Permaculture Property Checklist

Property Checklist for
Permaculture
When it comes to designing you permaculture plot, there are

many factors to analyze that will feed into your design. Gaining a
good understanding of the factors that impact upon the site is
one of the keys to creating a suitable, successful design.
HERE ARE THREE CHECKLISTS OF THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN IT
COMES TO SOME OF THE CENTRAL ELEMENTS OF YOUR PLOT
WATER
www.openpermaculture.com
SOIL
AIR
Property Checklist for Permaculture
WATER CHECKLIST
Water is one of the most vital elements to life on earth. As such, it is one of the primary
considerations on any permaculture plot. If a site is going to provide bountiful crops for
the permaculture gardener, the interaction between the living elements of the site and
the water that enters and is stored on the site is crucial. Harvesting, storing and utilizing
water as efficiently as possible is therefore a central theme of permaculture design, and
analysing the water inflows and outflows of a site is one of the key elements of any
permaculture design.
HERE'S A CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO CONSIDER

IN TERMS OF WATER ON ANY PLOT
What are the inputs

of water to the site?
Where and how does

water leave the site?
As well as working out how water enters
the site, analyse how it leaves. This will
include:
Analyzing the water that enters your site

is the first step to understanding your
moisture needs. It also helps you design
for making the most efficient use of that
water.
Looking at surface runoff
Research rainfall levels and patterns

for your location
How quickly moisture seeps through

the soil (you can then modify the soil to
slow or quicken the rate)
Plot streams and creeks that run

through your plot; and
How much water the plants on the site

require, then
Look at where condensation forms and

where frost is most likely to settle.
Devise ways to slow the water leaving

as required to meet the needs of
plants, animals and soil health.
How can you slow

water leaving the site?
Are there areas that are

moister than others?
Slowing the water leaving the site allows

it more time to seep into the soil where it
can be accessed by plant roots. It also
makes the moisture available for longer
to be used for irrigation as necessary.
While slowing the runoff of water from the

site is a key component of effective water
use on a permaculture plot, you also want
to check for areas on the plot where water
collects. This may be from runoff as well
as from niches where frost has a
tendency to form or snow to settle. This
can cause waterlogged soil which you may
need to modify with organic material or
changes in topography; it may prompt
planting and siting of structures to change
the microclimate and so prevent such
moisture accumulation (perhaps by
allowing more direct sun on a location to
raise the temperature and prevent frost);
or it may present an opportunity for
planting species that thrive in very moist
conditions, creating a different guild or
niche on you plot.
If you have steep slopes on your site,

building swales will halt the flow of
water off the land, and provide a niche
for planting. The water in a Swale can
also be diverted to other locations via
channels.
Minimizing hard, inorganic surfaces
such as paved footpaths and driveways
also slows water passage, as does
ensuring soil is not left exposed (when
it can become compacted and cause
water to runoff at a greater rate).
How can you harvest

and store rainwater?
Rainwater is often overlooked as a
resource to be captured and used, but it is
a free source of moisture and can be
crucial in maintaining an ecologically
friendly site. Rainwater harvesting can be:
As simple as placing a barrel under the
down pipe of the guttering on your
home
As integrated as diverting runoff from
all structures on the plot to a large
underground storage tank.
Look for ways you can prevent
rainwater from leaving the site before
it has been used.
How can you irrigate your crops most effectively?

Water is essential to plant life, providing the medium for the plants to absorb nutrients,
and to effectively photosynthesize. Planning how you will irrigate your crops is an
important element of permaculture design. There are methods to reduce the need for
irrigation, such as mulching, composting and reducing wind erosion, but you will likely
need to water your plants regularly, particularly in the warmer months, which are also
typically the growing season for crops, when they need more water.
Drip irrigation directs water to the
roots of the plants where it is most
useful
But if watering via other means,

irrigate early in the morning or late in
the evening to maximise moisture take
up by plant roots.
Is a pond suitable for

