(There are slight edits to the original to focus on PDC course topics. Section numbers precede the entry, page numbers follow .)
CHAPTER1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 The philosophy behind permaculture, 1 1.2 Ethics, 2
CHAPTER 2 CONCEPTS AND THEMES IN DESIGN, 10
2.3 Applying laws and principles to design, 12 2.4 Resources, 16 2.5 Yields, 18 2.6 Cycles: a niche in time, 23 2.7 Pyramids, food webs, growth and vegetarianism, 28 2.8 Complexity and connections, 30 2.9 Order or chaos, 31 2.10 Permitted and forced functions, 31 2.11 Diversity, 32 2.12 Stability, 33 2.13 Time and yield, 33 2.14 Principle summary, 34
CHAPTER 3 METHODS OF DESIGN, 35
3.2 Analysis: Design by listing characteristics of components, 37 3.3 Observation: Design by expanding on direct observations of a site, 43 3.4 Deduction from nature: Design by adopting lessons learnt from nature, 44 3.5 Options and decisions: Design as a selection of options or pathways based on decisions, 47 3.6 Data overlay: Design by map overlays, 47 3.7 Random assembly: Design by assessing the results of random assemblies, 47 3.8 Flow diagrams: Design for work places, 48 3.9 Zone and sector analysis: Design by the application of a master pattern, 49 3.10 Zoning of information and ethics, 57 3.11 Incremental design, 58 3.13 The concepts of guilds in nature, 59 3.14 Succession: evolution of a system, 64 3.15 The establishment and maintenance of systems, 65 3.16 General practical procedures in property design, 68
CHAPTER 4 PATTERN UNDERSTANDING, 70
4.2 A general pattern model of events, 71 4.3 Matrices and the strategies of compacting and complexing, ‘components, 72 4.4 Properties of media, 75 4.5 Boundary conditions, 76 4.6 The harmonics and geometries of boundaries, 78 4.7 Compatible and incompatible borders and components, 79 4.8 The timing and shaping of events, 81 4.9 Spirals, 83 4.10 Flow over landscape and objects, 83 4.11 Open flow and and flow patterns, 87 4.12 Toroidal phenomena, 88 4.13 Dimensions and potentials, 88 4.14 Closed (spherical) models; accretion and expulsion, 88 4.15 Branching and its effects; conduits, 89 4.16 Orders of magnitude in branches, 91 4.17 Orders and dimensions, 92 4.18 Classification of events, 93 4.19 Time and relativity in the model, 93 4.20 The world we live in as a tessellation of events, 94 4.21 Introduction to pattern applications, 95 4.22 The tribal use of patterning, 96 4.23 The mnemonics of meaning, 99 4.24 Patterns of society, 100 4.25 The arts in the service of life, 100 4.26 Additional pattern applications, 101 4.28 Designers’ checklist, 105.
CHAPTER 5 CLIMATIC FACTORS, 106
5.2 The classification of broad climatic zones, 107 5.3 Patterning in global weather systems; the engines of the atmosphere, 107 5.4 Precipitation, 110 5.5 Radiation, 113 5.6 Wind, 121 5.7 Landscape effects, 132 5.8 Latitude effects, 134
CHAPTER 6 TREES AND THEIR ENERGY TRANSACTIONS, 137
6.2 The biomass of the tree, 138 6.3 Wind effects, 139 6.4 Temperature effects, 142 6.5 Trees and precipitation, 142 6.6 How a tree interacts with rain, 147
CHAPTER 7 WATER, 152
7.2 Regional intervention in the water cycle, 153 7.3 Earthworks for water conservation and storage, 155 7.4 Reduction of water used in sewage systems, 170 7.5 The purification of polluted waters, 172 7.6 Natural swimming pools, 180 7.7 Designers’ Checklist, 181
CHAPTER 8 SOILS, 182
