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

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