your site?
Instituting a pond on your site can

have many benefits. It obviously
provides a body of water that can
be used - to a degree - for
irrigation in extreme
circumstances, thus making you
more secure in times of crisis.
However, with the right type of
design and planting, a pond can
bring a great deal to the plot on a
day-to-day level.
As a source of fresh water, it
will attract birds,
amphibians and insects,
increasing the biodiversity of
your site, and can be used to
grow aquatic plants and to
raise fish.
A sheltered site with some
full sun is a good site for a
pond, avoiding excess
evaporation by the wind and
providing shelter for wildlife.
Designing a pond with a
variety of depths across its
diameter will attract the
greatest number of animal
species as it creates more
niches.
How can you save

water in the home?
Is greywater use possible?
It is not just in the garden that you can

design to use moisture more effectively.
Being more efficient in using water in the
home helps both the preserve this
precious natural resource and save you
money on your household bills. Even
simple steps like turning the tap off while
you brush your teeth and reusing water in
which vegetables have been washed to
irrigate the garden can save a lot of water
over the course of a year. Other methods
of saving water in the home include:
Greywater is the 'waste' water from the

bathroom and laundry. It may be possible
to divert this resource for use in irrigating
the garden. Check local ordinances about
such reuse of greywater, and whether the
topography of your site will allow for ease
of movement of the water from the home
to the garden. Remember you will need:
Use non-toxic organic detergents if
reusing greywater
Fine filters to prevent blocking of pipes
and irrigation delivery mechanisms by
lint.
Only putting the washing machine and

dishwasher on when the appliance has
a full load
Taking showers rather than baths, and
Fitting water saving shower heads and
toilet flush mechanisms.
SOIL CHECKLIST
Good soil - one that provides the plants growing in it with the nutrients, moisture and
aeration they need to survive and thrive - is key to the success of a permaculture garden.
Analyzing the soil components of your site will enable you to both choose native plants
that are suitable for the soil conditions in your location, and conceive of ways to modify
the soil if necessary to provide a better growing medium for your cultivated plants.
THIS CHECKLIST PROVIDES SOME GUIDELINES ABOUT

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN ANALYZING SOIL.
How 'heavy' is the soil?

The heaviness of a soil determines how effective it is at retaining water, how well aerated
it is, and how easy it is for plant roots to branch out through it to locate moisture and
nutrients. It is also key to the movement of insects and other microorganisms through
the soil, which helps determine its structure.
A soil with a high proportion of clay is a
heavy soil, and it will retain moisture
well but can become waterlogged and
harden in dry weather.
A loamy soil is one in which the clay

and sand elements are balanced and
is, in general, the best growing
medium.
A soil with a higher proportion of sand

is lighter, but will let moisture drain
through it quickly, meaning plants may
not be able to access the water.
You can feel the soil for an idea of its

heaviness; a clay soil will feel tacky
and smooth, while a sandy soil will feel
rougher and looser.
How well does the

soil retain moisture?
The heaviness of the soil is one
component that determines how well it
retains water.
You ideally want a soil that allows
water to percolate through it (so it
doesn't become waterlogged) but
slowly, so the plants and
microorganisms in the soil have
sufficient time to use it for their
biological needs.
You can test the soil by digging a hole,
filling the hole with water and timing
how long it takes to drain away.
Adding organic material (such as
compost) to soil is a good way of
maintaining the balance between
percolation and retention.
Is there a deep layer of humus?

Humus is the nutrient-rich layer in a healthy soil in which plants grow best. It has lots of
organic material, has a rich, dark colour, and has a structure about halfway between a
sandy and a clay soil.
Humus provides bacteria and other
microorganisms in the soil with the
space and moisture they need to move
through the soil, improving its
structure, and to process nutrients into
forms the plants can take up.
There are, of course, plants that can

grow in soils that do not have much or
any humus, but generally adding
humus will improve the robustness of
your plants' growth.
What is the soil's

pH level?
The acidity or alkalinity of the soil

will also affect microorganism
activity and the plants that will
grow best in the soil. The pH level
of the soil indicates the relative
amount of acid and alkalinity.
You can purchase a pH
testing kit cheaply that
enables you to use litmus
paper to test the soil, in
conjunction with a color
chart that indicates the pH
level on a numbered scale
(with lower numbers
indicating greater acidity).
There are plants that can
grow in acid conditions or
alkaline soil, but most prefer
a soil profile around neutral,
and there are ways to modify
your soil to reach that pH,
such as adding organic lime
to lessen acidity or bone
meal to increase it.
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How can you improve the