8.2 Soil and health, 184 8.3 Tribal and traditional soil classifications, 185 8.4 The structure of soils, 186 8.5 Soil and water elements, 187 8.6 Primary nutrients for plants, 187 8.7 The distribution of elements in the soil profile, 188 8.8 pH and soils, 195 8.9 Soil composition, 199 8.10 Soil pores and crumb structure, 201 8.11 Gaseous content and processes in soils, 204 8.12 The soil biota, 205 8.13 Difficult soils, 208 8.14 Plant analysis for mineral deficiencies; some remedies, 209 8.15 Biological indicators of soil and soil conditions, 212 8.16 Seed pelleting, 214 8.17 Soil erosion, 214 8.18 Soil rehabilitation, 215 8.19 Soils in house foundations, 221 8.20 Life in earth, 222 8.21 The respiration of earth, 224
CHAPTER 9 EARTHWORKING AND EARTH RESOURCES, 227
9.2 Planning earthworks, 228 9.3 Planting after earthworks, 229 9.4 Slope measure, 230 9.5 Levels and levelling, 232 9.6 Types of earthworks, 234 9.7 Earth constructs, 237 9.8 Moving the earth, 241 9.9 Earth resources, 247
CHAPTER 10 THE HUMID TROPICS, 250 10.1 Introduction, 250 10.2 Climatic types, 251 10.3 Tropical soils, 253 10.4 Earthshaping in the tropics, 259 10.5 House design, 261 10.6 The tropical home garden, 266 10.7 Integrated land management, 277 10.8 Elements of a village complex in the humid tropics, 279 10.9 Evolving a polyculture, 279 10.10 Themes on a coconut or palm dominant polyculture, 283 10.11 Pioneering, 293 10.12 “Animal tractor” systems, 299 10.13 Grassland and range management, 300 10.14 Humid tropical coast stabilisation and shelterbelts, 303 10.15 Low island and coral cay strategies, 304 10.16 Designers’ checklist, 307
CHAPTER 11 DRYLAND STRATEGIES, 308
11.2 Precipitation, 310 11.3 Temperature, 312 11.4 Soils, 312 11.5 Landscape features in deserts, 316 11.6 Harvesting of water in arid lands, 336 11.7 The desert house, 359 11.8 The desert garden, 371 11.9 Garden irrigation systems, 381 11.10 Desert settlement—broad strategies, 11.11 Plant themes for drylands, 390 11.12 Animal systems in drylands, 397 11.13 Desertification and the salting of soils, 401 11.14 Cold and montane deserts, 409
CHAPTER 12 HUMID COOL TO COLD CLIMATES, 411
12.2 Characteristics of a humid cool climate, 412 123 Soils, 413 12.4 Landform and water conservation, 413 12.5 Settlement and house design, 414 12.6 The home garden, 417 12.7 Berry fruits, 420 12.8 Glasshouse growing, 422 12.9 Orchards, 423 12.10 Farm forestry, 425 12.11 Free-range forage systems, 427 12.12 The lawn, 43414.16 References and resources, 558, Plant list by common name, 561. Plant list by species name, 563. 12.13 Grasslands, 435 12.14 Rangelands, 442 12.15 Cold climates, 446 12.16 Wildfire, 451
CHAPTER 13 AQUACULTURE, 458
13.2 The case for aquaculture, 459 13.3 Some factors affecting total useful yields, 461 13.4 Choice of fish species (varieties, food, health) and factors in yield, 470 13.5 Fish pond configurations and food supply, 472 13.6 Farming invertebrates for fish food, 491 13.7 Channel, canal, chinampa, 495 13.8 Yields outside the pond 13.9 Bringing in the harvest, 499 13.10 Traditional and new water polycultures, 500
CHAPTER 14 THE STRATEGIES OF AN ALTERNATIVE GLOBAL NATION, 505
14.2 Ethical basis of an alternative nation, 507 14.3 A new United Nations, 508 14.4 Alternatives to political systems, 509 14.5 Bioregional organisation, 510 14.6 Extended families, 514 14.7 Trusts and legal strategies, 515 14.8 Developmental and property trusts, 518 14.9 Village development, 519 14.10 Effective working groups and right livelihood, 530 14.11 Money and finance, 533 14.12 Land access, 545 14.13 An ethical investment movement, 551 14.14 Effective aid, 555 14.15 Futures, 557