Permaculture design
From WikiEducator
With Permaculture Design the intent is that, by rapidly training individuals in a core set of design principles, those individuals will become designers of their own environments and able to build increasingly self-sufficient human settlements Wikipedia Jan 2008
This course will run at Otago Polytechnic from 16 October - Spring 2008). If you would like to participate in the next course, email Kim Thomas on: kimtATtekotagoDOTacDOTnz. (Please note, Kim will be on leave through September). Everyone is welcome to follow along online as we publish recordings and study materials to this web page, and communicate through the discussion forum.
Aim
The aim of this course is to establish a good grounding in the foundations of permaculture design and to apply it to the development of production systems and living spaces.
We will cover:
- Natural living ecosystems, micro climates, resource appreciation
- Permaculture design ethics, principles and methods
- Base & sector analysis, design checklists, and zoning
- Resource selection and placement
- Field visits, building production systems and living spaces
Learning objectives
- Understand the principles of permaculture design.
- Demonstrate knowledge of designing production systems and living spaces using permaculture design principles.
- Apply permaculture designs to the development of production systems and living spaces.
Resources
- Permaculture Design Wikibook - This resource is under development and constant improvement along with the course and with help from participants.
- A Youtube video playlist.
- Blip.tv videos - including recordings from this course.
- Introduction to Permaculture. Bill Mollison and Reny Mia Slay. Tagari Publishers, Tyalgum, Australia.1991. 198pp.
- Permaculture: A Designer's Manual. Bill Mollison. Tagari Publications, Tyalgum, Australia. 1988. 576pp.
- Earth User's Guide to Permaculture. Rosemary Morrow and Rob Allsop. Kangaroo Press, NSW Australia. 2006 (2nd ed.). 164pp.
- traditional Maori medicines
Course Schedule
(
: each session needs a "topic" name instead of just session #)
This section is being rewritten for the Spring 2008 course. The Autumn 2008 course schedule, notes and recordings can be seen here.
Aim is pretty much as before but I would like the objectives to include that participants have, by the end of it, a design for their land & a portfolio of information which they can then can continue to work with & expand on.
Session 1 Oct. 16th ~ 6.30-9pm
This week we will go through the course information, get to know one another, and make a start on learning about permaculture.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the course aims
- Have knowledge about each other & begin the building of our resources: the sharing of the skills, experiences & dreams we bring.
- Understand the ethical foundations of permaculture design
- Outline the solutions Permaculture could offer to the issues we face today.
To do
(: need more detail. Imagine if someone missed the class and was relying on this to do list to catch up)
- Introductions: Make introductions in class time, and/or on the email forum.
- Course info, it’s aims, the timetable, the online resources & general house keeping.
- Introduction to Permaculture and think about choosing a garden to work in for the zone 2 practical.
- Develop a need & have to share/give list'
Homework:
- Research the Permaculture principles & definitions of ecology.
- How do they relate to the ethics? What are they for?
Resources
- Rosemary Morrow, “Earth Users Guide to Permaculture”, Kangaroo Press NSW Australia, 2006 (2nd ed)
- David Holmgren, “Principles & Pathways beyond Sustainability” Holmgren Design Services, Australia, 2002.
- http://www.holmgren.co.au
- http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Permaculture_design
- http://www.permaculture.org.nz
Session 2 Oct. 19th ~ 10am – 4pm
Ecology field visit to a local forest to learn from the wider garden. This session will introduce microclimates, the edge effect, creating cycles, the concept of needs & yields & will expand your knowledge of the Permaculture principles.
Learning Objectives
- Use your senses to gather information about various aspects of any ecosystem or section of land
- Describe how materials & energy cycle through an ecosystem
- Describe the co-operative relationships within the ecosystem
- Understand the ecological foundations of the Permaculture principles
To do
(: need to write a "to do" list for the actual session. Perhaps take some of the intro text above and make it a list here)
Homework
- "Adopt" a principle & see how it affects the way you live.
- Obtain a copy of the title for your land.
- Collect soil samples
Resources
(: resources needed)
Session 3 Oct. 23rd ~ 6.30-9pm
(: Intro needed)
Learning Objectives
- Understand & apply the design methods & how to use the checklist to gather & map information.
- Draw a base plan to scale
To do
- Begin the design process by exploring the use of the designers checklist.
- Doing a plan to scale.
Homework
- Start the design process by creating your base plan & sector analysis.
- Map microclimates & soils
- Use the check list as a reference to help guide the process
Resources
(: resources needed)
Session 4 Oct. 30th ~ 6.30-9pm
(: intro needed)
Learning Objectives
- Understand & apply the design methods & how to use the checklist to gather & map information.
- Draw a base plan to scale
(: not sure where these are meant to go:)
- Understand the principles of zone planning
- Apply broad zone mapping
- Describe various ways to gather information on soils
- Understand the principles of soil improvement
To do
- Review base & sector maps & use of checklist
- Introduction to broad zone planning.
- Looking at soil samples & approaches to improving & working with soils.
Homework
- Continue to work with your design to map the broad zones, microclimates & soils.
- Read over the list of “things to look for” for the field visits.
Resources
(: resources needed)
Session 5 Nov. 1st ~ 10am-4pm
In this session we will attend field visits to local Permaculture properties. The properties will show a variety of approaches & uses of Permaculture design systems for both domestic & commercial food production.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how Permaculture design can be applied to meet the various needs of both land & people
- Identify zones
- Describe some uses of plants to provide biomass & bio-balance
- Understand how animals are integrated & their beneficial effects
- Understand how the principles of ecology work in a cultivated ecosystem
- Describe some methods of microclimate use & enhancement
To do
(: need a to do list for the session, such as - fill out this activity sheet on the field trip or something)
Homework
- Write/draw/add photos of your experiences & learnings, that came from the visits, in your portfolio.
