| Elements of our Permaculture System An element may be a building, an animal, a garden or US! Each Element needs certain inputs and has multiple functions (products). The aim is for everything to be inter-connected, so that the products of one element become the inputs to another. Each Function (e.g. food, warmth, shelter, storage) is supported by a number of the elements. 1. BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES Element | Inputs | Outputs | Intrinsic Factors | House | Heating, Water, Power, Sewage, Cleaning, Maintenance | Shelter, Warmth, Living Space, Business Premises | Century Home, South-facing, Insulated, Basement | Animal Shed | Straw, Nesting, Water | Shelter for hens, ducks, sheep, chicks | Secure, Insulated, Shaded | Pasture | Rain, Sunshine | Pasture, Food, Shade | Fenced, Shaded Areas, Ample Grass | Shed | Maintenance | Storage | Wood Construction | Cottage | Heating, Water, Power, Sewage, Cleaning, Maintenance | Income | Bedsitting Room sleeps 4+, Kitchen, Bathroom | Polytunnel | Sun, shade, water, fertilizer, weeding | Extends Growing Season | 8 x 15’, drip irrigation | Outdoor Furnace | Wood, Maintenance | Heat, Hot Water, Emissions, Wood Ash, Charcoal | Efficient, also heats cottage | Pond | Aeration | Water, exercise for ducks, enjoyment, beauty, will look into productivity in 2009 | Water is collected from run off from house. Aerated by back yard windmill | Indoor Cookstove | Scrap Wood, Cleaning | Heat, Wood Ash, Emissions (small), Cooking, Hot Water, Boiling Water, Humidity, cheese and yoghurt making, bread rising, clothes drying, comfort | Heat rises to bedroom above, fan takes heat into dining room, Ecofan, pans of hot water for thermal mass | Verandah | Maintenance, Water | Cool, bug-free, relaxing space, entertaining, growing space, passive solar gains | South facing, cool in summer (trees), large reflectors in winter, direct access from kitchen | Hedges | Seedlings, Sunlight, Rain, Natural Mulch, Fertiliser | Wind Barrier, Protection, Animal Barrier, Wildlife Habitat, Some Food, Some Firewood, Craft materials, Privacy | Not yet well established | Well | Adequate supply of water from water table, occasional disinfection | Water to House, Cottage, Animals and Yard | Water softener, filtration system and UV lamp installed | Septic Tank | Emptying (rare) | Nutrients and water to surrounding area, Sewage disposal | Tank and Septic Field | Swimming Pool | Pump for circulation and oxygenation, filter, chemicals (required by environmental health department) | Relaxation, recreation, exercise, guest attraction, temperature stabilization, reflects sun’s rays, humidity, fire barrier, ice, emergency water supply | 100,000 litres | Solar Hot Water | Sunshine and Pump | Approx 66% house & B&B hot water | Pump is Solar pv | Solar Pool Heater | Sunshine and Pump | Warm Pool Water if Sun shines | Sungrabber system about 80% of surface area of pool. If sun shines it works really well | Rear Screen Room | Maintenance | Cooking, eating, bug-free zone, relaxation, entertaining | Houses freezer, protects study from North Winds in Winter |
2. ANIMALS | Element | Inputs | Outputs | Instrinsic Factors | | Hens | Food, water, shelter, protection, dust, grit, air, companions | Manure, eggs, heat, meat, gas, feathers, pest control, scratching, reducing vegetation, guest attraction, fertilized mulch from straw bedding | Rhode Island Reds, Bantams, Plymouth Barred Rocks, Rooster | Ducks | Food, drinking water, bathing water, shelter, protection, air, companions | Manure, eggs, heat, meat, gas, feathers, pest control, reducing vegetation, guest attraction, fertilized mulch from straw bedding | 2 Ducks and 2 Drakes (Francis Drake and Charley Drake) | Sheep | Food, water, shelter, protection, companions, Health Care (worming, foot clipping) | Manure, wool, meat, milk, guest attraction, grazing, fertilized mulch from bedding | 2 Suffolks and 1 cross (Hereford?) breed - Martha and "The Lambinas" | | Ferrel Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds | Flowers | Pollination | Wild Meadow and Companion Planting attracts more of them |
