What it is
Permies.com is a long-running permaculture forum with 80+ subforums covering soil building, composting, community design, homesteading income, alternative building, and everything in between. The forum has over 16,000 active members and millions of posts. Founded by Paul Wheaton, it maintains high quality through active moderation and a focus on practical, tested advice over speculation.
Why we picked this
Online permaculture communities tend toward theory and philosophy. Permies.com stands out for its emphasis on practical, tested approaches. The forum's depth of archived knowledge (20+ years of discussions) means that most practical questions about regenerative homesteading, farming, and land management have already been discussed, debated, and answered by experienced practitioners.
Key takeaways
- The forum's 80+ subforums cover topics from rocket mass heaters to food preservation to natural building, making it a one-stop resource for homestead self-sufficiency.
- Heavy moderation keeps signal-to-noise ratio high, filtering out unsubstantiated claims and maintaining a culture of evidence-based discussion.
- The 'permies approved' certification system highlights tools, books, and techniques that the community has collectively tested and endorsed.