, and a lack of productivity.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Businesses are better positioned in cities that prioritize sustainability.

For example, business leaders look at the architectural environment - whether or not the buildings in the city designed for efficiency and resiliency. Business leaders look at energy - whether or not solar and other renewable energy sources are designed into the city's systems. And business leaders look at a variety of other factors regarding sustainability when they're deciding where to establish or relocate a business. So cities that prioritize sustainable development are positioning themselves to be hubs of business success.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Good cities implement good systems design - systems that cultivate life, systems that utilize waste, systems that promote wellbeing among its residents.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“One of the great themes of nature is abundance. One of the great themes of every city should also be abundance. In every city, there should be an abundance of opportunities, an abundance of food, an abundance of available homes, an abundance of biodiversity, an abundance of spaces to play.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Good cities are integrated with nature, not separate from nature. A good city works with nature instead of against it. And the greatest cities are nearly indistinguishable from nature.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“In the Permaculture Economics model, businesses enhance ecosystems, rather than degrading them.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr., Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Embracing permaculture economics means recognizing the intrinsic value of the natural world.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr., Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Permaculture economics offers a regenerative future, where businesses thrive without destroying the planet.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr., Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“If people lack the ability to profit, they will also lack all of the things that profits afford.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr., Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“In any economic ecosystem whereby things are measured primarily according to their present gross utility; it becomes tolerable and even profitable to create, sell and buy products and services which cause net future harm even as they provide present gross utility. This is why a permaculture economy is superior to every other economic ecosystem.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“A permaculture economy is superior to a circular economy.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“An economic ecosystem that disrespects natural ecosystems will be disrespected by natural ecosystems.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Permaculture Economics is about designing an economic ecosystem of maximized productivity.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“When we apply the design principles of permaculture to economics, we end up with an economic ecosystem where every participant adds to and benefits from maximized productivity.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“A lot of people are talking about the circular economy. But the ultimate goal is to have a permaculture economy.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Cities that prioritize being in harmony with nature, experience a variety of benefits including less waste, less crime, less mental health problems, a greater sense of community among residents, greater biodiversity, and so much more.

At Mayflower-Plymouth, we are providing solutions to help cities improve along these lines.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“When cities prioritize sustainability, the residents in that city are more inclined to embrace sustainability as well.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“It is not the role of government or any central planner to formulate the final distributions of wealth and income.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Permaculture economics empowers communities to adapt and thrive in a changing climate.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr., Principles of a Permaculture Economy

“Jobs make the world go around.”
― Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, Principles of a Permaculture Economy