3. GROWING AREAS | Element | Inputs | Outputs | Intrinsic Factors | Fledgeling Coppice Areas | Seedlings, Sun, Rainwater | Small amounts of wood, craft materials, plant supports, outdoor seats | We only have 5 acres so it will need very careful management | Forest Garden | Sun, Rain, Mulch, Manure, Pest Control, Pruning, weeding | Fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, reduces lawn, some wood from prunings | Companion planting guilds, layers | Vegetable Plot | Water, Sun, Mulch, Pest Control, Weeding | Vegetables, seeds, beans, reduces lawn, green manure | Fertiliser and pest control by hens and ducks | Perennial Beds | Weeding, mulching, rainwater, sun | Flowers, reduces lawn, bee/butterfly/hummingbird forage | Xeric Landscaping | Herbs | Rainwater, sun, mulch | Medicines, Herbs, Bee forage | Wrapped around front of house, Xeric | Mandala Garden | Rainwater, sun, mulch, weeding | Vegetables, Fruit, Medicines, Herbs, Bee forage, green manure | 58’ dia, 2600+ sq ft | Tree Nursery | Protection, Mulch | New Trees | Small area fenced with wattle | Wild Meadow | Rainwater, sun | Medicines, Herbs, Bee forage, area of natural biodiversity, woodland regeneration for future supplies of wood and craft materials, observation/learning, relaxing walks, space to sit | 1.75 acres at the moment. 2.2 acres will be planted in the woodland regeneration scheme in June. Walking/Running paths surround it | Old Trees | Sunlight, Rainwater | Shade, Perfume, Raises Water Table, Habitat, Mulch, Seedlings, Medicines, Herbs, Bee forage, support for swing, could be used for shingles and cordage | Deciduous (lindens and oaks) |
4. PEOPLE | Element | Inputs | Outputs | Intrinsic Factors | 2 + 2 Adults | Air, Water, Food, Medicine, Companions, Shelter, Warmth, Clothing, Hygienic needs, e.g. soap | Work, Excrement, knowledge, crafts, skills, preserved foods, social contact | 2 Residents and 2 students in rented rooms in Winter | B&B Guests | Air, Water, Food, shelter, Warmth, Cooling, Amenities, Linens | Income, excrement, kitchen scraps, social contact | Up to 10 per night in Summer | Neighbours | Help & Support, share surplus | Help and Support, share surplus, social interaction | Garden clippings, etc |
Functions of our Permaculture System | Function | Supporting Elements | | Food | Forest Garden, Mandala Garden, Vegetable Plot, Hedgerows, Wild Areas, Herbs, Polytunnel, Animals | Forage | Pasture, forest Garden, Mandala, Vegetable Plot, Wild Areas, Herbs | Windbreak | Trees, fences, perennial shrubs, vines, House, chicken house, straw bales | Protection | House, Animal Shed, Fencing | | Fire Control | Grassed areas, pool, road, drive, paths | Mulch | Paper, Cardboard, Carpets, Wood chips, grass clippings, seaweed, Forest Garden, Vegetable plot, Mandala | Manure | Green from gardens, other from animals | Fuel | Hedgrows, Neighbours, Fallen Trees, Coppicing | Erosion Control | Trees, Wild Meadow, Fences, Swales, Perennial Planting, Mulch, Lawn | Wildlife Habitat | Trees, Wild Meadow, Plantings, Mulch, Hedgerows | Water Table | Tree Planting, Old Trees, Forest Garden, Hedgerows, Swales | Warmth | Outdoor Furnace, Indoor Cookstove, Passive Solar, Solar Water Heating | Social | Verandah, screened porch, swimming pool & deck, House | Business Premises | B&B Rooms, Cottage, Office in House | Propagation | House, polytunnel, gardens | | Storage | House, Cottage, Basement, Behind Solar installation, Shed | Income | Crafts, B&B, Preserves, Workshops | Cooking | House, Cottage, Solar Cookers, Woodstove | Water | Well, pool, pond, rainwater collection system | Guest Attractions | Gardens, Meadow, Animals, Solar Installations, Swimming Pool, Rooms & Cottage | Grazing | Sheep, ducks, hens | Pollination | All gardens, Wild Meadow, Trees | Crafts | Coppice, Forest Garden, Old Trees, Recycling | Social Contact | B&B Guests, Rental Units, Neighbours, Friends | Learning | Everywhere, especially Wild Meadow, Internet, Community School | Recreation | Meadow, gardening, swimming pool, beach, internet | Medicines | Wild Meadow, Hedgerows, Trees, Gardens, Herbs |
Fabulous Permaculture Diary & Calendar 2010 | Details! |  |  |
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