The Basics Of Permaculture Design

by Mars, Ross

• ISBN13: 9781856230230
• ISBN10: 1856230236
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-03-30
• Publisher: Chelsea Green Pub Co

Summary

The Basics of Permaculture Design, first published in Australia in 1996, is an excellent introduction to the principles of permaculture, design processes, and the tools needed for designing sustainable gardens, farms, and larger communities. Packed with useful tips, clear illustrations, and a wealth of experience, it guides you through designs for gardens, urban and rural properties, water harvesting systems, animal systems, permaculture in small spaces like balconies and patios, farms, schools, and ecovillages. This is both a do-ityourself guide for the enthusiast and a useful reference for permaculture designers.

Table of Contents

Foreword	iii
David Holmgren
Permaculture is a direction, not a destination	1	(9)
what permaculture is and what it is not	1	(3)
ecosystems	4	(3)
sustainable land use	7	(3)
Maximising the edge	10	(8)
land-based food production	10	(4)
water-based food production	14	(4)
General design principles	18	(14)
elements	18	(1)
zones and succession	19	(3)
sectors	22	(1)
microclimate	23	(5)
frost	24	(2)
aspect	26	(1)
reflection and radiation	27	(1)
designing for catastrophe	28	(4)
wind	28	(1)
fire	28	(3)
abundance of water	31	(1)
other considerations	31	(1)
Steps in the design process	32	(11)
the design process	32	(2)
design considerations	34	(1)
design steps	35	(6)
information phase	36	(1)
analysis phase	37	(1)
design phase	38	(3)
management phase	41	(1)
implementing a design	41	(2)
Basic tools for the designer	43	(8)
a designer's field tool kit	43	(2)
tape measure	43	(1)
piece of string	43	(1)
penetrometer	44	(1)
folding shovel	44	(1)
magnetic compass	44	(1)
pH test kit	44	(1)
salinity meter	45	(1)
surveying the landscape	45	(3)
bunyip level	45	(1)
``A'' frame level	46	(1)
dumpy level	47	(1)
more expensive equipment	47	(1)
a designer's drawing tool kit	48	(3)
scale ruler	48	(1)
light box	48	(1)
stationery items	48	(2)
mathematical drawing aids	50	(1)
drawing paper	50	(1)
Basic principles of garden building and management	51	(14)
introduction	51	(1)
building healthy soil	51	(5)
the nature of soil	51	(2)
why mulch?	53	(1)
soil conditioning and treatments	54	(2)
integrated pest management	56	(4)
stacking	60	(2)
guilds	62	(1)
other tips for gardeners	63	(2)
It's all a matter of location	65	(7)
location and climate	65	(2)
choosing a property	67	(3)
local regulations	70	(2)
Getting the house right: zone 0	72	(12)
the passive solar home	72	(3)
integrating the house and garden	75	(5)
retrofitting existing houses	80	(4)
Water harvesting	84	(15)
on the surburban block	84	(2)
on the farm	86	(10)
keyline cultivation	86	(3)
dams	89	(1)
moving water through drains	90	(6)
in dry areas	96	(3)
Designs for urban settlement	99	(16)
gardens	99	(5)
compost	99	(1)
garden areas	100	(2)
ponds	102	(2)
animals	104	(4)
earthworms	104	(1)
bees	105	(1)
poultry	106	(2)
limited spaces	108	(7)
balconies and windows	108	(2)
small backyards	110	(3)
germinating seed	113	(2)
Designing for rural properties	115	(12)
whole farm plans	115	(1)
windbreaks and shelterbelts	116	(6)
animals in the system	122	(5)
Permaculture in schools	127	(8)
a needs analysis	127	(1)
determining resources	127	(1)
guidelines for designing school grounds	128	(3)
practical design considerations	131	(4)
Communities	135	(13)
hamlet - to be or not to be	135	(2)
design considerations for ecovillages	137	(7)
bylaws and regulations	137	(1)
guidelines for land development	138	(1)
looking at options	139	(3)
housing structures	142	(2)
social and legal structures of human settlements	144	(4)
Appropriate technology	148	(11)
generating power	148	(5)
photovoltaic cells	148	(1)
wind generators	149	(2)
hydro-electric systems	151	(2)
electric fencing	153	(1)
pumping water	154	(2)
solar pump	155	(1)
hydraulic ram	155	(1)
cooking devices	156	(3)
solar oven	156	(1)
solar food dryer	157	(1)
haybox cooker	157	(2)
Glossary	159	(5)
Bibliography	164	(2)
Index	166