True Nature Design

Permaculture Design Course Handbook

Warren Brush - Instructor

Contents
1. Evidence for the need to act
2. Introduction to Permaculture Principles & Ethics
3. Cultural Ecology & Pattern Learning
4. Patterns in Nature
5. Patterns in Design
6. Design Processes and Methodologies
7. Ecological Processes in Permaculture
8. Landform
9. Water in the Landscape
10. The Living Soil
11. Trees & Their Energy Transactions
12. Climate – Biomes and Microclimates
13. Humid Landscapes – Temperate and Warm Temperate
14. Humid Landscapes – Tropical & Minor
15. Arid Zones & strategies
16. The Built Environment
17. Appropriate Technology
18. Earthworks
19. Site Assessment and Data Assembly
20. Zone I Garden Design
21. Food Forests & Orchards
22. Main Crops
23. Design Project
24. Animal Systems Zones I, II, III & IV
25. Zone IV Forest & Production Systems, Zone V Restoration
26. Aquaculture
27. Legal Structures and Economics
28. Relocalization and Bio-Regional Organization
29. Additional Resources

I wish to offer a special gratitude to Robyn Francis for designing and

sharing the foundation of this document from which I have modified, added,
and reorganized.
1. Evidence for the Need to Act
Ability to act and maintain a positive attitude
“Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” -Margaret
Mead

Sustainability Defined:
The most popular definition of sustainability can be traced to a 1987 UN
conference. It defined sustainable developments as those that "meet
present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their needs"(WECD, 1987)

Permaculture Definition of Sustainability

A SUSTAINABLE system produces more energy than it consumes,
enough in surplus to maintain and replace that system’s elements over
each element’s lifetime.

Are we sustainable now? (Rivet Popping Analogy)

• Global Climate Change
• Food Shortages
• Peak Oil
• Water Scarcity
• Economic Instability
• Disease Epidemic
• Nuclear Threat
• Terrorism

As daunting as all these sound, there are what I call the “Big Three” that will stop
humanity in its tracks:
- Pollution:

1.2 trillion Gallons of sewage, storm water and industrial waste is
discharged into US waters each year

73 types of pesticides have been found in groundwater which is where
drinking water is usually taken from

40% of America’s rivers & 46% of America’s lakes are too polluted for
fishing, swimming, or aquatic life.

2.4 million pounds of plastic pollution enters the world’s oceans every
HOUR

The USA releases one-quarter of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions

Deforestation

38 million acres of forest are destroyed every year worldwide

Forests moderate climate and are essential for a healthy hydrological
cycle

Soil Loss

Cropland worldwide is shrinking 37,000 square miles a year due to soil
erosion

The economic impact of soil erosion in the United States costs the nation
about $37.6 billion each year in productivity losses

Our Ecological Footprint

The Ecological Footprint is a measure of the "load" imposed by a given
population on nature. It represents the land area necessary to sustain current
levels of resource consumption and waste discharge by that population

The Nomenclature of Sustainability

We must retool how we use our language to include nature, beauty, and
sustainability. Tree People in Los Angeles has helped to change the county’s
former Stormwater Management Department to the new name of Watershed
Resource Division. We can lend power with our words to by positively changing
how we label aspects of our lives. For sustainability to be attained, it must be
integral in our language.

200-Year Planning
We must plan our daily work in perspective with the needs of 7-generations into
the future. Quail Springs has an evolving 200-year plan that is available for
viewing at: www.quailsprings.org/200-year_vision.pdf
• Having Vision for People and The Land Which Sustains You
• Holistic Goal Setting
• Triple Bottom Line Business Models
• Value Natural Capital

2. Introduction to Permaculture Principles and

Ethics
History of Permaculture:
The story of the symbol of permaculture comes from an aboriginal myth called
the “Rainbow Serpent”

The Permaculture concept was originally developed by Bill Mollison and David
Holmgren in the 1970’s and the first book, Permaculture I, was published in
1978. The first permaculture design courses were conducted in the early 1980’s
and now permaculture is practiced globally in all climates and continents.

In 1988 Bill Mollison wrote Permaculture: a Designers Manual (Tagari

Publications), which is built on the experiences of permaculture’s first decade of
practical experience and research. This book is widely accepted as a key
foundation text for permaculture principles, practices and range of applications.

Permaculture: Principles and Pathways beyond Sustainability by David Holmgren

(2001) provides an excellent summary of how permaculture has developed over
the past quarter century, reframes permaculture principles and brings the original
concepts into the context of the twenty first century and the transition to a
postcarbon future.

CHARACTERISTICS, PRINCIPLES AND ETHICS OF PERMACULTURE

ETHICS:
- Care of the earth.
- Care of people.
- Fair share - dispersing surplus to support the above and recognizing
limits to growth and consumption

PRINCIPLES:
Permaculture Principles have been defined in various ways over the past 25
years in Mollison’s Introduction to Permaculture and Permaculture- a Designers
Manual and more recently Holmgren’s Permaculture: Principles and Pathways
Beyond Sustainability. These successive redefinitions represent refinements of
the same core concepts. Some of the foundation concepts include:

Guiding Principles
1) Everything is connected to everything else.
2) Every function is supported by many elements.
3) Every element should serve many functions.

1. Everything works both ways – see the duality in things; positive & negative
2. Everything works in many ways - diversity of functions, yields, relationships
3. See solutions not problems – look for opportunities / re-adjust relationships
4. To co-operate and not compete – this applies to natural and human systems
and relationships between different elements
5. To make things pay - i.e. everything contributes to something else - “there’s no
such thing as a free lunch”
6. To work where it counts - minimum input for maximum benefit
7. To use everything to its highest capacity
8. To bring food production back to the cities
9. To help make people self-reliant - individuals & communities
10. To minimize maintenance and energy input while maximizing yield

Principles – Mollison & Slay, Introduction to Permaculture (1991)

These are expressed more in terms of strategies and methodologies
• Relative Location – pattern relationships
• Each element performs many functions
• Each important function is supported by many elements
• Efficient energy planning (e.g. zone & sector planning)
• Maximize use of biological resources
• Energy cycling
• Small-scale intensive systems
• Plant stacking
• Accelerating succession and evolution
• Diversity
• Guilds
• Edge effect

Additional concepts and definitions of Permaculture Principles (from

http://www.thefarm.org/permaculture/)

Relative Location Components placed in a system are viewed relatively, not

in isolation. Functional Relationship between components.

Everything is connected to everything else Recognize functional

relationships between elements.

Every function is supported by many elements - Redundancy Good design

ensures that all important functions can withstand the failure of one or
more element.

Every element is supported by many functions Each element we include is

a system, chosen and placed so that it performs as many functions as
possible.

Local Focus "Think globally - Act locally" Grow your own food, cooperate with
neighbors. Community efficiency not self-sufficiency.

Diversity As a general rule, as sustainable systems mature they become

increasingly diverse in both space and time. What is important is the
complexity of the functional relationships that exist between elements not
the number of elements.

Biological Resources We know living things reproduce and build up their

availability over time, assisted by their interaction with other compatible
elements. Use and reserve biological intelligence.

One Calorie In/One Calorie Out Do not consume or export more biomass
than carbon fixed by the solar budget.

Stocking Finding the balance of various elements to keep one from

overpowering another over time. How much of an element needs to be
 produced in order to fulfill the need of whole system?

Stacking Multi-level functions for single element (stacking functions). Multi-

level garden design, ie., trellising, forest garden, vines, groundcovers, etc.

Succession Recognize that certain elements prepare the way for system to
supports other elements in the future, i.e.: succession planting.

Use Onsite Resources Determine what resources are available and entering
the system on their own and maximize their use.

Edge Effect Ecotones are the most diverse and fertile area in a system. Two
ecosystems come together to form a third which has more diversity than
either of the other two, i.e.: edges of ponds, forests, meadows, currents
etc.

Energy Recycling Yields from system designed to supply onsite needs and/or
needs of local region.

Small Scale Intensive Systems start small and create a system that is
managable and produces a high yield.

Make Least Change for the Greatest Effect The less change that is
generated, the less embedded energy is used to endow the system.

Planting Strategy 1st-natives, 2nd-proven exotics, 3rd unproven exotics -

carefully on small scale with lots of observation.

Work Within Nature Aiding the natural cycles results in higher yield and less
work. A little support goes along way.

Appropriate Technology The same principles apply to cooking, lighting,

transportation, heating, sewage treatment, water and other utilities.

Law of Return Whatever we take, we must return Every object must

responsibly provide for its replacement.

Stress and Harmony Stress here may be defined as either prevention of

natural function, or of forced function. Harmony may be defined as the
integration of chosen and natural functions, and the easy supply of
essential needs.

The Problem is the solution We are the problem, we are the solution. Turn
constraints into resources
 Mistakes are tools for learning

The yield of a system is theoretically unlimited The only limit on the number
of uses of a resource possible is the limit of information and imagination of
designer.

Dispersal of Yield Over Time Principal of seven generations. We can use

energy to construct these systems, providing that in their lifetime, they
store or conserve more energy that we use to construct them or to
maintain them.

A Policy of Responsibility (to relinquish power) The role of successful design

is to create a self-managed system.

Principle of Disorder Order and harmony produce energy for other uses.
Disorder consumes energy to no useful end. Tidiness is maintained
disorder.

Chaos Has form, but is not predictable. The amplification of small fluctuations.

Entropy In complex systems disorder is an increasing result. Entropy and

lifeforce are a stable pair that maintain the universe to infinity.

Metastability For a complex system to remain stable, there must be small

pockets of disorder.

Entelechy Principal of genetic intelligence. i.e. The rose has thorns to protect
itself.

Observation Protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted and

thoughtless labor.

We are surrounded by insurmountable opportunities

Wait one year

Hold water and fertility as high (in elevation) on the landscape as

possible

Principles – Mollison, Permaculture: a Designers Manual (1988)

Read: Chapter 1 and 2, Permaculture-a Designers Manual, Bill Mollison

Principles – Holmgren, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways

BeyondSustainability, 2001 (following extracted from Essence of Permaculture – Holmgren)
Principle 1: OBSERVE AND INTERACT
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Good design depends on a free and harmonious relationship between nature and people, in
which careful observation and thoughtful interaction provide the design inspiration, repertoire and
patterns. It is not something that is generated in isolation, but through continuous and reciprocal
interaction with the subject.

Principle 2: CATCH AND STORE ENERGY

Make hay while the sun shines
We live in a world of unprecedented wealth resulting from the harvesting of the enormous
storages of fossil fuels created by the earth over billions of years. We have used some of this
wealth to increase our harvest of the Earth's renewable resources to an unsustainable degree.
Most of the adverse impacts of this over-harvesting will show up as available fossil fuels decline.
In financial language, we have been living by consuming global capital in a reckless manner that
would send any business bankrupt.

Principle 3: OBTAIN A YIELD

You can’t work on an empty stomach
This principle reminds us that we should design any system to provide for self-reliance at all
levels (including ourselves), by using captured and stored energy effectively to maintain the
system and capture more energy. More broadly, flexibility and creativity in finding new ways to
obtain a yield will be critical in the transition from growth to descent.

Principle 4: APPLY SELF-REGULATION AND ACCEPT FEEDBACK

The sins of the fathers are visited on the children unto the seventh generation
This principle deals with self-regulatory aspects of permaculture design that limit
or discourage inappropriate growth or behaviour. With better understanding of
how positive and negative feedbacks work in nature, we can design systems that
are more self-regulating, thus reducing the work involved in repeated and harsh corrective
management.

Principle 5: USE AND VALUE RENEWABLE RESOURCES AND SERVICES

Let nature take its course
Renewable resources are those that are renewed and replaced by natural processes over
reasonable periods, without the need for major non-renewable inputs. In the language of
business, renewable resources should be seen as our sources of income, while non-renewable
resources can be thought of as capital assets. Spending our capital assets for day-to-day living is
unsustainable in anyone's language. Permaculture design should aim to make best use of
renewable natural resources to manage and maintain yields, even if some use of non-renewable
resources is needed in establishing systems.

Principle 6: PRODUCE NO WASTE

Waste not, want not
A stitch in time saves nine
This principle brings together traditional values of frugality and care for material goods, the
modern concern about pollution, and the more radical perspective that sees wastes as resources
and opportunities. The earthworm is a suitable icon for this principle because it lives by
consuming plant litter (wastes), which it converts into humus that improves the soil environment
for itself, for soil micro-organisms, and for the plants. Thus the earthworm, like all living things, is
a part of a web where the outputs of one are the inputs for another.

Principle 7: DESIGN FROM PATTERNS TO DETAILS

Can’t see the wood for the trees
The first six principles tend to consider systems from the bottom-up perspective
of elements, organisms, and individuals. The second six principles tend to
emphasise the top-down perspective of the patterns and relationships that tend
to emerge by system self-organisation and co-evolution. The commonality of
patterns observable in nature and society allows us to not only make sense of what we see, but
to use a pattern from one context and scale, to design in another. Pattern recognition is an
outcome of the application of Principle 1: Observe and interact, and is the necessary precursor to
the process of design. In every aspect of nature, from the internal workings of organisms to
whole ecosystems, we find the connections between things are as important as the things
themselves. Thus the purpose of a functional and self-regulating design is to place elements in
such a way that each serves the needs and accepts the products of other elements. This
principle focuses more closely on the different types of relationships that draw elements together
in more closely integrated systems, and on improved methods of designing communities of
plants, animals and people to gain benefits from these relationships.

Principle 8: INTEGRATE RATHER THAN SEGREGATE

Many hands make light work.
In every aspect of nature, from the internal workings of organisms to whole ecosystems, we find
the connections between things are as important as the things themselves. Thus the purpose of a
functional and self-regulating design is to place elements in such a way that each serves the
needs and accepts the products of other elements.

Principle 9: USE SMALL AND SLOW SOLUTIONS

The bigger they are, the harder they fall
Slow and steady wins the race
Systems should be designed to perform functions at the smallest scale that is practical and
energy-efficient for that function. Human scale and capacity should be the yardstick for a
humane, democratic and sustainable society. This principle is reasonably well understood as a
result of the pioneering work of E. F. Schumacher. Whenever we do anything of a self-reliant
nature - growing food, fixing a broken appliance, maintaining our health, we are making very
powerful and effective use of this principle. Whenever we purchase from small, local businesses
or contribute to local community and environmental issues, we are also applying this principle.

Principle 10: USE AND VALUE DIVERSITY

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
The great diversity of forms, functions and interactions in nature and humanity are the source of
evolved systemic complexity. The role and value of diversity in nature, culture and permaculture
is itself complex, dynamic, and at times apparently contradictory. Diversity needs to be seen as a
result of the balance and tension in nature between variety and possibility on the one hand, and
productivity and power on the other.

Principle 11: USE EDGES AND VALUE THE MARGINAL

Don’t think you are on the right track just because it is a well-beaten path
This principle works from the premise that the value and contribution of edges, and the marginal
and invisible aspects of any system should not only be recognized and conserved, but that
expansion of these aspects can increase system productivity and stability. For example,
increasing the edge between field and pond can increase the productivity of both. Alley farming
and shelterbelt forestry can be seen as systems where increasing edge between field and forest
has contributed to productivity.

Principle 12: CREATIVELY USE AND RESPOND TO CHANGE

Vision is not seeing things as they are but as they will be
This principle has two threads: designing to make use of change in a deliberate and co-operative
way, and creatively responding or adapting to large-scale system change which is beyond our
control or influence. The acceleration of ecological succession within cultivated systems is the
most common expression of this principle in permaculture literature and practice, and illustrates
the first thread. Permaculture is about the durability of natural living systems and human culture,
but this durability paradoxically depends in large measure on flexibility and change. In any
particular system, the small-scale, fast, short-lived changes of the elements actually contribute to
higher-order system stability. We live and design in a historical context of turnover and change in
systems at multiple larger scales, and this generates a new illusion of endless change with no
possibility of stability or sustainability. A contextual and systemic sense of the dynamic balance
between stability and change contributes to design that is evolutionary rather than random.

CHARACTERISTICS of Permaculture Systems:

Typical characteristics and features of permaculture systems may include:
- Small scale systems and land use patterns within the context of whole-system
thinking and design
- Intensive rather than extensive – maximizing resources and use of space
- Diversity in species, cultivars, yields, microclimates, habitats, functions and
functional relationships
- Long term sustainable –including intergenerational equity
- Species conservation and use of wild and naturally selected species, including
conserving traditional and heirloom breeds and varieties of domestic plants and
animals
- Integration of agriculture, horticulture, ecosystem management, technology and
architecture with wholistic economic & social planning
- Adjustable to marginal lands & urban environments
- Makes use of the naturally inherent characteristics of animals and plants and
their relationship to the natural characteristics of landscape for maximum
utilization to create an environmentally safe and self-sustaining agriculture
- Harmonious and functional integration of built environments with natural
systems and social patterns
- Provide human needs while treading gently on the earth - reduce our footprint

"WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO RUIN" – Bill Mollison

PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLES IN PRACTICE:

First Priority in PC design is Function - harmony creates own aesthetics.
1) sustainable (ability to sustain) – provides for its own needs.
2) good product yield - even surplus.

Further Activity
-Research and discuss the issues of Peak Oil and Climate change, their
interrelationships, implications and suggest practical strategies for responding to
these issues on a personal and community level based on the application of
permaculture principles
-Prepare a 5 minute presentation summarizing your findings
-Develop a Permaculture Fact Sheet or Poster or short PowerPoint
-Maintain a diary or journal of your observations

Recommended viewing (video/DVD)

End of Suburbia
An Inconvenient Truth
The Power of Community
In Danger of Falling Food

Recommended Reading:
Odum
Mollison & Slay: Introduction to Permaculture
Mollison: Permaculture – A Designers Manual (Chapters 1 & 2)
Holmgren: Permaculture Principles and Practices Beyond Sustainability
Rifkin: Entropy
Web: Four Corners ABC documentary Peak Oil (2006)
http://abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20060710/
Free e-book for download The Essence of Permaculture
http://www.holmgren.com.au/

3. Pattern Learning and Cultural Ecology

Earliest pattern recognition skills were developed as trackers. Tracking may
be our first language understanding and our first science. Bushman trackers
at Quail Springs.

Albert Einstein is often quoted as saying “A problem can not be solved with the
same thinking that created it”

This section explores tools for developing creative problem solving and
systems thinking and looks at the process of learning and the different ways
we tend to approach both learning and problem solving.

LEARNING AS A CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS THE LEARNING

PROCESS
We all have basic preconceptions about learning. The objective of this course
is to stimulate enthusiasm for learning and develop our problem solving skills
in a creative way. The role of a teacher is to facilitate this process.
This course does not aim to
- give all the answers - but rather stimulate your ability to ask the right
questions, and to research and find your own answers (Sacred
Question)
- solve all the worlds problems - but rather promote understanding of the
processes at work so that solutions may be found
- teach you anything - but rather assist the development of useful tools
for creative problem solving and the ability to think laterally
- expound theoretical concepts and deliver facts and data - but rather
encourage affirmative action through the personal empowerment of the
individual
 - operate on principles of competition - but rather foster our ability to
cooperate with each other to enrich our learning process by collectively
drawing on our individual skills, knowledge and experience

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

(Sit spot introduction)

THE LEARNING-PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS
As expounded by Kolb:
Learning and problem solving are a single process, which is both active and
passive, concrete and abstract.

It can be described as a 4-stage cycle:

1. Concrete Experience - followed by
2. Observation and Reflection - which leads to
3. formation of Abstract Concepts and generalizations - which lead to
4. Hypothesis to be tested in future action (Active Experimentation) which
naturally lead us to a new experience taking us back to number 1.
So we test our concepts through experience and modify them as a result of
observation: what works and what doesn't work and thus form a new concept
and strategy for action ... and so the cycle re-occurs continuously - the story of
life.

The DIRECTION of each problem solving process is governed by needs and

goals. The effectiveness of each solution will depend largely upon our ability
to clarify and define both the problem and our own goals and objectives

Our learning and problem solving styles are highly individual, each of us have
our own weak and strong points. We each have inherent gifts to offer our
families, our communities and the world.

LEARNING STYLE INVENTORY

The aim of this exercise is to
1. develop your awareness of your own learning style
2. develop your understanding of other peoples learning styles
3. through the above develop our ability to cooperate with each other in the
creative problem solving process
4. discover that basic permaculture principles apply to the human dynamic and
the design of how we work together.

The "Learning Style Inventory" exercise

GROUP EXERCISE: MODEL FUSION

1. DIVERGE (5 min) - find a common issue of interest - define the issue
2. ASSIMILATE (10 min) - discuss respective points of view on the issue
3. CONVERGE (5 min) - develop a model* to represent your own view point to
the rest of the group
4. ACCOMMODATE (10 min) - share your models* and try to synthesize them
into one which represents everyone's view point
5. present common model* to class
6. reflect on process
7. brief discussion

Models can be
• vehicles for insight and
debate
• tools for clarification
• a set of calculable variables
• mime of a real situation
• a hypothesis
• a story or process

*MODELS
Models are non-linear presentations of
thoughts, concepts, information,
processes etc

Edward de Bono SIX THINKING HATS

WHITE (Observer) white paper; neutral; focus on information available,
objective facts, what is needed, how it can be obtained
RED (self, other) fire; warmth; emotions, feelings, intuition, hunches; present
views without explanation, justification
BLACK (self, other) stern judge wearing black robe; judgmental; critical; why
something is wrong; logical negative view
YELLOW (self, other) sunshine; optimism; logical positive view, looks for
benefits, what’s good
GREEN (self. Other) vegetation; creative thinking, possibilities and
hypotheses, new ideas
BLUE (observer) sky; cool, overview, control of process, steps, other hats,
chairperson, organizer, thinking about thinking

NOTE: The Six Thinking Hats process was designed primarily to facilitate
PARALELL THINKING i.e. a group of people collectively exploring White Hat
thinking, then exploring Red Hat thinking etc. This process is not intended for
discussion where individuals represent different hats, which can tend towards
competitive behavior and positioning. The primary aim of the thinking hats is to
stretch our ability to consciously think in different ways and from different
perspectives, and to diffuse the barriers of rigid right and wrong thought
patterns and positioning. Other tools for problem solving, analysis and
evaluation will be introduced throughout the course.

Mind Mapping
Mind mapping is a process where information can be organized in multi-
dimensions in a branching mapping process. It is a useful tool to see
relationships, extend your creativity, organically organize information, and
increase your memory of the information being mapped.

World View Formation: Share research from the book, “Snapping.”

Worldviews are formed from two primary sources, the first is sensory input and
the second is mind focus. What are the ramifications of this on the modern
human? What does the modern human’s worldview include?

CULTURAL ECOLOGY
“Culture comes from a group of people who know where all that sustains them
comes from, and they honor those things deeply” – Martin Prechtel

Story of Barry Brailsford and the Hyda prophecy.

The land holds our culture and we are the vessels in which culture lends
expression. This means that we must re-localize the systems and processes
that provide for all that sustains us to revivify culture that is distinct to our
bioregion.

Traditional methodologies for transferring information through Pattern

Learning:

Brainstorm (rain of ideas) examples of survival information that would be

passed on through Pattern Learning in traditional societies:
METHODOLOGIES OF LEARNING PATTERNS
LINEAR NON-LINEAR

Linear Symbols Non-Linear

-1-2-3-4-5-6-7 etc -Patterns of Song- Music-
-A-B-C-D-E-F-G etc -Dance- Symbol- Saga
-Good for reference & - -Easy to remember
storage -Highly accurate - vast
-Not good for memory amounts of information
recall -Ancient learning form, e.g.
-Recent invention only in Australia 40,000 years old
few thousand years old

People are amnesiacs and forget where they come from and why they are here.
Mayan consider most to be the “great forgetters.” Increasing our memory
through story, song, and PRESENCE. Lack of predators allows our minds to
wander and not be present with our lives

User Illusion book and how our minds are moving beyond our capacity to
perceive the environment around us where our mind has no choice but to take
snapshots of the what we perceive and weave it together as if it were a
seamless reality.

What kind of information do traditional pattern learning systems embody?

Essential Survival Skills, how to live beautifully, how to steward the land, how to
transfer knowledge to future generations

Let information flow over you like water, don’t try and hold it all.

NAVIGATION:
• Solomon Islanders used symbol, song and dance to navigate to around 1,200
islands. People learnt up to 4,000 navigation songs, which in combination with
symbol and dance read the patterns of the sea
• Hyda story of the hummingbird
• Indian women of Seattle could sing their way to California or Japan - songs of
the rivers of the ocean
• West coast Eskimos could navigate accurately in fog by listening to the
regional accents of quails that lived on the headlands

SONG LINES
• The gypsies sang their way across Europe
• Waitaha of New Zealand – Have 3,000 songs, some for navigation
• The Bedouins and nomadic tribes of North Africa, Middle East and
Central Asia sang their seasonal journeys through the deserts from
 oasis to oasis.
• The Australian Aboriginal culture is based on the songlines of the
ancestral dreamings – the whole of Australia is mapped in song.
• The Sioux Indians mythology is that creation was a song and every part
of the universe, every rock and mountain, has its sound
• Genesis (The Bible) states that "In the beginning was the word" - a
sound?

Songs are easy to remember - they can be highly accurate in timing to 0.1
second. The world is divided into degrees and minutes…timing.

Our own body is highly accurate - your regular walking pace will be very
consistent - the rate of the human heartbeat is very regular and varies little from
person-to-person

GENEOLOGY:
• Accurately remembered in song and saga (Songs of Solomon)
• Mauri tattoos represent genealogy remembered through song - learnt under
intense pain - never forgotten

WEATHER PATTERNS:
Gopago Indians (Anazazi) recorded natural phenomena for 700 years t
understand sun-moon cycles to predict drought and flood with 19 intercept
spiral and moon shadow tracking the 11 year moon cycle - its effect on weather
patterns - essential survival information

"We are the worlds most ignorant people and society. Former societies were
well informed through song and pattern" - Bill Mollison

Western Syndrome:
There is a syndrome that has circled the earth in a westerly direction that
destroys indiginous people’s ability to remain intact to place and their culture.
Dominant cultures have systematically tried to destroy other cultures, just as
Western European Celtic cultures were once destroyed by the Romans and the
early church – contemporary western society has lost most of its traditional
pattern learning but there are still remnants - we simply don't recognize them.

Phenology: noting natural phenomena related to weather patterns

e.g. red sky in the morning shepherds/sailors warning, red sky at night
shepherds delight

Phenomenology: noting natural phenomena that indicate other occurrences,

behaviours and seasonal factors in nature, e.g.
- the time to plant corn is when the oak leaf is as big as a squirrels ear
- when peaches flower there’s perch in the creek
Sayings, Fables and Parables
Simple “catchcries” are easy to remember e.g. A stitch in time saves nine.
“One years seeding is seven years weeding”
Likewise the moral of a story is easy to understand and remember– Aesop’s
fables, Jesus’ parables, Hindu Jakata tales. Many old folk tales are imparting
different levels and layers of meaning about social relationships, personal
development, moral conduct, and practical, sensible living.

Activities:
Research examples of pattern learning and information transfer from different
traditional and indigenous cultures
Research your own lineage and learn about your ancestors ways of surviving
using pattern understanding
Collect old sayings e.g phenology, wise living, mnemonics
Discuss the relevance of Pattern Learning to contemporary society – find
examples of how these principles are used and suggest ways you might adapt
them in permaculture work and communications

Recommended Reading
Permaculture: a Designers Manual – Mollison
Chapter 2.2 Science and the thousand names of God
Chapter 4 Pattern understanding
Wisdom of the Elders – David Suzuki
Songlines – Bruce Chatwin
Song of the Old Tides – Barry Brailsford
User Illusion
Snapping

4. Patterns in Nature
"When we see how the branching of trees resembles the branching of arteries and the
branching of rivers, how crystal grains look like soap bubbles and the plates of a tortoise's
shell, how the fiddle heads of ferns, stellar galaxies, and water emptying from the bathtub
spiral in a similar manner, then we cannot help but wonder why nature uses only a few
kindred forms in so many contexts....It turns out that those patterns and forms are
peculiarly restricted, that the immense variety that nature creates emerges from the
working and reworking of only a few formal themes"
- Peter S. Stephens 'Patterns in Nature'

Display examples of patterns with common objects from nature. Tell story of Hamish
Miller and his seminal work with dowsing the pattern language that is being emitted from
the crossing points of energy lines on the earth and relation to spirals.

