As a foundation, Evan started with the core principles of Permaculture and its elements. I liked a bulletpoint in one of our readings that stated, "(Permaculture) This movement requires a Paradigm shift...a different way of seeing plants, landscapes and people.
Permaculture defined: "Permaculture principles focus on thoughtful designs for small scale intensive systems which are labor efficient and which use biological resources instead of fossil fuels. Designs stress ecological connections and closed energy and material loops. The core of permaculture is design and the working relationships and connections between all things. Each component is a system performs multiple functions, and each function is supported by many elements. Key to efficient design is observation and replication of natural ecosystems, where designers maximize diversity with poly-cultures, stress efficient energy planning for houses and settlement, using and accelerating natural plant succession, and increasing the highly productive 'edge-zones' within the system." - Lee Barnes, editor of Katuah Journal and Permaculture Connections
Principles:
1 - Location
2 - Function v. Elements - building stability by having multiple elements to serve one function
3 - Multifunctionality - every element should serve at least three functions
4 - Biological Resources - use what is available on the land
5 - Energy Cycling - finding yield from what otherwise may be seen as waste
6 - Accelerate Succession - stacking systems and managing them
7 - Small Scale and Intensive - intensive rather than extensive
8 - Diversity - mutually beneficial relationships
9 - Increase edge and natural patterns - these areas are most fertile and most alive, naturally
10 - Efficient energy planning - Zones and sectors - plancing elements in proximity to your house based on the a mount of times that you need/want to visit that area/element
Zone 1 - 20 ft around you/home, most activity takes place here, including pathways, entrances etc
Zone 2 - intensively cultivated, orchards
Zone 3 - hardy trees/larger animals, areas visited less frequently
Zone 4 - long term development, very little management
Zone 5 - wilderness, unmanaged
Design Process:
The design process should serve product yield, energy yield/saved, care of the earth, care of the people and return of yield.
To begin the process, one should make non-judgemental observations of the area...what kind of climate? Landforms? Location? Where are we in succession?
Then observations of the existing resources should be made: water, drainage, aesthetics, soil, flow patterns, wind, sun, fire, sloping, pathways, habitat, adjacent properties and influences, energy, and more.
Create a map or use existing maps as the foundation of your design. Then work with client to establish goals/needs (forage, fuel, buildings, food etc). From this, then connect to larger community and encourage cooperation. Can the needs/goals be met in this environment? Is it sustainable?
We wrapped up our discussion with an exercise in designing a home garden. I'm having a hard time with the concept of zoning as many elements could/do overlap one another and also identifying what goes into which zone. My classmate seemed to have a better understanding so this is what we created.
