Often the less popular principle, especially when compared to the positive feedback of harvest. Self regulation and restraint is a very important practice to master, not just as a permaculturist, but also as a human being. Growing up, I was always taught this principle by its other name, Self Discipline.
All systems are limited in recourses and energy, this is something to be recognized in order to keep a system sustainable, or better yet, regenerative. A balance must be formed between consumption and return. This is the start of the collection of permaculture principles that call us to the action of lifestyle reorganization. We can use this principle to help us determine the boundaries that create a well rounded and balanced system.
Consider an old growth forest. In such a mature ecosystem there is a high level of resource efficiency and internal communication. Old trees feed organisms at the bottom, dead snags provide habitat for birds which in turn fertilize the ground, mycelium connects all of the plants and exchanges nutrients, ruminants browse the under-story and create space for the plants to assess fresh air and prevent molding while simultaneously aerating the soil. Literally nothing goes to waste in such a system.
"The conventional culture encourages us to imagine that there is a place called away where unwanted things go, but in reality away is simply out of sight or invisible in plain sight. we must change our behavior to act as though we all live downstream, because we do. This principle insists that we "deal with our shit," because 1) we don;t want to slip, fall down and wind up with it all over our faces and 2) it's actually a source of wealth that we ignore to our detriment." -Peter Bane
We may be reusing our surplus and resources but if we are not doing it in an efficient manner we are only diluting our own potential. This is why it is important to accept feedback from our systems, and yes, our neighbors and family are very much a part of that system. As a species, our most highlighted feedback is the breakdown of natural systems, and the more we ignore it, the louder the feedback becomes.
