FTFA uses Permaculture for all food gardening/urban farming projects. Permaculture is essentially a design approach towards more sustainable human settlements and a healthier life for all.  Most importantly, it takes into account the fact that we as humans are a part of an ecosystem, rather than a seperate, superior entity. Permaculture is a radical approach to food production and urban renewal, water, energy and pollution, integrating ecology, landscape, organic gardening, architecture and agro-forestry in creating a rich and sustainable way of living which produces more energy than it uses and recycles all nutrients and waste. Permaculture creates sustainable food rich environments by following nature's patterns. Permaculture, as related to instance of food security, is Permanent Agriculture.  However, when considered as Permanent Culture it encompasses far more than merely food. It integrates the connections and relationships between plants, animals, birds, buildings, water,  energy, soil, light, wind & other resources.  Permaculture is an attitude, a way of living in harmony with nature and enhancing life in a sustainable way. 

Permaculture Starter Pack Application

In addition to requests for Permaculture food gardens, FTFA receives many other greening requests from communities and government. These fall under the Urban Greening and Community Food Gardening Programme which supports partnerships for sustainable development through tree planting, parks, nurseries and food gardening projects (including the Permaculture Starter Packs and long term Permaculture projects), as well as environmental awareness and education. Based on the fast growing interest from various government departments, aid agencies, private companies, HIV/AIDS organisations and others in the South African development sector, urban greening and food production is increasingly looked on as an answer to urban food security, poverty alleviation and improved health and nutrition. Linked to this is need to preserve and increase what remains of our planet's green natural and open spaces, trees, food gardens and agricultural land. Through natural processes, these green spaces remove carbon dioxide from the environment to replenish our air with life-sustaining oxygen, as well as mitigating global warming, both fundamental environmental issues inherently linked to quality of life.