Permaculture Design Course

Day 3, Session 1: 08h00-10h00

Kirstie Stramler
http://permaculture.tv
Day 3: Climate, Decision-Making, Patterns
8h00 - 8h20 Check-In

8h20 -10h00 Climate Primer #1 (Kirstie)

10h00-10h20 Break

10h20-12h20 Decision-Making (Howard)

12h20-12h30 Group Activity

12h30-13h30 Lunch

1h30 - 3h30 Climate #2 (Kirstie) & Patterns #1 (Lindsay)

3h30 - 3h50 Break

3h50 - 5h45 Patterns #2 (Lindsay)

5h45 - 6h00 Check-In

 Checking In!
Elements, Functions, Zones, Sectors in Design…

Design Epiphanies?

Observational Epiphanies?

Other Comments?
 Session 1: Climate
1) Climate Physics: Solar Radiation, Greenhouse, From
1 Birthday to the Next, Seasonal Solar Aspect

2) Earth’s Climate: Maps, Clouds & Rain, the 3-Zone

Simplification, Design Strategy Hints for Each Zone

3) California Climate: Why it’s so AWEsome, Why it

can be Perilous at times, Concepts for your ToolKit

4) Patterns in Climate: VK Vortices, Flow Forms

LA Arboretum PDC: Day 3, Session 1

How to Kill Vampires
 UV, Solar & Thermal Radiation

• Speed = Distance/Time

• Higher Frequency is More Energetic

• Peak Solar Radiation Emission is Green

• Eyes Evolved & Plants are Smart, Albedo

• Greenhouse Effect, Cold Desert Nights, Fireplace Slab

• Thermal Inertia: Diurnal Cycle & Seasonal Temperature Lag

 Simplification: 3 Climate Zones
TROPICAL! Areas free of frost.

No month under 64F mean temperature (T). Includes the

SUBTROPICS, for which coolest months 32F < T < 64F.

TEMPERATE! Some summer, real winter.

Coldest months T < 32F, warmest T > 50F. Includes POLAR,

for which the warmest month T < 50F (or perpetual frost).

ARID! Areas where precipitation exceeds evaporation.

Mean annual rainfall <= 19.5 inches. Includes DESERT, for

which mean rainfall <= 10 inches.
Soil-Building & Infrastructure Hints
Tropical -- Cool it, Drain it!

Mulch! Coax soil to store nutrients in humus, plant herbaceous

perennials, multi-tier, cross-ventilate, light-colored, flexible, well-
anchored shelter against hurricane/floods, shelterbelt, vines.

Temperate -- Warm it!

Greenhouse! Air lock, compost or animal heat, house insulation

& aspect, wind/cold breaks, free-range forage systems &
grassland grazing techniques.

Arid -- Store moisture!

Mulch! Increase humus, limit fertilizer & hooved herbivores,

harvest water, use rock piles, depression beds & N-S ridges,
slope effect, grill, roof drip swale, cool air source, structure
orientation & shape, wind/heat breaks, design for flood.
Normal Conditions
El Nino Conditions
Sea Breeze
Land Breeze
3) State of the Planetary Ecosystem
1. Deforestation & Soil Loss/Degradation
2. Loss, Degradation of Coastal Wetlands
3. Loss of Plant & Animal Diversity*
4. Coral Reef Loss*
5. Water Pollution
6. Water Scarcity & Increasing Rainfall Variability*
7. Air Pollution & UV
8. Sea Ice Loss*
9. Land-based Glacier Loss*, Permafrost Melting*
10. Increasing Temperature Variability*

*due all or in part to increasing concentrations

of greenhouse gases in earth’s atmosphere
 Summary of Key Indicators that show
Unsustainable Trends in US Food System

Table from Heller & Keoleian (2003)