Who Can Legitimize What in Permaculture?

In early 2024, I shared a link to Nordicpermaculture.org in the Slack channel of the Finnish Permaculture Association. The then-chair, Erkki Pöytäniemi, publicly responded with concern that I might be using the association's platform to promote a "competing" site. He went on to say that a private individual maintaining a site that appears to represent the Nordic permaculture movement is not, in his view, in line with the ethics of permaculture — and that only the national permaculture associations could legitimately create such a platform.

This exchange reveals a deeper question within the permaculture movement: Who gets to decide what represents permaculture, and who is ‘allowed’ to contribute?

Erkki’s statements reflect a hierarchical mindset — one that suggests legitimacy is granted from the top down by associations or gatekeepers. Yet permaculture, by its very nature, is a grassroots, bottom-up movement. It thrives on decentralization, experimentation, and initiative. No single body, no matter how well-meaning, holds exclusive authority over who can contribute to the development of permaculture knowledge, networks, or platforms.

Let’s also be clear: the Finnish Permaculture Association, like many national organizations, only represents a small subset of practitioners. Its membership has declined significantly, and no democratic mandate has been granted to it to speak on behalf of all Finnish — let alone Nordic — permaculturists.

Nordicpermaculture.org does not require legitimisation from any association. It exists to serve practitioners across the Nordic region — by providing information, visibility, and connection. If associations wish to collaborate, the door is open. If they feel threatened because an independent initiative shares high-quality resources or grows more visible — that’s a separate issue. We welcome dialogue, but not gatekeeping.

This platform is not about competing — it’s about complementing. It’s not about control — it’s about contribution. And as long as the ethics of Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share are at the heart, everyone has the right to act.