Permaculture is about creating sustainable human habitats by following nature's patterns. It uses the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems to provide a framework and guidance for people to develop their own sustainable solutions to the problems facing their world, on a local, national or global scale. It is based on the philosophy of co-operation with nature and caring for the earth and its people.

Permaculture embodies a system of ethics and principles that we aim to put into practice. These focus around sustainability and fairness, and are generally divided into three main categories:

1. Earth Care
Permaculture as a design system is based on natural systems. It is about working with nature, not against it - not using natural resources unnecessarily or at a rate at which they cannot be replaced.

2. People Care
People care is about looking after us as people, not just the world we live in. It works on both an individual and a community level.

3. Fair Shares
The fair shares part of the permaculture ethic brings earth care and people care together. We only have one earth, and we have to share it - with each other, with other living things, and with future generations. This means limiting our consumption, especially of natural resources, and working for everyone to have access to the fundamental needs of life - clean water, clean air, food, shelter, meaningful employment, and social contact.

The Association is an educational charity run by its members and helps people use permaculture in their everyday lives to improve their quality of life and the environment around them. It supports individuals, projects and groups working with permaculture in Britain by running a national office and membership scheme, supporting the development of permaculture education and training, organising national and local events.