permaculture redesign

Mother of All R’s is “Redesign”

Here’s a dozen R’s and the most important is Redesign

When researching and writing about waste reduction and the ‘classic 4 R’s’ focused on in the 90’s we realised the importance of a 5th R: Redesign.
Since then our wonderful students have suggested more. Lela Copeland, now one of our graduates in Hawaii, wrote about Re-use by modification (Retrofit). Permaculture North Sydney had more and there were 10 R’s to consider. Now Flavia Reis and Shane Moon (students in our face-to-faced course) and another student Ben Clarke have suggested a few more.

• Refuse
  
• Reduce
  
• Redistribute (share) 
• Re-use
  
• Retrofit
  
• Repair
  
• Recycle
  
• Refurbish
  
• Redeem
  
• Restore
  
• Regenerate
  
• Rebuild. 
• Redesign

Redesign

Redesign for durability, ease of maintenance and repair, and use of materials that are easily re-used and re-cycled without high energy input or toxic by-products. The concept of designing in parts called modules is a design feature that usually increases waste. However, if the modules are small enough, they can make repair easy (replacing just a steel blade or a brush head). Modules in many modern products such as white goods and cars are self-contained, and can usually only be opened when broken. If we design for common parts, sizes and materials with ingenious combinations and application then the design has a much greater capacity for re-use and repair. Few cars or even computers have common parts from one brand to another, this has often been to enhance the uniqueness of the product, ‘It’s different, better, sophisticated and new’. When consumers demand repair-ability, items will be promoted less on uniqueness and more on their common-ness or ‘standards’ and availability of parts.
Permaculture is about re-design. Clever design finds multiple functions and use for the waste, which is simply unused output [Mollison]. We can re-design our cities into self-reliant ‘villages’ and our home systems into responsible multi-functional productive spaces.

ABOUT Permaculture Zones

ref http://www.permaculturevisions.org/bucket-loads-of-info/ About creating ZONES Design using Zoning helps us place elements where they are needed according to level of observation and attention. In Permaculture we break the design up into Zones according to the amount of attention each area requires Zone 0 – Home = indoor production (sprouts/ferments) and processing of food, waste, water collection, repairs and education. Zone 1 – Area outdoors needing regular observation tending and harvesting eg. plants we can browse and use each day.- intensive garden beds with keyhole access. Zone 2. Less intensive managed areas but with animals needing daily attention eg. poultry, rabbits, worm farm, snail farm. Orchard trees. Zone 3 Occassionally visited areas with self-fed animals (stock) and seasonal wide ranging crops eg. corn, wheat, rice, pumpkin, bamboo Zone 4. Wild food gathering (eg. nuts, native fruits) Wood for Fuel, self seeding trees Zone 5. Natural area – a rarely visited area. linked with neighbouring wildlife corridors. Sometimes managed to reduce risk of catastrophes ie. fire/pollution/drought/hurricane.

Permaculture Design principles - 12 key principles

Permaculture is a philosophy and a method of growing food, from a small balcony to a large a farm block. You can learn FREE online at www.Permaculturevisions.org and at the many free pages at www.Permaculturevisions.com YOU CAN ALSO STUDY WITH THEM ONLINE. Permaculturevisions.com have been teaching Permaculture online since 1993. Twelve design principles. Permaculture people generally regard the following as Permaculture's 12 design principles.] Observe Nature: By taking time to engage with nature we can design solutions that suit our particular situation. Catch and store energy: By developing systems that collect resources at peak abundance,we use them in times of need. Obtain a yield: Ensure that you are getting truly useful rewards as part of the work that you are doing. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback: We need to discourage inappropriate activity to ensure that systems can continue to function well. Use and value renewable resources and services: Make the best use of nature's abundance to reduce our consumptive behaviour and dependence on non-renewable resources. Produce no waste: By valuing and making use of all the resources that are available to us, nothing goes to waste. Design from patterns to details: By stepping back, we can observe patterns in nature and society. These can form the backbone of our designs, with the details filled in as we go. Integrate rather than seperate: By putting the right things in the right place, relationships develop between those things and they work together to support each other. Use small and slow solutions: Small and slow systems are easier to maintain than big ones, making better use of local resources and producing more sustainable outcomes. Use and value diversity: Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats and takes advantage of the unique nature of the environment in which it resides. Use edges and value the marginal: The interface between things is where the most interesting events take place. These are often the most valuable, diverse and productive elements in the system. Creatively use and respond to change: You can have a positive impact on inevitable change by carefully observing, and then intervening at the right time. ref wikpedia /permaculture