Permaculture Principles and Methodologies

Question 1

6 Design Principals (for operation)

Answer 1

1. Observe and Interact
2. Catch and Store Energy
3. Obtain a Yield
4. Apply Self-regulation and Accept Feedback
5. Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services
6. Produce No Waste

Question 2

6 Design Principals (for design)

Answer 2

7. Design from Patterns to Details
8. Integrate Rather than Segregate
9. Use Small and Slow Solutions
10. Use and Value Diversity
11. Use Edges and Value the Marginal
12. Creatively Use and Respond to Change

Question 3

What is the scale of permanence (from most permanent to most easily modified)

Answer 3

Climate
Landform
Water (in general)
Access & Circulation
Vegetation & Wildlife
Microclimate
Buildings & Infrastructure
Zones of Use
Soil (Fertility & Management)
Aesthetics

Question 4

What is the significance/purpose of the scale of permanence?

Answer 4

It lists the components of landscape in their general order of permanence - also provides excellent guidance to ensure all important aspects of landscape design are visited, and prioritized in the order according to the ease of modification.

Question 5

Care of the Earth:

Answer 5

includes all living and non-living things, plants, animals, land, water, air

Question 6

Care of People:

Answer 6

promotes self-reliance and community responsibility and access to resources necessary for existence

Question 7

Fair Share

Answer 7

Setting Limits to Growth and Consumption, Benevolent Distribution of Goods and Resources

Question 8

System yield is the sum total of:

Answer 8

surplus energy produced by, stored, conserved, reused, or converted by the design.

Question 9

Energy is in surplus when . . .

Answer 9

the system itself has available all its needs for growth, reproduction and maintenance.

Question 10

Unused surplus results in . . .

Answer 10

pollution and more work.

Question 11

Relative Location:

Answer 11

Components placed in a system are viewed relatively, not in isolation.

Question 12

Everything is connected to everything else; therefore, the designer’s job is to . . .

Answer 12

Recognize functional relationships between elements.

Question 13

With regards to function and elements . . .

Answer 13

Every function is supported by many elements; Every element is supported by many functions

Question 14

Local Focus:

Answer 14

Community efficiency, not self-sufficiency.

Question 15

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

Answer 15

increasingly diverse in both space and time.

Question 16

Diversity: What is important is the . . .

Answer 16

complexity of the functional relationships that exist between elements, not the number of elements.

Question 17

Biological Resources: We know that living things . . .

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Do not consume or export more biomass than . . .

Answer 18

carbon fixed by the solar budget.

Question 19

Stocking:

Answer 19

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 needs of the whole system?

Question 20

Stacking:

Answer 20

Multi-level functions for single element. Multi-level garden design, i.e., trellising, forest garden, vines, groundcovers, etc.

Question 21

Cycling (Succession):

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Use onsite resources:

Answer 22

Determine what resources are available and entering the system on their own. Maximize their use.

Question 23

Edge effect:

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

Ecotones are the most . . .

Answer 24

diverse and fertile areas in a system, where two ecosystems come together to form a third

Question 25

Energy recycling:

Answer 25

Yields form system (especially “waste” and unused yields) designed to supply onsite needs and/or needs of local region.

Question 26

What is the key to intensive systems (small scale design)?

Answer 26

Intensive systems start small and create a system that is manageable and produces a high yield.

Question 27

Make least change for the greatest effect:

Answer 27

The less change that is generated, the less embedded energy is used to endow the system.

Question 28

Planting strategy:

Answer 28

1st-natives, 2nd-proven exotics, 3rd-unproven exotics- carefully on small scale with lots of observation.

Question 29

When working within nature:

Answer 29

Aiding the natural cycles results in higher yield and less work. A little support goes a long way.

Question 30

Appropriate technology:

Answer 30

Permaculture principles apply to cooking, lighting, transportation, heating, sewage treatment, water and other utilities.

Question 31

Law of return:

Answer 31

Whatever we take, we must return. Every object must responsibly provide for its replacement.

Question 32

Stress and harmony: Stress

Answer 32

Stress may be defined as either prevention of natural function, or of forced function.

Question 33

Stress and harmony: Harmony

Answer 33

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

Question 34

The problem is the solution:

Answer 34

We are the problem, we are the solution. Turn constraints into resources.

Question 35

Mistakes are:

Answer 35

tools for learning

Question 36

The yield of a system is theoretically . . .

Answer 36

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

Question 37

Dispersal of yield over time:

Answer 37

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.

Question 38

A policy of responsibility (to relinquish power):

Answer 38

The role of successful design is to create a self-managed system.

Question 39

Principle of disorder:

Answer 39

Order and harmony produce energy for other uses. Disorder consumes energy to no useful end.

Question 40

Tidiness is . . .

Answer 40

maintained disorder, on a tidy landscape people work for the land instead of the reverse, which is our goal.

Question 41

Metastability:

Answer 41

For a complex system to remain stable there must be small pockets of disorder.

Question 42

Entelechy:

Answer 42

Principle of genetic intelligence, i.e., the rose has thorns to protect itself.

Question 43

Observation: Permaculture is a philosophy of . . .

Answer 43

Protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labor.

Question 44

We are surrounded by . . .

Answer 44

. . . insurmountable opportunities.

Question 45

Wait . . .

Answer 45

. . . one year

Question 46

Hold water and fertility . . .

Answer 46

. . . as high (in elevation) on the landscape as possible.