THE WORLD IS A SEQUENCE OF EVENTS WITHIN A PATTERN (Bill

Mollison)
• tides - currents - winds and their local and global patterns
• seasons - lunar months - solar cycles
• landforms - sand dunes - volcanic landscapes
• growth habits and sequences
• packing - building blocks - bricks - tiles – mosaics
• behaviour - migration - reproduction – hibernation
• collection - dispersal - branching - spirals – flow

These patterns are all around us. Many of their forms are easily recognized and
understood. An understanding of the basic underlying patterns of natural phenomena is
an essential tool for design and harmonious living.

“Pattern is relative to the interaction between two media”

Our Fingerprint
There are 7-billion people and none of our fingerprints are the same.

Patterns Found in Nature

Spiral patterns in flow and form
Radial, Double Spiral
Tessellations
Branching
Explosive forms - integration – disintegration
Starburst
Packing & Cracking
Meanders
Crenelation
Streamline

Spirals – (Story of Hamish Miller and Dowsing)

Spiral is a prominent repeating pattern of growth
• Universe - Galaxies
• Plants (sea shells, sunflower) , fern leaf
o Fibonacci Series 1+1+2+3+5+8+13+21+34
o Golden Ration 1.618 or 0.618
Take honeybees, for example. If you divide the female bees by the male
bees in any given hive, you will get 1.618. Sunflowers, which have
opposing spirals of seeds, have a 1.618 ratio between the diameters of
each rotation. This same ratio can be seen in relationships between
different components throughout nature.

Try measuring from your shoulder to your fingertips, and then divide this
number by the length from your elbow to your fingertips. Or try measuring
from your head to your feet, and divide that by the length from your belly
button to your feet. Are the results the same? Somewhere in the area of
1.618? The golden ratio is seemingly unavoidable.

Formula for the Golden Rule:

If you divide a line in two parts so that:

(line diagram insert)

a/b = a+b/a = 1.618 or phi

Larger part divided by the smaller part is also equal to the whole length divided by the
longer part
Tessellations are regular patterns of shapes fitting snugly together.
Examples:
Honeycomb
Cracking in clay/sedimentary rock
Crystal growth
Basaltic lava flows
Etc.

Branching Patterns
Dendritic pattern
Pattern of:
• Rivers (a river is a reflection of headwaters found in flows of current into the
oceans)
• Veins
• Liver
• Tree
ORDERS IN PATTERNS (six)
Orders of Spirals in Wind
Orders of sand formations
Orders of branching and flow
Orders of Human Settlement
Orders of animal size and behavior

Six-Sided Pattern
Beehives, tortoise shells, honeycomb cracking pattern, snow flake

FRACTALS –
Clouds are not spheres, mountains are not cones, coastlines are not circles
and bark is not smooth, nor does lightning travel in a straight line. - Benoit
Mandelbrot

Examples of fractals:
Romanesco brocolli, fractal fern, electric discharge, pattern in leaf, rivers,
clouds, cabbage, peacock feather, pineapple, sea urchins

a specific pattern repeated proportionately at larger or smaller occurrence of scale e.g.

Menger sponge, Mandelbrot, Koch triangle.
Circles in Circles
Cupping pattern, nesting

Core Pattern

The core model spirals out of a plane between two media, like a tree and the earth
Apple core (original tiles)
Two core models make up a spheroid (tennis ball)
A skeleton is a tessellated core pattern
Four symbols of nature (all have traditional names)
Core Pattern is an Explosion of Growth
Tree, mushroom, we are explosions of growth, atom bomb, bone
“Patterns are explosions of energy expressed form.” This is everything!

Waves
Pressure of spiral storms and wind (1st media) influences the ocean (2nd media) beach is 3rd
media. Chaos occurs right after the ultimate expression of the wave in the “tube” that is
spiraling.

No difference between:
• Galaxy
• Fern
• Snail
• Etc.

Cities are explosion patterns

way to edge of city is usually loan shops, laundry, nail shops
Galaxy
Earth spins at 900 miles per hour
Earth orbits the sun at 19 miles per second
Galaxy is 100,000 light years across (10 trillion kilometers or 6 trillion miles)
Galaxy travels around the universe every 200,000,000 years

“We can harmonize with these sytems”

What is this Pattern Thing All About Anyway?

“Pattern is created by the pressure between two media”
In the beginning of time there was nothing, no media, then there appeared something. The
pressure between nothing and something created the first form. Nothing intruded into
something.

Appropriate and sensitive patterning in the design process can assist the achievement of
sustainable systems and yield from
- flows
- growth forms
- timing and/or
- information flux

First we must become pattern conscious to perceive and understand existing patterns and
how they function:
- air & water flow, drainage, collection, dispersal
- landforms - gullying, sun/shade, seasons, erosion, deposition
- edge - succession
- an individual plant - a community of plants and animals
- patterns of sun and moon and seasons
- the relationships between patterns - how they mould and influence each
other e.g. the matrixes or interlocking sets of landscape and flow phenomena
- the orders of size and habit of specific patterns

Activities:
• Nature walk looking for items with patterns
• Design from patterns in nature within your design teams. Begin with drawing what you
see from items gathered that have patterns, then add in elements of a design into existing
patterns drawn
• Research Chaos Theory

Further Reading:
Permaculture: A Designer's Manual - Bill Mollison, Chapter 4
The Power of Limits - Gyorgi Doczi
Patterns in Nature - Peter Stevens

5. PATTERNS in DESIGN

“The world is a sequence of events within a pattern. All things spiral through the
pattern. In pattern application, there are two aspects: the perception of the
patterns that already exist (and how these function), and the imposition of
pattern on sites in order to achieve specific needs.”
- Bill Mollison

Zone and sector planning are examples of pattern application involving the
patterning of:
- physical factors: topography, buildings, vegetation
- elements: sun, wind, fire, water
- functions & yields: vegetable garden, livestock, forestry, windbreaks
- action (things you do): feed, water, harvest, milk

The role of the designer is to pattern their inter-relationships for maximum

efficiency.

• Site Analysis is a process of understanding and interpreting the existing

patterns effecting a site.
Edge Effects and Harmonics

Edge effect: the interface between two ecosystems represents a third, more
complex system, which combines both. The interface, or edge, receives more
light, nutrients and so is more productive.

• Harmonics and area increase in linear effects while the area is constrained:

Productivity increases as shape of the pond is changed to produce more

"margin" or edge. It may almost double the number of plants around the edge,
and, as fish are mainly marginal feeders, so may be able to increase the
number of fish.

Other examples of patterning with edge include:

- Circle garden rather than linear garden - saves space and water
- Trellis in zigzag pattern rather than straight
- Crops planted in strips and contours, alley cropping and strip intercrops e.g.
lucerne and wheat
- Gardens can make use of "keyhole" pattern to maximise space and yield

Note. Species edge possibilities are determined by whether plants/animals

are compatible, e.g. wheat planted with lucerne (alfalfa) will increase yield,
while yields decrease if planted with Brassica.

Note. First identify the natural

limits and restraints on
imposing patterns, such as
topography, contours, water
movement, aspect, as well as
practicality e.g. access,
machinery, behavioural
patterns etc. the plan on right
could apply to a supermarket

EXAMPLES of
DESIGN PATTERNS:
- Keyhole Beds
- Herb Spiral
- Mandala Garden
- Chook-Tractor Dome Garden
- Banana Circle
- Geodesic Dome
- Yurt

A GOOD PATTERN HAS A FIXED ORDER

A Herb Spiral or keyhole bed design will only work if designed to scale: size
needs to be dictated by ability to harvest (i.e. arm length)

Flow patterns
- Can use pattern in river flow to scour deep ponds, to accumulate mulch on
edges, and to build up a layer of silt.
Mulch and silt accumulates during the flood phase of the river, but trees must
be planted to catch this accumulation.

Flow + Edge
- Windbreak can be planted either to deflect wind or to funnel it into
a gap for wind power. This combines patterned design of
windbreak edge with the patterns of wind dynamics (flow)

6. DESIGN METHODOLOGY
Permaculture design emphasizes the patterning of landscape, function, and
species assemblies. It asks the question, "Where does this (element) go?
How is it placed for maximum benefit in the system?"

Permaculture is made up of techniques and strategies:

• Techniques: concerned with how to do things (one-dimensional) e.g.
organic gardening
• Strategies: concerned with how and when (two-dimensional) e.g.,
Fukuoka
 • Design: concerned with patterning (multi-dimensional)
e.g.,permaculture

APPROACHES TO DESIGN:
(1) Maps ("Where is everything?)
(2) Analysis of elements ("How do these thing connect?")
(3) Sector planning ("Where do we put things?")
(4) Observational
(5) Experiential

(1) MAPS (be careful; the "map is not the territory")

Sequence of maps valuable to see clearly where to place many elements.

Clear overlays to plan:

- Access
- Buildings
- Water
- Topography
- Exclusion zones

(2) ANALYSIS OF ELEMENTS

An analytic approach: is the needs, products, and the intrinsic characteristics of
each element. This is done on paper. Lists are made to try to supply (by some
other element in the system) the needs of any particular element.

Experiment on paper, connecting and combining elements (buildings, plants,

animals, etc) to achieve no pollution (excess of product), and minimum work.
Try to have one element fulfill the needs of another element.

Create a MIND MAP

Elemental analysis of a human

(3) SECTOR PLANNING

This involves
a. Zones
b. Sector
c. slope
d. Orientation

(a) ZONES
• It is useful to consider the site as a series of zones, starting with the
home centre and working out. Pay attention to paths and movement
corridors
• The placement of elements in each zone depends on importance,
priorities, and number of visits needed for each element, eg, a chicken
house is visited every day, so it needs to be close (but not necessarily
next to the house).

A herb garden would be close to the kitchen.

• Proximity invites good management - distance encourages neglect
• The emphasis is on access and schedules rather than distance
• Pattern the placement of systems in relationship to each other. e.g. Veg
garden en route to chook house - chook yard located for access to tractor
beds and orchard etc

ZONE I:
- home centre
- herbs, vegetable garden
- mostly structures
- very intensive
- start at backsteps
List other Zone I activities:

ZONE II:
- intensive cultivated
- heavy mulched orchard
- well maintained
- mainly grafted and selected species
- dense planting
- use stacking, storeys
- some animals: chickens, ducks, pigeon, quail
- multi-purpose walks: collect eggs, milk, distribute greens/ scraps

ZONE III:
- connect to Zone I and II for easy access
- may add goats, geese, sheep, pigs, bees
- plant hardy trees and bush species
- ungrafted for later selection, later grafting
- animal forage
- self-forage system: poultry forest, etc.
- windbreaks, firebreaks
- spot mulching, rough mulching
- trees protected with cages, strip-fencing
- nut tree forests

ZONE IV:
- long term development
- timber for building
- timber for firewood
- watering minimal
- feeding minimal
- some introduced animals: cattle, deer, sheep
- agroforestry systems

ZONE V:
- wildlife corridors
- uncultivated bush and native forest
- forest regrowth & regeneration
- timber
- hunting
Species, elements, and strategies change in each zone.
b) SECTORS
The aim of sector planning is to channel external energies (wind, sun, fire) into
or away from the system.

The sector plan is essential for risk assessment, identifying and designing
microclimates, fire protection and determining orientation

The zone and sector factors together regulate the placement of particular plant
species and structures.

(c) SLOPE
Placement of an element on slope so that gravity is used to maximum capacity:
- water storages
- mulch and other materials (kick-down)
- cold air fall; warm air rise

(d) ORIENTATION
Placement of an element so that is faces sun-side or shade-side, depending
on its function and needs.
(4) OBSERVATIONAL
Free thinking or thematic thinking (e.g. on blackberry or bracken)
(a) Note phenomenon
(b) Infer (make guesses)
(c) Investigate (research)
(d) Devise a strategy

(5) EXPERIENTIAL
• Become conscious--of yourself, feelings, environment.
• Can be free-conscious or thematically-conscious.
• Zazen--walking without thinking, unreflective.
• Sit on a hill - look down on site
• Creative Visualisation
• Develop right brain responses

PUTTING IT TOGETHER:
Use all the methodologies of design.
Select elements - pattern assembly
Place elements - pattern relationship

7. Ecological Processes in Permaculture

The aim of Permaculture is to achieve a diverse and stable
environment in the form of a cultivated, highly productive ecosystem -
the ecology of human environments and living settlements.

EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS

• Cork-Pork forests of Portugal-black Iberian pig, la dehesa:oak
forests, cereal understory, truffles
• Ohana systems in Hawaii

• Chinampas of Central America

Often referred to as "floating gardens," chinampas were artificial
islands that usually measured roughly 30
2.5 m (98
8.2 ft),
although they were sometimes longer. They were created by
 staking out the shallow lake bed and then fencing in the
rectangle with wattle. The fenced-off area was then layered with
mud, lake sediment, and decaying vegetation, eventually
bringing it above the level of the lake. Often trees such as
huextl (Salix bonplandiana)[1] and huhutl (Taxodium
mucronatum)[2] were planted at the corners to secure the
chinampa. Chinampas were separated by channels wide enough
for a canoe to pass. Picture is of modern Chinampas.

• Swidden Slash & Burn systems of tropical forest cultures,

prehistoric Europe
Typical features of swidden systems:

1. small areas of forest or brush cleared with slash & burn

method (releases nutrients held in plant tissues)

2. soil prepared with dibble stick or hoe (no plowing)

3. human labor provides full work inputs (other than fire)

4. no use of fertilizers (other than wood ash)

5. no irrigation systems (rainfall watering)

6. usually multi-crop gardens, high plant diversity (e.g., up to 40

species in single garden of Hanunoo in Philippines)

7. short cropping period (1-3 yrs) followed by long fallow (>20

yrs)

8. hence most land lies fallow at any one point, requiring large
amount of land per capita
• Balinese Rice Culture – Subak water systems, terraces, crop
rotation, animals - On the island of Bali in Southeast Asia, rice farming
is a way of life. The people live in tune with the natural rhythms and
cycles of the water and the soil. Ingrained in their community and
culture, rice farming connects them to the land and one another.
Balinese farmers have planted rice using an intricate system of water
sharing and crop rotation for more than a thousand years. Intertwined
with their spiritual, social, and day-to-day lives, this system has made
Bali a leading producer of one of the world's most important crops.
And because Balinese rice farming respects the balances of nature, it
serves as a remarkable example of sustainable agriculture in an
increasingly industrialized world.

We have much to learn from traditional societies - look for the

processes at work and how these can be integrated/adapted for our
designs

Web of Life
Elements must have:
1) no product unused by other elements
2) their own needs supplied by other elements in system.
This is achieved through creating closed loop systems.
IF NOT then pollution and work result.
POLLUTION = a product not utilized by something else.
WORK = deficiency of resources – meeting unfulfilled needs.
CHAOS results when a system receives more than it productively
uses.
*NB Chaos in this context refers to a state of disorder and
confusion, whereas “Chaos Theory” refers to the unpredictable
aspects of natural events

RESOURCE - is an energy storage which assists yield - must design

energy storages into system.
Ecology – Entropy – Sustainability
• All systems depend upon energy flows.
• All life on Earth ultimately depends upon effective use of sun's energy.- without
it the oceans would freeze & surface temperature drop to absolute zero (-273C)
• SOLAR ENERGY drives the great geophysical
and geochemical cycles that sustain life: Birch’s Principles of Ecology
- water - oxygen - carbon cycles 1. Nothing in nature grows
- climate forever.
- provides our food and fuel through 2. The Continuation of life
photsynthesis. depends on global cycles of
essential elements.
• Over 99% of the energy flow in and out of Earth 3. The probability of the
result from solar radiation. The rest is supplied extinction of a species is
from the earths' core (heat), and moon and sun greatest when its population
(gravitation). density is either very high or
• Solar radiation from the sun = 173 million large very low.
power stations per day of which: 4. The chance a species has to
30% reflected back to space. survive and reproduce is
47% warming air, sea and land. dependent principally on a few
23% powers evaporation and water key factors in a complex web of
cycle. relationships
Less than 1% drives winds and 5. Our ability to change the face of
currents. the earth increases at a faster
0.02% captured by photsynthesis. rate than our ability to see the
PLUS .001% Lunar power: tidal consequence of those changes.
energy. 6. Living things are not only a
.02% Geothermal energy. means but also an end. (i.e.
respect the right of being as
• Energy sustains our whole economic system. opposed to pure function.)
- Use of stored solar energy as fossil fuel
has enabled us to build up and power our
industrial civilization but this energy wealth is not evenly distributed: On
American uses 330 x 1 Ethiopian. (Research FOOTPRINTS)

- BIOMASS constitutes 15% of energy consumed by the human population. - -

Wood was the principal fuel for 80% of the earth’s population until 1990’s.
• principles of energy use and balance.
1) When energy is used efficiently and effectively the result is a
stable and ordered state.
2) When too much energy is accumulated or more energy passes
through system than can be productively used, that system
becomes disordered i.e. a state of chaos. e.g. greenhouse
gasses, climate change, global dimming, acid rain etc…
• ENERGY
“The total energy of the universe is constant and the total entropy is
increasing”
-Asimov (1970)
That means that energy-
- cannot be created, destroyed or disappear.
- be stored or wasted
- can be transformed from one form to another.
- no energy transformation is ever completely efficient.

These are the principles of THERMODYNAMICS OUR ROLE AS DESIGNERS

IS TO:
- design complex webs/nets to catch and store sun energies at highest
possible level before they are bound or lost to further productive
use/storage
- we must aim to minimize/slow down ENTROPY
- Permaculture is anti-Entropic

ENTROPY AT WORK
Entropy is a measure of how disorganized a system is. Entropy is bound
or dissipated energy. It is an important part of the second law of
thermodynamics. (Ice water melting is a great example of entropy at
work).
• Natural ecosystems use sun energy to create and sustain complex diverse
systems based on co-operation between species and elements.
• The human race attempts to dominate nature
- impose rules - superimpose power, for selfish short-term gains.
- over simplified nature to exploit single spp.
• Need to change from Consumer to Conserver society.
- More money and energy spent on want forms (highly processed) of annual
crop: corn, wheat, potato e.g. corn flakes, chips.
- 20% of food chemicals for cosmetic appearance only.

Source to Sink: Manure to field (one function) or we could ferment it, distill it to
alcohol, secondly, route it through biogas digester where anaerobic organisms
convert it to methane for cooking or heating gas, or as fuel for vehicles, thirdly
the liquid effluent can fertilize fields, and the solid sludge fed to worms, which
converts to ideal horticulture soils, fourthly, the worms themselves can be used
to feed fish or poultry.

Source to sink net drawing

CHAOS* - is the opposite of harmony as competition is the opposite of

cooperation. Society, gardens, whole systems and human lives are
wasted in disorder and opposition - therefore the permaculture
designer aims:

• To use only the amount of energy productively absorbed by the

system – excess produces waste & pollution.
• To build harmony as co-operation into the functional organisation of
the system as a complex web of functional relationships. study natural
stable systems and understand the patterns at work to use in the
design process.
Must work on both - macro and micro levels – big picture to details
- techniques and strategies and to see all as inter-locking patterns
- look for the relationships: temporal/spatial/material/energetic, note
relationships and patterns.

Work with the patterns of:

- land form/climate/water
- nutrient flows, growth patterns, cycles
- time, flux, behaviour, orders

The patterning of many small systems supporting each other.

Systems nested in other systems.

ECOLOGICAL TERMS AND DEFINITIONS:

"Ecology is the science of survival, because if human kind fails to learn
its lessons, it risks the destruction of the world upon which it depends"
ECOLOGY: 'Oikos' a house or place to live. 'Logos' the study of.
Ecology refers to the study of living things - organisms in their surroundings,
and the relationships between living things and their environment.
ECOSYSTEM: A living community of an area including all of the component
organisms together with the non-living parts of their environment forming an
interacting system.
BIOSPHERE: That part of the earth and atmosphere capable of supporting
life.
BIOME: A major biotic community composed of all the plants, animals and
communities, including successional stages of an area determined by
environmental conditions, climate, topography, latitude etc, (eg, Praries,
Tundra, Tropical Rain Forest).
ECOTONE: The transition line between two communities or ecosystems
which has characteristics of both as well as its own. The
"Edge-effect". e.g. land-water, forest-field, freshwater-saltwater
BIOMASS: The total quantity at a given time, of living organisms of one or
more species per unit of space. 99% of the earths' biomass is plant material.
PHYTOMASS: The measure of dry plant material expressed in tonnes per
hectare. eg, Tropical rain forests can produce up to 90 tonnes of phytomass
p/Ha, p/yr. Forests generally contain more than 75% of all terrestrial
phytomass.
ZOOMASS: Refers to the measure of dry animal matter. NB, PHYTOMASS +
ZOOMASS = BIOMASS.
STACKING: multiple use of space and time (e.g. layering of plants - canopy,
understory, ground cover)
SUCCESSION: the process of change in the domanant biomass over time
from a disturbed to stable ecosystem. ie grasses- weedspioneers- canopy
understory
DIVERSITY: The number of species in a defined system (biotic community)
and their functional links.
STABILITY: The state in the inter-relationships of organisms in which
integration and adjustment between the organisms, and between them and
their environment is attained. Maximum stability usually occurs in climax
communities. Thus stability is a function of the diversity of functional
relationships in a system. i.e. the ability of a system to self-regulate, adjust
and adapt

8. Landform Reading

• Understanding maps
Maps (topographic & orthophoto) are models of landform patterns and as such
provide a very useful tool for the designer.
IMPORTANT: The use of maps must
always be supported and crossed referenced with field observations on site

Inter

Interpreting a contour map

First establish the following:
• North point – true north/grid
north/magnetic north
• Scale – 1:25000 / 1:4000 / 1:500 etc and bar scale
• Contour interval – meters of altitudinal distance between lines
• Keys – symbols and meaning
• Water courses (rivers, streams)
• High points – hill tops or highest contour line on map

Factors in Landscape
- Main catchment area for creek or river
- main ridge
- primary valley
- primary ridge
- Key points - only primary valley has key point.
- Saddles.
- Aspects : influence re:
- Sun
- Wind
- Rain
- Soil: structure and patterns
- Vegetation
- Season
- Fire
- Gradient – steep / flat
- Slope & slope analysis
- Frost
- Air flow - cold lakes
- Soil structure and patterns
- Water flow: collection & dispersal, drainage

Practical Exercise:
The following maps are at different scales – see what following features you
can identify - gullies/ridges/aspects
- keypoints
- secondary and tertiary canyons
- watersheds / catchment areas
- find highest and lowest altitude
- find main ridge, primary ridge, primary valley
1 mile squares
9. WATER IN LANDSCAPE
“The water cycle and the life cycle are one” – Jacques Cousteau

Stories of “feeding the spring” and the African ceremony, sacrifices in water,
Paiute people and LA water district

Water is A Miracle Tetrahedron:

• Three times more abundant than all other substances

• One of few inorganic liquids
• Only substance that occurs naturally as a solid, liquid and gas
• The most universal solvent
• Highest surface tension of all liquids other than mercury
• Biological zero or anomaly point of water is 4°C

• Water is a rare mineral – world’s most critical resource.

Only 3% of earths water is fresh - rest is ocean.
OF THE PLANET'S TOTAL FRESH WATER:
75% - Glaciers and ice sheets
11% - Available ground water (to 600m)
14% - Deep ground water and aquifers (below 600m)
0.3% - Lakes and ponds
0.06% - Soil moisture - forests
0.03% - Rivers
0.035% - Atmosphere

Renewal Times of Basic Water Storages

Location in Distribution Renewal Time

Storages (% of Total (Turnover rates,
Water) cycles)

Ocean 93.8 37,000 years

Glaciers & 1.986 16,000

Permanent
Snow
 Groundwater 4.1 4,600 Years
(actively 0.274 300 Years
exchanged)

Lakes 0.0051 13 Years

Atmosphere 0.000959 9 Days

Rivers 0.00008 13 Days

Biological 0.000005 3.4 Days

Water

Rivers and Streams

• Self regulates, chooses a winding path and shades its banks
• Rotates on its own axis, cools, condenses, and breathes
• Does not naturally flood
• Falling temperature effect is mechanically produced by motion
• Water needs natural motion and coolness for health

• Functions of water
1) To procreate life (in growing organisms)
2) To develop productive water systems (aquaculture)
3) To develop hydraulic uses for energy production

• In designing a system we aim to:

- use as many times as possible before it passes out of the system.
1) increase surface storages
2) reduce run off
3) decrease evaporation

Duties of Water
• Increase residency time
• Keep or Get water as high as possible on the land
• Most efficient water storage is in the ground.
• Slow-Spread-Sink

• Watersheds and Catchments Management

Water Related Earthworks

1) Soil storage key strategies for increasing water storage in soil involve i)
building up humus and organic matter levels in soil (see SOIL section) and
mechanical methods of decompaction for soils that have been seriously
compacted through overgrazing and use of farm machinery.

Rehabilitate compacted soils by contour & keyline methods using soil

reconditioning ploughs which break up deep compaction allowing water and
air to re-enter the soil, e.g. Wallace SRU - Soil Reconditioning Unit, Agroplow,
Yeoman’s Slipper-Imp Shakerator, deep ripping and chisel ploughing. A
common feature of these implements is the do NOT turn the soil and minimise
topsoil disturbance. Hand implements for soil reconditioning: A broadfork is
designed for market garden and small acreage where tractors are not
appropriate. In small gardens, a standard garden fork can be used to break up
compaction with minimal disturbance

2) SWALES
- level ditches along contours to hold water momentarily, slowing down
run off
- facilitate infiltration/soakage of rain water to high ground water tables
- permits deeper infiltration of water into sub soils
- are an uncompacted storage system
• An example of progressive infiltration in heavy clay soil:
1st year - 3-5 cm
2nd year - 10-25 cm
3rd year - 35-80 cm - 1m
Village Homes (Davis City, Sacramento Valley, CA, USA) with 375mm
(15") average rainfall - swales recharged ground water supplies to 17 feet
within 4 years.
• Yeomans philosophy: the earth should be like a sponge absorbing rainfall to
replenish ground waters + tree cover to pump moisture back into the
atmosphere
- SHOULDN'T BE FLOODS

Designing Swales:
• The steeper the slope: swales should be narrower & closer together
• The flatter the slope: wider swales at wider spacings
• Estimate runoff to determine depth, width & spacing

Special treatment of swales

• heavy soils with poor infiltration
a) deep rip along swale - add gypsum
b) line bottom of swale with coarse gravel/ rocks
• sandy soils & arid zones
a) fill swale with mulch/sawdust
b) sow seed / pellets of pioneer trees eg. Acacia, Locust, Tree Legumes,
 etc.
• heavy rainfall areas (tropics/subtropics)
- mulch swale and plant bund
- fill swale with sawdust for pathways
• Construct swales above erosion gullies to reduce runoff – ensure water is
directed away from gully/erosion area
• STONE SWALES
Construct rock bund on contour - stack rocks leaving airspace for condensation
• HAY BALE SWALES
On steep slopes or fragile soils where earth swales may pose erosion risk
swale bunds can be constructed above ground using bales of hay
• CONTOUR VEGETATION
For fragile soils and steep slopes use belts of vegetation e.g. vetiver grass,
lemon grass
• CONTOUR MOWING/MULCHING
mowing on contour results in rows of slashings on the contour to slow down
runoff. Likewise any coarse materials such as prunings, stickwood, banana
stems
placed or mounded on contour will assist with water management

3) MULCHING: IMITATION OF FOREST FLOOR

- reduces evaporative loss
- prevents erosion
- builds up humus in soil
- improves water absorption & retention
- protects against extremes of heat and cold
- reduces weeds
Easier to achieve small areas - also use living mulch and mulch trees
(Leucaena, Casurina etc)

4) VEGETATION
Forests -are very efficient water storage systems
(see section on Forests)

5) SMALL COMPACTED SURFACE STORAGES

- tanks - small ponds in gardens and nurseries (frogs), small stock ponds,
steep hillside path ends.

