What is Culture?

About this episode

The episode explores the concept of culture through the lens of permaculture, emphasizing the connection between culture, land, and local food systems.

What is culture, really? Is it food, clothing, music, beliefs — or something deeper? In this conversation, host Geoff Lawton and the panel explore culture through the lens of permaculture. From local food systems and ethics to migration, religion, consumerism and identity, the discussion keeps circling back to one core idea: culture emerges from place. When culture is disconnected from land, ecology, and local production, it becomes fragile, conflicted, and easy to manipulate. But when it’s rooted in care for the Earth and each other, culture becomes resilient and worth passing on. Watch the video episode here. Key Takeaways: 00:00–02:00: Culture is not a trend or an identity label. It grows out of how people live with land, food, and each other over time. 01:30–03:00: Agriculture and food systems sit at the foundation of every culture. Change the way food is grown, and culture changes with it. 03:30–07:30: Belief systems and religion have historically provided shared ethics that guide behaviour, responsibility, and community life. 07:30–10:30: Ethics are the invisible structure beneath culture. They shape how societies treat land, food, and one another. 14:30–16:00: Culture is…

People in this episode

Host: Geoff Lawton

Topics covered

• culture
• permaculture
• local food systems
• ethics
• identity
• consumerism

Keywords

• culture
• permaculture
• food systems
• ethics
• identity
• consumerism
• local production

More episodes of Discover Permaculture - The Podcast

• How to Set Up Permaculture Community Groups · May 16, 2026 · 58 min
• Preparing For Hard Times · May 3, 2026 · 49 min
• Is Aid Designed to Solve Problems or Manage Them? · April 19, 2026 · 1h 4m
• The Weedy Garden Journey · April 6, 2026 · 52 min
• Efficiency: Industrial Agriculture Vs Local Food Systems · March 23, 2026 · 1h 0m
• Business in Permaculture · March 16, 2026 · 1h 18m