So this right here is exactly why we say
that water is the foundation of permaculture design.
This means that for any permaculture design project,
first you start with the design for the water flow on the site,
and then all the other layers:
access and pathways,
vegetation, buildings, gardens, animals, energy systems,
all follow after that.
So it goes like this:
every site has a water flow pattern,
even sites that appear to be flat.
For this site, the water flow pattern is obvious.
There's a valley running down the middle,
so water just runs through this site right now.
There's nothing slowing it down
for it to be used in some beneficial way,
to grow plants, water animals, and provide a supply for people to live.
You can see that right here, the slope breaks
from steeper to more gentle.
This is usually a good place in the landscape
to begin to intercept the water flow.
So let's make a pond.
Now on this site we have a water supply
that's located above all of this other land.
The dam wall that we built
is a great place to get across this valley.
with a road or a pathway.
Now, this roadway is also a structure
that intercepts the flow of water down this hill.
The water hits the road and its drainage ditch
directs the water into the pond.
So now all of this land above the level of this pond
is uphill from the water source,
so it cannot be watered without using
energy to pump it up from this pond,
But everything below the pond
can be watered by the force of gravity.
So, because we chose this point to store water
where the slope breaks
then this level right here
became a dividing line
between a wetter and a drier zone.
I'll plant some tree species in the drier uplands
that won't need regular watering.
So, remember, the roadway is a place where water concentrates,
because it's catching water as it flows down-slope.
It also catches the water off of the road surface itself.
So the area along the roadway will be wetter.
When we travel around this roadway to get around our farm
that area will naturally get more attention,
so it's a good place to plant higher value trees
that will benefit from more human management,
like fruits, nuts or timber.
So, this tree-lined road is now a great place
from which to access this whole area below,
because this area is below the pond.
It'll be easy to water by gravity,
and we can plant things that require irrigation
like annual crops, pasture, berries and perennial crops of all sorts.
So, the drainage of this valley is still going to be the wettest area,
because it's the low spot.
So keeping that in wet tolerant trees is a good idea,
to soak up the water
and provide all the benefits of mixing trees in with agricultural areas
like wind protection, habitat, mulch and various yields that you get from trees.
Now, we need another access
through this lower area of the farm,
and we want to make that access function
also as a benefit to the water cycle.
So, i'll put another road in here.
And I'll stay right along the contour lines
so the road itself can serve as a water harvesting swale
to collect excess runoff or excess irrigation water.
Of course this road again is a great place
for high value trees because of the concentration of water runoff,
as well as the extra attention that any trees will get
by being right along the roadway.
Now, come to think of it,
if we have enough rainfall,
and the runoff from this road surface right here
is used as a water source,
we may actually be able to supply
another pond here in this valley.
And then down below here, and on out of our frame,
we have our next block of crops
which now has all of this water catchment
and structures that are slowing the flow up above it.
So this low area will have a lot of water seeping down into it,
which could lessen the amount of water
that needs to be applied through irrigation.
This could be an area where we plant
really thirstier crops,
so there's also this nutrient flow happening by having
all this organic material from the trees
whose leaves and branches can be turned into compost
and supply the organic matter
to make healthy soils for the crops.
And with all these rows of trees and the access roads,
we've created management units.
So, each of these areas can also have
animals rotated through them,
like chickens, cows or sheep,
and to crop and animal rotation can be developed.
And what an awesome place for the farmer to live
right here along the road
on the division between the forest and the cropland,
overlooking the fields.
So, would you want to live here?
Looks like a pretty nice place to me,
and the whole design unfolded as a result of
starting the design process by designing the water patterns.
The water determines where major elements will be placed,
like ponds roads, tree belts, fields, animals and housing
The water design creates the foundational structure
on which the other pieces are placed.
So this right here
is exactly why we say
that water is the foundation of permaculture design.
Plant a seed.
Watch it grow
and let everyone know
this is how
we'll survive
in these times.
Plant a seed.
watch it grow
and let everyone know
this is how
we'll survive
in these times