6) LARGE WATER SURFACE STORAGE SYSTEMS: dams & ponds (See

section on Dam Construction)

WATER COLLECTION SYSTEMS

1. IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SOURCES OF WATER:
- Rainfall, run off, precipitation (condensed moisture)
- Permanent and seasonal creeks, rivers & waterholes
- Springs
 - Ground water

• RAINFALL:
- falls irregularly : too little, too seldom OR too much, too fast – need
water storage systems

• MAJOR CONCERNS:
- water quality (must suit use - potable/non-potable)
- availability all year round
- no water damage - erosion

When planning water storage systems:

- need to assess water needs / availability
- select suitable crops/stock/population densities
- plan for extremes: heaviest rainfall, longest drought

Water quality:
List suitable domestic uses for the following quality water supplies
Calculate rainwater runoff from a 150m2 roof area for the following
Rainfall event (storm) 60mm:
Annual rainfall for your area ______mm =
Potable uses Non Potable (good quality)

IRRIGATION SYSTEMS:
Drip irrigation is most water efficient
To reduce evaporation:
- irrigate under mulch
- feed emitters into section of pipe, plasic bottle or unglazed terracotta
pots in ground to direct water to root zone
• Irrigate thoroughly twice a week rather than a little bit daily
• Irrigate at night or early morning before sunrise - in humid climates avoid
evening irrigation to reduce spread of fungal disease
• Irrigation timer is a good investment

Further info see

Permaculture: A Designers Manual (Bill Mollison) Page 381-4,
Small Scale Irrigation (Peter Stern) Intermediate Technology
Water for Every Farm (P.A. Yeomans)
Most manufacturers of irrigation equipment have excellent information in
catalogues of irrigation system components, design, pump capabilities etc

10. THE LIVING SOIL

Place of Soils in the environment and importance as a vital factor in the life of
most organisms:

SOIL IS - - Major resource-supporting plants, which sustain life.

• Fragile resource - soils take hundreds and thousands and millions of
years to form - cannot be replaced.
• Need to study and understand soil as an integral part of the
environment, as highly organized physical, chemical and biological
systems.
• Soil - the pedosphere - is composed of: air - water - mineral material -
organic matter & organisms

FACTORS IN SOIL FORMATION

Soils occur as patterns in landscape.
They develop as a result of the interplay of 5 factors:

1. PARENT MATERIAL (Rock): Mineral particles: elements, trace elements,

quartz, felspar, granite, silicates, clay. Variation in particle size determines
speed of soil formation, permeability (H2O) & compaction.

2. CLIMATE: governs type and rate of soil formation. Temperature albido,

moisture retention, aspect, plant growth & micro-organism activity greatest
between 5-20 deg.C , Rainfall

3. ORGANISMS: Plants, vertebrates, micro-organisms, mesofauna. (1,000 -

6,000 Kg per Ha of living micro-organisms in top 15cm soil)

4. TOPOGRAPHY: tectonic processes (crustal disturbances), erosion,

deposition, slope, aspect

5. TIME: succession of climatic changes, vegetation, landuse etc

WHAT IS SOIL?
1) MINERAL PARTICLES
The inorganic fractions of rock, sand and clay formed by processes of
weathering. Contain nutrients as
A) MAJOR ELEMENTS
Nitrogen - N Potassium - K Calcium - Ca
Magnesium - Mg Phosphorous - P Sulphur - S
B) TRACE ELEMENTS
Iron - Fe Manganese - Mn Zinc – Zn Aluminium - Al Chlorine - Cl Silicon – Si
Copper - Cu Boron - B Cobalt – Co Molybdenum - Mo Sodium - Na

2) ORGANIC MATTER AND HUMUS

• Remains of living organisms: plant and animal with Carbon (C), Hydrogen
(H),
Oxygen (O), (S), and Nitrogen (N) present.

• Organic matter is broken down by living organisms to form HUMUS. Particles

have large surface area usually negatively charged.

• HUMUS effects soil structure and ability to hold and store nutrients and water.
Rainwater absorbs CO2 forming weak CARBOLIC ACID
which breaks down rocks releasing small quantities of
mineral elements which CHELATE onto surface of clay
& organic matter for uptake by plants & soil life

HUMIC ACID (humus) molecules

contain 15,000 individual atoms
are smaller than clay particles
have acid & alkaline fields (pH neutral)
complex surface traps or chelates mineral particles
have variable life spans – (short break down rapidly releasing nutrients)
are fractured/destroyed by chemical fertilisers (most nutrients leached)
Rich fertile soils can support up to 250 Tonnes/Ha Humic Acid Molecules

SOIL BIOTA includes:

Megafauna: 20 mm upwards,
e.g. moles, rabbits, and rodents.

Macrofauna: 2-20 mm,

e.g. woodlice, spiders,
earthworms, beetles, ants
centipedes, slugs, snails,

Mesofauna: 100 microm-2 mm,

e.g. tardigrades, mites, springtails

Microfauna and Microflora:

1-100 micrometres,
e.g. yeasts, bacteria,
fungi, protozoa, roundworms,
rotifers

3) WATER H20
• The medium of nutrient absorption.
• Soil solution - water in the root zone (rhizosphere) of plants.
4) AIR: H, O & N
• All plants need oxygen in the soil.
• Soil micro organisms need oxygen.
• Rhizobium bacteria fix atmospheric
Nitrogen.

5) MICRO ORGANISMS
A) Mesofauna - earthworms, ants,
nematodes, beetles, grubs, etc.
B) Microflora - fungi, yeast, etc.

FACT: In just 1 hectare of farmland the top 10-

15cm of soil can contain:
60 Tons Earthworms
125 Tons Bacteria & soil micro-organisms
375 Tons Humus, organic matter

450 Tons Total

holding 320 Tons carbon atoms originating from 1,200 Tons of CO2
An increase of 1.6% soil organic matter on crops lands globally
would sequester excess atmospheric CO2 - Alan Yeomans

Like all ecosystems, soil organisms have a food chain which includes predator and prey,
herbivour, omnivour and carnivour. herbaceous systems (grasslands, vegetables, herbs)
have a bacteria dominated soil food web, whereas Tree and Forest systems soils are
more fungi dominated

SOIL TYPES
Soil types are generally determined by texture and particle size:
The surface area of soil particles are:
Particle cubic cm per gram
Coarse sand 23
Fine Sand 90
Very fine sand 230
Silt 450
Clay approx 8,000,000
Organic matter approx 8,000,000

Classificatons:
SANDY - loamy sand - Sandy loam - Fine sandy loam - LOAM -
Silty loam - Sandy clay loam - Clay loam/Sandy clay - Light clay - Medium clay -
Heavy clay

TWO SIMPLE TESTS

1. Ribbon Test - roll slightly moistened soil (plasticine consistency) into a thin
sausage then press into a ribbon - the better it holds together, the higher the
clay
content - the easier it crumbles and falls apart, the higher the sand content.
2. Water test. Take a sample of soil and half to 2/3 fill a wide neck jar with it,
then fill the jar with water, close lid tightly and shake vigorously. Let it settle and
compare the layers:

ACIDITY AND ALKALINITY (pH) IN SOILS

Ion Exchange
In water, atoms are usually electrically charged and are then called ions. Plants
take up most nutrients as ions from either the soil solution or the surface of
mineral & particles of organic matter. These are usually negatively charged and
attract and hold positively charged ions (cations). Nutrients thus held include
ammonium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper and
zinc.

Some positively charged particles hold negatively charged ions (anions) -

nutrients held in this form include nitrates (NO3), sulphates (SO4), phosphates
(H2PO4), chloride (Cl) etc. Most of these remain in the soil solution and are
easily leached.

Exchangeable ions refers to exchange of cations between particle surfaces

and the soil solution. Plant roots also exchange ions.

Ions are constantly released from mineral particles as they break down and
from decomposing organic matter which then are available for absorption onto
particle surfaces.

Organic matter has large surface areas sprinkled with neg. exchange sites.
This increases with soil alkalinity.

The greater the ion exchange capacity of the soil - the greater its ability to
hold & store nutrients.

pH is the measure of ion exchange capacity in the soil

ACID SOILS – makes nutrients soluble - more readily leached

or add lime or dolomite – increase humus levels

ALKALINE SOILS – locks up nutrients - increasingly unavailable to plants

- add sulphur, sawdust, other acidic materials – increase humus and organic
matter
This chart indicates nutrient availability influenced by pH.

Nutrient deficiencies can arise from many different factors, including an

imbalance of soil organisms – see Soil Food Wed information and research

Unsustainable practices in commercial farming that degrade soil include:

- nutrients repeatedly removed in crops
- soil ploughed - inverted - hard panning - no deep water pan
- compaction from machinery and overgrazing
- no organic matter returned
- inorganic chemicals upset soil chemistry and organisms
- loss of humus and availability of soil nutrients
- soil accepts and stores less water
- nutrient deficiencies and increase of plant disease & pest damage

Activity
HUMUS : compost and mulches
– moderate pH, slow release nutrients, improves structure
- creation of humus achieved by addition of mulch.
List mulch materials

AERATION:
- Increased by plowing
- Stimulates microbial activity and rapidly liberates nutrients normally
immobilized in organic reserves through contact between mineral soil and
organic residues
- Unless growing plants can immediately utilize mobilized nutrients they are
leached or fixed into unavailable forms
- Continuous plowing results in continuous nutrient loss
- Wallace and other conditioning ploughs provide aeration leaving plant growth
intact to utilize nutrients
- In natural soils aeration is provided by roots, earthworms, burrowing reptiles
& animals, termites & ants etc

MICROBIAL INTERACTIONS IN SOIL AND PLANT GROWTH

Plants alter root environment to mobilize nutrients by stimulating micro-
organism activity - achieved by providing chemical energy (root exudates and
litter).
• 25% of plant chemical energy (carbon compounds & sugars produced in
leaves) 'lost back' or returned to soil.

• This is energy source for soil micro-organisms proliferating in

RHIZOSPHERE (soil zone adjacent root)

• Rapid breeding of micro-organisms depletes oxygen in microsites become

anaerobic

• Anaerobic microsites produce Ethylene (regulator of soil micro-organism

activity
nutrient recycling and soil borne disease) which diffuses out.

• Increased Ethylene inactivates micro- organisms - when concentrations fall,

microbial activity recommences
This is known as the

ETHYLENE - OXYGEN CYCLE

ROLE OF NITROGEN:
UNDISTURBED SOIL - Ethylene always present - Nitrogen as ammonium
(NH3)
PLOWED SOIL - Ethylene not present - Nitrogen as nitrate (NO3)

• Continuous plowing stimulates soil microbes that change N from ammonium

to nitrate

• Excessive ammonium in soil is converted to nitrate by micro-organisms

• N in Nitrate form exceeding trace element amounts inhibits Ethylene

production

• Nitrate interferes with formation of anaerobic Microsites.

WHY ? - look at the chemical changes in microsites

IRON (2-12% soil weight)

- iron oxide crystals (ferric) immobile.
In anaerobic microsites these break down - transformed to mobile ferrous or
reduced form.
*Ethylene is produced only in soil containing ferrous iron.
- Ferrous iron triggers Ethylene production.
BUT when Nitrate NO3 is present iron reduction is inhibited - Ethylene
production is inhibited.

Ethylene precursor formed in mature leaves - returns to soil through

decomposition and precursor accumulates in soil.
High concentrations of Ethylene precursor are found in mature leaves of Rice,
Chrysanthemum, Avocado, Bullrush (Typha spp), Pinus radiata
Conditions necessary for Ethylene production:
1) Intense aerobic microbial activity to ensure formation of anaerobic
sites.
2) Microsite conditions must become sufficiently reduced to mobilise
ferrous iron.
3) Concentrations of Nitrate must not exceed trace amounts.
4) Adequate reserves of Ethylene precursor.

MOBILIZATION OF ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS

- Most nutrients held in highly insoluble forms - unavailable to plants. This
prevents loss by leaching.
- Important role of anaerobic microsites - critical role in mobilizing nutrients for
plants.
ROLE OF IRON
- iron oxide crystals large surface area - highly charged binding phosphate,
sulphate and other trace elements.
- When iron crystals break down, nutrients are released for uptake and high
concentrations of ferrous iron is released into soil solution of microsites which
triggers ethylene production
- Other essential nutrients (calcium, potassium, magnesium, and ammonium)
held on surface of clay particles and organic matter are displaced by ferrous
iron into soil solution.
- so we find that nutrients are released ONLY AND EXACTLY where required by
plants
- those not used by plants migrate to edge of microsite, iron re-oxides and
nutrients are thus re-bound.

Further Reading:
Discovering Soils series from CSIRO
IPJ #39 (The Living Soil feature).
Permaculture: a Designers Manual – Mollison
Soil Food Web w w w.soilfood web.org

PLANT FOOD LIST

CO2

Carbon Dioxide
Diffuses into chloroplasts of leaves where it mixes with water, chemicals and
sun energy to produce organic compounds - sugars that are the building
blocks for cellulose, proteins, vitamins, enzymes etc
Air

N Nitrogen
- Key element of amino acids, enzymes, chlorophyll
& genes
- Genetic coding of chromosomes
- Useful to plants in both ammonium and nitrate forms
- Rizobium bacteria is a root associate of many legumes which 'fixes'
atmospheric nitrogen in a form available to plants. These organisms fix 10
million Tonnes of Nitrogen per year in USA alone.
- Compost
- blood and bone
- chicken manure
- urine
- coffee
- Alfalfa

Phosphorus
- Essential for photosynthesis and making of protein and new cells
- Essential for growth and reproduction
- Deficiency stunts growth
- P is removed from soil through harvest especially of grain and seed
crops
- rock phosphate (slow release)
- blood and bone
- animal manures
- fish meal

K Potassium
(Potash / Kalium)
- Controls water flow in stems and regulates stem growth
- Aids chemical reactions/salts
- Strengthens cell walls giving plants natural protection from disease
and pest attack
- K is removed through repeated harvest
- Leached from sandy soil & soils in high rainfall
- Requires balance of magnesium
- Clay particles
- Wood ash
- Sea weed
- Urine
- Poultry manure
- Plant residues
- Compost
- Granite dust
- Molasses
Ca Calcium
- Necessary for normal cell division, as cell salts and for genetic coding
- Essential for Rhizobium bacteria to form nodules on roots
- Deficient in acid soil and soils with excessive amounts of Mg, K and
ammonium salts
- Clay particles
- Bone meal
- Limestone
- Wood ash
- Dolomite
- Gypsum
- Oyster shells (ground)

Mg Magnesium
- Each chlorophyll molecule has Mg atom – gives plants their green color
- Essential for photosynthesis
- Catalyst for use of Phosphorus
- Deficiency occurs with excess potassium and in soil suffering
extremes of wet/dry/cold
- Leached in high rainfall areas
- Dolomite
- Epsom salts

S Sulphur
- Gives plants their flavor and odor
– Essential for production of amino acids & protein
- Easily leached
- Removed through harvest of grain, hay and vegetable crops
- Available during decomposition of organic materials - mulch and
manures
- Gypsum
- Sea spray drift

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s131432.htm
ho w to know ho w much gypsum to add and when soil can benefit from it:
"…However, not all clays respond well to gypsum. To find out which ones do, a
simple test known as the Emerson Dispersion Test can be done.

EMERSON DISPERSION TEST: Drop a piece of dry soil aggregate, about 6mm across,
into a glass of rainwater. Don't move the glass - just watch what happens to it after an
hour and then after 24 hours. If it slowly disperses into the water, first forming a halo of
clay particles around the aggregate, it will respond to the addition of gypsum to the soil. If
it does nothing at all in the water, it would be a waste of time adding gypsum to the soil
as it won't respond. The greater the cloudiness of the water and the more rapidly it
develops, the greater will be the benefit of adding gypsum to the soil and the higher the
amount needed.
If you have soils which respond to the Emerson dispersion test, add gypsum at a rate of
0.5 - 1kg per square metre, digging it in well. Read the label and stick to the recommended
amount. Too much gypsum will spoil the soil structure and a slurry may result.
It's a good idea to add lots of organic matter as a mulch after digging in the gypsum, or to
gro w and dig in a green manure crop."

Check out….
http://orgprints.org/8477/01/njf4.pdf
Interesting site... some citations and original research.

PEE-LUTION - Did you know…?

One person produces annually appr. 500 l urine. The urine fraction contains
98% of the nitrogen, 65% of the phosphorus, and 80% of the potassium excreted by a
human. Most of the nitrogen in human urine is in a form suitable for plants, for example
ammonia nitrogen (Kirchmann and Pettersson 1995, Claesson and Steineck 1996). Pure
urine is microbiologically fairly clean when passed by a healthy person. There is,
ho wever, a risk of contamination of the urine by faecal material. Heavy metal contents
are much lower in urine than in solid waste but higher than in rain and surface water.
The N fertiliser use efficiency of urine is lower than that of ammonium nitrate due the
larger gaseous N losses from urine (Kirchmann and Pettersson 1995).
Following the principles of the sustainable development, recirculation of nutrients of
human beings from urban areas to agricultural land is one of the big challenges of our
time. The annual amount of toilet waste is about 520 kg/person. This amount includes
altogether 7.5 kg of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and some micro-nutrients in a
form useful for plants. If the nutrients in the faeces of one person were used for grain
cultivation, it would enable the production of the annual amount of grain consumed by one
person (250 kg). (Wolgast 1993)

Read chapter 5 of ‘Priority One’ – Allan Yeomans

http://www.yeomansplow.com.au/priority-one.htm

11. Trees & Their Energy Transactions

1. THE ROLE OF FORESTS IN THE BIOSPHERE
- Air conditioners and blankets of the earth .
- Stabilizers and maintainers of essential life sustaining cycles,
balancing gases, water and nutrients:
- water cycle
- carbon cycle
- oxygen cycle
- nitrogen cycle

• PHOTOSYNTHESIS
- plants capture sun energy and use it to convert water, carbon dioxide and
minerals into oxygen and energy rich organic compounds.
- Intercept sun energy to draw water and minerals from soil to be transformed
into organic compounds for own immediate and future growth.
- BIOMASS utilises only 0.02% of sun energy penetrating earth's atmosphere -
a fine line for survival.
• Forests constitute more than three quarters of all terrestrial phytomass.
Forests range over 30% land surface as climax ecosystems:
- support great stocks of biomass.
- produce new biomass faster.
- harbour great abundance of spp than any other ecological zone.
*Some biologists believe the loss of one plant spp can lead to extinction of up
to 30 animal/insect spp as consequences reverberate up food chain.

THE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF FORESTS IN THE BIOSPHERE

-Power houses of biospheric process - photosynthesis and biological
growth.
- Create fertile humus.
- Transfer energy.
- Major role in planetary recycling of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen.
- Determine local temperature, rainfall and other climatic conditions.
- Fountain head of river systems.
- Major gene reservoirs of planet - estimation of two million spp in
tropical rain forests, over 200 tree spp per hectare.
- Main site of emergent new spp.

2. TREES AND ENERGY EXCHANGE

Major "job" is as energy transducers.

2.A. WIND ENERGY

• The wind blows – carrying dust and insects most of which 'fall out' at forest
edge
- windward edge receives more fertiliser, more rain and moisture, high
pressure of wind keeps rainfall in.
• As the wind hits forest 40% forced through trees
The other 60% wind forced up over trees - it forms and falls as Ekman spirals
• after entering a forest, wind velocity reduces 50% in first 100m (transfer to
kinetic energy) and after 1 km all energy/wind velocity is absorbed
• What has the forest done with the wind?
- transformed into heat (kinetic energy): temperature increase 1-2o
- trees on edge (100m) transform energy into structural density – edge trees
have thicker trunks
• Wind is warmer in forest : holds more moisture
- warm wind leaving forest rises in hexagonal patterns into cooler air stream
(thermals)

2.B. LIGHT
- depending on trunk colour, leaf shape and colour and canopy trees absorb,
reflect and transmit light.
- Main absorption on crown (photosynthesis).
- In cool temperature climates trees tend towards higher level of light
absorption acting as radiators.
- Reflection - especially varieties with silver leaves - produce light in low light
conditions. White bark reflects heat away from trunk.
- Transmitted light in red spectrum (reddish leaf colour) decreases
temperature

2.C . RAIN
When rain falls on a forest....
i) Interception
- impact on crown creates kinetic energy as heat –initial evaporation
- some rain lost as fine mist to atmosphere
- gradually each leaf is wetted as tree intercepts rain

ii) Throughfall occurs when all leaves are wet and rain moisture drips off
towards branches and trunk - called Throughfall
- water (throughfall) contains nutrients (phosphates & minerals) from dust,
insects and plant leaf nutrients and exudates
- need more than 4mm rain to give throughfall
- The canopy drip feeds surface roots
- Trunk drip feeds tap root system

iii) Impedance & Absorption

- Aerial storage impedes water throughfall: lichen, mosses, crows nests,
staghorns etc (epiphytes), spider webs, also many spp e.g. banana & palms
store water
- leaf litter impedes infiltration 75mm(3") litter holds 25mm(1") water
- main water absorbers in humus and top soil are fungi e.g. hyphae
- impedance allows surface feeding roots and short understory to absorb water
needs before infiltration
- most tree roots are in top half metre (18") of soil
- water enters soil - clay swells and impedes penetration – molecular structure
of clay particles binds water
- when clay molecules are saturated this is called FIELD CAPACITY

iv) Infiltration
N.B. Trees are working against infiltration - attempt to hold as much as
possible near the tree for growth
- Following field capacity water percolates i.e. infiltrates deep into the soil
to join underground aquifers
- water flows underground to streams and rivers - this can take 10-15,000
years or more

v) Transpiration
Transpiration is the reverse process
- tree uses sun energy to pump moisture from ground waters and releases it to
form clouds
- approx. 60% of inland rain is formed by trees
- moisture rising from trees contains small bacteria (pseudomonas)
- one tree can pump up to 1,000 litres of water per day into atmosphere

3. FORESTS AND THE WATER CYCLE

1. Compression of wind streamline
2. Shatter of raindrops - mist & evaporation
3. Warm air rises carrying pseudomonas
4. Transpiration (roughly double evaporation) pumps moisture into
airstream

3.A. DUST
Air/wind carries dust - tonnes of dust - up to 9km into air
- most dust particles are aerosols - so small they remain suspended - aerosol
dust (fine dust from crops and pollutants) are charged with positive ions - they
are too small to act as ice nucleii
- when they become charged with negative ions they collect together and fall
down
- Plants produce negative ions and collect dust on leaf surface (Honey
Locust is very effective dust collector)
- Forest collects these particles which mix with organic particles esp. colonies
of bacteria that live on leaves (e.g. pseudomonas)

• NEGATIVE IONS are produced by trees which attract positive ions (dust and
pollution) - particle cleansing of atmosphere = healthy air.
Deficiency of negative ions in air cause depression, headache and
sluggishness -

CITIES
ii) Dust rising from trees through evapo-transpiration and wind contains bits of
leaf and pollen, bacteria that live on leaves and oil and wax exhundates from
leaves
- These organic particles form nucleus of inland raindrops

3.B. CONDENSATION
- Condensation from trees contributes more growth promoting moisture
than rain
- More than 80% of total precipitation is due to condensation in wellvegetated
landscapes
- Leaf surface area of one tree can equal 10-40 acres which condenses
moisture rising at night
- Note Rainforest phenomena
- Raintree

4. THE FOREST SYSTEM - GUILDS

Biomass zones of a tree:
1. Stem and crown
2. Detritus and humus
3. Roots and root associates
Functions of plants and animals in an ecosystem include:
This is a totality - a unit organism together with micro-organisms
The notes for this section include notes taken by R Francis during PDC
lectures by Bill Mollison on forests and summarised info from Chapter 6 Pc
Designers Manual- Mollison
Further reading:
Permaculture: A Designers Manual - Bill Mollison, Chapter 6

12. CLIMATES, BIOMES, & MICROCLIMATES

The earth’s climates arise from an interplay of

• long term trends determined by the orbit of earth, sun & moon and the
occurrence of ice-age/warm age cycles
• atmospheric changes – vulcanism, industrial pollution, agriculture and
forestry activities
Classification of global climates is based on
• Precipitation/radiation
• Winds
• Landscape/landmass
• Latitude
Thresholds determining the limits and boundaries for living organisms:
• Temperature
• Water
• Soil type

Key qualifying factors:

• Topography
– mountains
- proximity to coast
• Energy transfer of winds & ocean currents
• Long term cycles

Graphic – from Permaculture: a Designers Manual - Mollison

“ as the planet warms, the Hadley Cell, which links together rising air near the Equator
and descending air in the subtropics, expands pole ward. Descending air suppresses
precipitation by drying the lower atmosphere so this process expands the subtropical dry
zones. At the same time, and related to this, the rain-bearing mid-latitude storm tracks
also shift poleward. Both changes in atmospheric circulation, which are not fully
understood, cause the poleward flanks of the subtropics to dry.” -
http://climateprogress.org/2007/09/06/australia-faces-thepermanent- dry-as-do- we/
CLIMATE CHANGE What climate change puts at risk ….
Climate governs (so climate change affects)
• availability of water
• productivity of farms, forests, & fisheries
• prevalence of oppressive heat & humidity
• formation & dispersion of air pollutants
• geography of disease
• damages from storms, floods, droughts, wildfires
• property losses from sea-level rise
• expenditures on engineered environments
• distribution & abundance of species

John Holdren
http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/files/uploads/2007_11

6_Forum_(NXPowerLite).pdf.

Oceanic Influences

Southern Oscillation: El
Nino/La Nina Pacific Ocean
Gulf Stream: (image right)
Indian Ocean Dipole:
(Indian Ocean equivalent of
the SOI) has t wo phases
Negative phase – warm water
in central Indian
Ocean drive moist winds &
brings wet conditions to
Indonesia and north-east
across to Sth-Eastern
Australia Victoria and
Tasmania
Positive phase – opposite occurs, weaker drier winds, little rain, drought.

The frequency of negative phase conditions has reduced alarmingly since 1980’s
- Professor Matthew England from the Climate Change Research Centre at the
University of New South Wales

KEY CLIMATIC CLASSIFICATIONS

MICROCLIMATES:
BY UNDERSTANDING THE PATTERNS EFFECTING MICROCLIMATE THE
DESIGNER AIMS TO CONTROL AND CHANGE SPECIFIC CLIMATIC
CONDITIONS:

heat/cold, sun/shade, wind, shelter, frost

Sector Plan is an essential tool for identifying and designing microclimates as

the key influences to work with are sun and wind patterns – daily and seasonal

DETIRMINING FACTORS:
1. Topography.
2. Soil/mulch/Humus.
3. Vegetation.
4. Water masses.
5. Structures.

1) TOPOGRAPHY
- Aspect
- Sector
- Cold air drainage
- Wind

2) SOIL
- Soil temperature can effect microclimate. Mulch raises soil temperature
and moisture content
3) VEGETATION
- Forest effect (no wind, frost, diffused rainfall) creates mild microclimate
- edge provides sun trap
- windbreaks
- wind tunnels

4) WATER MASSES
- Modify immediate climate and stabilise temperature
- Reflects heat and light

5) STRUCTURES
- Make most of North facing walls.
- Glass house, green house
- L-shape to North = sun pocket.
- Building materials - stone, brick, paving = thermal mass
- designed & inducted ventilation systems

13. HUMID LANDSCAPES – TEMPERATE & WARM

TEMPERATE
HUMID LANDSCAPE PROFILE
Humid landscapes are found in tropics and temperate zones. Landforms are
typically gently rounded due to forces of water. This landform determines water
strategies, fire, frost and soils and the placement and treatment of structures,
forests, crops and land use patterns in the landscape.
• High Point:
- Mists & humid air, frost
- Collection area for precipitation
- Plateaus may suit human settlement and cropping systems
- Narrow ridges: permanent forest/ tree systems
- Water collection: ridge, plateau or saddle dams
• Upper Slopes:
- Soil instability on slopes over 18 degrees or less on fragile soils
- Forest: stabilise soils; moderate cold air flow
- Water collection in plateau or contour dams - good head for microhydro
energy source & reticulation
- Steep & stony slopes: net & pan, stone swales
- Steep & grassy: planting shelves, benching, contour planting, occasional
controlled grazing
- Intensive terracing for cultivation
- Fire control measures
• Key Point/key line:
- Water control for lower slopes, may include dams, diversion drains, irrigation
channels to ridges
- Establish keyline between key points
- Cultivation & grazing below keyline, perennial vegetation above
- suitable for house site

• Lower Slopes:
- mixed cultivation, crops & animal systems
- settlement above flood plains
- terracing, swales
- dams
• Flatlands:
- Irrigation strategies, swales, mulches
- check dams, ponds
- design for flood-ways, flood backwaters (see wetlands)

Temperate
e.g. Northern Europe, Northern USA, Canada

CHARACTERISTICS
- Four seasons - temperature & day length influences plant & animal
behavior
- Forest types: mixed deciduous/conifer & boreal
- nutrients held in soil.
- natural mulch develops - deciduous trees - nutrient cycle.
- increased humus = increased fertility.