nutrient content of the soil?
Should you mulch the soil?
It is almost always beneficial to your

permaculture plot to look for ways to
increase the nutrient content of your soil.
This provides an array of minerals,
chemicals and other elements for
bacteria, insects and other
microorganisms, as well as for the plants
growing in the soil, ensuring they are
healthy and growing.
Mulching with organic mulch can be very

beneficial to your garden beds. It provides
a slow release of nutrients into the soil, it
helps retain soil moisture and it helps
prevent drying and erosion by the
elements. However, mulch is not always
desirable, say for instance:
If you have a site that experiences a lot
of high winds which could dislodge the
mulch material, or
Adding organic material to the soil,

typically in the form of organic
compost or composted animal manure,
is the primary way of increasing the
soil's nutrient content, and will have
the knock-on effect on improving the
soil structure, helping it get the best
balance for water retention and
aeration, and adding to the humus
layer.
If you have a lot of interplanting that

provides a lot of plant coverage over
the soil.
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Are there areas of

exposed soil?
In permaculture, we tend to try and avoid

leaving areas of soil exposed, without any
plants growing in it.
Not only is exposed soil unproductive it
is also more prone to erosion by wind
and water (which removes the humus
layer) and subsequently becomes
compacted and dried out by the
elements.
If you are not ready to plant crops,
consider planting a ground cover crop,
such as comfrey, which will grow
quickly and avoid leaving the soil
exposed, and allow you to cut it and
leave it on the ground to add nutrients
as a "green manure".
How can you plant to best preserve the health of the soil?
Ensuring that it does not remain exposed for any length of time is one method of
preserving a healthy soil on your permaculture site, by preventing erosion and
compaction. But even with lots of plants, the soil can still become diseased or infested by
pests, and thus damaging to your crops. There are methods of planting that you can
utilise however that can prevent soil disease. These include:
The rotation of crops (so that
pathogens that target particular
species do not have time to build up in
the soil), and
Interplanting to increase the

biodiversity of a site, so that healthy
populations of insects and other
animals retain a natural balance
between predators and prey, so no one
population becomes too large and
damaging to the crops.
12
AIR CHECKLIST
One of the most important if least visible inputs onto a permaculture plot is air. The
way air moves and the qualities it retains or loses as it warms and cools, the effect that
wind has on the plants, animals and structures on a site, and the interaction between air
and soil are all important considerations when analyzing a site you are going to design
for.
HERE IS A CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO LOOK OUT

FOR WHEN ANALYZING AIR INPUTS.
Which directions do the winds comes from generally?

Determining which direction the prevailing winds generally come from in your location
will have a significant impact on your permaculture design. There are general patterns of
wind movement that are determined by the relative temperatures of land and ocean, as
well as the rotation of the planet, but local factors will also play a role.
For instance, topography has a big
impact on the way wind moves through
a location.
Analyzing how the winds plays across

your site, at different times of the year,
will be an important factor in your
permaculture design, influencing what
you plant and where.
13
How strong are the winds?

Local and regional topography will also
impact upon the strength of the winds
that blow across your site. Different types
of plant are able to withstand differing
strengths of wind, so how hard the air
moves across your plot can affect the
species of plants you cultivate. For
instance, if your permaculture site
experiences strong winds, you may design
the planting to incorporate more species
that grow close to the ground to avoid
damage to the specimens.
The strength of the wind will also affect
aspects of the site such as the rate of
moisture evaporation from the surface
of a pond or other water body, and the
temperature of the buildings on the
site.
You can use planting to ameliorate
conditions where wind alters the
environment.
Which plants need protection from the wind?
Permaculture thrives on cultivating a wide variety of plants, for a range of crops and to
increase the biodiversity of the area. As such, you are unlikely to be able to have all the
species that you want to grow in cultivars that are adapted to the wind conditions on your
site.
Thus, you need to identify the plants in
your permaculture design that will
need to be protected from strong
winds.
Fortunately, there are many ways to

