Permaculture Design: Part I

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Photo 1. Water-filled, 550-gallon tanks constructed of fiberglass-reinforced polyester provide thermal mass.
Photo 1. Water-filled, 550-gallon tanks constructed of fiberglass-reinforced polyester provide thermal mass.
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Photo 2. Ponds provide fertile irrigation water for vegetable crops. 
Photo 2. Ponds provide fertile irrigation water for vegetable crops. 
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Ground plan for mixed small farm design. (Adapted from Permaculture Two by Bill Mollison.)
Ground plan for mixed small farm design. (Adapted from Permaculture Two by Bill Mollison.)
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Photo 3. Ponds also supply nutrients for hydroponic crops.
Photo 3. Ponds also supply nutrients for hydroponic crops.
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Photo 4. The Siberian pea shrub is a multifunctional element.
Photo 4. The Siberian pea shrub is a multifunctional element.
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Photo 5. The creeping thymes are low-maintenance, nectar-producing alternatives to lawns.
Photo 5. The creeping thymes are low-maintenance, nectar-producing alternatives to lawns.
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Photo 7. Poplars assist in erosion control.
Photo 7. Poplars assist in erosion control.
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Photo 6. Canal-like ponds can control livestock movement.
Photo 6. Canal-like ponds can control livestock movement.
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Photo 8. Weeding geese are biological resources.
Photo 8. Weeding geese are biological resources.
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Photo 12. A beneficial interaction between blackberries and grapes.
Photo 12. A beneficial interaction between blackberries and grapes.
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Photo 9. A successional system incorporating beans, plums and walnut trees.
Photo 9. A successional system incorporating beans, plums and walnut trees.
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Photo 10. Competition between a hedge and a shade tree.
Photo 10. Competition between a hedge and a shade tree.
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Photo 11. Cedar apple rust.
Photo 11. Cedar apple rust.
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Photo D. The praying mantis is a pest predator.
Photo D. The praying mantis is a pest predator.
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Photo C. Chickens can control caterpillars of the white cabbage butterfly.
Photo C. Chickens can control caterpillars of the white cabbage butterfly.
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Photo B. Brown Chinese and White Chinese weeding geese.
Photo B. Brown Chinese and White Chinese weeding geese.
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Photo A. A Maremma, a livestock guard dog breed.
Photo A. A Maremma, a livestock guard dog breed.
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Photo E. The garden toad is another pest predator.
Photo E. The garden toad is another pest predator.
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Photo G. Flowers adjacent to a backyard garden attract beneficial insects.
Photo G. Flowers adjacent to a backyard garden attract beneficial insects.
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Photo F. A spider's web can be a means of pest control.
Photo F. A spider's web can be a means of pest control.
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Photo H. Homemade yellow-orange sticky traps complete the year-round pest-control system at the New Alchemy Institute.
Photo H. Homemade yellow-orange sticky traps complete the year-round pest-control system at the New Alchemy Institute.
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Photo I. The white nodules of the root system of the autumn olive.
Photo I. The white nodules of the root system of the autumn olive.

The primary characteristic that distinguishes permaculture systems from conventional agriculture is the emphasis on skilled design. The placement of elements in a landscape, their relationships to each other, their evolution over time, and the ability of the system as a whole to meet the realistic goals of its managers should all be taken into consideration.

The following permaculture design guidelines are derived from texts (some of which are listed in the Permaculture Design: Part II reading list) and from our understanding of ecological principles. As such, they represent a synthesis of scientific findings and common sense, combining proven practical ideas with experimental ones. These guidelines should assist your design process, influencing your management strategies and aiding in the selection of landscape components and their relative sizes and locations.

Zones and Sectors

In permaculture systems, landscape components are divided into zones and sectors to help produce an energy-efficient design. Zones separate the site according to labor needs: Frequently visited or labor intensive areas are situated close to the center of activity (which in most cases is the farmhouse), while those requiring less attention are placed farther away. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, annuals that are tended daily–such as herbs and vegetables–are located near the farmhouse … whereas low-maintenance livestock and tree crops are situated in a more remote zone. This concept makes sense in terms of minimizing labor, and it helps ensure high yields: After all, distance invites neglect, while proximity encourages management.

In general, farm development follows the concept of zonation, as well. Distant areas are utilized only after the nearby land is put to productive use. Sector planning divides the landscape into wedge-shaped areas that radiate from a particular point (again, most often the farmhouse) or points. From any one such center, we identify some or all of the following sectors: views, both attractive and repulsive … noises, some pleasant and others undesirable … winds, warm in the summer and cold in winter … sunshine, with its seasonal variations … and fire risks.

  • Published on Apr 4, 2011
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