BASIC STRATEGIES
- mulch as humus - on top of soil for small areas - cut and graze for
large areas.
- minimise tilling.
- crop rotation - fallow meadows.
- snow needs trees to melt slowly and make moisture available. Lack of
trees means moisture loss as snow is blown by wind or evaporates
plus increases risk of avalanche
- hedgerows as windbreak, wildlife habitat and snow trap
- short growing season - need good food storage systems
- solar design features, glasshouses

WARM TEMPERATE CLIMATES

e.g. Mediterranean countries, California, Southern Australia - can tend towards
sub-humid or semi-arid
- Usually have wet winter/spring and dry summer/autumn
- Water storage for summer is high priority - dams/swales
- Bush fire risk in summer
- Excessive water (poor drainage) in winter can be a problem – low
temperatures, overcast, little evaporation, low transpiration
- winter legume cover crops (lupins) - summer heavy dry mulch, some
 living mulches
- Drip irrigation in summer - under mulch
- Windbreaks & hedgerows essential to assist drainage in winter -
reduce wind evaporation in summer
- year round production - some cold temperate crops can be grown in
winter
- glasshouse in frost prone areas
- use of microclimate to extend seasons

Distribution of Nutrients
ACTIVITY: Discuss why you think nutrients are stored so differently in these
climates and some of the implications for nutrient management in production
systems.

14. HUMID LANDSCAPES – SUB TROPICS,

TROPICAL AND MINOR

SUB TROPICAL CLIMATES

The sub-tropics combines features of warm temperate and tropical climates.
- difference in temperature and day-length summer to winter
- wet and dry rainfall pattern from tropics

Temperature and rainfall are main determining parameters limiting plant

growth – e.g. frost re tropical spp, heat & humidity re temperate species
Winter/spring = dry season: adapt warm temperate strategies
Summer/autumn = wet season: adapt tropical strategies
TROPICAL CLIMATES
Tropical climates are classified as
Wet Tropics – equatorial belt, no distinct dry season e.g. Borneo
Wet/Dry Tropics – distinct wet season and dry season – Monsoon tropics (e.g.
Nthn Australia, SE Asia, India) is a sub-classification of wet/dry tropics

CHARACTERISTICS:
- high rainfall
- mean high temperature
- dry (winter spring) /wet (summer-autumn) season
- rainfall is main governing factor for seasonal behaviour of plants and animals
(reproduction, behaviour, bearing times, deciduous tropical forest)
- constant organism activity
- large number spp
- Biomass- decay- fast in tropics - lush vegetation
- plants hold 80-90% nutrients - cultivation disasterous.
- nutrients held in biomass - constant cycle
- high temperature, humidity & rainfall = rapid decomposition
- mulch breaks down rapidly
- *Soils tend to acid (pH 4-5) need lime/dolomite, magnesium and
calcium ( see soil nutrient chart)

STRATEGIES:
- living mulches for wet season - dry mulches for dry season
- deforestation can result in formation of hard pan caliche up to 3 metres
below soil surface - erosion & difficult to re-establish forest
- use leguminous cover crops and trees for rehabilitation
- major problem in dry season is water competition - careful design
- use drip irrigation in dry season for tree and row crops
- grazing only under select treecrops + rigorous rotation systems, focus
on tree forage production e.g. tropical tree legumes & mulberry
- coppiced legume trees for nutrient cycling & mulch
- tree crops as food forest with complex stacked understorey – open
systems can include grazing/intercropping
- terracing on slopes: dry season - grains & pulses / wet season - water
culture (rice paddies, taro etc) – crop rotation essential
- replace low nutrient temperate crops, eg lettuce with high value
Tropical crops eg kang kong
- *Maintain high biomass levels. Living mulch in wet season
- wet season add small amounts of nutrient every 4-6 weeks
- Waterborne disease is major issue in wet tropics and wet seasons –
rainwater harvest for potable supplies and composting toilets to reduce
e-coli contamination and gastro disease

Note: Climatic features change with altitude: above 600m in tropics is similar to
a sub-tropical climate (good for avocado, custard apple, macadamia, vegetable
cropping etc)
MINOR LANDSCAPES
Minor Landscapes include
VOLCANIC
HIGH AND LOW ISLANDS
COASTS
WETLANDS
ESTUARIES

Refer to Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual (Mollison) for in-depth strategies

for the above minor landscape.

Examples of Minor landscapes:

(1). Volcanic Landscapes occur in both continental and island contexts.
A common feature of volcanic landscapes is the radial pattern of parallel ridges
and gullies surrounding the cone.
Volcanic landscapes have very rich soils and range of crops is generally only
limited by temperature and rainfall/water.

(2). High Islands

- usually granite or basalt with Rich flora and fauna
- Humid to arid aspects / wet/rain shadow sides
- Importance of winds and rainfall
- Keyline, ridge dams, terraces
- explore potential for Lagoon catchments and shorelines
- Special problems: cyclone and tsunami; earthquake; mudflow,
lave flow, cinder flow; volcanic eruptions

(3). Low Islands

- Are usually arid islands, harsh winds, irregular rain
- Caliche or platin-removal techniques necessary (mulch pits)
- Need essential foreshore plantings for wind protection
- Gleying for ponds (species of plants)
- Need essential windbreaks
- Atoll structures in lagoons
- Bi-modal and bi-directional winds

(4). Coasts
- Need frontline vegetation (wind/ protect beach from undermining)
- Sand-blast resistant: thick bark or very fibrous barked trees (pines, palms,
casuarinas)
- Salt-resistant frontline species, e.g. (casuarina, coprosma) have waxy or
needle leaves
- alkaline sand needs humus (soluble sulphates & oxides offset alkalinity)
- Deficiencies in zinc, copper, iron (non-soluble in alkaline soil)
- Establishing plants in sand: sawdust and paper lowers pH and holds
moisture; Chinese plant in woven baskets to hold moisture

(5). Wetlands
- Chinampa system - world's most productive agriculture, using banks next to
water, maximises productive edge. Swampy or marshy land ideal for this
development. System of water-land nutrient exchange in harmonic effect.
(Mexico and Thailand)
- Ducks (main livestock) cycle nutrients; return potash to water and land
- Fish are marginal feeders – see aquaculture section
- Azolla is a fern which contain Anabeana (nitrogen-fixing bacteria); can be
scooped up and used as a mulch on land
- potential for Trellis crop over water saves space; boat harvested?
- water areas drained/dry out in dry season and nitrogen-rich mud scooped
onto banks – nutrient cycling
- Marshes and wetlands can support yields of rice, wild rice (Zizania aquatica),
freshwater mussels, fish, freshwater prawn and honey-producing species
(marsh marigold, mealeuca) the chinampa system is described here:

Full article at:

http://geography.berkeley.edu/programcourses/coursepagesfa2004/geog148/
erm%20Papers/Sanaz%20Memarsadeghi/whatis.htm

EXTRACT:
When Hernando Cortes and his men entered the Basin of Mexico in 1519, they found the
natives employing a unique agricultural system. This method of farming, which still persists
today, consists of land reclamation through the construction of chinampas in marshy areas
and shallow lakes. As the farmers or chinamperos dig out canals in the lakebed, they pile
the mud, which they are scooping out atop sedges and reeds. These constructed mounds,
which are surrounded by water on at least three sides, are chinampas and serve as the
garden plots in which the people grow their crops. Homes are also constructed atop the
chinampas. Each chinampa, or “floating garden” as they have been erroneously described,
is between fifteen and thirty feet wide and 300 feet long and is no more than a few feet
above the water level (Coe 1964). Posts or woven vines and branches hold the sides of the
chinampa plots in place. Chinamperos also plant willow trees (Salix) on chinampa edges to
prevent erosion. The word chinampa is derived from the Nahuatl words chinamitl which
means “‘an enclosed bed surrounded by cane or stakes’” and pan which translates to “‘on or
above the surface’” (Moriarty 1969).

(6). Estuaries
- Species rich in (oysters, prawns, fish, sea-grass, molluscs, water
birds)
- Sea-grass (Zostera) good insulation & craft spp
- traps and high-tide ponds for catching or rearing fish, lobsters
- floating raft cultivation of molluscs: Oysters, mussels
15. ARID ZONES & DRYLANDS

Drylands constitute approx. 30% of occupied land on the planet.

Increasing at 6 million hectares per year, with 20 million hectares reduced to
zero productivity per year through overgrazing, overcropping and desertification.
Arid/ semi-arid lands are loosely defines as areas where evaporation and
transpiration exceeds precipitation.

Classifications of Arid Zones:

Hyperarid: 0-20mm annual average rainfall e.g. Atacama, Namib deserts
Arid: 50mm-150mm p.a. e.g. Sahara, Sonora, Mojave
Semi-arid: 150-250mm e.g. Thar, Asian, Kalahari, Austraian
Sub-humid: 250-10000mm Desert savannah borders

Cold Deserts:
- Latitudes 35-60 gdeg.; altiplano areas of dry mountains
- No dunes; snow melt; short seasons; aestivation (dormancy during summer
or dry season) and hibernation.
- Permafrost may occur; great temperature ranges

Hot Deserts:
- Latitudes 10-30 deg.
- Excessive heat & light; Dunes common feature
- pronounced dry winds, dust storms
- high sub-tropical pressure areas

CHARACTERISTICS OF ARID CLIMATES:

- Vegetation mosaics: topography, fire, rainstorms, succession
- Decomposers: termites, ants, macrofauna, fungi
- Erosion: episodic, effected by wind & sudden floods
- Runoff decreases down stream (evaporation - saltpans)
- Animals: many burrowing & nocturnal feeders, unique metabolic and
behavioral adaptation to environment including aestivation
- Plants: special water storage (e.g. tubers) & conservation (e.g. narrow hard
leaf surface) mechanisms, prolific seed production/ long viability
- Fragile soils often held by fungal-lichen-algal (cryptogam) crusts - destroyed
by hooves & cultivation resulting in wind erosion

SOILS - Mineral and nutrient rich but unavailable in absence of water and
organic matter, generally alkaline
• check for soil nutrient deficiencies (e.g.zinc, iron) and sodium (salt) levels in
soil and irrigation water
• soils in arid & semi-arid regions are particularly vulnerable to salting

KEY STRATEGIES
• Microcatchments for water collection - net & pan, swales
• Turn water runoff into vegetation – expanding oasis
• Revegetation strategies – micro catchments, windbreaks, clay seed balls,
pitting
• Evaporation reduction (mulch, drip irrigation)
• Build up humus levels in soil
• Create sun & wind sheltered microclimates for housing and planting
16. Built Environment
Selection criteria for house site
- topography: slope, aspect
 - sector plan, microclimate
- soil: stability for foundations, drainage (suitability for earth construction)
- water: availability, source, quality (potable/non-potable), reticulation
- access: all weather
- services: electricity/renewable energy sources, phone, gas etc
- relationship to surrounding land use/zonation
- council/planning ordinances (setbacks, height, slope, building codes)
- natural disasters: flood, fire, earth movement, severe storms, cyclone

Factors in House Design

• begin design with sector plan
• budget: owner builder/contractors
• materials - local / renewable where possible

a) Tropical Housing
• hot all year round - little fluctuation in day length or sun angle
• major concern - cooling - acheived by:
- ventilation and air circulation
- shading all walls, especially east & west
- insulation against heat gain

b) Temperate Housing - passive solar design

• includes warm temperate and many sub-tropical climates - anywhere it gets
cool enough to use space heating in winter
• many climates require equal emphsis on heating in winter & cooling in
summer

Key Strategies
• shade & ventilation in summer
• harvesting the sun (solar heat) in winter
• support house design with landscape - shade, sun, wind protection, access
to cooling summer breezes
• orientation: north/south - reduce sun exposure on east/west axis
• eves/pergolas/verandahs: maximise summer shade & winter sun
• thermal mass - heat storage
• functional layout of internal space
• inductive ventilation
• insulation / appropriate placement of thermal mass
• use of glass houses/ shade house
Retrofitting existing houses
• increase window space & thermal storage on solar aspect
• increase shade on east/west sides
• pergolas, verandahs, glass house
• insulation

Lessons from Conserver Cultures

• Don’t build any bigger than you absolutely need. Except for religious,
ceremonial, or for communal structures.
• Use whatever materials are close at hand and fashion your architecture
around them.
• Consider the advantages of conjoined and clustered buildings. They
would occupy less space, easier to cool and you can share resources.
Radial zoning ideas.
• Never demolish a serviceable building if you can change it or add to it to
accommodate new issues.
th
• Pillage abandoned buildings for components. 18 century stone house
in England had squared carved stone blocks that were from a church
destroyed by Henry the VIII. The church was built in the 13th century with
stones quarried from Romans for a villa abandoned for seven hundred
years.
• Accept and encourage the natural decay of natural materials. Toxicity in
the modern built environment and the story of Mayans and the way they
culturally look at the decay of their housing.
• Understand that straight lines, flat surfaces and right angles are
ecologically expensive. So are expanses of one color or texture. Nature
will steadily sabotage any attempt to impose monotony. The box is one
of the worst engineered structures of humanity.
• Make warm, cool, or dry places where it suits people to be. Only heat or
cool the spaces where people are as buildings generally don’t care
• We can emulate the ways traditional people’s buildings blend into the
landscape. Even though they may be distinctively different.
• Build incrementally, as you can afford to without borrowing money. Start
small, scale the project into increments. Don’t get into the mortgage trap.
• Decorate your buildings as you build. Doorways, roof ridges, timbers,
hearth, etc.
• Involve the whole family (community) in the house construction. The
further you are from ecologically intact building you are, the more
dangerous the work site and specialized you need skills.
• Don’t try out complex new ideas on a building you will live in. Practice
new ideas on outbuildings, animal shelters, etc. The story of our cob and
wire goat pen.
• Build to take advantage of Nature’s basic rhythms, shapes, processes,
and time scale. How are animals building their shelters?
• Never buy anything new if you can reuse an old one, borrow it from
somebody, make your own, or as a last resort, buy it second hand.
17. APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY

DOMESTIC ENERGY & RESOURCE CONSERVATION

Conservation of domestic energy may be achieved by a set of strategies
applied in combination and suited to specific sites and climates. Strategy sets
are:
i) Behavioral: active time of day, best use of natural daylight, choice of
clothing for climate, developing new habits, conserving water, waste
recycling etc.
ii) House design: house must be designed for climate, utilizing energy
conserving sighting, use of plants, and use of structures such as
greenhouse, shade-house, ponds, etc.
iii) Technological: energy generation and choice of appliances.

TECHNOLOGICAL:
Criteria for assessing appropriate technologies:
- does it conserve/save energy
- is it resource conserving
- is it efficient (input vs. yield, or in terms of 'doing the job')
- what are its costs/benefits re: energy, materials, maintenance, life span,
disposal & economic viability
- is it durable/repairable
- is it recyclable
- is it non-polluting
- does it use local resources/materials
- does it suit local conditions
- is it necessary - what alternatives are there & how do they compare to the
above criteria

Check out this downloadable pdf file for a break downs on typical household
appliances for energy consumption and cost
http://www.isf.uts.edu.au/whatwedo/Facilitator%20Pack.pdf
http://www.energyrating.gov.au/

Categories for technological strategies are:

- Climate control: space heating
- Cooking and cook-stoves
- Hot water supplies
- Electricity and lighting
- Washing and drying clothes
- Refrigeration and cooling
- Water conservation

Begin with an energy & water analysis of your needs - various options are
check listed below:
A. CLIMATE CONTROL: space heating and cooling
Combustion heaters:
- Radiant heat (heats solid objects; burns at high temperature)
- Convective heat (cast-iron stoves)
- 'C-grate' for open fires
- Stirling Heat Fan – circulates hot air

http://www.thermalengines.com/about_heatwave.html

Convection
- Greenhouse; shade-house
- Trellis; air vents
- solar box collector
Conducted heat e.g under floor

Geo-air-conditioning
- Take advantage of constant earth temperatures just a few feet underground.

B. COOKING AND COOKSTOVES

- Wood-fueled: slow combustion, and hot water heating (wet-back)
- Simple fuel efficient stoves e.g lorena, chula
- Cob oven
- Bottled gas, methane
- Solar cooking - solar oven, parabolic reflector
- Haybox cooking (insulated container)

C. HOT WATER SUPPLIES

Solar water heaters – in Australia water heating represents 40% of domestic
electricity consumption. In QLD all new homes must install solar water heaters
DIY solar water heaters include:
- Hose on roof
- Flat-plate collectors
- Cylindrical collectors

Wet-back systems are installed in combustion stoves for cooking or heating to

feed heated water to an insulated water tank.

D. ELECTRICITY AND LIGHTING

Renewable Electricity generation:
Solar, Photovoltaics, solar-thermal
Wind power, vertical (savoneous rotar) & horizontal axil wind turbines
Micro-Hydro, e.g Pelton wheel
Steam generation from biomass, natural & biogas, solar heated water)
Bio-Diesel generator - run on bio-diesel e.g. old cooking oil/coconut oil
Co-generation – utilizing more than one source and or designing
complementary systems to take advantages of opportunities and waste
products, heat, energy etc.
Grid Interactive Power systems – regulator and clever-box to take-up and/or
augment electricity generated on site
Hybrid Systems, e.g lighting and select appliances on solar (e.g12 volt
systems) plus restricted use of 240 volt mains-fed power points and
appliances
Energy Conservation strategies:
Demand reduction – use of energy conserving and non-electrical appliances,
energy-conserving lights, etc

E. WASHING AND DRYING CLOTHES

- Hand-operated pressure washers
- Coin-operated washing machines shared by community
– 12 v wash machine - pedal power
- Drying: airy and roofed (preferably fibreglass) area
- Drying in insulated cupboard surrounding uninsulated hot water cylinder
or near combustion stove/heater/chimney

F. REFRIGERATION AND COOLING, FOOD DRYING

- solar fridges & freezers
- cool storage cupboard, root cellar - Koolgardi safe
- Gas and kerosene fridges

G. WATER CONSERVATION
- Water tanks (use gravity flow when possible)
- Hand-basin water recycled to toilet - Dual-flush toilet cystern
- control-flow shower rose - aerating taps
- dry compost toilets - grey water recycling-irrigation
- solar bush showers & mandy (bucket shower)

H. WASTE TREATMENT
Toilets & effluent treatment systems
Greywater treatment & recycling
Humanure Book (download pdf – see links www.permaculture.com.au)
Detailed information on Reedbed construction and specification:
http://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/content/uploads/Reedbed_Doc_2004_Final.pdf

18. Earthworks
DAMS: Compacted storage systems
• KEY LINE SYSTEM:
Aim - to hold water in highest possible position. Yeomans recommends dams
should take 15% of land surface (not arid land climates).
KEY POINT:- where slope changes from convex to concave.
- where contour line suddenly increases in width
- look for key point with narrowest possible dam wall (greatest holding
capacity for amount of earth moved)
• for irrigation: aim for maximum depth - minimal evaporation.
• for Aquaculture aim to have largest possible surface area - stocking rate for
fish is detirmined by linear edge & surface area.

Check relevent government authorities re: regulation, permits etc

• TYPES OF DAMS:
1) BARRAGE DAMS - across natural waterways - streams and valleys

2) DIVERSION DAMS - filled by diversion channel - insufficient natural

catchments
a) Contour dams b) Saddle dams
3) RING POND - Turkey ponds - water storage on flat ground - pump water from
external source e.g. bore, river etc

4) RIDGE/PERCHED DAMS - can be level or subsurface or above - filters.

5) OTHER WATER STRUCTURES:

i) BUNDS - level banks on flat, graded, or walled land eg, paddies
to hold water for specific period - or flood irrigation.
ii) SPILLWAY - takes flood water to channels or stream.
iii) OVER FLOW - piped or boxed screens to keep constant water
level for fish.
iv) IRRIGATION CHANNELS - banked drains - little or no slope -
fitted with water gates, siphons etc.
v) STEERING BANKS - low earth banks (few inches) down hill from
irrigation channels for sheet irrigation.

• DAM/POND SITE SELECTION:

Factors to consider:
1. Land form
2. Contour level
3. Gradient
4. Soil, subsoil and base characteristics
5. Collection net - catchment
6. Aspect
7. Fire control
8. Reticulation Area
9. Accessibility
10. Use
• POTENTIAL USES FOR A DAM OR POND:
1. High dams - storage - no animals
2. Low dams - plants, animals, water fowel
3. Fish - Aquaculture
4. Microclimate modification
5. Insect control - predators: frogs, dragonfly. Traps: flies
6. Fire control.
7. Absorb nutrient run off
8. Prevent erosion
9. Filtering and cleansing
10. Recreation
11. Rafts (plants, birds, green house)

• CONSTRUCTING A DAM:
1. identify possibilities from contour map - elimination process - accessibility,
use, etc.
2. check clay - dig 3-5 feet.
3. find levels - estimate length, width and height of wall, water line, holding
capacity.
4. find good dozer driver (local if possible)
5. remove top soil
6. remove rocks, roots, wood from wall site
7. Key in the wall (foundation)
8. Construct wall & COMPACT
- construct wall core of best quality clay to side slope 1:1 (both sides)
then remainder of clay to 1:2 on dry side, 1:2.5 on water side.
9. Check levels & wall shape
10. Cover wall with top soil - from water level over top of wall and dry bank.
11. SPILLWAY DESIGN - along contour on solid ground - safe dispersal - check
levels
12. stabilise banks - spread mulch & seed for cover crops (e.g. oats, carpet
grass, clover, Kikuyu).
13. establish growth around edge (umbrella sedge, spike rushes)
14. Control regrowth on dam wall: NO eucalupts or large trees.
spp. suitable for dam wall include small grevillia, clumping bamboo
(hedge spp.) and other fibrous rooting prostrate native shrubs

• TO (GU)ESTIMATE HOLDING CAPACITY:

length of wall x length of dam = approx surface area (m2)
(convert to acres: 1 acre = 4.047 m2).
- surface area (m2) x height of wall to water level x 0.4 = x cubic metres (1m3 =
1,000 litres = 220 gallons)

• LEAKY DAMS
1. GLEYING:
- clear bottom of debris and silt.
 - cover with fresh cow/pig manure/lawn clippings - 10cm (4").
- cover this with carpet/underfelt/newspaper and hay.
- cover above with layer of soil and clay.
- leave 2 weeks before filling (no rain!!!???).
- fill from external source from bottom
2. BENTONITE - hand broadcast over leaky wall or empty dam, remove
rocks, sticks etc and rotary hoe bentonite into clay
3. AGRO SOAP (TERRAZOLE)
4. GELEGNITE full dam (apply bentonite, gypsum or lime first).-
explosion compacts clay NB only to be done by explosives expert!
5. ASHES
6. Hessian bags dipped in cement slurry forms thin ferrous cement
lining – not suitable for stock access
7. Line dam with 10-15cm of quality clay
8. Compact clay
a) with sheep's-foot roller
b) by puddling

2. Gabions are leaky dams that trap silt and pacify water often used in stream
erosion mitigation and watershed restoration. Gabion means “willow basket”
in French.
1) Locate in areas of stream incision in either perennial or
ephemeral flows
2) Do not locate on bend in stream bed
3) Gabions can be made from myriad materials
a. Stone, wire and steel rod or pipe
b. Trees
c. Mixed trees and stone
d. Other debris
4) Design to use the curve for best engineering advantage to avoid
blow-out
5) Optional silt water filtration system for drinking water

Induced Meandering

EVAPORATION:
- series of several small rather than 1 large dam (siphon down)
- make concrete blocks with Polystyrene pellets (as gravel substitute) 2"
thick/2-3ft wide. Hexagonal shape best - float on water (paint white for
reflection)

Legal Issues
Research the relevant water authority in your state regarding legislation for farm
dams and irrigation water rights. Please summarize the information below and
note web sites and links.
19. SITE ASSESSMENT AND DATA ASSEMBLY
SITE ANALYSIS CHECKLIST
Site Analysis
(Compiled by Adrian Kilsby)
INFORMATION S OURCES
(I) Deed, Certificate of Title
(II) Parish Maps
(III) Topographic Maps
(IV) Street Directory
(V) Orthographical Maps
(VI) Local Council Maps
(VII) Aerial Photos/Stereo Photos
(VIII) Landsat Photos
(IX) Photos - Present & Past
(X) Geological & Soil Maps
(XI) Historical Maps
(XII) Cadastral Maps
(XIII) Rainfall Maps
(XIV) Road Maps
(XV) Local Residents

EQUIPMENT
(I) Compass/Solar Compass
(II) Solar Charts
(III) Scale Rule
(IV) Stereoscope (for aerial photos)
(V) Camera and Film
(VI) Tape measure, surveying equipment.
(VII) Shovel/spade.
(VIII) PPE (sun protection, boots, first aid)
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
(I) Address of site
(II) Name and address of client
(III) Name and address of owner
(IV) Area of site
(V) Existing land use
(VI) Site Boundaries
(VII) The Brief - What do they want?
What can be done (suitability)?
(VIII) Budget
(IX) Maintenance

1 CLIMATE
1.1 Climate zone
1.2 Climate of the bio-region
1.3 Aspect- locate north point - orientation
- sun angles and sweep
- shadow lengths
- sun traps
1.4 *Wind - direction
- season - cooling breezes etc
- intensity
1.5 *Rainfall - max - min in all seasons
- intensity
1.6 Altitude
1.7 *Humidity - max - min seasonally
1.8 Other - snow
- frost
Sustainable Design & Production Ecology - PDC Handbook Section 3
- thunderstorms/hail
- drought/flood
- fog
- hot/cold spells
1.9 *Temperatures - max & min monthly
(Bureau of Meteorology)

2 TOP OGRAPHY
2.1 Contours - identify valleys, slopes,
ridges, flats, gullies, plateaus, saddles etc.
- aspects
- wind traps/shelters
- radiation traps/shadows
- frost belts
2.2 Gradients - erosion
- drainage
2.3 Geology - parent rock
- soil classification
- rock outcrops
2.4 Drainage - natural
- man-built
2.5 Key Points - identify
2.6 Views
2.7 Building Sites 2.8 Spot Levels, Reduced
Levels, Datum Point

3 HYDROLOGY (WATER)
- rainfall intensities
- large water masses - dams, lakes,
ocean
- other water masses - swimming
pools, ponds, etc.
- seasonal marshes, swamps
- drainage - natural & man-built
- creeks, rivers, gullies, swales
- water supply - springs, bores, tanks
- pollution sources - on site, off site
- flood damage evidence
- water table
- quality of water
- frequency, duration and level of
floods
4 FLORA AND FAUNA
4.1 Classify communities
4.2 Identify wildlife corridors
4.3 Microclimates and food chains
4.4 Edges
4.5 Grasslands - native and introduced
4.6 Invasive vegetation (weeds)
4.7 Evidence of rabbits, foxes, kangaroosetc
4.8 Health of vegetation
4.9 Preservation orders
4.10 Stability - sensitivity to change

5 MICRO CLIMATES
Sustainable Design & Production Ecology - PDC Handbook Section 3
5.1 Identify - habitats
- niches
- interrelationships
5.2 Temperatures - range
5.3 Wind - shelter, speed
5.4 Humidity
5.5 Frost/rain shelters
5.6 Soils
5.7 Vegetation
5.8 Natural, man made
5.9 Building sites (effect)

6 S OILS
6.1 Classification - type & structure
6.2 Depth - both top & sub soil
6.3 Amount of O.M.
6.4 Percolation/Retention/Drainage
6.5 P.H.
6.6 Soil bearing capacity
6.7 Soil samples/test results

7 PERMANENT STRUCTURES
7.1 Locate on site plan
7.2 Type and use
7.3 Condition
7.4 Size and profile
7.5 Roofline
7.6 Material, colour
7. 7 Recyclable? Retrofit?
7.8 Removal or incorporation?
7.9 Rootings of old buildings
7.10 Fences - condition - functional?
7.11 Extensions to buildings etc.

