Intro to Permaculture

💐Intro to Permaculture Unit 13 – Implementing Permaculture Designs & Plans

Implementing permaculture designs involves applying key principles to create sustainable, regenerative systems. This process starts with thorough site analysis, considering factors like climate, topography, and existing resources. Designers then use tools like zoning and sector analysis to develop plans that maximize efficiency and create beneficial relationships. The implementation phase focuses on practical strategies for water management, soil building, and integrating plants and animals. This includes techniques like rainwater harvesting, composting, and creating plant guilds. Ongoing maintenance and adaptation are crucial, with designers monitoring systems and making adjustments based on feedback and changing conditions.

Key Concepts and Principles

  • Permaculture is a design system based on ethics and principles that mimic patterns and relationships found in nature
  • The three core ethics of permaculture include earth care, people care, and fair share (return of surplus)
  • Observes and interacts with natural systems to create sustainable and regenerative designs
  • Catches and stores energy through techniques like rainwater harvesting, solar power, and preserving food
  • Obtains a yield by designing systems that produce useful resources (food, fiber, fuel, etc.)
  • Applies self-regulation and accepts feedback to adapt and improve designs over time
    • Includes monitoring systems and making adjustments based on observations
  • Uses and values renewable resources and services to reduce dependence on non-renewable inputs
  • Produces no waste by designing closed-loop systems where outputs become inputs for other elements

Site Analysis and Assessment

  • Begins with a thorough observation of the site's climate, topography, water sources, soil, vegetation, and existing infrastructure
  • Creates a base map of the site that includes property boundaries, contour lines, existing structures, and notable features
  • Analyzes the site's aspect (the direction it faces) to understand sun exposure and microclimates
    • North-facing slopes in the northern hemisphere receive less direct sunlight and are typically cooler and moister
    • South-facing slopes in the northern hemisphere receive more direct sunlight and are typically warmer and drier
  • Assesses the site's water resources, including rainfall patterns, surface water, groundwater, and potential for water harvesting
  • Evaluates the soil's texture, structure, depth, fertility, and drainage to inform plant selection and soil improvement strategies
  • Identifies existing vegetation and wildlife to incorporate into the design and support biodiversity
  • Considers the site's social and cultural context, including the needs and preferences of the people who will use the space

Design Process and Tools

  • Begins with a clear statement of the project's goals and objectives based on the client's needs and the site's potential
  • Uses a variety of tools and techniques to analyze and design the site, including:
    • Observation and mapping
    • Sector analysis (identifying off-site influences like sun, wind, fire, and noise)
    • Zoning (organizing elements based on the frequency of use and maintenance)
    • Flow diagrams (illustrating the movement of resources and people through the site)
  • Develops conceptual designs that explore different options and scenarios for the site
  • Refines the chosen design through detailed drawings, planting plans, and implementation strategies
  • Presents the final design to the client and stakeholders for feedback and approval
  • Creates an implementation plan that outlines the steps, timeline, and resources needed to bring the design to life
  • Emphasizes a flexible and adaptive approach that allows for changes and improvements as the project evolves

Implementing Zones and Sectors

  • Zones are a way of organizing elements in a design based on the frequency of use and maintenance required
    • Zone 0: The home or center of activity
    • Zone 1: Intensive, frequently used areas (kitchen gardens, herb spirals, small animals)
    • Zone 2: Less intensive, occasionally used areas (orchards, larger animals, storage)
    • Zone 3: Minimal maintenance, infrequently used areas (pastures, woodlots, wild harvest)
    • Zone 4: Minimal intervention, natural or semi-wild areas (forests, wetlands, wildlife habitat)
    • Zone 5: Unmanaged, wilderness areas left for observation and learning
  • Sectors are a way of analyzing and designing for off-site influences that affect the site
    • Common sectors include sun, wind, fire, noise, and views
  • Placing elements in appropriate zones and sectors can maximize efficiency, minimize labor, and create beneficial relationships between elements
  • Implements zones and sectors through techniques like:
    • Keyhole beds and mandala gardens in Zone 1 for easy access and intensive planting
    • Windbreaks and sun traps in sectors to modify microclimates and protect sensitive plants
    • Locating noisy or smelly elements (compost piles, chicken coops) in less frequently used zones or sectors

