Zones as a design concept for land use

In permaculture design, zones are used as a strategic tool to organise elements of a landscape based on their frequency of use and their needs. By placing elements in zones according to their requirements and how often they are accessed, you can optimise energy and resource use while maximising efficiency.

Understand the concept of zones: In permaculture, zones are typically numbered from 0 to 5, with Zone 0 representing the central living area or home, and Zone 5 representing the wild or untouched areas. As you move away from the centre, the zones represent areas with less intensive management and fewer visits.

Explore how zones are applied to the blockhill landscape by clicking below

Zone 0

Home or central living area: This zone includes the home itself, where you spend most of your time. It also encompasses elements that require frequent attention or are essential to everyday life, such as kitchen gardens, herb gardens, compost bins, and small livestock like chickens or rabbits.

Zone 1

Intensive production area: Zone 1 surrounds the home and is dedicated to high-intensity production and activities that require frequent attention. This zone might include annual vegetable gardens, fruit trees, small ponds for fish, rainwater harvesting systems, and a greenhouse or cold frames for year-round production.

Zone 2

Managed gardens and orchards: This zone extends further from the home and is devoted to less intensive crops and activities. It might include perennial gardens, larger orchards, nut trees, bee hives, and areas for small livestock such as goats or ducks.

Zone 3

Rotational crops and larger livestock: Zone 3 is where you place elements that require even less frequent attention and can be managed on a seasonal basis. This might include rotational crops, larger livestock like cows or sheep, woodlots for timber or firewood, and larger-scale water catchment systems.

Zone 4

Semi-wilderness or agroforestry: In this zone, human intervention is minimal, and the focus is on managing ecosystems rather than individual elements. Zone 4 might include areas of agroforestry, wildlife corridors, wild foraging areas, and larger-scale water management features like swales or ponds.

Zone 5

Wilderness or conservation area: Zone 5 represents the wildest part of the landscape, left mostly undisturbed by human activity. It serves as a refuge for native plants and animals and can also provide ecosystem services such as soil stabilization and water filtration.