8 ACCESS
8.1 Access for both people and vehicles
8.2 Condition and capacity
8.3 All season or 4 wheel drive
8.4 Maintenance costs
8.5 Are they direct, or do they circulate?
8.6 Gradient
8.7 Hours of use
8.8 Car parking
8.9 Access for materials - will you need a helicopter, conveyor belt, crane, concrete pumps,
building hoists?
8.10 Access for recyclable materials – dump sites, rubbish tips

9 SERVICES
9.1 Locate telephone cables
9.2 Locate electricity
9.3 Locate gas pipes
9.4 Locate sewage/sullage pit
9.5 Locate sub-surface drains/stormwater
9.6 Locate water pipes
Sustainable Design & Production Ecology - PDC Handbook Section 3
9.7 Locate underground wells, water tanks, basements
9.8 Locate pedestrian or vehicular rights of
way

10 LEGAL CONSTRAINTS
10.1 Height limitations
10.2 Set back/site lines
10.3 Building regulations/ordinances/bylaws/codes
10.4 Zoning regulations
10.5 Future road widening
10.6 Rights of way
10.7 Drainage rights
10.8 Fire escape routes/access/fire trails
10.9 Other restrictions
10.10 Power line easements

11 SITE CHARACTERISTICS
11.1 Views - good and bad
11.2 Building sites
11.3 Historical
11.4 Environmental
11.5 Needs for privacy
11.6 Pollution
11.7 Rock outcrops, waterfalls etc.
11.8 Aesthetics - buildings
- from off-site
- spatial relationships
- visual sequences
- textures, smell, sound, light
11.9 Recreational - sporting fixtures
- barbecues
- swimming pools/holes
- sheds
- storage areas
11.10 Changes of levels - steps
- retaining walls
- terraces
- cliffs, rock outcrops
11.11 Special places - sensual qualities
12 OFF SITE CONSTRAINTS
12.1 Population - number and composition
12.2 Proximity to schools, shops etc.
12.3 Pollution sources - visual, noise, smell, chemical, contamination
12.4 Neighborhood character - rural, suburban
12.6 Political and social
12.7 Identification of future conflicts
12.8 History of region.

SITE ASESSMENT
Undertake a site assessment.
Undertake sampling and testing of water.
Sample soils and analyze results
Read and interpret property maps and plans

Undertake a site assessment.

1 Identify purpose for site assessment
1.1 Client brief is prepared and agreed
1.2 Project objectives are outlined
2 Collect & collate base information
2.1 Existing resources are identified & aquired
2.2 Local or site maps & plans are sourced
2.3 Base plan is prepared of the site

3 Prepare for site visit

3.1 OHS hazards associated with undertaking a site visit are assessed for potential risks and controls
implemented accordingly
OHS hazards may include solar raiation, uneven surfaces, tapes, strings & leveling equipment that may be
tripped over, existing site obstacles
3.2 Location, ownership & site boundaries are verified
3.3 Covenants that could affect the project design are identified & recorded
Covenants may include easements, right of ways, altered boundaries, council regulations or restrictions.
3.4 Climate & weather conditions are ascertained from historic data
3.5 Where required formal approval is sought to visit site

4 Undertake site inspection

4.1 Site orientation is undertaken
Site orientation includes compass bearings, magnetic north, points of access, utility service locations,
physical constraints of site, safety threats & hazards, environmental problems
4.2 Existing on-site & adjacent site features that may impact upon the project objectives are identified and
recorded
Features may include topography, vegetation, hydrology, services (above/below ground), amenities,
buildings, structures, access points, site modifications, fauna, location, boundaries, aspect, watercourses
and paths.
Other site features may include cultural elements, historic features, environmental problems
& hazards
4.3 Soil characteristics are identified from soil identification reference chart guidelines, soil maps and
recorded on site inventory report
4.4 Where required, soil samples for testing by others are gathered and forwarded for analysis according to
enterprise procedures
5 Document Information
5.1 Site information is documented in accordance with enterprise procedures
Documentation includes plans, maps, reports, schedules and field notes
5.2 Documents are completed and forwarded to supervisor/manager according to enterprise procedures
Knowledge required includes
Plant recognition, Map reading, soil pH, texture and type
Current land use and environmental threats and problems to site
OHS hazards associated with undertaking site assessment
Protocols of accessing and visiting the site

Undertake sampling and testing of water

1 Plan for sampling & testing of water
1.1 confirm monitoring schedule
1.2 water quality and environmental parameters are identified

Water quality parameters may include:

- dissolved or suspended solids
- nitrogenous products (TKN, TAN, NO2-,NO3-)
- redox, ozone, soil pH, clay content of soil,
- contaminants (pesiticides, herbicides, heavey metals),
- biological oxygen demand,
- bacteria levels (e.coli & faecial coloforms),
- aquatic life,
- chorophyll,
- phosophorus (total and orthophosphate),
- macro-invertebrates and macrophytes

Environmental parameters may include

- Changes in native land-based and/or aquatic life around the site
- Sediment and debris levels
- Wastes & contaminants
- Toxic microalgae
- Severe weather conditions
1.3 samples to be collected are identified & confirmed
1.4 equipment requirements for water sampling & testing are determined and arranged

Equipment may include

Electronic machines, probes, grabs, nets, dredges, plankton nets, water sample bottles,
fox whistle, bailer, still and video cameras, specialised machinery, micropipettes, soil analysis kits,
refractometer
1.5 range of likely operating conditions, hazards and difficult/sensitive environments are assessed for impact
on sampling & testing
2 Prepare equipment & resources
2.1 equipment is sourced according to monitoring procedures
2.2 equipment is checked for availability & serviceability
2.3 testing and correlation is carried out to verify correct and accurate performance of equipment and reduce
risk of erroneous readings
2.4 repairs and maintenance of field based equipment and instruments are carried out according to enterprise
& manufacturers instructions
2.5 Data or record sheets/books are collected for use
2.6 Equipment, data sheets & personel are moved to sampling sites without injury or damage & readied
for use
3 Carry out sampling and testing of water
3.1 testes are undertaken in accordance with monitoring plan & enterprise procedures to avoid erroneous
readings
Erroneous readings can be avoided by following monitoring schedule and standards, through regular
readings (e.g. at same time of day/month), by taking readings before irrigation cycles commence & bailing
out before taking the reading (when assessing salinity levels)
3.2 Samples are taken & tested in accordance with monitoring standards & guidelines
Samples may include water, weather/meteorological data, sediments or soils, pests,
predators or fouling organisms and vegetation (land & aquatic)
3.3 Samples for external analysis are prepared, packaged & sent to laboratory in accordance with
monitoring schedule & laboratory standards
Samples for external analysis may include
- Contaminants (heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, harmful chemicals)
- Proximate analysis of culture or other organisms
- Trace elements & mineral contents of water/soils
- Pathology
3.4 Specific and general observations including information on relevant ambient and antecedent
environmental conditions are made in accordance with monitoring schedule antecedent environmental
conditions may include previously relevant weather, rainfall, irrigation, tides or floods that could influence
sample/test results
3.5 personnel undertaking sampling & testing are supervised & feedback given on work performance
3.6 equipment operation & work practices conform to OHS requirements

4 Complete water sampling & testing activities

4.1 equipment & clothing cleaned, sanitised, repaired & stored to EP
4.2 damaged or malfunctioning equipment is repaired on site, reported to EP &/or sent to
manufacturer/specialist
4.3 test result recorded accurately on data sheet and forwarded to EP
4.4 changes in field conditions and equipment are reported
Requires knowledge of
• Hydrological cycle
• Water monitoring schedules & guidelines
• Standards for water quality
• Sampling and testing methods
• Groundwater contamination evaluation
• Sources of groundwater contamination
• Groundwater salinity – mechanisms, occurrence, and management
• Irrigation induced salinity, mechanisms and management

Sample soils and analyze results

1 Prepare for soil sampling
1.1 soils to be surveyed, contractors etc are identified to EP
Soils may include field soil site and specialist growing media
Contractors may include government, commercial or private consultants, & contractors engaged for
mechanical extraction (backhoe, auger)
1.2 tools, equipment & machinery are selected according to site conditions, testing agency requirements &
EP
Tools & equipment may include hand or powered auger, backhoe, pH test kit, electronic pH test device,
hand-held salinity or EC meter, tape measure, sample bags, plastic overlays, aerial photos, maps, charts
1.3 if required, pre-operational and safety checks carried out on tools, equipment & machinery according to
manufacturer specs & EP
1.4 areas of homogenous soil types identified for sampling
1.5 services are located using site plans & supervisor consultation
1.6 OHS hazards identified, risks assessed & controls implemented and reported
OHS hazards may include solar radiation, disturbance or disruption of services, dust, noise, soil & water-
borne organisms, chemical and hazardous substances, sharp hand tools & equipment, manual handling,
moving machinery, falling objects & uneven surfaces
1.7 Suitable safety equipment & PPE are selected, used & maintained
1.8 Clean and safe work are is maintained throughout & on completion of work
Clean & safe work environment maintained by disabling machinery, tools & equipment & storing out of
way of activities, store materials safely on site, use of signage and safety barriers & removal at completion
of work, backfilling soil surv ey holes & excavations, removing debris & waste from work area

2 Determine soil characteristics by performing sampling

2.1 Density & depth for representative sampling determined to EP
2.2 Holes excavated at identifies sampling sites to EP & OHS requirements and consideration of
environmental considerations
2.3 OHS practices may include assessing risks & implementing controls, cleaning maintaining & storing
tools, equipment & machinery, appropriate use of PPE, safe operation of tools, correct manual handling,
safe handling, use & storage of hazardous materials, basic first aid, personal hygiene, reporting problems to
supervisor
2.4 Samples for off site testing collected, prepared, packaged, accurately labelled & dispatched according to
testing agency requirements & EP
2.5 Physical & chemical characteristics of the soil are determined according to investigative requirements &
best practice guidelines
• Physical characteristics include colour, texture, structure, depth of root zone & depth of water table
• Chemical characteristics may include pH, salinity, nutrient content e.g. N,K,P, and carbonate content
2.6 Sampling & testing tools & equipment are cleaned of all residues and returned to storage according
manufacturer & EP
• Residues may include plant & soil-based residues, and detergents or cleaning agents used may pollute
soil samples.
2.7 Results are recorded in established format to EP

3 Interpret results of soil analysis

3.1 Soil types of sample area are classified according to standards for soil classification
3.2 The acceptable soil physical & chemical parameters for a specified plant are determined from published
data & historical records
3.3 Collected analytical results are compared with acceptable physical & chemical parameters for a specified
plant
3.4 Soil characteristics are evaluated to determine whether they can be altered to meet plants needs
3.5 The Readily Available Water (RAW) values for irrigation sites are determined according to industry
standards & EP
Require knowledge of Range of sample collection, testing & analytic methods that may be used to survey
soil, site conditions, environmental implications & intended horticultural use of site
Physical & chemical properties of soils in their relation to support production systems
Capacity of soil to provide water to plants
Importance of organic matter in soil in relation to intended use
Awareness of ameliorants & soil improvement techniques for addressing site limitations identified through
surveying
Awareness of environmental implications associated with soil surveying activities and application of
analytical results

Read and interpret property maps and plans

1 Recognize maps and plans
1.1 Different types and uses of maps and plans are defined.
Maps & plans can include paper, electronic, 3D models, contour models, elevations and
cross sections
1.2 Features and characteristics of different maps and plans are recognised.
1.3 Scale and north point location techniques are identified
1.4 Mapping conventions and common symbols are recognised
1.5 Projection systems are identified
2 Take-off information from maps
Information may include scale, symbols, calculation of height, slope, distance & size
including low-tech methods of estimation
2.1 Distances and areas are determined from map and plans.
2.2 Topographic features are identified from maps and plans.
2.3 Site boundaries and site structures of site are recognised from maps and plans.

3. Use maps in field situations

3.1 Current position in the field is located using landmarks and key geographical features.
3.2 Hazards and potential hazards in traversing from location to destination are recognised
and interpreted from map or plan, field observations, and local knowledge.
3.3 Map or plan content and accuracy is checked against site features, curved plane on a
flat surface distortions are checked
3.4 Contour lines are set out on site from maps or plans.
3.5 Keyline and key point are located
3.6 Zones or property boundaries are set out using grid system from maps or plans.
Requires knowledge of
• Use of range of maps, plans, models, sections & elevations, photographs
• Mapping conventions including symbols, distance & scale, direction, coordinate systems
line & area symbols
• Land survey systems, map projections, colour and symbol systems
• Contours, slope and slope profiles
• Topographic features
• GPS – Global Positioning Systems
• GIS - Geographic Information Systems

20. THE CULTIVATED ECOLOGY

ZONE I Home Garden Design

The home garden is one of the most productive and intensive food producing
systems. It also plays an important role for recreational and daily living needs.
Consider it as an extension of the home - the outdoor living environment that
provides a substantial amount of daily produce for the kitchen.
Begin with checklist of the functions and yields required then pattern these
together with sector plan factors. Experiment with pathways and patterns of
movement around the yard and beyond.

ZONE I ACTIVITIES
- Recreation area - children's play area (note changing needs as children grow
up)
- Outdoor cooking/eating
- Wood shed
- Outdoor outhouse
- Espalier trees, trellises
- Composting/recycling/tool shed
- Washing line
- Intensive animals - pigeons, guinea pigs, bees, rabbits, worms, quail (glass
house pest control)
- Gardens (herbs, salad greens, vegetables, small fruits, flowers)
- Integration of native flowering shrubs for predator habitat

ZONE I FOOD PRODUCTION

Food production needs very careful design - focus on access and schedules -
begin from kitchen steps
1) Herb spiral (1m. high, circular sprinkler) culinaries: thyme, rosemary,
marjoram, basil, sage, sorrel, tarragon, salad burnet, oregano etc.
2) Lemon or lime tree
3) Clipping Bed - small salads: chives, parsley, mustard, greens, corn salad,
garden cress
4) Pathside plucking vegies - long bearers for continuous harvest over an
extended period: broccoli, silverbeet, brussil sprouts, kale, chilli, bunching
onions, rhubarb, zucchini, capsicum,
5) Narrow bed/ easy access plants for ease of harvest: asparagus, peas,
beans, carrots, eggplant, open lettuce, tomato
6) Broad beds - brassicas, hearting lettuce, root crops (close spaced, block
planted, self mulched) beets, turnip, kohlrabi, onions, melons, pumpkin,
cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, globe artichoke, potato, corn,
Jerusalem artichoke, taro, cassava
7) Vine and trellis crops - cucumber, beans, peas, passionfruit, jicama

KEY MANAGEMENT ISSUES

1) Nutrients
2) Weed barrier
3) Mulch
4) Successional planting for continous supply
5) Crop rotation & placement of perennials, companion plantings
(see vegetable family chart)
• consolidate major garden areas ( many small gardens = maintenance)

PLANTING:
• Transplant - into soil pockets or cut through weed barrier
• Large seeds - under mulch - water daily (beans, corn etc)
• Small seeds - prepare soil, water - cover with board for 2-3 days to keep moist
then remove
• Tubers - under mulch
PATHS - cardboard weed barrier with sawdust/ wood shavings.
IMPORTANT
No Eucalyptus and large trees. - rob soil of nutrients and water – encourage
possums.

EDIBLE LANDSCAPES
Considerations for the aesthetic design of a productive landscape
• Outdoor rooms/spaces: Elements in 3D.
- Vertical dividers - enclosed spaces (walls), lattice - trellising - screen
plants/bamboo, edible hedges (pomegranate, olive, fegoa, cherry guava).
- Floors - ground covers, paving (recycled cement slabs)
- Ceilings - canopy/sky/trellises/pergolas.
- Water - pools, fountains. Cooling effect.
• Plant selection:
- function - size - shape
- colour - foliage, summer/autumn flowers, fruit.
- Too many shiny leaves - plastic effect.
- Large foliage - tropical theme.
- Mixed lacy and solid - green/grey - Artemisias.

LEVELS OF FORMALITY: Formal, informal, naturalistic

• FORMAL:
- strong geometric lines - strong architectural features
- symmetry - clipped hedges
- neat borders
- dark green foliage - informally shaped plants
• INFORMAL:
- geometric and free flowing lives
- asymmetry
- let plants grown in natural form
- oriental and cottage gardens

• NATURALISTIC:
- "wild" landscapes (18th C) - non-geometric
- flowing lives -
emphasise appropriate plants
- low maintenance

DESIGN PRINCIPLES:
- Cohesion - sense of unity - restful.
- Relative scale - growth rates - time.(eg. two story wall/azalea!....small
cottage/100ft Eucalypt)
- Garden structures - reduce size of large walls (3ft. picket fence,.round large
stately home and grounds inadequate)
- Balance - view form all angles/outside - inside - windows - gate. View with
vertical axis for balance/symmetry
- Formal: mirror images
- Informal: asymmetrical balance eg. large trees/cluster of shrubs.
- Simplicity - use a few plants with similar texture, form, foliage and color -
repetition.
- Accents - feature - interesting plants, avoid competition - chaos.
- Variety
- Themes
- • Japanese: curved pathways, pond (water lilly/ lotus/ water chestnut),
persimmon, flowering fruit trees: feature or with "natural" shrub understory,
sitting areas, irregular curved gravel/paved areas, different view points, pergola
shape
• Colonial: picket fence - rambling rose, circular arbour, fruit trees, herb
gardens, generous pathways with colourful flowering herb borders
• Spanish: terra cotta paving , accent plants (pomegranate/almond), vines over
white walls, rectangular garden beds
• Tropical/ Rainforest: large leaves, lush foliage, heavily stacked, ponds with
taro/water chestnut, palms, strong coloured flowering shrubs & climbers
• Horticultural - herb collection, fragrant garden
- Neighbourhood - Harmony with neighbouring gardens in urban areas -
camouflage frontyard landscape

BORROWED LANDSCAPES
- Views beyond the garden.
- Framing.
- Depth.

FORM / SHAPE
- Rounded - apple, peach, persimon, mango, carob, citrus, mulberry
- Oval: loquat
- Vase/fan: almond, apricot, fig, pineapple guava, plum
- Pyramid/conical: pear, avocado, pecan

GOOD LOOKING EDIBLES

- Roses. -
- Elderberry.
- Banana Passionfruit.
- Ornamental Kale
- Fushia. -
- Rainbow Chard.
- Globe Artichoke.
- Scarlet Runner.Bean
- Purple Broccoli.
- Romanesc Brocolli
- Jerusalem Artichoke.
- Oak leaf lettuce (green, red, purple)
- Lollo bianco & Lollo rosso (frilled) lettuce
- edible flowers (see list)

USEFUL REFERENCES:
• Edible Landscaping - Rosalind Creasy (Sierra Club Books)
• Designing & Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally - Robert Kourik
(Metamorphic Press, USA 1986
• Companion Planting in Australia – Judith Collins
• Carrots Love Tomatoes : Companion Planting - Louise Riotte (Garden Way
Publishing)
• Companion Planting - Philbrick & Gregg
• Organic Gardening - Peter Bennet
• Lawns to Lunch – Jill Finane
• Micro Eden – Robyn Francis
• Mandala Gardens - Robyn Francis
Seed Savers Handbook – Michele and Jude Fanton
Eightfold Year Garden Chart – Robyn Francis
21. FOOD FOREST – ORCHARDS
ORCHARD: AS AN INTEGRAL SYSTEM
- design guilds of trees, understory and foragers
- Food trees mixed with non-food trees to confuse pests and encourage predators.
- Nitrogen fixing trees.
- Poultry, legummous ground cover for manure.
- Living mulch.
- Barrier plants around trees to compete with weeds (comfrey, nasturtium)
- Fire and wind protection.
- Maximum shelter and solar radiation.
- Convenience for poultry.
- Convenience for watering - water supply.
- Tractor access.
- Drainage - no waterlogging
- Flowering plants as small native & exotic flo wering shrubs, herbs etc to encourage pest
predators and bees.

TREE LOCATION AND SITING

- Aspect - microclimate - flo wering and fruiting times.
- Drainage - slope - moisture.
- Soil fertility.
- Wind tolerance (persimmons can't handle wind).
- Symbiosis/plant associations/animals.
- Cold/frost tolerance.
- Light/shade needs.
- Morning sun.
- Leaves - drop, budding times.
- Size and shape.
- Fruiting habit & placement re- edge, canopy, understory (mango- edge bearer, Jackfruit
- stem bearer)

DENSITY OF FOOD FOREST

Temperate systems need more light, wide spacings, intensive mixed species ground
cover
Tropical systems - more densely stacked, multi story
All fruiting systems must be managed for yield and harvest

DESIGN TO STACK IN TIME

Start design with mature system tree spacings (e.g. 50 years)
Design back in time to fill gaps
- select small leguminous trees that can be removed as harvest (fire wood) without
damaging fruit trees
- medium term fruit trees with timber value for 20/30/40/ year harvest
- fruiting 'pioneers' - short lived species (pa w pa w , banana, tamarillo)
- intercrop systems: vegetables, small fruit (berries)
• PEST CONTROL - encourage frogs - chooks and ducks, birds (insectivores).
• BIRD PROBLEM - interplant esp. edge with native fruit and berry bushes as diversion
crop. Birds go for fruit for water - esp grapes (silver eye) and prefer sour flavour.
• DON'T OVER FERTILISE - Too fast lush gro wth is host to disease and pests.
• No pruning: persimmons, loquat, fejou, figs.
• Minimum pruning: Apricot, Almond.
KEEP OUT: Walnuts, Pines, Eucalyptus, Bracken.

IMPLEMENTATION
SITE PREPARATION:
- soil (WALLACE PLOUGH/ DEEP RIP)
- establish ground covers (clover, lucerne, herbs)
- fences
- windbreaks
- pioneer shrubs & trees e.g. crotalaria, tagasaste, pigeon pea
Interim crops to achieve preparation and provide income

INCREASE BEARING TIME:

1) using different varieties.
2) using microclimate (sun trap for tropicals).
*Concentrate on species suited to climate with peripheral species for unusual and freak
seasons (hot, cold, dry, wet).

HARVEST CALENDAR: for year round fruit - check varieties

STACKING: shade lovers: maranjillas, Monstera, coffee, tea, ginger, mangosteen,

tamarillo, Butia palm.

DWARF VARIETIES for

Zone I, urban, glass house: banana, avocado, persimmon, citrus, stone fruit, apples
Espalier fruits

ROLLING
PERMACULTURE:
In existing monocultured orchards:
• Replace some less productive with different species.
• Introduce legumes, habitat and catch crop species.
• Ground cover - stacking
• Interspace with small fruits/vegetable crops.
• Introduce animals/fo wl and bees.
• Wind breaks - minimum
10m width – design in diversity.

ORCHARD AND MEADOW

Grassland orchards – sod mulch system .
Michael Phillips who wrote the Apple Grower is a big proponent of this. Let the meadow
(grass and herbs) grow until after the petal fall and then scythe it down as a sort of mulch in
place. By letting the grass go, you are also keeping fungal spores in the understory during
the wet spring. This has worked well on large projects wherewoodchips or other mulches
from off farm would be way too much. This can be done again in the fall to expose rodents
to raptors and to add more mulch. This doesn't completely get rid of grass, but it speeds up
succession to more of a fungal balance in the soil, where as constant mowing keeps the
understory more bacterial. The Apple Grower has lots of data showing increased yields and
reduced disease and pest problems using this method.
Integrate regular chicken foraging (keep down growth under dripline) and occasional
controlled free-range grazing by sheep. As above, mow/ scythe twice annually
www.sc ytheconnection.com

ORCHARDS & FOOD FORESTS: UNDERSTORY PLANTS

TEMPERATE TO SUB-TROPIC SUB-TROPIC TO TROPIC*
FRUIT TREES FOR SUB TROPICS
22. MAIN CROPS

Main crops is a term used for:

a) Growing staple foods for home consumption e.g. grains, starch foods
(potato, cassava) beyond the Zone I garden
b) Crops for income generation

1. Staple Crops for Home Consumption

Specifically crops requiring more space than in a Zone 1 garden, hence better
suited to growing in Zone 2 or 3, mainly grains, pulses, root crops, storage
vegetables and craft plants.
Examples of main crops:

GRAINS: PULSES: ROOT CROPS: OTHER:

STORAGE
VEGETABLES:
pumpkin
gramma
winter squash
choko

CRAFT PLANTS:
luffa
gourds:
- bottle
- ancient
- snake
- halibash
- new guinea bean
Bamboo
Flax
Hemp

KEY ISSUES
• Value for effort: labor involved in harvest & processing, especially hand
processing small crops of grains & pulses
• Storage facilities: vermin-free, ventilation, temperature, humidity, moisture
• living storage (e.g. sweet potato, taro, cassava)

Note different crops have different requirements

• Seasonality

2. Commercial Crops for Income Generation

Commercial production systems can involve a large investment in
infrastructure, machinery, plant material, labour, post-harvest handling &
storage facilities & equipment, processing, packaging etc.
Essential to do thorough research of what is involved, start-up capital, ongoing
costs, pay-back timelines, market and marketing alternatives, legislation and
industry/market standards, seasonal variables (drought, frost, flood etc)

Organic certification – check options re certification bodies, market

opportunities

CONSIDERATIONS:
- Diversity of income generation
- Begin part-time – experiment
- Gain experience on a property growing the crop commercially
- Market potential and proximity
- Be realistic of capabilities – your own and the land
- Learn from others (mistakes, successes)
- Local resources
- Short and long term strategies
NB beware of trend crops and boom-crash syndrome

MARKET VALUE:
minimal biomass / max. value for weight and bulk (e.g. nuts, fruit, berries, oils,
flowers, honey)

STORAGE: crops that store well – wait till seasonal glut is over to sell
- root crops - drying
- nuts - honey

PROCESSING: More work and investment but higher financial rewards.

- Oils (cold press, distilled).
- Herbs - drying, tinctures, ointments
- Drying - figs, sultana, mango etc
- Preserves – olives, glaced fruits,
- Ferments – tofu, tempe, sourkraut
- Juice, Preserves - can be made from low-grade/damaged fruit.

USE OF WASTE:
- Tree prunings for smoking.
- windfall apples - vinegar.
- compost/ worm farming
- animal feed.

STACKING: in space and time e.g.

- orchard with chickens provide 2nd crop of free-range eggs
- rotating grazing animals after grain crops
- short-term annual crops between long-term tree crops
- seed harvest from select crops/cultivars

SELLING:
- self pick. - roadside stall
- farmers market. - regional fairs and markets
- marketing co-ops. - subscriber networks - CSA
- rent a tree/plot/cow. - gift basket/mail order.
- wholesale to retailers - centralised market wholesale-agents
Join a related association (e.g. Organic Producers Assn, Tree Crops Assn,
Biodynamics, Herb Growers Assn, Wholistic Management)
DON’T FORGET -- DO YOUR RESEARCH !!!

23. Design Project

Course Design Project

An important part of the PDC is the course design project. For most of you this will be
your first permaculture design. The aim of this process is to develop a draft concept plan
as a team plus 1 individual detail design.

