zone analysis

Overview Zoning is a common tool in permaculture design. The zone system is a conceptual tool to help place 1 2 elements in the system to save time, energy and labour . In Gaias Garden , Toby Hemmingway articulates that zones are based on dynamic relationships. This means to use zoning as a tool to design Brook End I have needed to look at my familys relationship with all the elements of our site. He communicates that choosing the zone in which to place a design element depends on two things: The number of times we need to visit the plant, animal or structure The number of times it needs us to visit it. Brook End Element House Bender Chickens Compost toilet Orchard Number of times we need to visit Daily (continuously) Daily (min x 2) Daily (min x 2) Daily (2-3) Daily The number of times the element needs us to visit it Daily Daily Daily Annually to clear Seasonally for pruning, semiregularly for harvesting during Sep/Oct Once a week for attention. Watering every 2-3 days in Summer. Feeding 2-3 times per month. Every 2 days for watering and care. 2 x per year for cleaning. Every 2 days for watering and care. Annually for mulching. Doesnt. Doesnt. Once per year for main cut. Annually to dust & clean windows. Annually to clean Additional observations

Also to feed and clean out every 2-3 days. Fortnightly trips to replace rolls Daily to visit to chickens & as a pathway to house

The Zone System: Functions and Contents (from Gaias Garden) Functions Structures Zone 1: Most Modify house Greenhouse, trellis, intensive use microclimate, provide arbor, deck, patio, and care. Zone daily food and bird bath, storage, of self-reliance. flowers, social space, potting shed, plant propagation workshop, worm bin Zone 2: SemiHome food Greenhouse, barns, intensively production, some tool shed, shop, cultivated. market crops, plant wood storage Domestic propagation, bird & production insect habitat zone. Zone 3: Low Cash crops, Feed storage, field intensity, firewood, lumber and shelters extensive pasture. methods. Farm methods. Zone 4: Minimal care. Forage zone. Zone 5: Unmanaged. Wilderness zone. Hunting, gathering, grazing Inspiration, foraging, meditation Animal feeders None

Crops Salad greens, herbs, flowers dwarf trees, low shrubs, lawn, trees for microclimate Staple and canning crops, multifunctional plants, small fruits and nuts, fireretardant plants, natives Cash crops, large fruit and nut trees, animal forage, shelterbeltsm seedlings for grafting, natives Firewood, timber, pasture plants, native plants Native plants, mushrooms

Garden Techniques Intensive weeding & mulching, dense stacking, square foot and biointensive beds, espalier, propagation Weekly weeding and care, spot mulch, cover crops, seasonal pruning

Water Sources Rain barrels, small ponds, greywater, household tap Well, pond, large tanks, grey water irrigation, swales Large ponds, swales, storage in soil

Animals Rabbits, guinea pigs, poultry, worms Rabbits, fish, poultry

Cover crops, coppicing, light pruning, moveable fences

Pasturing and selective forestry Unmanaged, occasional wildcrafting

Ponds, swales and creeks Lakes, creeks

Goats, pigs, cows, horses, other large animals, free range poultry Grazing animals Native animals

Vegetable beds

Greenhouses

Pollytunnel Pond Woodland Woodland edge Field Summerhouse Cabin

Daily to salad beds 2- 3 times per week for root & other vegetables (harvesting and weeding/management) 2 x per week for fruiting crops e.g. tomatoes 1 x week for herbs & container plants 2-3 days for harvesting Dont need to visit at present, only for recreation. Seasonally for festivals, to celebrate in Glade. Harvesting comfrey 2-3 times per month. Daily as a pathway. 2-8 times for camps & events 5-6 times a year, seasonally in summer 2-3 times per week

Zoning decisions Zone 0 (light grey): This includes the house & extension for Michele & Ian and Nicoles bender. Zone 1 (Green): When the home garden is developed following building work, it will be designed to maximize cut and come again salads, edible flowers and herb crops which are picked intensively. Outside Nicoles bender will be planted with tea species such as nettle and lemon balm for easy access. The bender has been placed not in the most energy saving place as it increases the amount of physical journeys undertaken however it has been zoned with consideration of 3 emotional and psychological flows e.g. space away from family due to a desire to live an independent lifestyle. Zone 1 also includes the chickens and certain beds in the main vegetable growing area. Zone 2 (orange): Majority of vegetable beds, herb garden area, greenhouses and pollytunnel. All need semi-regular visits. The fruit cage growing area near the pollytunnel will also become a zone 2 area as it will involve more regular harvesting of crops than canopy fruits. Zone 3 (light blue): The orchard is visited everyday for the chickens however its main crops are managed on a seasonal basis. Zone 4 (dark blue): I have zoned the field as a zone 4 simply because it needs less attention than the orchard and the grass is cut once a year. As Brook End becomes a functioning business and education centre its use will increase which may affect its zoning placement. Zone 5: Completely unmanaged areas of the site at present include the hedgerows, stream and pond as well as the woodland. These are likely to become design projects in the near future so their attention levels and yields will change, however they will still be designed to support wild communities of plants and animals.

Woodstore Barn & Tool Shed Piggeries

Once a week 3 times a week or more depending on activities. 2-3 times a week or more depending on activities Seasonally, mainly used in Summer

Monthly to add wood Annual clean

Gazebo

Will be used more when moved & used for business & community activities More in winter & for Oak Dragon camp Where chicken feed is stored. Where hay & cleaning equipment is stored. Will be used more when elderly relatives move in

Resources 1 Frey, Darrel, 2011, Bioshelter Marken Garden, 2 Hemmingway, Toby, 2009, Gaias Garden 3 Design decision arose following design support tutorial with Steven Pritchard

Nicole Vosper, Wild Heart Permaculture 2011

BROOK END