offer this protection, including
construction of windbreaks,
interplanting and guild planting.
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Do your animals need

protection from the wind?
Have the air movements created

microclimates and niches?
The movement of air across your site will

also impact upon any livestock that you
have on your site. Chickens and other
animals will need protection from the
wind if it is strong enough to lower the
temperature so that the animals become
uncomfortable.
Even with light winds, the way the air

moves over, under and around various
elements in your site will cause variations
in things like temperature and moisture
across your plot.
For instance, wind will increase the
rate at which moisture on the surface
of plants and soil will evaporate, while
a sheltered site may therefore be more
prone to frost settling.
So, for instance, if you have strong

winds in your location, you would look
to site your chicken coop behind a row
of trees that will divert the wind away
from the coop so that it doesn't impact
as much on the internal temperature
of the chicken's shelter.
Trees and buildings will have variations

in temperature and comfort between
their lee side and the aspect that
receives the force of the wind.
Likewise, for other animals you choose

to raise, such as pigs or ducks, siting
their shelter so that the prevailing
winds do not blow directly into the
housing is necessary to ensure their
comfort.
Analyzing these variations tells you the

characteristics of microclimates on
your site, and you can plant suitable
species to thrive in those specific
conditions, allowing them to fill a niche
that they are adapted to thrive in.
15
Does the soil allow for

good aeration?
How can you divert the flow

of air across the site?
When you have determined the direction

and strength of the airflows that affect
your site, you can design your plot to
divert wind away from plants and animals
that cannot withstand those flows, as well
as modify the air flow around buildings
and other structures.
It is not just above the ground that air

plays an important role; the aeration of
the soil is also crucial to the success of
your planting. Having a good soil structure
- one with lots of humus and with a good
balance of clay and sand - not only
ensures moisture percolates through the
soil profile in the most efficient manner to
allow plants and soil organisms to access
as much of it as they need to survive and
thrive, but also that both types of
organisms get the oxygen they need to
breathe and/or transpire.
This can be done by using fences or

trees as windbreaks (a row of trees
planted to divert wind away from a
house can help reduce your heating
bills, for instance), by modifying the
topography of the site to channel air
away from certain parts of it, and most
of all by suitable siting of plant species.
A well-aerated soil also tends to have a

suitable structure to allow plant roots
to work through it, accessing the
elements they need and anchoring
themselves deeply and securely in the
ground.
Guilds and interplanting can afford

protection on a small scale to certain
species by other, hardier ones, hardy
plants can provide crops even if
buffeted by wind, and trees can divert
airflow away for lower-lying species.
Adding organic matter and loose

mulch material such as straw or
wood chips that allows airflow helps
aerate the soil.
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Are their pollutant

inputs in the air?
Can you harness the wind

to generate power?
On a permaculture plot, the emphasis is

on organic, natural methods of cultivation,
including avoiding adding pollutants to the
air. However, such deleterious inputs can
affect your site if they come from outside
sources which you cannot control.
Like rainwater, the wind is a free source

of renewable energy. If you have the
capability to capture it and convert it to
useable power, you will lessen your
energy bill, contribute to limiting the
burning of fossil fuels, which drives global
warming, and make yourself more energy
independent.
For instance, nearby roads can add

chemicals to the air (as well as
generate noise) that may affect the
health, not to mention the comfort, of
your site) while local industry may also
release undesirable emissions that can
drift, across your plot.
There are different types of wind

turbine available that simply convert
the wind into power for a specific task,
such as powering a water pump, and
others that generate power that you
can store or sell back to the municipal
system.
If your site is subject to such things you

can design to alleviate them; for
instance planting a row of trees with
feathery foliage can help filter dust and
other pollutants generated by vehicles
on a nearby road.
There is an initial outlay of cost to