1. Form Design Teams (3-5 people)

undertake steps 2-6 as a collaborative team process

2. Establish the Client Brief

Clients needs, wishes, vision
Check list of key elements

3. Site Visit
Establish boundaries, neighbouring landuse (present & future)
Walk over site – make observations for site analysis
4. Site Analysis and Assess ment
Collate site information – seek further clarification from the client
Develop the Sector Plan
Establish constraints and identify opportunities
Prepare a site analysis map overlay
Do a P-M-I and/or S-W-O-T

5. Preliminary Concepts
Brainstorm ideas, mind map links and relationships
Trial bubble plans for major design areas/elements
Assimilate group ideas and placement of elements

6. Draft Concept Plan

Key land use systems – note functions and yields
Structures and utilities – location and function
Pathways and access
Each team member to select 1 system from the concept plan to develop a detailed
design as an individual project – choose something you are particularly interested in

7. Detailed Design
Prepare a detailed design for your chosen system

8. Present Design Work

On the last day of the course you will present the design – discuss ho w the group will
present and who will cover what/timing etc

The presentation time will be approx 20 minutes per group, including presenting your
individual detail plans.

The group work should be presented by addressing the following:

• Introduction and context, major observation re the site/brief

• Overvie w/brief walk through the concept plan and short explanation of your reasoning
for relative placement of key systems, elements, access etc (NB do not get too bogged
do wn in detail)
• THEN Present your individual detail designs
This will be followed by a feedback session.

TROUBLE SHOOTING
Do not hesitate to discuss problems with the tutor: e.g. clarify suitability of ideas, sources
of info, or if you are having problems in the team with group process or communications

Have fun and enjoy the process…!

24. ANIMAL SYSTEMS

ZONE I: small livestock e.g. rabbits, guinea pigs, quail, a few chickens, bee hive

ZONE II: free range poultry, housing/milking shed for a few dairy animals,
tethered lawn-mowing goat or sheep – occasional grazing in orchard
ZONE III: intensive free range & forage systems, holding/overnight paddocks for
milking animals, housing etc for Pigs, Sheep, Goats, Cows, Horses

ZONE IV: extensive range - grazing under tree crops (e.g. Agroforestry) for
Sheep, Goats, Cows, Horses

Aims of the designer for animal systems:

- humane (appropriate conditions, shelter, feed, shelter, range etc)
- energy efficient
- breed selection for free-range & foraging ability, resilience and resistance -
better quality product.
- animals serve many functions - not regarded purely as meat, milk and egg
factory
- animals as waste converters - food and by-yields not useful to humans - eg,
honey locust pods, windfall fruit, kitchen scraps
- pest and weed control - tractors, lawn mowers.
- transport - methane and heat source
- companionship and entertainment.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELECTING AN ANIMAL:
1) Suitability for local conditions.
2) Environmental desirability, feral potential - effect of density on landscape.
3) Climate conditions.
4) Own needs and tastes - useable products.
5) Property size.
6) Husbandry needs.
7) Availability of suitable forage.
8) Foraging ability.
9) Animal welfare - essential needs, escapement, contradictions - disease,
poisons, other animals, predators.
10) Breeding habits (pigs: up to 12 young - sheep: 1 or 2).
KEY ISSUES FOR DESIGNING AN ANIMAL SYSTEM
A) What is the animal?
B) What does it do/eat?
C) What nutrients does it produce/consume?
D) Predators & contra-indications
E) What can it do for you/the system?

GOLDEN RULES
- keep animals OUT until system is established and ready.
- quarantine all new animals coming into the system (parasites/disease)

USEFUL REFERENCES:
'The Complete Book of Raising Livestock and Poultry' - Katie Thear & Dr. Alistair Frazer
(Pan Books 1980)
"The Complete Herbal Handbook for Farm & Stable" - Juliette de Bairacli Levi (Faber &
Faber 1984)
CHICKEN SYSTEMS
Placement of shelter and range for best advantage (manure, scratching,
insects, orchard etc) and practicality (eggs, feed)
NEEDS:
- Seeds and grains: Coprosma, Acacia, wheat, oats amaranth, etc.
- Store feed: oak (acorn), pods (carob honey locust).
- Greens: comfrey, oxalis, chicory, cleavers - 40 chicken feed from 100m2
comfrey and 4 Siberian Pea trees.
- Vines: passionfruit, choko, grapes).
- Fruit and berries: elder, hawthorn, mulberry,.loquat
- Medicines: oxalis, cleavers, dandelion, wormwood, parsley.
- Sand/grit/shell.
- Water: clean & fresh
- Dust bath: sprinkle lime, plus dried bamboo leaves (derris dust for lice)
- Predator protection: thorns, canopy, design.
- Cover for predators: thorn and shelter.
- Choice of breed for situation and yields (heavy, light, color, behavior
differences)

EXAMPLES OF BREEDS:
EGG PRODUCTION EGGS & MEAT MEAT
Leghorns Orpingtons Langshan
Sicilian Buttercups Rhode Island Red Brahmas
Houdans New Hampshire Red Cochins
Plymouth Rock
Australorp
• 20cm perch per chicken: perch of rounded timber or natural branch 25-
30mm thick. Perch for heavy breeds - no higher than a half metre above ground
• leave 25mm layer of compacted manure on floor of chookhouse - contains
natural antibiotics
• deep litter of sawdust or straw - replace at least every 2 months
• sprinkle lime at least 2 times per year in chookhouse & strawyard
• 1 rooster per to 10-20 hens - maximum 30 population per chookhouse
• Culling - sharp beaks, dull feathers, pale cone, dull eyes, poor forager,
aggressive behavior

FORAGE FOREST - DENSITY 100- 200 p. acre, manage undergrowth.

HOT HOUSE/CHOOK HOUSE

CHICKEN FORAGE PLANTS

HERBACEOUS PLANTS GRAINS TUBERS/ROOTS
Chickweed
Amaranth
Arrowroot
Chicory
Barley
Jerusalem Artichoke
Comfrey
Buckwheat
Radish
Dandelion
Corn
Yakon
Fat hen
Millet
Lucerne
Oats
Lupins
Pigeon Pea
Parsley
Rape/Canola
Radish & mustard greens
Rye
Wandering Jew
Sesame
Clover
Sunflower
Melilot
Sorghum
Farmers Friend
Triticale
Dock Wheat
FRUITING TREES TREE SEEDS/PODS
Banana
Acacias
Crabapples
Carob
Cherimoya (Custard Apple)
Coprosma
Cherry guava
Crotalaria
Fig
Chestnut
Hawthorn
Honey Locust
Holly Oak/acorns
Kaffir Plum
Siberian Pea tree
Lilly pilly
Tree lucerne
Loquat
Walnut
Mulberry
Olive
Paw paw
VINES
Peach
Cane fruits
Pear
Choko
Persimmon
Climbing beans & peas
Pomegranate
Curcurbits (melons, cucumber)
Quandong
Grapes
Ryeberry
Passionfruit
Tamarillo

DUCKS:
RECOMMENDED BREEDS:
Kaki Campbell are best snail & slug predators - excellent layers
Indian Runner - good layers
Welsh Harlequin - Good layer & table bird - docile - attractive
Aylesbury - layer & popular table bird
Muscovy - good layers /mothers. Table bird. Fly well (clip wings?)

NEEDS
- Water: Need constant supply of clean drinking water – needs to be
refreshed/cleaned regularly. For swimming provide a tyre pond, child’s water,
bathtub (with ramp) - don't let water stagnate, recycle nutrients to fruit trees.
Generally keep ducks OUT of dams and ponds (damage edge, destroy water
plants, poo-lute water)
- Free range: 1 acre will support 75-100 ducks – will need to rotate & constantly
monitor impact and feed availability
- Shelter: ducks are basically hardy animals - need shelter for severe weather
and for resting at night - shelter must be dry (straw litter) - wind
and sun protection. Will lay better with good conditions & feed
- Predator protection – mainly dogs and foxes - recommend shutting ducks up
at night in predator-proof housing
- Feed: grass, insects, slugs, lay mash (moistened), wheat & grains, kitchen
scraps
- Grit/ crushed egg shells

GEESE
Geese are excellent grazing animals for orchards/ lawns
6-12p/a - density for permanent free range grazing. gosling eat most and
indiscriminately - eat any narrow leaf weed.
Rotate grazing areas – otherwise they will eat out preferred spp and
unpalatable weeds will dominate.
If grass is long, mow before putting on geese to graze – like short grass and
will help keep it short
Supplimentary feed: oats, wheat, cracked corn, barley, garden greens, some
windfall fruit
Shelter: enjoy nesting & sheltering under low trees &/or shrubbery - not fond of
being locked up but are otherwise vulnerable to predating dogs & foxes
Water: need constant fresh drinking water. Love to swim and unlike ducks do
feed in water so will not damage a pond or dam. Need swimming water to
breed. A children’s mini pool will suffice if you don’t have a dam or pond.

TURKEYS
Need to be kept separate from chicken systems re-disease transmission
Dry, well drained ground, shade trees over housing and range.
Scratch - not suitable for permanent orchard range, but ok occasionally
Feed: insects, grains, love lots of greens
They fly well, will fly over high fences and onto roof tops – either clip flight
feathers or cover garden or cover turkey yard, or only allow to free range when
you’re working in the garden (to chase them out!!!)
Friendly disposition (males can be protective) and easier to herd than
chickens.
Only lay in breeding season – usually 2 per year in early spring & early summer
Watch out for predators of young (especially carpet snakes)

OTHER POULTRY
May include:
- Quails
- Pigeons
- Pheasants
- Guinea fowl
- Peacocks
Do your research before introducing an animal & get the system ready

BEES
Bees are important pollinators for over 700 food crops
Bees will visit 4 million flowers to produce 1 kilogram of honey

ESSENTIAL:
- clumped forage – bees are mono-feeders
- forage range: within 2.5-3km from hives
- seeping water supply

FORAGE:
- early season pollen for young bees: willows, pussy willow, acacias,
rosemary, tagasaste

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR FODDER PLANTS:

1) temporal spacing (honey throughout season)
2) classical varieties (price - marketability) box, leatherwood, clover, blackberry,
rosemary etc.
3) clumped placement
4) shelter
5) aromatic herbs
6) marsh species
7) ease off end of season - rest workers

Bee Housing - HIVES

– Top bar hives
- Box hives

SITE HIVES: - Winter solar gain and summer shade

- shelter from wind (avoid stings)
- be mindful of flight path – avoid conflict

SWISS BEE HOUSE:- permanent - reduces work

POISONOUS TO BEES: - Rhododendron, horsechestnut

Bad honey: conifers and some pines.

PREDATORS: Dragon fly, ducks NB bees hate horses hate bees

SUPERS are the top boxes used for honey storage

BROOD BOX is at the bottom – the queen lives here and raises the young bees or brood

Queen Excluder is placed bet ween the brood box and supers so only worker bees can
access the supers

Flight hole is always at the bottom of the hive

ANIMAL SYSTEMS for Zones III & IV

This section deals with medium to large livestock.

PIGS:
- natural habitat: forest forager - some wet land and marsh forage.
- naturally a clean and intelligent animal & they don’t sweat

FEED & FODDER

Pigs are general omnivores with a similar digestive system to primates. One of
their roles in nature includes scavenging. They have a keen sense of smell.
- root for tubers (bracken, sweet spuds, arrowroot, Jerusalem artichoke, yam,
potato, yakon, typha, cassava, comfrey).
- root for fungi (better than dogs for finding truffles)
- forage - fruit and nuts esp. persimon, mulberry, native fig, olive, honey locust,
nuts, acorn, palms, chestnut, guava, paw paw, avocado - most fruits & nuts –
they have exceptionally strong teeth and jaws and will open most hard nut
shells, they also crunch up and eat bones
- occasional forage in mature orchard.
- soured milk (fresh milk gives them scours – piggy diahorrea)
- grain meal as wet feed – good to mix with kitchen scraps and slops
- greens – they love green feed: lettuce, cabbage, veg and salad greens,
soft milk thistles, grass, comfrey, dock, Qld arrowroot, cassava leaves
and the leaves of most forage trees including mulberry, most tree &
shrub legumes, paulownia, willow, bamboo
- vegetables – most vegetables except for raw onion. Particularly enjoy
pumpkin

Note – pigs have no biological mechanism to tell them their stomach’s full so
they will overeat if fed too much)

PIGS NEED:
- Dry shelter: deep litter of straw for bedding (clean out & replace regularly),
draught free with small yard (locate for access to range/forage areas)
- well drained site (wet/mud encourages worms & disease).
- Shade in summer: they sunburn easily
- Scratch pole

MANURE: pigs will have a special toilet area (the spot furthest away from their
food, water and sleeping areas) this makes it easy to collect for composting.

DENSITY:
- Pig Tractors: 20/acre to plough - concentrate on small areas for fast and
effective tractoring - suit market garden cropping
Up to 3 young pigs can tractor in mobile unit approx 4-6 squ. M – needs to be
moved every 2-3 days or they will compact the soil
- Freerange on pasture: maximum 20 per Hectare - rotate for parasite control
- tethering: pigs can be tethered out with leather harness around middle
(behind front legs) + chain. Must have access to water & shade
- Forage: 2 acres per breeding sow & piglets.

FENCING: strong fencing: wood, pig mesh, old bed bases, well designed
electric
fencing for range.

SELECT BREEDS for free range ability: e.g. Tamworth, Berkshire, Gloucester
Old Spot , Large Black - use miniaturized pigs for small properties

GRAZING ANIMALS
Grazing animals provide important ecosystem services, converting biomass to
concentrate nutrient and proteins. Large herbivores play critical roles in most
ecosystems on the planet, in forests as well as grasslands as the weeders,
seeders and fertilizers of the system and maintainers of undergrowth in
forests.

Large ruminants like cattle and buffalo can eat tall grasses, whereas small-
mouthed grazers like sheep, goats, deer (wallaby & kangaroos) prefer shorter
grasses.
Rangelands for grazing animals (cattle, sheep, goats, horses) should be
designed as mixed tree & pasture systems incorporating windbreaks,
shelterbelts (hedgerows), fodder trees (pod, leaf, coppice, lop, browse), mixed
annual & perennial grass and herb pasture.
They may include quality timber crops and fuel forests with animals as
maintenance system as in agroforestry (see Forest Systems).

ADVANTAGES OF FORAGE/FODDER TREES/MIXED PASTURE.

• FUNCTIONAL:
- Microclimate. – windbreaks, suntraps, hedgerows, tree stands
- Shelter for animals – shade, rain, wind.
- Windbreaks: improved moisture retention & drainage.
- Increase in pasture grass/herb species (shade/sun).
- Encourage birds, insect predators and overall diversity.

• YIELD:
- Increases pasture capacity (animals per acre).
- Pods for storage – hammer mill (more efficient than grain).
- High protein legumes.
- Mixed balanced diet – healthier animals.
- Year round fodder – reduces need for haymaking.
*see article “Trees as Animal Feed” – Jason Alexander IPJ#17 p17

Rotational Grazing
• Small herds & holdings - Divide grazing areas into a minimum of 3 sections
(preferably more with larger herds) for rotational grazing, a 6 month fallow for
each section every 18-24 months breaks parasitic cycles
• Larger herds & commercial grazing systems should be modelled on the Cell

Block rotational grazing systems of Alan Savoury (Wholistic Management)

The benefits of rotational grazing include:
- less soil compaction
- more efficient use of pasture
- maintains spp diversity in pasture/grassland
- improved pasture & animal health
- reduces/eliminates most worms & parasites
*see artlicle "Farming the Bottom Line" IPJ #27 p18

ELIMINATE STRESS by design and right handling (molasses bucket vs

chasing
and rounding up)

FODDER TREES: (see list for further species)

e.g. Willows: yield 6 ton/ha, coppiced - 17% protein, 65% digestible
a 12 year old tree, 15m high can yield 200kg fodder.

TYPICAL FARM GRAZING ANIMALS

i) CATTLE:
Cows descendant from forest foragers of Northern Europe.
Need shelter - lack of shelter can reduce yield by 15%
Main problem - soil compaction.
Regular Wallace Ploughing necessary.
- isolate areas in paddocks unsuited to ploughing, fence off and plant with
fodder trees.
- also isolate sensitive areas - swamps, swails, erosion, slips.
- 22% pasture put to windbreak and shelter belt planting will increase (double)
yield on remaining 78% of pasture due to wind protection, soil stabilization,
pest predator.

GRAZING HABITS:
- graze 7-8 hours daily, 40% of this at night.
- spent 7 hours daily chewing cud and 12 hours lying down.
- need/prefer grasses 4-6 inches long.
- at stress times cattle need sugar to digest rough age - molasses with chaff,
straw, hay.
- sugar also available through carob pods, sugar cane- to much whole
wears down teeth.
- carbohydrates in summer through green mais.
- sprout grains in winter.

BREEDS
- according to needs: cream, milk, meat (note quantity! - Jersey)
- according to area: small areas, rough pasture - DEXTER (bull stands 40"),
hardy - good foragers.

ii) GOATS:
"The goat was perhaps the first domestic animal, going back to about 11,000 to
12,000 years ago to the Zagros Mountains in northwest Iran. genetic mixing in
goats occurred with the first waves of Neolithic farmers in Europe around 7,500
years ago " Archaeologist Marek Zvelebil, National Geographic 2006
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/10/061010-goats-
history_2.html
Advantages - milk, manure, hair, weed control (bladey grass, brambles,
pampas, lantana, thistles).
Disadvantages - destructive, cunning, need good fencing.

NEED:
- shelter: must always have access to shelter from rain - susceptible to
pneumonia (fatal)
- roughage: essential for health: brambles, rose prunings, fruit tree
prunings, lemon grass, pampas, acacia, raspberry canes, comfrey, lemon
balm,
fodder trees.
- dry land & well drained soil - enjoy rock/stony sites
- DON'T leave out, put on wet lands or only grass/pasture.
- salt lick & mollasses
Take care with tethering out (tangles, rain etc)

iii) SHEEP:
YIELDS: wool, milk, meat, skin
- main problems - dogs and flies.
- keep clean against blow fly (Biodynamic methods).
- trees & shelter belts reduce lambing losses
- sheep 'hide' for recovery after early spring shearing
- suitable occassional grazer for mature orchard systems esp nut trees
- short grazers: follow cattle in pasture rotation - enjoy browse
- well drained pasture (susceptible to foot-rot)

iv) HORSES:
USES: transport, recreation, weed control, manure
- short grazers - need plenty of grasses and some browse
- weed control: pampas, thistles, bladey grass (after slashing)
- need open space for exercise
- maintenance intensive and expensive (shoeing, vet costs)
- mulberry leaves - good fodder and vermifuge
- DON'T plant Leucaena (Ipil Ipil) in horse range - mimosine toxic to horses
- NB. horses are heavy animals and can compact soil

v) DONKEYS
USES: transport, recreation, weed control, manure
- useful small animal - carry bags for harvesting produce, pull small cart, riding
- hardy foragers - need less space & feed than horses
- will keep dogs and foxes away

vi) Other grazing animals

may include:
- Water buffalo – excellent milk for yoghurt & cheese (Mozarella)
- Lama
- Alpaca
- Deer
- Camel
- Ostrich
- Wallaby, Kangaroo and Emu farming

IMCOMPATABLE ANIMALS
Chooks and cattle - T.B.
Chooks and pigs - T.B.
Goats and horses - G increases H susept. to tetanus.
Goats and sheep - parasites, barbos pole worm.
Ducks and chooks in confined areas.
Ducks and bees.
Chooks and turkeys - mites - black leg.
Chooks and sheep - salmonella
Chooks and goats - cocchidiosis

FODDER SPECIES
CAUTION: please research the appropriateness of a plant before introducing it, particularly regarding
weed potential and whether it is a noxious weed in your area. Existing weeds with fodder properties can
be controlled through grazing as part of an integrated weed management program.

1. TROPICS/SUB-TROPICS
A) LEGUMES - for sub-tropical, acid soils -
dolichos lab lab
sirato
stylo
desmodium spp

B) TREE LEGUMES
i) FROST TOLERANT
Acac ia dealbata
Acac ia fimbriata
Acac ia decurrens
Acac ia albidia
Acac ia farnesiana (prickly - hedge)
Gleditsia triacanthos (honey locust)
Peltophorem africanmum glycine
Erythrina spp (coral tree)
Cytisus proliferus (tree lucerne)
Prosopis spp (algaroba)

ii) FOR FROST FREE AREAS

a) DRY, WELL-DRAINED
Ceratonia siliqua (Carob)
Prosopis spp (algaroba)
Cordeauxia edulis (Jeheb nut)
Dialium ovoideum (velvet tamarind)
Leucaena glauca & spp (white popinac)
b) HUMID/WET-DRY TROPICS
Cytisus proliferus & spp (tagaste)
Gliricidia sepium
Inga edulis (food inga)
Pongamia glabra (Indian beech)
Cynometra cauliflora (nam nam)
Parkia spp
Inga edulis (icecream bean)
Inocarpus edulis (Polynesian chestnut)
Pitheolobium saman & spp (rain tree)
Sesbania spp
Detarium senegalese (tallow tree, dattock)

C) NON-LEGUMINOUS FODDER TREES &

PLANTS FOR TROPICS, SUB-TROPICS
Cocos nucifera (coconut)
Juglans spp (walnut)
Brosimum galactodendron (cow tree)
Gnetum gnemon
Zizyphus ju juba (ju jube)
Pisonia alba (lettuce tree)
Shorea robusta (sal)
Papaya spp (paw paw)
Mangifera indica (mango)
Musa spp (banana)
Diospyrus spp (persimmon)

2. HERBS AND HERBACEOUS PLANTS

LEGUMES
Medicago sativa (lucerne)
Pucraria thunbergiana (kudzu)
Lespedeza servicia
Melilotus offic inalis (Melilot)
Vicia spp (vetch)
Trifolium spp (clovers)
Lupinus spp (Lupins)

NON-LEGUMES
Foeniculum vulgare (fennel)
Peucedanum graveolens (dill)
Althaea offic inalis (marshmallow)
Cydonia oblonga (quince (leaves))
Sambucus nigra (elderberry)
Maranta arundinaceae (arrowroot)
Cichorium intybus (chicory)
Stellaria media (chickweed)
Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)
Calendula offic inalis (calendula)
Allium sativum (garlic)
Nasturtium offic inale (watercress)
Gragaria vesca (strawberry)
Mentha spp (mints)
Salvia officinalis (sage)
Rubus idaeus (wild raspberry)
Symphytum spp (comfrey)
Rumex spp (dock)
Cortaderia selloana (pampas grass)
Chenopodium spp (fat hen)
Taraxacum officinale (dandelion)
Canna edulis (Qld arrowfoot)
Sorghum spp
Typha spp (reedmace)
Zizania aquatica (wild rice)
Milium effusum (wood millet)
Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke)
Coprosma repens (mirror plant)
Tetragonia expansa (NZ spinach)
Phragmites communis (common reed)
Plantago lanceolata (plantain)
Arundinaria spp (bamboo)

3. TEMPERATE FODDER TREES

Fagus spp (beech)
Quercus spp (oak)
Pinus spp (pine)
Juglans spp (walnut)
Bunium spp (arnut, earth chestnut)
Morus spp (mulberry)
Castanea spp (chestnut)
Diospyrus kaki (persimmon)
Pyrus communis (pear)
Salix spp (willow)
Populus spp (poplar)
Malus spp (apple)
Alnus spp (alder)
Prunus spp (cherry)
Brachychiton spp (kurra jong)
Olea europaea (olive)
Celtis spp (nettle tree)
Medicago arborea (tree medic)
Mespilus germanica (medlar)
Acac ia spp (wattle)
Prosopis spp (algaroba)
Atriplex spp (saltbush)
Acac ia aneura (mulga)
Osago orange
Robinia spp (black locust)
Ceratonia siliqua (carob)
Gleditsia triacanthos (honey locust)

FENCES:
Main function of fences is to keep animals in or out.
TYPES:
- Walls: stone and earth.
- Hedges: live fences - pleaching.
- Ha-ha: ditch or combination ditch/hedge.
- Trellis types.
- Electric - make own insulators - plastic over wire loop, make own posts with
- Peanut butter trick for deer

REO ( re-enforcing steel).

- Woven: bamboo, willow, brushwood
- Post & Rail
- Post & wire / mesh

LOCATION:
- ridges and contours (animals follow fences!)
- Laneways up ridges, rotational strips along contour
- protect sensitive areas (gullies, wetlands, water courses)

WIRE FENCING:
Wire - high tensile/reg. barb, various guage wires, droppers.
Meshes - chicken fine, med. 4' and a large 6', ringlock, hinge joint, pig, sheep,
cattle.

Posts - white mahogany, iron bark, grey gum, spotted gum (E. maculata),
tallowwood (hard to split). Round posts for corners and gates, split posts for
fenceline.
Star pickets – metal, recycled plastic (quick & easy to install)

TYPES:
- strainers, fence posts - round vs split (sap wood) - metal/concrete posts
- strainer assemblies: consider animal escapement via diagonals
- A.R.C. fencing book.
- gates – locate in corners for ease of moving animals & structural integrity

STRATEGIES: Fencing=work and money, need long/short term strategies: aim

to establish permanent live fence systems
- rather than one large paddock create 2-3 smaller with forage strips.
Protect individual trees, see book Caring for Young Trees. A.B.C.

25. FOREST SYSTEMS for ZONE IV and V

• Zones IV and V should be regarded as forest systems - need to decide what
kind of forest – Pattern the ecosytems as a mosaic in the landscape

Utilize and create edges: between ecosystems, forest types, forest and clear
land (grassland, cropping systems)

Considerations for selecting kind of forest & yield

- Aspect
- Slope & gradient
- Climate
- Microclimate
- Soil
- Drainage & water flow
- Local native forest type & species
- Market demands
- Short & long term yields
- Finance & labour available for establishment
- Work involved in maintenance & harvest
- Stacking in space, yield and function: other trees, crops, grazing

• Design with Succession

- Succession planting: select productive pioneers - harvest to thin out
- Succession of harvest: 5 - 7 - 10 - 15 - 20 - 30 - 50 years, etc

Example: 5 yr Casuarina (fuel), Paulownia (poles)

7/8/9 yr Casuarina (poles) Acacia (fuel), coppice woods
10 yr Coppice woods (fuel/poles), Acacia, Paulownia
20 yr Black walnut, Flooded gum, Blackbutt logs
30 yr Ironbark/grey gum/redgum/tallowwood poles

• Types of Yields:
Timber (poles, sawlogs, veneer), fuel, trade and craft materials, landscape
supplies, honey, seed, mulch, fodder, fuel, oils, bush foods, medicines, dyes,
tannin etc

AGRO FORESTRY
A two tiered system of tree crops with under story of crops and/or grazing.
- animals maintain undergrowth.
- trees provide shelter, reduce stress, provide fodder, honey etc.

