Consultancy & advice

Permaculture land use design - where to begin

Map your area

Before getting stuck in and making serious changes to the landscape it is valuable to map the area you will be working with. The more detail you can include the better as this helps create a modal where the various interacting elements can be viewed from a single vantage point.

Explore and observe the space taking note of important of interesting features:

  • Existing infrastructure - fences, water pipes and taps, electric supply (above and below ground)
  • Access - tracks, gates
  • Ridges, valleys and points where water enters and leaves the landscape
  • Shelter plantings with density and height
  • Favourite eating, sleeping and manuring locations of animals

Likewise, observing your landscape over time helps build a detailed modal of what you are working with:

  • Winter and summer sunrise and sunset locations and any shading from trees and hills
  • Timing of first and last frost
  • Wet and dry spots
  • Prominent wind directions

 

Tackle existing or impending problems

Try and identify any issues that may exacerbate over time just as erosion, poorly placed trees that may get to big, poor boundary fences that animals might get through.

 

Get a return or yield

We all need food and most likely some amount of money. Work on developing gardens and income. Mature fruit trees will produce fruit for a given season but will take many years to get to this point. Start planting as soon as possible to get them growing and aim to have a wide selection to cover as many months as possible. Annual vegetables are relatively quick and rewarding. Start with those that are easy to grow, reliable and highly productive. Source as many perennial vegetables as possible. These will continue to produce for many years.

Generating income is very specific to your personal skills, interests and the specific characteristics of the land, proximity to markets and so on. Be creative and unique.

 

Start small and grow

If you are new to all of this then take things slow, try and avoid mistakes but don't let them stop you moving forward, trying new things and learning. Better to make small mistakes than create a huge problem or expense. Be observant and thoughtful, register feedback from the system and allow it to guide future decision making.

 

Manage water flows

My experience comes from working in landscapes where summers are hot and dry and winters are cold and wet. Unless your land is in a depression, in which case it will likely be boggy, water preservation and storage may be important.

Aim to slow water flows, spread the water out rather than allowing to to channelise and hold it back with ponds, dams and leaky weirs to allow it to infiltrate and soak in.

 

Work from the inside out

The permaculture concept of zones is helpful here. Focus your attention close around your home and other areas you spend a lot of time. Work on improving the productivity, efficiency, reliability and comfort for your everyday systems.

If you have taken on property that has existing infrastructure you may find the 'restrictions' imposed by the placement decisions of earlier occupants to be frustrating. Try and turn the limitations into creative challenge and be thankful for the decisions you haven't had to make, as there is no guarantee you would have done better.

 

Work from the outside inward

Due to the happy go choppy nature of land subdivision and the inevitable need for road corridors, most land parcels are going to have neighbours and public frontage. These obvious 'edges' are naturally places to focus some of our attention early on.

Thoughtful selection and placement of plants along boundaries can help with:

  • Developing adequate wind protection
  • Preventing animal incursion
  • Restricting the wandering eyes of nosy passers by
  • Reducing the risk of fire encroachment

 

Need a hand?

If you're not sure where to start or just need someone to discuss your ideas with please get in touch

 

Permaculture land use design - where to begin

Permaculture land use design - where to begin

So you want to develop and improve your surroundings but don't know where to start.
Before jumping in first familiarise yourself with the concept and practice of sector analysis and zones of influence.

I use these tools and ways of thinking about land interaction when assessing any new project.
Olmec Sinclair
Consultancy & advice

 Related

Sector analysis for optimal land use

Sector analysis for optimal land use

One of the fundamental aspects to designing a sensible landscape for habitation and production is the consideration of the various external energies, forces and factors that can impact the site. These commonly include sunlight, wind, visibility, water flow, wildfire and wildlife.

Mapping the 'sectors' where these threats or energies originate you can help determine the placement of elements (plantings, buildings, earthworks) that benefit from or lessen the impact of these forces.

Most of these sectors are easy to identify with on the ground observation or inspection of detailed maps while seasonal sun angles are available for a known latitude.

Local conditions such as hills, valleys and large trees modify wind directions and intensity, cast shade and impact fire rick and behavior. These site specific characteristics may be evident to a well trained eye or can be learnt over an extended period of time spent on site or in discussion with previous occupants or neighbors.

Exclusion / Restrict flow
Generally it is desirable to exclude strong winds by planting fast growing shelter trees suitable for the site and of appropriate heights. This may be combines with fire 'proofing' by selecting naturally lass flammable species.
Roads and other thoroughfares are a source of noise, possible pollution and fire risk and the curious eyes of passers. For privacy and security reasons it may be advisable this with planting or construction.

Inclusion / Aid flow
Sunlight (solar energy) is essential for growth and can assist in many other processes or activities such as drying fruit or washing, heating water etc.
Allowing water to enter the site is usually valuable but too much can cause issues so having suitable drainage is essential.
Cold air naturally flows down slope but can 'pool' or get trapped behind dense plantings. If frosts are a problem, considering cold air flow may help improve growing conditions.
  permaculture  land  design  mapping  sectors 
Olmec Sinclair
Zones as a design concept

Zones as a design concept

Thoughtful placement of elements within the overall system and their relationship to one another is key to achieving an effective layout and efficient working space.

The zone model of permaculture in its simplest form is generally represented as a number of concentric areas radiating outward from the primary dwelling space or focal point of activity. The basic ideas is that the more frequently we interact with an element the closer and easier to access it should be. Like many aspects of the permaculture way, this is really just commonsense, something eroded by cheap, abundant energy and technology.

As always, this concept is a guide only and there may be exceptions. For example it may make sense to locate a seasonal garden at at a distant location if that site reduces the need for daily irrigation.

Sometimes placement is non-negotiable, such as a rural mailbox requiring daily visits. This can result in zones being drawn out along routes of frequent travel or focusing around areas of high productivity (water bodies, rich soils etc.)

Being a subset of a living, dynamic system, zone boundaries are not set in stone and may pulse with the seasons or shift as the biological state or built environment changes and develops through time.
  permaculture  design  mapping 
Olmec Sinclair
Explore
Start Your Own Forest Garden

Start Your Own Forest Garden

Are you ready to embark on your very own forest garden journey but feeling unsure where to begin? Don't worry - we’ve got you covered.

Creating a thriving forest garden is an exciting and rewarding endeavour, but it’s not as simple as planting a few trees and hoping for the best. There are numerous factors to consider to ensure success. From site analysis and soil health to plant selection and long-term maintenance, each step requires thoughtful planning and execution.
Key Considerations