Plant Selection and Guilds

  • Chooses plants based on their adaptability to the site's climate, soil, and water conditions
  • Prioritizes native and naturalized species that are well-suited to the local environment and support wildlife
  • Considers the plant's function in the system, such as providing food, fiber, fuel, fodder, or habitat
  • Uses the concept of guilds, which are groups of plants that work together to support each other's growth and health
    • Example: The Three Sisters guild of corn, beans, and squash
      • Corn provides a trellis for the beans to climb
      • Beans fix nitrogen in the soil to feed the corn and squash
      • Squash shades the ground to retain moisture and suppress weeds
  • Stacks plants vertically to maximize space and create beneficial microclimates
    • Example: A food forest with tall trees, understory trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and groundcovers
  • Incorporates dynamic accumulators, which are plants that mine nutrients from deep in the soil and make them available to other plants through their leaves and roots
    • Examples: Comfrey, dandelion, and stinging nettle
  • Uses nitrogen-fixing plants, like legumes, to improve soil fertility and provide protein-rich food and fodder

Water Management Strategies

  • Aims to slow, spread, and sink water through the landscape to reduce erosion, increase infiltration, and recharge groundwater
  • Harvests rainwater from roofs, paved surfaces, and other catchment areas for irrigation and domestic use
    • Techniques include rain barrels, cisterns, and ferrocement tanks
  • Designs swales, which are level ditches that follow the contour of the land, to catch and store water in the soil
    • Planted with trees and shrubs to create a living sponge that holds moisture and builds soil
  • Uses greywater (wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry) for irrigation and recharge
    • Requires careful design and management to avoid contamination and ensure safety
  • Creates ponds and wetlands to store water, support aquatic life, and moderate the microclimate
    • Can be integrated with aquaculture (fish and plant production) and recreation
  • Mulches heavily to reduce evaporation, suppress weeds, and build soil organic matter
    • Materials include straw, leaves, wood chips, and living plants (cover crops)
  • Irrigates efficiently using drip systems, wicking beds, and ollas (unglazed clay pots) to deliver water directly to plant roots

Soil Building Techniques

  • Recognizes soil as a living ecosystem that requires nurturing and protection
  • Minimizes tillage and soil disturbance to preserve soil structure and microbial life
  • Keeps soil covered with mulch, cover crops, or living plants to prevent erosion and moisture loss
  • Adds organic matter through compost, green manures, and animal manures to improve soil fertility and structure
    • Compost is decomposed organic material that provides nutrients and beneficial microbes
    • Green manures are crops grown specifically to be turned into the soil as a fertility boost
    • Animal manures (from herbivores) are a concentrated source of nutrients and organic matter
  • Uses crop rotation and intercropping to avoid nutrient depletion and pest/disease buildup
    • Example: Rotating heavy feeders (like tomatoes) with light feeders (like onions) and nitrogen fixers (like peas)
  • Incorporates biochar, which is charcoal made from plant material, to improve soil structure, water retention, and nutrient holding capacity
  • Encourages beneficial soil life, like earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi, through proper management and avoiding chemical inputs

Integrating Animals and Structures

  • Incorporates animals into the design for their many functions and products, including:
    • Meat, milk, eggs, and fiber
    • Manure for soil fertility
    • Pest control and weed management
    • Tillage and soil aeration (through rooting and scratching)
  • Chooses animals based on their suitability to the site, the available resources, and the desired outputs
    • Examples: Chickens for eggs and pest control, goats for milk and brush clearing, fish for protein and aquatic plant fertilization
  • Designs animal housing and infrastructure to be multi-functional and integrated with other elements
    • Example: A chicken coop with a green roof for insulation and food production, and a compost run for fertility and pest control
  • Uses structures like greenhouses, cold frames, and shade houses to extend the growing season and protect sensitive plants
    • Can be passive (using solar energy) or active (using supplemental heat and light)
  • Builds with natural and recycled materials, like straw bales, cob, and reclaimed wood, to reduce embodied energy and environmental impact
  • Incorporates renewable energy systems, like solar panels and wind turbines, to power the site and reduce reliance on fossil fuels

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

  • Develops a maintenance plan and schedule to keep the system functioning optimally
    • Includes tasks like pruning, mulching, composting, and pest management
  • Monitors the system regularly for signs of stress, disease, or imbalance
    • Uses observation and record-keeping to track changes and identify patterns
  • Adapts the design and management based on feedback and changing conditions
    • Example: Adjusting planting times and varieties based on climate trends and microclimates
  • Troubleshoots problems using a holistic and ecological approach
    • Identifies the root cause of the issue rather than just treating symptoms
    • Uses natural and non-toxic methods whenever possible, like companion planting and biological controls
  • Embraces experimentation and learning from mistakes as part of the permaculture process
    • Documents successes and failures to inform future decisions and share knowledge with others
  • Engages the community and builds social resilience through education, skill-sharing, and collective action
    • Example: Organizing workshops, potlucks, and work parties to involve others in the project and spread permaculture principles


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.