Where Are You?

Permaculture asks that we assess each design based on the factors that make up the area itself. Whether that be a lot in the suburbs, an urban balcony or 70 acres in the bush, we need to slow down and observe what is already there. What is the wild habitat like? What are the plant species already there? What weeds are around? What is the climate? The average rainfall? The extremes of rain and temperature? Is there pollution? What is the source and quality of the water? What directions do the storms and fires come out of? How long do the four seasons last? This may seem strange but some times where I live, summer lasts a lot longer than its allotted three months. What is the growing zone of the area?

We live in gardening zone 9. I refer to our climate as Extreme Mediterranean. Our average temperature is a balmy 75. But that doesn't tell you the real story of our climate. It gets searingly hot here in the summer easily over 100F for weeks with blasting north winds and no rain for months on end. Our average rainfall is 21 inches. But it falls mostly in the winter. A rain water catchment system is very important for this climate. Currently we are experiencing a severe drought. This year the annual grasses raced to seed. The wild oats which usually stay green until June and grow to four feet tall went to seed at two feet and turned yellow beginning of may. What direction does the house face? How long is the growing season? Ours is roughly 274 days.

What kind of soil do you have? What was grown on it previously? Where pesticides used? Here on our land we have a mixture of Newville-Naciemento clayey loam. That sounds better than it actually is. Let's just say with much of our soil we could make adobe bricks. This soil was great for the earth plaster that covers our house. But it makes growing plants more challenging. However unlike sandy soils, clays hold nutrients. So at least what I do build up over time won't run away as quickly.

Our native habitat was/is Oakland Savannah. Most of the native bunching grasses are gone now. In there place stands annual grasses introduced by early immigrants. Due to imbalances in the predator/prey relationship, Blue Oak seedlings are not surviving to take the place of the much older oaks that are left standing. In 100 years will there still be oaks in rural California? If left unaided it doesn't look promising. Of course this is one of the main restoration projects for our 54 acres. A drop in the bucket but its gotta help a little.

Analyzing your site before you actually implement a permaculture design will allow any design to fit more naturally into your environment and help mitigate any potential difficulties in the future. Plants and animals have certain growing requirements that are best met or you will needlessly fight their natures.