• Stacking in space and time strategies:

• Productive Pioneers
PIONEERS (establish fast- early yield) YIELDS: Fodder N fixing Mulch Firewood
ACACIA -with comm timber value:
A. melanoxylon, Blackwood • • • •
A. falc iformis, Hickory wattle, • • • •
A. dealbata, Silver Wattle, • • • •
Tree Lucerne • • • •
Casuarina • • • •
Include 20-60% fast growing timber spp. Eucalyptus - see Trees and Shrubs.
N.N.S.W/S.Q E grandis (flooded) planted with Hoop and Buya - when E grandis
harvested (20 yrs) pasture is revitalised for control grazing
• Coppice windbreaks
Eucalypts in 5 rows, coppice 1 row each 2 years on 10 yr cycle – firewood &
pole timber (landscape supplies).
• Agroforestry with grazing
Poplars: $100 per tree at 13-14 years ('82). 250 trees per ha, during which time
wide spaced poplars (7x7m) also give:
- fodder - prunings - higher in protein and minerals than lucerne.
- microclimate: dappled light: ideal for pasture species esp. clover
- reduce stress - soil, pasture and stock.
- habitat for birds
• Short/long-term tree yields
- Black Walnut: harvest at 20 years (log value $2,000 in '89) - interim nut
harvest
- Paulownia: harvest from 5 yrs. Deciduous - leaf fodder, bee forage. see
article 'Growing Paulownia' in IPJ#34. p.28

FUEL FORESTS
Types of fuels
1. Solid: firewood can be harvested from
- prunings of long term timber treecrops
- coppice woods in wood lots, fodder plantings & windbreaks
- thinning initial plantings (e.g. firewood pioneers)
- pine cones
2. Liquid: oil fuels
i) Cold Press. e.g. Olive, Caster, Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum)
ii) Distilled e.g. Teatree
3. Gas: methane (bio-gas) CH4
- Jean Pain system

TIMBER
SPECIALIST WOODS & TREE CROPS
NB globally, societies have depended on wild stands - many trades and crafts
disappear with supply of the raw material. Some examples:

1) RATTAN (globally a $4 billion trade) is a palm - used for cane products –

essentially a coppice harvest as canes re-grow. Depend on natural source -
running out due to rainforest logging and over-harvest from diminishing
resource-base.
NEEDS to be cultivated - forests, hillsides, mangroves: over 700 known
species, some native to Australia.
Int Network for Bamboo And Rattan http://www.inbar.int/facts.htm

2) BAMBOO
- least developed agricultural crop in west.
- good return per unit area - min 8 years before return.
- size of culms increases gradually over 5-7 years for good size - leave 2-3
years before harvest.
- select spp for construction and shoots – manage clump through shoot
harvest

Exports of bamboo shoots from Taiwan alone amount to $50 million (US).

See: Bamboo Useful Plants Series (Permaculture Institute).

'The Book of Bamboo' - David Farrelly (Sierra Club Books 1984)
Bamboo World – Victor Cusak
3) COPPICE WOODS
Tea tree - bark (soak in warm water & separate sheets for wall paper)
- oil - esp fractions (buy oil crude and distill further)
- Fine machine oil & fungicide
- fencing material
Willow - basket willow

4) SPICE & MEDICINES:

- Cinnamon (leaves good mulch)
- Quinine (best variety in Java - high yielding red bark)
- Quassia
- Slippery Elm
- Sassafras
- Lemon Myrtle

5) SPECIAL TIMBERS/WOODS:
-IRONWOOD - Lignum vitae- very dense - hardens with time due to silica
embedded in oil (Isen holtz).
- Ebony - dense, hard, durable
- Mahogany
- Blackwood and Black walnut (20 yr old tree worth $2,000)
- Gidgee

LIGHT WOODS:
- Leiteria: swamp plant; 3 density - very soft
- Balso: harvest after 3 years (don't saw - just slice - good for models)
- Mulberry: honey coloured
- Olive - for doors
- Jackfruit

DISTILLATION TIMBERS
- Medicines
- Dyes
- Oils

POLE TIMBERS
- for construction, fence posts, electricity poles

RESEARCH AND COMPILE A LIST OF:

A) QUALITY NATIVE TIMBERS FOR YOUR AREA
B) EXOTIC TIMBER TREES THAT SIUT YOUR CLIMATE

ZONE V: Restoration and Conservation

CONSERVATION FORESTS

Types of Conservation Forests

1. for species preservation, spp Refugia (remnant flora and fauna from
previous continents, ages e.g. Antarctic Beech, grass tree forests)
2. water catchment
3. wildlife conservation
4. Ecosystem conservation (includes wetlands, savannahs etc)
5. Global genetic preservation - treebanks: planting threatened trees in other
countries because native habitat is seriously degraded, polluted or subject to
other stresses e.g. acid rain, mining, war, poachers, corruption, corporations
while we aim to preserve local ecosystems and spp, remember that ultimately
all species are native to planet earth, and all have evolved and descended from
the same parent plants
- need to be cultivated - many species remnant only in gardens - virtually extinct
in natural habitat.
- need to preserve species, eg, only 2 extensive palm collections in world
(Ceylon and Hawaii) - Philippines: recently began collecting rattan spp.
- arid lands conservation has been overly neglected.

RIDGE FORESTS:
-retain catchment.
- conserve slope stability.
- reduce flooding.
Redwood forests in CA - when cleared climate became much drier.

ESTABLISHMENT:
Establish Pioneer Assemblies to self sow: e.g. legumes, cypresses, alder, wild
tobacco, lantana, Sycamore/acer. – IMPORTANT to check and use local native –
in some situations strategic use of exotic spp may be appropriate (e.g. pigeon
pea) but be cautious of introducing exotics re weed potential
- many weeds are hardy pioneers – can they be utlised strategically during
regen
process? – check status re noxious
• Bradley Bush Regeneration techniques
• Start from an area of strength and move out from there
• minimize disturbance when removing weeds – mulch and plat something in
its place

Recommended Planting List of Rare, Ornamental and Pioneer Species

for Rainforest Regeneration in sub tropics (especially Australia).

Abrophyllum ornans NATIVE Ornamental; semi

HYDRANGEA shade sites.
Acacia bekeri MARBLEWOOD Uncommon.
Acacia decurrens GREEN WATTLE Pioneer; ornamental; fast,
short-lived.
Acacia elata CEDAR WATTLE Pioneer; ornamental; fast.
Acacia fimbriata FRINGED WATTLE Pioneer; ornamental; fast.
Acacia floribunda WEEPING WATTLE Pioneer; ornamental;
fast, short-lived.
Acacia longifolia GOLDEN RODS Pioneer; fast, short-lived.
Acacia melanoxylon BLACKWOOD Pioneer; fast, short-lived.
Acacia podalyriifolia QLD SILVER WATTLE Pioneer; ornamental;
perfumed flo wer; fast; short-lived.
Acmena ingeus RED APPLE Ornamental; edible fruit.
Adianturn hispidulum ROUGH MAIDENHAIR Ornamental.
Akania lucerns TURNIPWOOD Ornamental; shade sites.
Alphitonia petriei WHITE ASH Ornamental; pioneer; fast.
Alpinea erundelliana WAVY-LEAF Ornamental; semi-shade sites;
NATIVE GINGER edible fruit and shoots.
Alpinea coerulea NATIVE GINGER Ornamental; semi-shade
sites; (OKERBERRY) edible fruit and shoots.
Alyxia ruscifolia PRICKLY ALYXIA Ornamental;
heavily perfumed flo wers.
Anopterus macleayanus MACLEAY LAUREL Restricted; Ornamental;
semi-shade sites.
Araucaria cunninghanii HOOP PINE Ornamental; quality timber.
Archidendron hendersonii WHITE LACE FLOWER Ornamental.
Archontophoenix BANGALOW PALM Ornamental; leaf
cunninghamia bases used as coolamon.
Argophyllum sp. SILVER LEAF Restricted; ornamental;
semi -shade sites.
Austromyrtus SMALL-LEAVED Rare; slow gro wing.
fragrantissima MYRTLE
Beloghia mermorete JOINTED BALOGHIA Rare.
Brachychiton acerifolius FLAME TREE Ornamental; edible seed.
Brachychiton discolor LACEBARK TREE Ornamental.
Cassia marksiana BRUSH CASSIA Rare.
Castanoapermum australe BLACK BEAN Ornamental; seeds toxic unless
processed.
Clematis aristeta TOOTHED CLEMATIS Ornamental.
Clerodendrum floribundum SMOOTH Oramental;
CLERODENDRUM perfumed flo wers.
Clerodendrum tomentosum HAIRY Ornamental:
CLERONDENDRUM perfumed flowers.
Commersonia bertrarnia BROWN KURRAJONG Pioneer; ornamental;
perfumed flo wers.
Commersonia fraseri BRUSH KURRAJONG Pioneer; ornamental;
perfumed flo wers.
Cordyline congeate COASTAL NARROW Ornamental.
LEAF PALM LILLY
Cordyline petiolaris BROAD-LEAF PALM LILLY Ornamental.
Cordyline rubra RED-FRUITED PALM LILLY Ornamental.
Cordyline stricta NARROW-LEAF Ornamental.
PALM LILLY
Corkie whiteene COROKIA Rare.
Corynocerpus rupestris SOUTHERN Rare.
CORYNOCARPUS
Cupeniopsis enixcerdioides TUCKEROO Ornamental.
Cupeniopsis flegellifornia BROWN TUCKEROO Restricted,
var. australia ornamental.
Cupeniopsis re wmanii LONG-LEAVED TUCKEROO Restricted.
Cuttaia viburnee CUTTSIA Ornamental.
Cyathea australia ROUGH TREE FERN Ornamental.
Cyathea cooperi STRAW TREE FERN Ornamental.
Davidsonia pruriena DAVIDSON'S PLUM Ornamental; rare;
var. jersoyana edible fruit.
Derris involuta NATIVE DERRIS Ornamental.
Diospyros mabacea RED-FRUITED EBONY Rare.
Diploglottis australis NATIVE TAMARIND Ornamental; edible fruit.
Diploglottis campbellii SMALL-LEAF Rare;
TAMARIND ornamental; edible fruit.
Dysoxylum rufum HAIRY ROSEWOOD Ornamental; quality timber.
Elaeocarpus reticulatus BLUE-BERRY ASH Ornamental.
Elaeocarpus grandis BLUE QUANDONG Ornamental; quality timber;
fast gro wing.
Elaeocarpus williamsianus HAIRY QUANDONG Rare.
Euadie elleryana PINK EUODIA Ornamental.
Eupometia laurina BOLWARRA Ornamental; edible fruit;
perfumed flo wers.
Ficus macrophylla MORETON BAY FIG Ornamental.
Ficus rubiginosa PORT JACKSON FIG Ornamental.
Ficus superba DECIDUOUS FIG Ornamental;
var. hannaena edible fruit.
Flagellaria indica WHITE VINE Ornamental.
Flindersia schottiana CUDGERIE Ornamental; quality timber,
fast gro wing.
Gmelina leichhardtii WHITE BEECH Ornamental; quality timber.
Grevillia hilliana WHITE YIEL-YIEL Uncommon; quality timber,
ornamental.
Crevillia robusta SILKY OAK Ornamental; quality timber.
Guioa semiglauco GUIOA Pioneer.
Harpulia elata WING-LEAVED TULIP Ornamental.
Harpulia hillii BLUNT-LEAVED Ornamental.
TULIP
Harpulia pendula TULIPWOOD Ornamental; quality timber.
Hibertia scendens TWINING GUINEA Ornamental.
FLOWER
Helicia ferruginea RUSTY HELICIA Restricted; ornamental.
Hibiscus heterophyllus NATIVE ROSELLA Pioneer; leaves medicinal;
short-lived.
Hibiscus splendens PINK HIBISCUS Pioneer; ornamental;
short-lived.
Hibiscus tilecena COTTONWOOD Ornamental; bark
HIBISCUS medicinal; flo wers edible.
Hymenosporum flavum NATIVE Ornamental;
FRANGIPANI perfumed flowers.
Jagera pseudorhus FOAMBARK Ornamental.
Lepiderema pulchella FINE-LEAVED TUCKEROO Rare; ornamental
Lepidozamia periffskaya SHINING Ornamental; slow gro wing;
BURRAWANG seeds toxic unless processed.
Livistonia australia CABBAGE TREE PALM Ornamental.
Maceranga tanarius MACARANGA Pioneer; ornamental.
Macrozamia communis BURRAWANG Ornamental; slow gro wing;
seeds toxic unless processed.
Milletia australia BLUNT WISTERIA Ornamental; uncommon.
Milletia megasperma NATIVE WISTERIA Ornamental; fast gro wingvine.
Omalanthus populifolius BLEEDING HEART Pioneer; ornamental.
Oraecallis pinnete DORRIGO WARATAH Rare, ornamental.
Orites excelsa PRICKLY ASH Ornamental.
Owenie capidora ONION CEDAR Rare; ornamental;
perfumed flo wers.
Pandorea pandorana WONGA VINE Ornamental.
Pittosporum revolutum HAIRY Ornamental.
PITTOSPORUM
Pittosporum rhombifolium HOLLYWOOD Ornamental.
Pittosporum undulatum SWEET Pioneer; ornamental;
PITTOSPORUM perfumed flo wers.
Planchonella australis BLACK APPLE Quality timber, edible fruit.
Polyscias murrayi PENCIL CEDAR Pioneer; ornamental.
Randia benthamiana NATIVE GARDENIA Ornamental.
Randia chartacaea NARROW-LEAVED Ornamental.
GARDENIA
Rhodamnia maideniana SMOOTH SCRUB Restricted.
TURPENTINE
Rhodomyrtus psidioides NATIVE GUAVA Ornamental; edible fruit.
Stenocarpus sinuatus FIREWHEEL TREE Ornamental.
Syzygium australa BRUSH CHERRY Ornamental; edible fruit;
moderately fast.
Syzygium crebrinerve PURPLE CHERRY Ornamental.
Syzygium hodgkinsoniee RED LILLY PILLY Rare; ornamental;
perfumed flo wer.
Syzygium luehmannii RIBERRY Ornamental; edible fruit.
Syzygium moorei DORUBBY Endangered; ornamental.
Syzygium paniculatum MAGENTA LILLY Endangered;
PILLY ornamental edible fruit.
Uromyrtus australia PEACH MYRTLE Restricted; slo w gro wing.
Waterhousia floribunda WEEPING LILLY Ornamental.
PILLY
Peter Hard wick
Wilderness Foods

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION: NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA.

- need to find a balance of native and exotic species within the total system
- no system should be purely exotic: always include native plants in every
system
- select appropriate spp.
- need to conserve and replant local native forest systems & corridors for plants
and animal habitat
- native forests can supply yields
- bee forage
- animal forage
- edible fruits and nuts
- medicines
- craft materials
- oils
- seeds
- timber
- tanin

• Need to find balance of wildlife populations without affecting productivity -

dependent on property size and nature of production systems.

• Best way to encounter conflicts is to build in or near a forest:

- competition for nutrients
- availability of light
- problem with animals - possums, wallabies etc.

WHAT ARE YOUR LOCAL NATIVE ANIMALS?

Habitat/Niche Herbivore Omnivore Carnivore/Insectivore
Canopy:
Medium story
Under story
Ground
Underground

WILDLIFE CORRIDORS
- link areas of forest with each other and with water courses.
- along all creeks, rivers, gullies (riparian zones)

WILDLIFE
Roos: electric fencing - angled fence. - population control through
culling/harvest
- decoy crops
Kangaroos and wallabies - good short grazers - fire control
Can fence run to near house for wildlife - MARSUPIAL LAWN
- feed to encourage
- Wombats like oats
- Wallabies like pollard (ground oats)
Note: be careful feeding wildlife DO NOT over feed and create food
dependence

INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS: Robin Wrens, Honey eater, Fly catcher, Grey thrush,
Magpie/Kurrawong - attract through planting.
- plant trees to attract insects - with nectar.
- feed occasionally in winter - grated cheese, fat.
- provide fur for nest.
Kookaburras – occasionally feed meat scraps with bone, sinew, fur or they lose
feathers and ability to fly. Put out trapped (dead) mice and rats for them

BIRDS OF PREY: Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards etc. Leave dead trees for perch -
help control bushrats, snakes etc. (Protect small livestock)

REPLANTED RORESTS: need to create habitats

- no aged trees with holes (Eucalypts with hollows - 100 years)
- build nest boxes
- cut hollow limbs - hang in tree with one end closed - hole in side.

WILD DUCKS:
- nest: 5 gall drums on slight slant - drainage holes, sawdust.
- islands on dams - nest boxes - plants.

PLANT HABITATS - dense clumps - wallaby (tea tree, wattle, lilly pilly)

FROGS - small snails, insects.

BRUSH TURKEY - scratch garden

.
Useful Reference:
'Wildlife in the Home Paddock' - Roland Breckwoldt (Angus & Robertson, 1983)
Contact local National Parks & Wildlife Service

26. FRESHWATER AQUACULTURE

PRODUCTIVE WATER SYSTEMS

Natural Water bodies:
Progression in time- Bare clay to forest. Lakes are doomed
The nature of standing bodies of water
Oligotrophic - Low in nutrients
Eutrophic - Abundant nutrient

Littoral Zone - The edge

most variety of species
higher temperature
greater light penetration
more nutrient
higher productivity

POND PRODUCTIVITY
PLANTS
Detritus is dead organic/plant matter - the key to pond productivity
Algae – (in order of desirability) yellow, green, red, blue-green.
- single cell, colonial
- all cells the same, no specialisation
Type and abundance due to: seasonality, day length, light intensity, nutrient
availability, occurrence of herbivores.
Fluctuating temps. - Diatoms
Stable high temps. - Blue-greens, dinoflagelates yellow, green- opportunistic
rapid growth
blue-green - slow growth, more efficient use of nutrient, sustained presence
YELLOW ALGAE
Diatoms
Occur in low nutrient water
Most nutritious for animals
Often first to colonise new
dams

GREEN ALGAE
Often colonial
Often occur in winter
OK for pond health

RED ALGAE
Can occur in fresh water after long periods of high temperature
Red Tide
Associated with diseases

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
Occur in high nutrient water
Problem for rinking water/stock
Bacteria rather than plant
Bad flavor in fish
Intensive - hatcheries
Semi-Intensive - fish farms
Extensive - natural ponds/waterbodies
High input/risk, 100% controlled artificial environment
Controlled environment,
Inputs food & water quality control
low input managed environment
1.5m depth

Aquatic Plants- Macrophytes

- many tend toward rampancy
- contribute to detritus
- provide habitat
- food for some aquatic inhabitants
- use niches for control
Types:
Surface floating attached- have depth restraints - Aponogeton, Cabomba,
Waterlilies, Lotus

Surface runner - Kang Kong, Watercress

Emergent – have defined depth restraints - Sagittaria, Cyperus, Sedges,

Chinese Waterchestnuts, Typha, Rice, Lithrum, Taro

Submerged - excellent habitat for shrimps, small fish - Myriophyllum,

Ceratopylium, Potamogeton

Floating – hard to control – do not introduce onto dams - Duckweed, Azolla,

Hyacynth, Salvinia (NB the last 2 are noxious weeds)
Uses of Aquatic Plants:
- Food – kang kong, water cress, water chestnut, rice, lotus, taro
- Mulch – most spp
- Animal feed – azolla, Hyacynth, saggitaria
- Craft/fibre– typha (weaving), Phragmites (thatch), Papyrus (paper)
- Water quality control & treatment, wetlands, reedbeds

AQUATIC ANIMALS
Bacteria
- Heterotrophic - obtain energy from organic matter - decomposers
- Chemotrophic - obtain energy from chemicals - mineralisers
- Aerobic- produce CO2
- Anaerobic -produce HS (Hydrogen Sulphide), CH4 (methane), ROH
(alcohol), N (nitrogen)
Together algae and bacteria are responsible for the majority of respiration in a
pond, by comparison fish are insignificant.

Rotifers, Worms
Rotifers are midge larvae – live on detritus (the earthworms of ponds & lakes)
- food for many pond animals.
- omnivorous microscopic organic matter dead or alive.
- wide range of habitats from puddles to lakes
- most associated with submerged surfaces.

Insects - abundant in ponds

- omnivorous, carnivorous, herbivorous and detritivorous.
- flying insects first to colonise
- many live in water for only part of their lives: mosquito, midge, dragonfly
- surface & swimming insects – aquatic beetle, water spider, scorpion
Mnemonic:
Sedges have edges and rushes are round and grasses, like asses, have
holes.
- food for fish, crustaceans and birds.

Molluscs - mussels and snails.

- consume algae, zooplankton and detritus.
- most abundant in running water but do occur in ponds.
- food for crustaceans, fish, birds and mammals.
- some snails are vectors for disease ie..flukes, swimmers itch

Crustaceans - many forms of freshwater crustaceans

- cultured for hatchery raised fish
- occur in a wide range of habitats from puddles to lakes, in still and
flowing water
- wide range of food
- some are parasites of fish

Crayfish & Yabbies

Smooth-bodied crayfish worth considering
Red claw (Cherax quadricarinatus)
Marron (C. tenuimanus)
Yabby (C. destructor)
NB Above have specific temperature requirements
Spiny Cray (Euasticus sp) slow growing – not commercially viable

Freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium australienesis,M.attacium attacium)

good food, fodder spp. Tropical spp M. rosenbergii – size of small lobster

Freshwater shrimp (Paratyid spp.) excellent fodder

- bottom dwelling
- opportunisic detritivours
- require shelter
- aggressive nature
- to date no serious disease problems

Fish - different temperature adaptions

- can be used to control undesirable pond life
- Australian fish are often opportunists
- some carnivorous
- some desirable spp. will not breed in ponds
- high quality food
Australian sub-tropical fish worth considering
Food - Silver Perch, Catfish, Golden Perch, Cod, Mullet, Bass, Spangled Perch
Fodder - Rainbow fish, Gudgeons.
Avoid Gambusia ( Guppies ) – DO NOT introduce these

Most American fish are predators (no grass-eating spp)

Silver Perch – efficient forager – harvest at 500gr for best flavour
Golden Perch – better in deeper dams
Spangled Perch – small fish, small ponds, breed well, easy to catch
Australian Bass – limited food preference, large insects, crustaceans, small
fish, good sporting fish (fly)
Catfish – breed in dams (need rocks & gravel for nest) – beware of poison
spike

Compatible Australian Native fish for polycultures

• Golden Perch and Silver Perch – have same diet when young then specialise.
Stocking ratio 2 silver perch to 1 golden perch
Golden perch – selective: swimming insects, crustaceans, shrimps
Silver perch – wide dietary range – eats everything – love bloodworms
• Australian Bass & Spangled Perch – stock Spangled Perch 1 year before for
population to establish
• Australian Bass & Silver Perch – stock simultaneously

Hatchery production of native fish

- captive broodstock
- hormone induction
- hatched in temperature controlled environment
- fed pond reared zooplankton or brine shrimp
- at 2.5-5mm ready to transport

Some pond fixtures -

screened inlets and outlets
monks and turn pipes for water level control
traps

Some production enclosures

cages
raceways
tanks

Biological filters
Sand & gravel filters, charcoal filters
Reedbed and wetland filtration

Chemical Factors
- Alkalinity a measure of carbonate ions serves two major functions
1) Acts as a buffer to changes in pH
2) Is a source of inorganic carbon for plants and bacteria
Agricultural lime is a cheap source.
Lime application: approx 500kg per hectare
- Dissolved Oxygen is essential for all aquatic animals.
Increased by cooler temperatures, photosynthesis, wind and turbulence.
Decreased by warmer temperatures and respiration of all the organisms in the
water
- Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants
- Phosphorous is an essential nutrient for plants and is often said to be a
limiting factor in the growth of plants in water

Fertilising Strategies - Only in moderation

- Organic material gets best from food web
- Often in freshwater pH is too low

Physical Factors
- Temperature - important for choosing plants and animals to stock
A useful formula
Average water temp = 2.3015 + ( 0.7416 * average air temperature )
- Light - Seasonal
- Attenuates with depth consequently limiting plant growth
- Lessened by turbidity

Some critical aspects of Aquaculture.

IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS
Temperature- The most critical of parameters, which will decide the suitability
of any aquatic species for any site a major determinant of growth and breeding
of the target species and all aquatic life (measured with a thermometer)

Salinity- tolerance varies between species (Hydrometer or salinometer)

Alkalinity- The measure of carbonate ions (HCO3) which is the buffer for
changes in pH a level of 40ppm equivalent CaCO3.or more (standard tritration
with HCl) not to be confused with hardness.

Hardness- The measure of divalent ions usually Ca++(calcium) and

Mg++(magnesium) often related to alkalinity more important when water is
used for domestic or industrial purposes when a large concentration of
Hardness is undesirable causing scaling of pipes, boilers etc.increasing
maintenance costs(standard titration).

Dissolved Oxygen(DO) Greatly influenced by biological activity and temperature

often related to magnitude of algal blooms Concentration of DO fluctuates
through the day along with the activity of microorganisms ie. increasing as algal
photosynthesis proceeds peaking in the afternoon then declining over night as
the algae and bacteria respire. Ability of water to hold oxygen is also influenced
by temperature and barometric pressure temperature increases oxygen
concentration decreases should be greater than 5ppm (Winkler Titration or
electronic meter)

pH The measure of hydrogen ions in solution influenced by biological activity

and buffering capacity of the body of water desirable range 6.5-9.0 (indicator
papers, titration colourmetric meter etc.)

POND SIZE -surface area around 15m2/Kg fish

-linear edge maximisation of the edge provides increased habitat in the most
productive part of any body of water although thought must be applied to
provide suitable habitat for the target species that may not live on the edge but
finds most of its food there

Flowing water increases productivity as the freshly added water acts as a

dilutant for metabolic products of animals present, breaks up stratification and
usually adds oxygen generally influx of water moderates fluctuations in water
quality.
Commercial aquaculture as it intensifies uses comparatively large quantities of
water as a replacement for biological systems that may maintain water quality

Depth- generally <2m but in southern parts of Australia where trout are
marginal some parts >2m are recommended

Climate- temperature
- sunlight intensity and day length
- evaporation: sun and wind

27. Legal Structures & Economics

LEGAL STRUCTURES
All societies have basic laws where by people can make agreements about
modes of communication to clarify relationships between each other and
property. Until we are all responsible as individuals we will need laws to create
trust structures in society. This aspect of our "invisible structures" is important
and needs to be carefully designed to fulfill a real need and function in support
of the other visible and invisible aspects of society and life.

WHAT WE USE LEGAL STRUCTURES FOR:

Entities Land &
Housing
Business &
Enterprise
Financial
Systems
Community
Organization
Spiritual Mission

For Profit Corporations

Non-Profit Corporations
A non-profit organization (abbreviated as NPO, also known as a not-for-
profit organization[1]) is an organization that does not distribute its
surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses them to help
pursue its goals.[2] Examples of NPOs include charities (i.e. charitable
organizations), trade unions and public arts organizations. Most
governments and government agencies meet this definition, but in most
countries they are considered a separate type of organization and not
counted as NPOs. They are in most countries exempt from income and
property taxation.

Corporation Sole:
In English law, a corporation sole is a legal entity consisting of a single ('sole')
incorporated office, occupied by a single ('sole') man or woman. This allows a
corporation (usually a religious corporation) to pass vertically in time from one
office holder to the next successor-in-office, giving the position legal continuity
with each subsequent office holder having identical powers to his predecessor.

• Oldest corporation started by Pope Gregory in the 1400’s.

• Spiritual mission
• Tricky to set up correctly to avoid IRS hassles

* Incorporated Legal Structures e.g association, company, co-op have a

registered legal document to define the aims & objectives and the
method/rules of operation. This document is called the Constitution, Articles
and Memorandum, Model Rules (associations) or for trusts, the Trust Deed.

- Articles define objectives and activities – the purpose of the entity (important to
clarify ethical base, social and environmental objectives to ensure ongoing
integrity)

- Memorandum defines operation (membership & fees, shareholdings,

management boars/committee, office bearers, accounting/auditing, meetings,
profit or surplus dispersal, wind up clause etc)

ECO-NOMICS
Latin and Greek roots: household management," from oikonomos "manager,
steward" from oikos and "house" from nomos "managing," Hence we get
household stewardship or management.

Our current system of economics: Called a Fractional Reserve System FRS

• Modern Money Mechanics (outlines FRS system)
 • Federal Reserve: A privately owned organization
• 1907 panic on Wall Street orchestrated
• 1913 - Jekyll Island clandestine meeting to form the Federal Reserve Bank.
Only bankers, no legislators. Woodrow Wilson signed it into law as a
campaign promise to bankers who funded his campaign for presidency
• Application of interest is where this gets insidious. If all debt was paid,
there would be no money. Constant need to add money to the supply
o 1913=1$, 2010 = $24.20

“Our great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of
credit is privately concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all of
our activities are in the hands of a few man ….who necessarily, by very reason of
their own limitations, chill and check and destroy genuine economic freedom.

