On Permaculture Design: More Thoughts ON PERMACULTURE DESIGN: MORE THOUGHTS, IDEAS, METHODOLOGIES, PRINCIPLES, TEMPLATES, STEPS, WANDERINGS, EFFICIENCIES, DEFICIENCIES, CONUNDRUMS AND WHATEVER STRIKES THE FANCY ... PERMACULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE SITE DESIGN Today professionals and students in business, government, education, healthcare, building, economics, technology, and ntal environme sciences are being called upon to ‘design’ sustainable programs and activities. Through systems science we have learned that actions taken today can affect the viability of living systems to support human activity and evolution for many generations to come. Sustainability is a concept introduced to communicate the imperative for humanity to develop in nment our built enviro those conditions that will sustain the structures, functions, and processes inextricably linked with capacities for life. The challenge we face in this new era of sustainability is a realization that the goals and needs for developing sustainable conditions in our social environment are complex, diverse, and at times counter to the dynamics of ecological systems. In recent years ecology has been called upon to include the studies of how humans interrelate with ecological processes, within ecosystems. Although humans are part of the natural ecosystem when we speak of human ecology, the relationships between humanity and the t environment, i is helpful to think of the ‘environment’ as the social system. What are the relationships and interactions within this ecosystem? What are the relationships and interactions between the social system and ecological environment (this includes air, soil, water, physical living and nonliving structures)? How do the interactions systems, between affect the global ecosystem? The most fundamental means we have as a society in transforming human ecology is through modeling and designing in our social environment those conditions that will influence sustainable interactions and relationships within the global ecological system. “The social system is a central concept in human ecology because human activities that impact the global ecosystem are strongly influenced by the society in which people live”. Currently, social system designs create ragmentation, f and counter productive relationships with ecological environments and dynamic processes. esign Such d in social organizations directs human activity towards unsustainable patterns of behavior and living conditions that create imbalances in both social and environmental ecologies. We must learn anew how to ‘design’ within our social environment, viable, sustainable, and regenerative system conditions. Humanity has the cognitive capacity to learn, envision and project through design to application, intended future outcomes. Until now this capacity has been utilized for economic prosperity which has created many complex structures, and processes within the social environment that impede our capacity for sustainable development. Many e people ar being called upon to design and develop within -­‐economic the socio environment the means for sustainable development. But along with s the awarenes of the need for transformation, is a growing realization that the environment in which we have learned to interpret information, develop skills and apply knowledge, to date have shaped our capacity to understand systems and their functioning process in our own lives. Survival in our culture has been inextricably linked with our socio-­‐economic environment. It is within this environment, that our observations and understanding of ‘how life works’ has d been maintaine for generations. The social environment was not developed with an understanding of ecological structures and functions for building and sustaining pacities those ca inherent in succession, and regeneration. Fragmented from this understanding, humanity misuses ecological resources, which support processes for succession, regeneration, and evolution. All natural resources are moved or converted from the ecosystem to support the socio-­‐economic system. Human constructions have been conceived and designed as though our function and survival is not only separate from the ecological systems, but unaccountable to sustaining those capacities in which we depend. Socio-­‐Economic Design Conventional economic design, and production methodologies that serve one purpose such as economic wealth/ profit, results in a one way relationship in which commodities are being developed at increasing levels of resource use and energy consumption. If surplus does not go into replenishment of those same resources being used or consumed in the production process, and the resources are not being accounted for by the same valuation method as the commodities they were converted into; there is a one way valuation and accountability that hides resource depletion. Resource depletion within social, environmental, and human equity has become inherent in current social design. Ecological Design On the other hand ecological design, functions and self-­‐organizes to create system-­‐efficiencies, regenerative capacity, and succession. Yields and surplus are returned to the system in order to strengthen and optimize the developmental capacity of the elements or parts within the system. As the parts, (i.e. elements of a system) are able to develop and function to their fullest potential, and form capacity building relationships, there is an emergence of a viable and abundant eco (life)-­‐system. Production and Consumption within ecological design is not the means to an end, but are instead part of an ongoing process of fortification. All resources, including waste are considered potential building blocks to be utilized to regenerate the systems’ form, feedback, and functional health. The most comprehensive source for transformative design in the human social environment begins with learning how rmaculture to design Pe systems within any context of social, environmental, or economic organization. The Permaculture Design methodology teaches students to learn through careful observation, and develop the ability to think through the cycles, functions, structures and dynamic principles of ecological systems. The Permaculture Design process takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding ecology, systems, and logy. socio This is integrated with specializations in appropriate technologies, -­‐ eco engineering, design & building, physical-­‐chemical-­‐biological, renewable energies, and . economics In order to create, in human design, the structure, conditions, and capacities for sustenance that will be sustainable over time, we must allow for a more ecologically stable and viable human culture to evolve. SITE ASSESSMENT AND DESIGN Site design is a process of intervention involving the location of circulation, structures, and utilities, and making natural and cultural values available to property owners and visitors. The process encompasses many steps from planning to construction, including initial inventory, sment, asses alternative analysis, detailed design, and construction procedures and services. In many places, the land is more damaged than previously believed. Soil erosion, groundwater contamination, acid rain, and other industrial pollutants are damaging the health of plant communities, thereby intensifying the challenge and necessity to restore habitats. As only one component of an interdependent natural system, the human species must develop a respect for the landscape and expend more effort understanding the interrelationships of soils, water, plant communities and associations, and habitats, as well as the impacts of human uses on them. Beyond a change in basic approach, sustainable site design requires holistic, ecologically based strategies to create projects that do not alter or impair but instead help repair and restore existing site systems. Site systems such as plant and animal communities, soils, and hydrology spected must be re as patterns and processes of the living world. These strategies apply to all landscapes, no matter how small or how urban. Useful in understanding sustainable ecologically-­‐based site design are the "Valdez Principles for Site Design," developed by Andropogon Associates, Ltd. And the Permaculture design methodologies ands principles. These strategies are precedent-­‐setting in their application and especially important to rightfully integrate the built environment into a setting or site. • Recognition of Context. No site can be understood and evaluated without looking outward to the site context. Before planning and designing a project, fundamental questions must be asked in light of its impact on the larger community. • Treatment of Landscapes as Interdependent and Interconnected. Conventional development often increases fragmentation of the landscape. The small remaining islands of natural landscape are typically surrounded by a fabric of development that diminishes their ability to support a variety of plant communities and habitats. This situation must be reversed. Larger whole systems must be created by reconnecting fragmented landscapes and establishing contiguous networks with other natural systems both within a site and beyond its boundaries. • Integration of the Native Landscape with Development. Even the most developed landscapes, where every trace of nature seems to have been obliterated, are not -­‐ self contained. These areas should be redesigned to support some component of the natural ovide landscape to pr critical connections