- Collect weeds & other plants to bring in for ID & uses
- Start collecting materials for the making of the zone 1 garden
Resources
(: need resources such as handouts to take on the field trip, Kim and Leigh videos from the last field trips)
Session 6 Nov 6th ~ 6.30-9pm
(: Intro needed)
Learning Objectives
- Describe how weeds can be used to create fertility, indicate soil conditions & act as nursery crops
- Create bio-balance in a design system through the planting of beneficial insectary plants
- Create a weed map as an overlay
To do
- Review broad zones, soils & microclimate maps
- The many uses of weeds & ID of specimens.
- Do a weed map
- Creating bio-balance in your system.
Homework
- Research Zone 1 look for designs, materials & relationships with other zones
- What would you like to grow in your zone 1?
Resources
(: Resources needed such as a weed map example, links to information etc)
Session 7 Nov.13th ~ 6.30-9pm
(: Intro text needed)
Learning Objectives
- Design a detailed plan of their zone 1 garden
- Understand, in theory, how to make a no-dig garden bed
- Choose appropriate plants & materials for the zone
- Apply the analysis design method within the zone & to enhance the relationships with other zones
To do
- Zone 1:
- Review research.
- Explore design methods, planting patterns, plants, materials & techniques.
Homework
- Further practice with the designers checklist
- Bring collected cardboard, newspapers, grass clippings, seaweed & woollen carpet.
Resources
(: need handouts and/or links etc)
Session 8 Nov.15th ~ 10am-4pm
(: intro text needed)
Learning Objectives
- Appropriately place, create & design a garden bed using the above methods
- Understand, in a practical hands on way, how to create & use microclimates, source materials & plant for diversity & bio-balance
To do
- Creating a zone 1 garden, a practical workshop on site at L-block.
- We will work together, with the designers checklist, to design, create & plant a garden using the sheet mulch method.
Homework
- Begin a detailed design of your zone 1 garden
Resources
(: need links to stuff that will assist with homework and prepare for the practical workshop)
Session 9 - Zone 2 Design and Plants Nov.20th ~ 6.30-9pm
Zone 2 of human landscapes are still intensively managed, but less so than zone one, in zone two trees shrubs, perennials and animals play major roles. In this session we will look at what is commonly produced in zone two areas, how to choose what to place in zone two and look at some of the principles of permaculture design that help us create a dynamic productive zone 2.
Learning Objectives
- To be able to draw on inspiration from wild and cultivated ‘woodlands’ for zone 2 design.
- Choose appropriate plants & materials for the zone
- Relate permaculture design principles to designing Zone 2: Stacking (Briefly), Succession (Briefly), Multiple Functions, Guilds, and Biological Resources
- Recognise three models that can be applied to zone 2
To Do
- Class activity: create a Products / Needs diagram for Chickens
- Class activity: make Zone 2 elements list: focus on those relevant to class
- Discuss Permaculture design principles relating to zone 2
- Sketch a zone 2 model appropriate to a part of your garden from a selection of three.
Homework
- Read Pg 9-12. (Intro to Permaculture, Bill Mollison)
- Read Pg 149-155. Poultry Forage Systems, being conscious not all plants mentioned are appropriate to our climate. (Intro to Permaculture, Bill Mollison)
- Read Pg 123-127. (Intro to Permaculture, Bill Mollison)
- Note questions from reading and your own property to ask.
Resources
- Book - Intro to Permaculture, Bill Mollison
- Copies of reading homework
- Paper, pens, whiteboard
- Data projector, computer
Session 10 - Zone 2 Practical Workshop and final review of designs & portfolios feed back session - Nov.22nd/23rd ~10am-4pm
We will use design principles and site observation to lay out plants and paths etc on the polytechnic permaculture garden site. We will plant these. We will use three different establishment techniques. We will discuss and use appropriate soil improving techniques, and discuss maintaining fertility and creating a healthy zone 2 ecosystem.
We will have our final review of designs & portfolios & feed back session
Learning Objectives
- Practice using permaculture design principles (esp. stacking and succession) and site observation to lay out plants and paths etc on the polytechnic permaculture garden site.
- Practice one and discuss three different establishment techniques.
- Practice planting of different types of zone 2 plants
- Use some techniques to improve soil and create a and maintain healthy soil for zone 2
To Do
- Permaculture design principles (esp. stacking and succession) and site observation discussed as plants and paths are laid out on the polytechnic permaculture garden site.
- Divide into three groups and use three different establishment techniques. Fertilise and plant plants provided. Each group report to their groups on this experience.
- Review of designs & portfolios
- Feed back session on course.
Homework
- Read Pg 103-105 Sheet Mulching. (Intro to Permaculture, Bill Mollison)
- Read Pg 51-54 Soils. Building Garden soils (not Special considerations) (Intro to Permaculture, Bill Mollison)
- Read Pg 19-22 Small scale Intensive Systems. (Intro to Permaculture, Bill Mollison)
Resources
- Book - Intro to Permaculture, Bill Mollison
- Copies of reading homework
- Paper, pens, whiteboard
- Mulch / compost materials
- Plants
- Tools
- Rope / hose, stakes