purchase the equipment, and you will
need to check local ordinances on wind
turbine structures, but if viable, a
turbine could prove very beneficial to
your site in the long term.
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50 THINGS CHECKLIST
HERE'S A CHECKLIST OF 50 WAYS YOU COULD APPLY
PERMACULTURE IDEAS TO YOUR SITE.
Think of all the small ways

you could save water in the
home.
Consider using greywater

the "waste" water from the
laundry and bathroom.
From turning the tap off while you brush

your teeth to fixing that dripping faucet.
Even small changes soon add up, saving
water and reducing water bills.
As long as you use organic detergents, it's

perfectly safe for use as irrigation on your
garden beds just avoid spraying it
directly on fruits and vegetables.
Consider replacing paved

paths in the garden with
low-lying vegetation.
Consider mulching your

garden beds.
Mulching with organic materials adds
nutrients to the soil, preserves soil
moisture (so less watering is needed) and
prevents erosion by wind and rain.
This will reduce water runoff and increase

biodiversity.
Think about installing solar power.

The energy is free once you have the requisite equipment,
and so will save on your energy bills over the long term.
The initial cost can be off putting but increasingly you can
arrange leasing or hire-purchase arrangements with solar
power companies to offset or stagger the cost.
18
Consider harvesting
rainwater.
Water is a very precious resource and a
lot of it simply runs off into the municipal
drainage system. Diverting rainwater from
the roofs of your buildings to storage units
helps reduce wastage, means you use
less municipal water as irrigation (so
saving money) and gives you access to
water even in times of extreme shortage
(such as heat waves), making you more
self sufficient.
Think about how often you

upgrade your digital devices.
Consider canning and

pickling your surplus fruits
and vegetables.
Do you really need the latest version of a

smartphone, or that slightly larger TV?
Looking after devices and only replacing
them when they are no longer useable
reduces waste and pressure on the
mineral resources that go into producing
them. It also saves you money.
Doing so will give you access to foodstuffs

even when those crops are not in season,
will mean you don't have to buy so many
groceries, and prevents the fruits and
vegetables going to waste. They are also
delicious!
Think about when you

irrigate your garden beds.
Consider building a pond.

It will attract a great variety of wildlife,
allows you to cultivate aquatic species of
plants, thus increasing the biodiversity of
your site, it provides a body of water for
emergency use, and can be used to
support fish or ducks.
Watering plants early in the morning or

late in the evening gives the plants the
most time to absorb the maximum
amount of water before it evaporates,
making for healthier plants and reducing
your water use.
19
Consider starting a compost pile.

By converting "waste" from the kitchen into compost for the garden beds you create a
closed loop of energy, with the foods giving you energy when you eat them, and you giving
the plants the foods came from energy by increasing the nutrient content of the soil.
Think about how you use

your washing machine.
Consider drying your clothes

outside.
By only putting it on when you have a full

load, and by reducing the temperature
(even by just a few degrees), you save
energy and water and thus money on
your household bills.
As the tumble drier is one of the most

energy-hungry of all household
appliances. Sure, outside drying may take
a little longer, but think of the energy and
money you are saving.
Think about planting your

crops in guilds.
Consider getting a few

chickens, if you have the
space.
So they support one another and require

less energy and intervention from you.
They help turn the soil, add nutrients to it

via their manure, help keep pest insect
populations under control, will eat scraps
from the kitchen, and provide you with
fresh eggs. Plus, they are cute, inquisitive
and fun to watch.
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Consider replacing your

conventional light bulbs with
energy saving versions.
Consider growing cover

crops over the winter after
your main harvest is over.
They save you money, use fewer

resources, and last longer.
This avoids leaving the soil bare (leaving it

prone to erosion by wind and rain), and
will add nutrients to the soil profile ready
from replanting in the spring.
Think about all the ways on

object could be reused on the
site before you throw it out.
Consider using native plants

on your site.
These species are the best adapted to
your local soil and climate conditions,
meaning they are more likely to thrive on
your plot while requiring less input from
you.
Most things can be repurposed somehow.

For instance, a bucket could become a
plant container, an old bath can be turned
into a worm farm, or bottle tops can be
utilised as a deer deterrent.
Consider your
neighbors.
Respect and concern for other
people is central to the ideas of
permaculture, so always think
about the effect something you
do on your site may have on
those around you, and talk to
them about potential changes
that will impact them.
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Think about getting rid of your lawn.

