From The Lexicon of Sustainability:

Penny Livingston Stark devotes herself to sustainable land use principles based on observing and learning from the efficiency and balance inherent in natural systems. The results are increased food production, the conservation of resources, and the re-integration of built environments (farms, homes, even towns) into their natural environment.

I asked Penny for a “pithy” definition for Permaculture and she said it’s

a “whole systems” approach to the design of human settlements that integrates landscape, water, plants, animals, built structures, agriculture, ecology, energy, economy and social justice into a framework that provides opportunities for humans to become a benefit to the planet and all creation while supplying resources for an abundant existence.

(Learn more about permaculture at the Lexicon of Sustainability)