What is permaculture?

I'm doing a 15 min speech on permaculture to people who have most likely never heard of the term. I have been doing lots of searches on the internet. I have found hundreds of definitions, yet most if not all of them are over complicated and confusing to a person who may not know what it is.

I need help to come up with a definition for my introduction of the speech.

Have any ideas?

This thread might give you some ideas:elevator speech

It is a way to slowly improve the way how we live and relate to the world (natural) around us.
It is about making choices that will allow us to work less in the future.
Example, plant self weeding/mulching apple tree+goumi(nitro) vs tomato tree that requires weeding/mulching/planting fertilizing yearly.
Plant a shade tree once vs paying more for AC every summer.
Its about harvesting local self-renewing resources vs importing outside possible non-renewing resources.

Permaculture is applied ecology. Ecology is the study of how things interact in systems. Permaculture applies that knowledge to design systems that are self-sustaining.

permaculture- a word only brought up in circles under fruit trees, when you type it into a searchbar or a post to facebook, a red squiggle line appears under it. Only people who lead or desire to lead a sustainablelifestle bring the topic of permaculture to their lips. They were the ones to first bring it up, to invent the word. sustainable lifestyles fueled by a system of symbiotic relationships with nature, creating a culture of human life that is permanent because it exists as an integral part of Nature as a whole. Its that Strand of human nature that stayed strong through this whole musical of the past 300 years of industrial growth. That consciousness that keeps ancient traditions alive, keeps connected with the Earth, bides its time. Permaculture is a re-interpretation of the language and conversation we as a society maintain with our local environments. It is the establishment of systems that no longer parasite the planet, the production of resources that is tied intrinsically to a holistic relationship with the land, plants, animals, OURSELVES! Permaculture also consists of studying the Nature, respecting and learning from her design as much as you can, thus further respecting and learning about yourself! mimicking and attemping always to add to It's and Your infinite ability to bring enough bounty and harvest for all and more!

Ever since I stumbled upon this fine site,I've been asking the same question. My wife said we were practicing some aspects of permaculture because of our lifestyle. I guess for us it has been just doing what we felt was right with respect to the land. Whenever I read encompassing definitions like the Wikipedia entry I feel I'm trying to understand a Zen koan. One of the most famous ones being: "what is the sound of one hand clapping"? The answer can't be found in words or thoughts.
That said this site is a wonderful "stew" of positive ideas,concepts, exchanges of information, creative suggestions, diverse conversation. Below are some notes I've jotted down on the idea of permaculture while reading various topics on permies:

Permaculture is the make up of this site.
It is about doing the right thing.
It is about the question not the answer.
It is about the revival of the Whole Earth Catalog.
It is about Nature conducting the chorus of people,places and things.
It is about getting by without the baggage of fear driven security
It is about getting it, but not necessarily right
It is about trying over and over again to get it right
It is about making the secondary digital world useful
It is about hearing,seeing,smelling the earth.
It is about realizing nature doesn't work
It's about not losing out to work
It is about a soily dirty life aging in place

It is about getting this far in these penciled lines
It's not about these senseless words
It is about a Whole Earth