It requires lots of water and maintenance, but does not give you a yield. Transform it into
growing beds and reap the rewards of a useable harvest.
Consider sheet mulching to

transform areas of weeds to
viable garden beds quickly.
Consider making keyhole

garden beds.
This style of bed maximizes the. Viable
planting space, meaning you get more
yield from your site, and increases the
amount of edge the interface between
two environments which is the most
dynamic part of an ecosystem.
Layering cardboard, compost materials

and newspaper over weeds denies them
sunlight so they can't photosynthesize.
You can even plant crops into the sheet
mulch to get a crop while clearing the
unwanted plants.
Think about ways to get

some free manure.
Think about ways to cool

your house.
Local riding stables and farms will

typically have lots of manure you can use.
Composted, this manure will add loads of
nutrients to your soil.
Adding a door or planting a deciduous

tree to protect the building from the
summer sun can moderate the
temperature and mean you won't have to
use the air conditioning so much saving
energy and money.
22
Think about how you can

attract birds to your site.
Consider using trees as

windbreaks.
Increasing biodiversity, instituting a body

of water, and protecting them from
predation by pet cats, will bring in birds,
which will help keep insects under
control, aid plant pollination and fill the
garden with delightful birdsong.
This will protect more fragile plants from

wind damage, create an environment that
is more attractive to insects, birds and
other wildlife, and modify temperature
across the site, including on the home.
Consider taking showers

rather than having baths.
Think about how often you

will visit a particular plant to
care for it and harvest it.
Showers use less water and less energy

to heat the water saving on water and
heating costs.
This will help determine the zones of your

design, with those plants that you visit
most often positioned closest to the home.
Think about swapping surplus crops with your neighbors.

Gardeners often have different varieties of fruits and vegetables from one another, and
swapping amongst yourselves means food does not go to waste, you don't have to buy so
many groceries, and you get a wider variety of food for your kitchen.
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Consider using a wind turbine to convert wind

power to useable energy.
It could be a small one to power a water pump, say, or a
larger one (local ordinances permitting) to supply some of
your household energy. Either way you will be saving
resources and saving money.
Think about how the

topography of your site
affects how water runs off it.
Consider starting some of

your crop plants indoors
before the growing season
starts.
Water is a precious and essential resource

for the success of your permaculture plot,
so look at ways to modify slope to slow
runoff, such as planting trees at the to of
slopes, or building swales.
That way you can extend the growing

period, having access to more yield from
your plot for longer, and reducing the
need to buy groceries.
Consider installing a drip

irrigation system for some of
your crops.
Think about ways to reduce

your carbon footprint.
From using public transport more instead
of taking the car, to buying local, seasonal
ingredients to minimise food miles.
Such systems give a steady supply of

water to the roots of plants, making them
more efficient in their water use.
Think about your electrical

appliances when they are not
in use.
Consider a herb spiral.

These unique garden beds maximise the
growing area, allow easy access for
harvesting, and have a variety of
microclimates across their surface
meaning you can cultivate many different
species.
Turning them off completely rather than

putting them on standby will save energy
and reduce electricity bills. For instance,
a microwave not in use is still drawing in
electricity just to power the clock and
you probably don't need another clock in
the kitchen!
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Think about starting a worm

farm.
Think about instituting a

forest garden.
They are easy to set up, require minimal

energy input from the gardener, and turn
kitchen waste into useable compost,
making a closed loop energy system on
your permaculture plot.
With the many different "layers" in a

forest garden, you maximize the number
of species you cultivate, as they can each
find a niche at different heights, thus
maximising yield. You also increase
biodiversity, which will attract wildlife.
Consider how you move

between different activities
in the garden and design so
that they minimise energy
expenditure.
Consider permaculture even

if you don't have a lot of
space.
It is very adaptable. Even those with a
courtyard garden can still grow fruit trees
in containers or espaliered against a wall,
grow vegetables and herbs in vertical
gardens (in recycled plastic bottles hung
up, for instance), and even construct a
no-dig garden bed over the paving stones.
For instance, place the compost pile

