April 5, 2023

Your Home is a System: permaculture zones & permaculture with no yard

While gardening is a central element of permaculture, the most important thing is the ability to think in systems. Permaculture recognises that everything in the natural world is interconnected and interdependent, and that to create sustainable and resilient systems, we need to understand these interconnections and work with them. This requires a holistic approach that takes into account the whole system, rather than just focusing on individual elements. By developing the ability to think in systems, permaculture practitioners are better equipped to create designs that are sustainable, resilient, and in harmony with the natural world. This approach can be applied not only to gardening, but also to other areas of life, such as business, education, and community development.

Defining a system

Through permaculture, you begin to understand your home as a complex adaptive system. All systems have:

A clearly defined, but flexible boundary: this helps distinguish the system from ‘everything else’
An external environment: all systems in the social world are open systems, so they will interact with their wider environment
Components: the individual parts or elements that make up the system. These components can be physical or abstract and can include objects, people, processes, or ideas, among others.
Subsystems: components or parts of a larger system that perform specific functions within the system. They are typically organised hierarchically, with each level of the hierarchy composed of a set of subsystems. A subsystem can be thought of as a smaller system within a larger system, with its own inputs, outputs, processes, and boundaries.
Relations and connections: the ways in which the individual components of the system interact with one another, either directly or indirectly, and they can take many different forms.

In the first lesson in this series, Tiyana shared how to create a very simple system map for your home by identify the boundary, environment, subsystem, and key components. In this video lesson, she will go into this in a little more detail:

Hierarchy: organising systems

Hierarchical thinking is an essential tool in systems thinking, and it can be used to understand the organisation and structure of systems. In a complex system, there are often many different parts or components that interact with one another to produce emergent behaviour. These components can be organised into levels or layers of hierarchy, with each level comprising a set of subsystems that interact with one another to produce emergent properties at a higher level of organisation.

Here are some examples of hierarchy in systems thinking using ecosystems as an example:

Ecological Hierarchy: Ecosystems are organised into levels of ecological hierarchy, from the smallest level, such as individuals and populations, to the larger levels, such as communities and biomes. Each level of organisation has its own emergent properties and dynamics, and understanding the relationships between these levels is essential to understanding how the ecosystem as a whole functions.
Food Chain Hierarchy: Within an ecosystem, there are many food chains that are organised into a hierarchical structure. For example, in a simple terrestrial ecosystem, the grass is eaten by the herbivore, which is eaten by the predator. This hierarchical structure allows us to understand the relationships between different organisms in the ecosystem and their roles in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.
Nutrient Cycling Hierarchy: Ecosystems also have a hierarchical structure of nutrient cycling, where nutrients are recycled at different levels of the ecosystem. For example, dead organic matter is decomposed by bacteria and fungi, which are then consumed by small animals, which in turn are consumed by larger animals. This hierarchical structure allows us to understand how nutrients move through the ecosystem and are recycled over time.
Hydrological Hierarchy: Ecosystems also have a hierarchical structure of hydrology, where water moves through the ecosystem at different levels. For example, rainwater is absorbed by plants, which transpire water vapour into the atmosphere, which then falls back to the ground as rain. This hierarchical structure allows us to understand how water moves through the ecosystem and is used by different components of the ecosystem.

By understanding the relationships between different levels of organisation within an ecosystem, we can identify leverage points for intervention and design, and work to create more resilient and sustainable ecosystems.

In systems thinking, hierarchy is also important because it allows us to identify leverage points in the system, where small changes or interventions can have a large impact on the behaviour and dynamics of the system as a whole. By understanding the different levels of hierarchy in a system and the relationships between them, we can identify these leverage points and design interventions that are more likely to be effective.

Hierarchy in Permaculture: Permaculture Zones

The 6 permaculture zones are an example of hierarchy in systems thinking that can help beginner permaculturalists identify leverage points in a permaculture design. The zones are organized into a hierarchy based on the intensity of human interaction and the distance from the home or center of the system. The zones are as follows:

Zone 0: The home or center of the system, where the highest level of human interaction occurs. This zone includes the living areas, workshops, and other spaces where people spend the most time.
Zone 1: The area closest to the home, where the most intensive and frequent human interaction occurs. This zone typically includes annual vegetable gardens, herb gardens, and small fruit trees.
Zone 2: The area that requires less frequent human interaction but is still easily accessible. This zone typically includes perennial plants, larger fruit trees, and animals that require daily care.
Zone 3: The area where crops and animals require less frequent attention, and may be used for grazing, orchards, or other perennial crops.
Zone 4: The semi-wild area where crops and animals require minimal attention, and may include woodlands, wildlife corridors, or other natural areas.
Zone 5: The completely wild area, where there is no human intervention and nature is allowed to follow its own course.

By organising your permaculture design into zones, beginner permaculturalists can identify the different levels of hierarchy in the system, and focus their attention on the zones that require the most attention and have the most potential for intervention. For example, Zone 1 and 2 are the most intensively managed zones, and therefore have the most potential for design and intervention. By focusing on these zones, permaculturalists can identify leverage points for intervention and design, such as selecting the most appropriate crops, designing efficient irrigation systems, or selecting the most appropriate animals for the system.

It is possible to apply permaculture principles and techniques to any living situation, including those without a yard. One way to do this is to focus on permaculture zone 0, which represents the home or dwelling itself. Permaculture zone 0 is the starting point for any permaculture design project, as it involves designing and adapting the living space to be more sustainable and efficient. This can include things like improving insulation, conserving water and energy, reducing waste, and implementing indoor food production systems such as hydroponics or aquaponics. By focusing on permaculture zone 0, even those without a yard can begin to live more sustainably and integrate permaculture principles into their daily lives.

Permaculture Zone 0: a starting point for everyone

For beginner permaculturalists, focusing on permaculture zone 0 can be an excellent starting point to begin integrating permaculture principles into their lives. As Tiyana says, starting with zone 0 is how we can all start where we are with what we have!

Here are some things beginner permaculturalists should consider when thinking about permaculture zone 0:

Assess the existing systems and infrastructure: Before making any changes, it is essential to assess the existing systems and infrastructure in the home or dwelling. This includes things like heating, cooling, water supply, waste disposal, and energy use. Understanding how these systems work and identifying areas for improvement can help guide design decisions.
Focus on energy efficiency: Improving energy efficiency is a critical aspect of permaculture zone 0. This can include things like improving insulation, using natural ventilation, installing energy-efficient lighting, and reducing energy waste. By reducing energy consumption, we can reduce our carbon footprint and save money on utility bills.
Design for water conservation: Another important aspect of permaculture zone 0 is water conservation. This can include things like installing low-flow faucets and showerheads, using rain barrels to collect rainwater, and using greywater for irrigation. By designing for water conservation, we can reduce our water consumption and create a more sustainable living environment.
Implement indoor food production systems: Indoor food production systems, such as hydroponics or aquaponics, can be an excellent way to produce fresh food year-round and reduce reliance on grocery stores. These systems can be designed to fit into small spaces and can be scaled up or down depending on the available space.
Reduce waste: Finally, permaculture zone 0 involves designing for waste reduction. This can include things like composting, recycling, and reducing consumption. By reducing waste, we can create a more sustainable living environment and reduce our impact on the planet.

Overall, beginner permaculturalists should approach permaculture zone 0 with a focus on sustainability and efficiency. By designing for energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor food production, and waste reduction, we can create a more sustainable living environment and begin to integrate permaculture principles into our daily lives.