We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely
controlled and dominated governments in the civilized world – No government by
free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority,
but a government by the opinion and duress of small groups of dominant men” -
Woodrow Wilson

“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous than standing armies.
If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of
currency….the banks and corporations that grow up around them will deprive
the people of their property until their children wake up homeless on the
continents their fathers conquered.” - Thomas Jefferson

- Need to design strategies for sustainable economic systems to support

provision of essential human need and sustainable use of resources. This ties
directly to the third permaculture ethic

Income Tax
• Direct un-apportioned tax. According to our constitution, all tax must be
apportioned
• The amendment was never ratified by the state
• 25% average wage earner pays which just pays our debt to the Federal
Reserve Bank (a private corporation).
• What do people do when they are in debt? They submit to employment
to pay it of: “social manipulation.”

- Must see money as an essential social resource that flows through the
systems: use of the resource and flow needs careful planning (just like water)

First need to understand what money is and its functions.

Money is the relationship between people - a means of communication; it is an

information flow – skills and resources.
In contemporary society money has become a commodity in its own right – this
lies at the heart of many current problems with financial systems

In its purest functional sense, we receive money for what we do that others
need - it is the measure of our labor in the production and trade of goods and
services.

Then we can do three things:

1) SPEND – material aspect – consumer power
- goods
- needs.
- services

2) LEND – social aspect – distribute surplus to deficit

- banks, finance companies, insurance, superannuation
- individual
- must ensure goes to ethical activities
- conservative use of non-renewable resources
- regeneration and sensitive use of renewable resources.
- socially responsible systems (non-exploitative)

3) GIVE - spiritual aspect - tithing

- voluntary: charity, community organisations, church, family
- involuntary: taxes
-supply of real needs in ethical context for those that cannot pay and payment
for use of non renewable resources common earth heritage.
Problems with current eco-systems

SPEND - needs confused with wants – over consumption – consume/discard

- mass prod - energy inefficiency not durable - luxury items -cars, boats,
holidays

LEND - only for luxury items and big business/products

- interest - entropy - out of circulation - with held form work
- perpetuating growth of big industry – corporate control IMF, WTB, WTO

GIVE - tax - mega structure government to support mega industry

- subsidies for inefficient mega industry
- interest rates (usury)
- 3rd world development - weapons and export crops/industry
- labour taxed not resources. Need Tree tax, Carbon tax, Resource Tax.

The other key issues with contemporary financial system is legislation that
requires all for-profit companies to maximize returns for shareholders, plus the
privatization/corporatization and commodification of essential services and
resources (e.g. water, prisons, social welfare services, roads etc)

Transition from MASS ECONONY to CONSERVER-INFORMATION ECONOMY

- use less resources - energy efficient - durable
- repairable, recyclable, non-toxic
- hand made - local business - small business more efficient, flexible and
imaginative than big business.

STRATEGIES:
- Money as a resource must be recycled within the community

INFORMAL ECONOMIES:
- barter
- work exchange

FORMAL ECONOMIES:
- need many small systems
- independent - more flexible and resilient
- respond to local needs, market flux etc
- difficult to attack

A. ETHICAL INVESTMENT
(U.S.A.: Socially Responsible Investment - SRI)
Three major strategies:
i) Investment in good (ethical) business
ii) Divestment out of bad (unethical) business
iii) Target takeover of business for
a) asset stripping of unethical enterprise - liberate funds for (i)
b) shareholding majority to force change towards more ethical activities

ETHICAL INVESTMENT CRITERIA:

NEGATIVE CRITERIA (neutral - does not harm)
- NO weapons
nuclear
chemical industry
Sth Africa
Pollution
Social Exploitation

POSITIVE CRITERIA (active - solve problems)

- good products, meet real needs, durable, repairable, recycleable
- ecological land development, housing, villages
- renewable energy
- socially sound
- equitable and fair worker relations
- indep/small business and agriculture, supplying local needs
- recycling, remediation
- education and cultural projects

B. COMMUNITY ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

1) L.E.T.S. & CES (Community Exchange Systems)

2) Producer/consumer co-operatives

3) Community Savings and Loans

- S.H.A.R.E.; Wytaliba; Bellingen District Loan Fund; Grameen Bank
- Credit Unions - common goal - community - region - occupation - association
- Non profit - owned by depositors
- Community Banks e.g. Bendigo Bank

4) Local currencies - print your own - coupons, vouchers etc, Berkshares, Pre-
sales,
‘Hours’.

5) Trusts - unit trusts - land trusts - housing trusts (I.C.E.)

6) Small business networks, enterprise support, local development

corporations (Briar Patch)

7) Lease systems - common group or individual purchase, equipment and

lease (per kilometer, piece, hour etc) charge pays for maintenance purchase
and replacement.

COMMERCE
Greening business – strategies to reduce inputs, waste, energy, carbon & eco-
footprint

Waste to resource eco-networks for business and small local industry – café
waste to worm farm, castings to market garden, veg to café etc

(Notes below adapted from Permacultue Design Course Manual -

Permaculture Institute, 1986)
- Cooperatives
- What makes a small business successful
- Strategies applicable to small businesses

Cooperatives
Cooperatives are formed to help in community revitalization and worker
productivity and contentment. Decentralized, worker-owned, and (usually)
socially conscious, co-ops are a useful alternative to single-ownership
businesses. Famous example is of the Mondragon Cooperatives in the
Basque region of Spain, where 10% of profits are returned to the community for
public services; a cooperatively-run bank oversees businesses and gets them
started; and there are no redundancies--workers are re-trained and new jobs
found in their expanding cooperative endeavors.

The MONDRAGON Corporation is a federation of worker cooperatives based in

the Basque region of Spain. Founded in the town of Mondragón in 1956, its origin
is linked to the activity of a modest technical college and a small workshop
producing paraffin heaters. Currently it is the seventh largest Spanish company
in terms of turnover and the leading business group in the Basque Country. At
the end of 2009 it was providing employment for 85.066 people working in 256
companies in four areas of activity: Finance, Industry, Retail and Knowledge. The
MONDRAGON Co-operatives operate in accordance with a business model
based on People and the Sovereignty of Labour, which has made it possible to
develop highly participative companies rooted in solidarity, with a strong social
dimension but without neglecting business excellence. The Co-operatives are
owned by their worker-members and power is based on the principle of one
person, one vote

Small Business Strategies (including for co-ops)

• Presales and pledges: Can start a business off. Books are often "per-sold" in
order to pay for printing costs. One example of a restaurant (Zoo-Zoos) printing
food vouchers redeemable up to a year (discount on a meal). Individuals
contemplating a small business should ask people in the community whether they
would buy his/her goods or service i.e. market research.
• Cooperative catalogue – collective marketing website & reciprocal links:
Individuals and businesses can get together to put out a catalogue/ website of all
their goods and services. This has been done in the U.S. in "The Catalogue of
Wonderful Things" (crafts) with each product and address given individually. Can
also try the idea of a cooperative "label" and the filling or orders through a co-op
business set up for such a purpose.
• Loans: explore options for local financing e.g. local credit union or loan fund
• Local Business Enterprise Support Centers – advice and information

The Successful Small Business

- Start small; learn ho w to run a business
- find a group of mentors (local successful business people)
- Start a business in an area in which you are interested (not only to make $)
- Gain a good reputation for service and durability develop customer relations & loyalty
- Action: once decision is made, effort is made quickly to adopt it
- Belief in a set of values for the company, often re-stated – vision statement
- Respect and encouragement of co-o wners and staff – inclusive processes
- Use a simple organisational structure, with "management" in close contact with staff
and customers
- Look ahead
28. Relocalization and Bioregional Organization
DESIGN FOR THE INVISIBLE STRUCTURES OF SOCIETY
We live in a highly disorganized society. We have systematically relinquished
our responsibilities to centralized bureaucracies and corporations.
To design sustainable systems we must also redesign the infrastructures of
society, how we organize ourselves politically, economically & culturally –
design infrastructures that integrate with and support sound social and
ecological development.

BIO REGIONAL PLANNING & ORGANISATION

"Bioregionalism is a concept which I think was originally put forward by
Kirpatrick Sale.
Bioregionalism is a political, cultural, and environmental system or set of
views based on naturally defined areas called bioregions, or ecoregions.
Bioregions are defined through physical and environmental features,
including watershed boundaries and soil and terrain characteristics.
Bioregionalism stresses that the determination of a bioregion is also a
cultural phenomenon, and emphasizes local populations, knowledge, and
solutions

We need to know where the water comes from... where the food comes from,
and we need to regard ourselves as belonging to some region. When it comes
to taking responsibility for our lives, one of the things we have to be responsible
for is what sort of pressures we are putting on people outside our region - we
get Third World people to grow our chick peas.

Bioregionalism ties back to family - people sharing a common ethic. We are

talking about self definition. " - Bill Mollison

Sense of Place - a bioregion can be identified by

- water shed (catchment area)
- language group
- tribal area
- neighbourhood
- geophysical boundaries
- changes in flora/ fauna
- history
- political boundaries ( shires, municipalities)

Nodes - core of people - "nerve centre" - network

AIM: Maximum level of regional self-reliance - relocalization

Traditional societies naturally lived in definable bioregions with a strong sense

of place and history.

BIOREGIONAL ANALYSIS:
Step 1 – Know your Bioregion
Catchment Overlay Analysis
This approach explores 3 different
catchment themes:
1. Natural Catchment Factors
2. Social Catchment Factors
3. Services Catchment Factors
This is a useful tool for:
• Bioregional Planning
• Strategic
Planning
• Human Settlement Design

Natural & Landuse

Catchment:
Biome, climate, geology &
landform, ecosystems, biodiversity,
watersheds, landuse patterns,
forestry, fisheries, agriculture,
extractive resources, national
parkes & nature reserves, natural
hazards (fire, flood, cyclone etc)
Identify information resources,
authorities, professional &
community groups relating to the
above.
Establish advantages, constraints,
challenges and opportunities.

Social Catchment:
Identify areas & nodes based on
social patterns, where & how
people meet their needs- material,
social cultural & economic, and
settlement patterns including
shopping, industry, education,
recreation, entertainment,
community organizations and
networks, communications,
demographics, history, community
values, potential, challenges,
conflict, opportunities. Explore
interplay between social & services
catchment overlays for strategic
planning & community developmt.

Services Catchment:
Identify networks, hierarchy &
thresholds of utility & administrative
services. Infrastructure & transport
inc luding all govt levels, industry &
community-based organizations.
Elements include: roads &
transport networks, electricity grid,
renewable energy sources, waste
& recycling, communications, local
government boundaries, State &
fed electorates, regional governmt
offices, agencies & services.
Identify constraints and opportunities.
BIOREGIONAL RESOURCE AUDIT
- what comes into/ is imported into area?
- what leaves/ is exported from area?
- what is the local impact resulting from the above?
• identify 'leaks' and priorities for action/ consolidation
- which imports can be locally produced?
- which 'leaks'/ exports can be recycled within the area?

Bioregional Resources
- Compile a listing of what is available in area - Bioregional directory
- Resource/community centre: information, enterprise support, business
services, LETS office,
- Set ethical base of development in area – have input into local government
planning and community consultation processes
- Planning must revolved from within the region. (Planners are usually imported
from outside universities.) *Need to teach people to plan rather than plan for
them.

Eventually will become unified political and financial units.

*Cannot export anything that reduces self-sustainability of area or harmful
substances (uranium), eg, wheat export - per acre 28 tonnes soil lost. Canada
has only 1% humus left - all been exported per wheat – not sustainable.

Need to categorize resources e.g.

1. resources that don’t deplete with export - seed, information, music
2. resources that leave anyway, eg, water (how can they be better used)
3. surplus energy

What opportunities are there to bring groups together to work towards a

common goal of bioregional sustainability and self-reliance.
 • Build on what exists – don’t duplicate or re-invent the wheel.
• Develop community facilitation skills, liaise with climate action groups,
schools chamber of commerce, farmers organizations & council.
• Conduct/get involved in community forums, community education &
awareness
• Check out what other relocalization groups are doing around the world
for ideas & inspiration
• Look at local Transition Town movement

How resilient or vulnerable is your Bioregion in terms of

Food Security, Water Security, Social Security, Disaster Response?

The Bioregion
IMPORTS EXPORTS
FLOW-THROUGHS

SUSTAINABLE SETTLEMENT DESIGN

KEY PRINCIPLES
1. Catchment Planning Framework
• Understand the nature of the Catchment: Natural, Social, Services Catchment
analysis, and resource base
• Identify values, limitations and challenges – local and regional
• Recognize layers of sub catchments and precincts and their unique character,
orders of settlement and relationships
• Develop a strategic plan: ethics, vision, aims and goals
• Encourage cooperative and participatory planning and design

2. Settlement Pattern Development

• Network of different sized & services settlement & relationships
• Create or enhance sense of place & and opportunities for community building
• Protect open space and conservation values, recreation, agriculture, natural &
extractive resources, sustainable energy opportunities
• Identify and work within thresholds for growth and/or opportunities they
present
• Develop and acknowledge service heirachies and encourage self reliance
• Assess potential and vulnerability to climate change and peak out impacts

3. Key Planning & Design Elements

• Protection of the environment
• Providing for peoples needs and diversity - design for human life cycle,
security, community interaction, economic implications and opportunities
• Social planning – individual household to neighbourhood to bioregional levels
• Compatible land use and character – avoid conflict
• Efficient servicing & self reliance – use of renewable energy and resource
infrastructure
• Community facilities, resource management and decision making processes
4. Participatory Settlement Planning
• Cooperative design of settlement patterns, new and revitalising existing
communities
• Discover and develop themes to enhance character & sense of place
• Develop strategies for transition town/region, adjusting to climate
change/peak oil
• Research and test development ideas
• Gather & share information – develop feedback processes

Settlement types and forms may include:

Intentional rural land-based communities,
ecovillage projects,
hamlets, villages,
urban residential development,
co-housing,
housing cooperative,
expanded household,
revitalizing existing rural & urban communities and settlements

• Global Ecovillage Network (GEN)

http://gen.ecovillage.org/
• Cohousing Assn of US
http://www.cohousing.org/
• ABC Radio documentary series with interviews, resources and case studies
of intentional communities in Australia
www.abc.net.au/rn/utopias

Social Economic Strategies in Settlement Design

What is social enterprise?
What are the models that can make a difference in communities?
• Community Supported Agriculture • Farmers markets
• Community tourism • Micro-credit, LETS, CES
• Community self-build housing/ land trusts and housing cooperatives
• Home and personal care services
• Recycling • Community Workshop (e.g. bicycle repair)
• Leisure centers • Community corners…City Repair-Portland
• Community banking • New models for aged care
• Cafes and quality fast/slow food
• Integrated primary health care centres
• Youth support and school alternatives
• Community pharmacies/apothecaries
• Employment creation, micro-business, cooperatives
29. Additional Information

INTEGRATED PEST & WEED MANAGEMENT

WEEDS AND RAMPANT PLANTS
Weeds are opportunistic plants
Role in nature:
1. Soil indicators: soil type and condition
- nutrient excess/deficiency

2. Soil conditioners: loosen soil (compaction)

3. Soil stabilizers: lantana, blackberry

4: Nutrients cyclers: mine and trap minerals

- calcium: daisies, chamomile, dandelion, comfrey
- iron and copper: dock
- potassium: comfrey, inkweed, chicory, bracken
- copper: thistles
- iron: nettles, dandelion
- phosphorus: comfrey
- magnesium: salad burnet
- ammonia: nettles

5. Pioneers: response to disturbance to restore succession cycle.

Most common weeds and rampant plants in agriculture are direct response to:
a) over grazing - gorse, fireweed, pattersons' curse
b) over ploughing
c) nutrients imbalance from chemicals, from manures
d) stress
Must ask: - what caused it
- where is it coming from
- where is it going to
- what is it - qualities/yields/growth habit then devise strategies for control:
- remove grazer: condition soil, fodder trees, rotation
- manage with specific grazer - thistle, brambles/goats; thistles/donkey;
bracken, serrated tussock, bladey grass/pigs; grasses and succulents/geese -
chickens
- cultivation - slash and mulch
- reduce tillage
- soil conditioning
- crop rotation
- nutrient change - liquid chicken manure on bracken
- mechanical - slashing, weeding, hoeing
- mulching individual plants- sheet mulch gardens
- smothering, lantana/brambles: choko, pumpkin, etc
- harvest - gorse for mulch & fodder; Hypericum/Phytolacca – medicinal herbs
- succession planting & reforestation - crofton weed, bladey grass

ANIMAL PESTS
• Possums - grow main food garden in cage
• Rabbits - tree guards (2 tyres, drum, bottle top sheets), for home
garden/nursery an electric fence can be constructed - grass must be mown to
prevent shoting. Rabbit deterrent - Epsom salts, two tablespoons in one liter
water. On tree trunks - rabbit dung paste, tar or kero
• Fruit Eating Birds - deter before crop discovered, rags, shapes, hang
aluminum pie dishes - netting
• Mice - nut tree leaves, Sassafras bark, camphor, spurge
• CATS - (problem as predator of birds, small mammals/marsupials) - don't
have one (if you have a cat put bell around neck) - trap and destroy feral cats –
cats repelled by rue. Garden destruction (digging - toilet) - kebab skewers
sharp side up is effective deterrent.

DESIGN FOR PEST MANAGEMENT

Overview - pests now much bigger problem than before.
Globally we lose more crops to pests now than before the use of pesticides.
Average 15% productivity loss with pesticides - WHY???
1) Pesticide use has resulted in:
- loss of predators and poisoning up the food
- selective breeding of pesticide resistant pests
2) Monoculture:
- continous mono cropping = population buildup
- loss of predator habitat
- use of HYV (High Yielding Varieties - usually hybrids). v's traditional local non-
hybrids
- chemical fertiliser - natural soil nutrient loss - increased
susceptibility - unnatural succulent growth attracts pests.

ROLE OF INSECTS IN ECOSYSTEM

- pollinators
- herbivores: chewing insects, sap sucking insects
- predators
- decomposers - undertakers of forest
Huge number of species:
- short life cycle - large number of offspring
- adaptable
Considerations:
- Most insects are not harmful
- Most insect controls are not selective
••• Good and beneficial insects and organisms can be harmed or eradicated by
the use of even some 'organic' sprays (pyrethrum/tobacco)
OBSERVATION - know your insect
- identify insect - stage in life cycle
- what plants preferred - extent of damage
- what predators
- what weather conditions: a) increase activity and breeding
b) decrease activity and vigour
c) can be simulated: wind - shake branches: rain - hose
• Damaged plants - check what most commonly attacks that kind of plant.
• Eating habits give clues not only to identity but also control. Does it chew or
suck.

AIM TO DESIGN BALANCED ECOSYSTEM

- need insects in the system

Essential strategies for managing insects & minimising damage:

1. PREDATORS:
- provision of habitat (native flowering plants, bird baths/perches,
small ponds etc)
- food source
- no (or minimal) use of pesticides including 'organic'
- insects
- wild & domestic birds & animals

2. CULTURAL
- crop rotation
- timing
- minimal tillage
- soil health
- mixed cropping
- companion planting
- selection of resistant varieties
- NOT over fertilising/watering

3. MANUAL
- trap crops
- hand picking
- disturbance

4. BARRIERS & BAITS

- fruit fly bait: 1 tsp vanilla essence, 1 Tblsp ammonia, 1 cup water
- beer trap for snails
- fresh sawdust barrier for slugs & snails

5. ANTIFEEDANTS
- distasteful substances for chewing insects e.g. wormwood spray,
garlic & chilli spray, neem leaf spray
6. REPELLANTS
- aromatic plants, sprays - confuse

7. INSECTICIDES
- last resort in emergency - check for with-holding period including
'organic' sprays (tobacco: 14 days) - remember that loss of pest = loss of food
source for predator
- poisons - knockdown/stomachic
- suffocation (clay - aphids, white oil - scale insects)
- dehydration (soapy water - aphids, sugar - nematodes)
- biological - viral (dipel, bug juice)

EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC CONTROLS:

Ducks - snails, slugs
Chooks - grass hoppers, mice, snails, cater pillars
Praying Mantis - aphids, mosquito
Ladybird - aphids
Frogs - Mosquito, flies, Mosquito larva
Native Snail - predates on exotic snail
Leopard Slug - slugs
Garlic oil - mosquito larvae, aphids, onion flies.
CHEWING - BITING INSECTS: Caterpillars, flea beetles, potato bug, cut worms,
grass hoppers.

CONTROL:
1) repellents - aromatic and distasteful substance
2) Hand picking and destruction
a) drop in to jar of kero
b) collect and feed to hens
c) burn
d) drop into water
3) predatory insects - preying mantis, Lady Bug, lchneumond Syrphid Fly,
Ground
Beetles.
4) Birds
5) Poisons (last resort)

SUCKING INSECTS: aphis, thrips, squash bug nymphs, flies, scale insects -
suck plant juices on new growth tips - not disturbed by stomach poisons on
foliage -: need to be reached per outer layer

CONTROL
1) Predator insects
2) Wild birds
3) Wash off with forceful hose
4) Brush off
5) Asphyxiation - thin glue, water grass, dilute clay, mustard flour, soap
solutions

FURTHER READING & USEFUL REFERENCES

• Care and Protection of Natural Predators - J.P. Pereira. IPJ #30 p.16
• Pesticide Properties of the White Cedar - J.P. Pereira. IPJ #31 p.44
• Neem tree. IPJ #29 p.17
• The Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening - Rodale Press
• Pest, Predators & Pesticides - J. Conacher (Organic Growers Assn of W.A.)
• What Garden pest or Disease is That? - Judy McMaugh (Landsdowne Press
1986)
• Associations between Insects and Plants - T.R. New (The New South Wales
University Press )
• The Organic Garden Doctor - Jackie French
• Organic Control of Common Weeds - Jackie French (Aird Books, 1989)

DESIGN FOR CATASTROPHE

Identify potential catastrophies -
FLOOD, FIRE, LAND SLIP AND MOVEMENTS, CYCLONE, HURRICANE and
TSUNAMI, SEVER STORMS, KING TIDES, VOLCANIC ERUPTION
& asses potential human-made disasters e.g. chemical/nuclear accidents, war

Gather relevant information and history:

- Frequency - Duration
- Severity - Seasonal Influences
- Climatic Influences - Land Form
- Aspect - Vegetation

Then use commonsense to:

i) locate house and gardens to avoid major catastrophe.
ii) design buildings and plantings to withstand such external energies.
iii) some situations may necessitate construction of a shelter
Check out local disaster response strategies, procedures & authorities
Occurrence of natural disasters is increasing with Climate Change:
CHART: Incidence of Disasters – annual average 1975-2001 Source FAO

DESIGN FOR BRUSHFIRE

In Australia it is virtually impossible to totally exclude risk of fire in rural areas.
The designer aims to:
1. make small area fire safe (house, garden, farm sheds, stock, orchard,
fodder reserves)
2. surround fire safe areas with area of intermediate fire safety ( fire
retardant plants, windbreaks etc)
3. surrounded in turn by areas designed to recover quickly after fire
FACTORS EFFECTING FIRE BEHAVIOUR
Intensity of fire is influenced by:

1) FUEL
- QUANTITY - double fuel = quadrupled intensity
- TYPE- fine fuels burn faster
- coarse fuels burn hotter
- DISTRIBUTION - continuous fuel = continuous fire
- aerial fuel - dead leaves/branches/ fibrous bark

2) FUEL MOISTURE - affected by rain (or lack of), humidity, wind, drought,
aspect. Below 7% moisture - dangerous

3) WIND SPEED & DIRECTION

- for every 10km p. h. increase in wind speed, fire intensity & rate of spread
doubles
- Hot dry desert winds bring fire danger - change in an anti-clockwise when
cold front approaches in Southern Hemisphere - can change suddenly often
spreading from unprotected flank.

4) SLOPE - fire doubles speed per 10 degree increase in upward slope.

(decreases by same ratio downhill)

5) TOPOGRAPHY - aspect - sun/shade

- modification of wind direction (tunnelling/turbulence)

6) AIR & FUEL TEMPERATURE

7) ATMOSPHERIC STABILITY
- Stable Conditions: inversion layer inhibits smoke column - look for strata
clouds, smoke drift
- Unstable Conditions: smoke can rise to great heights (up to 8,000m) violent
draughts and fire surges - look for cumulus clouds, clear visibility, high smoke
column

DESIGN STRATEGIES:

FIRE PROTECTION AREA

-House and buildings.
- Machinery.
- Orchards, woodlots, shelter belts.
- Fodder reserves.
- Safe areas for stock.
- Storage for flammable liquids.
FEATURES DETIRMING MEASURES AND STRATEGIES.
- Topography.
- Vegetation type (immediate and surrounding).
- Access, paddock layout.
- Water storage - location, type and capacity.
- Property and paddock size.
- Irrigated areas.
- Road location.
- Power lines.

FIRE REDUCING FEATURES OF PROTECTED ZONE.

- Roads and paths.
- Green summer crops (re. cut or grazed - no old/dry).
- Irrigated areas - bury plastic piping - use metal above ground.
- Orchards well maintained (also act low windbreak close to building).
- Water – dams, marshes, lagoons, creeks (watch fuel accumulation from
floods).
- Windbreaks - litter free - run at right angle to fire direction extending 100m
either side of protected zone - with fire retardant sp. and forage plants.
- Bare Areas - stock yards and routes, pigs and chooks.
- Radiant Heat Barriers - stone wall, earth bank, concrete and brick buildings,
thick low combustion plant hedges.
- Vegetable Gardens - keep green & moist - avoid thick undecomposed
mulches.
- Thin Decomposed Mulch - Rock Mulch.
- Grey Water Use - well watered high moisture vegetation
- Heavily Grazed areas
- Neighborliness and help

FIREBREAKS - Particular details to fire prone sides but

- no side or part should be neglected.
- on lee side of hill more effective.
- keep fuel low on both sides.
- windbreak.
- Access tracks should all inter connect - NO DEAD ENDS.
- Close to buildings and high value asset numerous dividing areas and
access points.

FIRE RETARDANT AND FIRE DECREASING TREES & SHRUBS PLANT LIST
LIST 1
GROUND COVERS
GROUP A - Very Succulent
Arotheca calendula
Carpobrutus sp.
Delosperma 'alba'
Drosanthemum hispidum
Gazania spp
Lampranthus sp.
Portularcaria sp.
Pelargonium sp.
Rhagodia sp.
Sedum sp.

Group B - Semi Succulent

Ajuga (Bugle)
Atriplex sp. (Saltbush)
Coprosma Kirkii
Hedera sp. (self clinging var. Ivy)
Halionthemem sp.
Kennedia sp.
Kochia sp.
Myoporum sp.
Rosmarinus officinalis 'prostratus' (Prostrate
Rosemary)
Santolina sp.
Verbena peruviana
Vinca sp. (Perriwinkle)

(List 1 , Group B - Suited, continued)

Hakea sp.
Heterodendrum oleifolium]
Ilex aquifolium
Laurus nobilis (Bay Laurel)
Magnolia grandiflora
Metrosideros excelsa
Pittosporum sp.
Salix sp. (Willows)
Sorbus aucuparia

Group A - Best Suited

Atriplex sp. (Saltbush)
Brachychiton populneus (Flame Tree)
Ceratonia siliqua (Carob)
Coprosma repens
Ficus macrophylla
Fraxinus sp. (Ash)
Melia Azedarach (White Cedar)
Myoporum sp.
Photinia serrulata
Platanus orientalis (Oriental Plane)
Populus sp. (Poplars)
Quercus sp. (Oaks)
Schinus areira/syn S. molle (Peppercorn tree)
Tilia X europea/syn T. vulgaris
Lophostmon confertus
Ulmus sp. (Elms)

Group B - Suited
Aesculus hippocatanum
Agonis juniperina
Angophora costata
Calodendron capense
Celtis occidentalis
Cervis siliquastrum
Cornus capitata
Coryno carpus laevigatus
Eugenia smithii (Lillypilly)
Griselina littoralis
Further Reading
•Designer's Manual
• International Permaculture Journal #32 Fire Feature by Robyn Francis
"Aboriginal Firestick Culture" - traditional use of fire in Central Australia
"The Impact of White Matchstick Culture" - Effects of annual 'cool burns' on the
environment
"Design for Fire Control"
• "The FlyWire House" - David Holmgren - case study of design & landscape of
a fire safe house & farm
•NSW Rural Fire Service: http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au