somewhere you would logically visit after
checking the chickens, so you can dump
the manure into the compost pile, rather
than moving back and forth.
Consider leaving the

leaves that fall from
deciduous trees on
the ground,
Rather than raking them up and
throwing them away or burning
them. They will act as natural
mulch, releasing nutrients into
the soil as they rot, which is
particularly useful in fall and
winter, resupplying the soil
ready for planting in spring.
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Think about selling your

surplus crops at the local
market.
Consider catching the water

you use to wash vegetables
and do dishes.
It will give you a potential extra income

and will provide the local community with
access to organic food, cultivated without
chemicals and inorganic fertilizers.
This moisture can be reused to irrigate

the garden (just remember to use organic
washing up liquid).
Think about turning off all

your appliances when you go
on vacation.
Consider the local wildlife.

Designing in harmony with nature is
integral to permaculture. Of course, you
can design to help keep insect
populations under control or deter deer
from eating your crops, but try not to
impact upon the natural behaviors of wild
animals too much.
Plan to empty the fridge in the run up to

your departure, and turn it, as well as
your TV, entertainment devices and
kitchen equipment, off at the wall when
you leave. It will save energy and reduce
you bills.
Think about your "mistakes" as opportunities for learning.

Even when things apparently go wrong a crop doesn't grow as well as you expected, for
instance, consider the lessons you can learn from it.
26
Think about sharing

garden equipment
with your neighbors.
That way you don't all have to
buy the same pieces of
equipment, so you all save
money, and you promote a
collaborative and sharing
community.
Consider leaving
part of your plot to
"go wild".
This gives you a chance to
observe nature unencumbered
and it is likely to attract
insects and other wildlife to the
native plants, so protecting
your crops from too much
undue attention.
Consider testing the

pH level of your soil.
It is quickly done with litmus
paper bought cheaply, and you
can relatively easily alter the
acidity or alkalinity of your soil
by adding organic matter, to
make the growing medium
more beneficial to your crops.
27

Permaculture Property Checklist

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Permaculture Property Checklist

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Property Checklist for

When it comes to designing you permaculture plot, there are

Property Checklist for Permaculture

HERE'S A CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO CONSIDER

What are the inputs

Where and how does

Analyzing the water that enters your site

Looking at surface runoff

Research rainfall levels and patterns

How quickly moisture seeps through

Plot streams and creeks that run

How much water the plants on the site

Look at where condensation forms and

Devise ways to slow the water leaving

Property Checklist for Permaculture

How can you slow

Are there areas that are

Slowing the water leaving the site allows

While slowing the runoff of water from the

If you have steep slopes on your site,

Property Checklist for Permaculture

How can you harvest

How can you irrigate your crops most effectively?

But if watering via other means,

Property Checklist for Permaculture

Is a pond suitable for

Instituting a pond on your site can

Property Checklist for Permaculture

How can you save

Is greywater use possible?

It is not just in the garden that you can

Greywater is the 'waste' water from the

Only putting the washing machine and

Property Checklist for Permaculture

THIS CHECKLIST PROVIDES SOME GUIDELINES ABOUT

How 'heavy' is the soil?

A loamy soil is one in which the clay

A soil with a higher proportion of sand

You can feel the soil for an idea of its

Property Checklist for Permaculture

How well does the

Is there a deep layer of humus?

There are, of course, plants that can

Property Checklist for Permaculture

What is the soil's

The acidity or alkalinity of the soil

Property Checklist for Permaculture

How can you improve the

Should you mulch the soil?

It is almost always beneficial to your

Mulching with organic mulch can be very

Adding organic material to the soil,

If you have a lot of interplanting that

Property Checklist for Permaculture

Are there areas of

In permaculture, we tend to try and avoid

Interplanting to increase the

Property Checklist for Permaculture

HERE IS A CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO LOOK OUT

Which directions do the winds comes from generally?

Analyzing how the winds plays across

Property Checklist for Permaculture

How strong are the winds?

Which plants need protection from the wind?