Bountiful Gardens: The 6 Zones of Permaculture
Permaculture provides a holistic and sustainable approach to garden design – and is richly rewarding to boot
Permaculture was a revolutionary idea when it emerged in Australia in the ‘70s. Now, with sustainability at the top of many people’s agendas, the ideas of permaculture have become more mainstream. Permaculture, founded by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren and influenced by prior teachings on organic agriculture, roughly means Permanent Agriculture and is about an integrated system of living that uses the forces of nature for human needs, in terms of shelter, food and water.
It’s about creating a polyculture, rather than a monoculture, where every little thing has a part to play, from tiny insects and pollinating birds and bees, to lizards and frogs that eat pests. It’s about harnessing all these elements through a designed landscape and using a site’s natural features, such as water, slope, shade and orientation, to get the most from it. In such a system, nothing is wasted; everything is recycled to nourish other parts of the system. While in many forms of modern agriculture the soil is depleted and synthetic fertiliser is introduced, in permaculture the soil is constantly nourished and kept in optimal health. In both developed and developing countries, permaculture is being taught to increase self-reliance and food security in communities.
On a property using permaculture principles, there are usually six zones – from zero to five. We can think of designing the zones as we do with kitchen design, where everything is located for maximum efficiency, reducing labour. If the things we use most often are most accessible, the system will work more efficiently. While use of all zones can be applied to a large property, the zoning system can also work for suburban or urban blocks with access to a balcony, rooftop or garden, using just some of the principles of the first few zones. This brief guide to the six zones will get you started.
It’s about creating a polyculture, rather than a monoculture, where every little thing has a part to play, from tiny insects and pollinating birds and bees, to lizards and frogs that eat pests. It’s about harnessing all these elements through a designed landscape and using a site’s natural features, such as water, slope, shade and orientation, to get the most from it. In such a system, nothing is wasted; everything is recycled to nourish other parts of the system. While in many forms of modern agriculture the soil is depleted and synthetic fertiliser is introduced, in permaculture the soil is constantly nourished and kept in optimal health. In both developed and developing countries, permaculture is being taught to increase self-reliance and food security in communities.
On a property using permaculture principles, there are usually six zones – from zero to five. We can think of designing the zones as we do with kitchen design, where everything is located for maximum efficiency, reducing labour. If the things we use most often are most accessible, the system will work more efficiently. While use of all zones can be applied to a large property, the zoning system can also work for suburban or urban blocks with access to a balcony, rooftop or garden, using just some of the principles of the first few zones. This brief guide to the six zones will get you started.
Zone One
This is the area immediately around the home, and especially the kitchen. It’s a good idea to locate here those things you will frequently access to water or collect from, such as herb gardens or spirals.
This is the area immediately around the home, and especially the kitchen. It’s a good idea to locate here those things you will frequently access to water or collect from, such as herb gardens or spirals.
Food waste recycling, via worms, plays an important role in any permaculture garden and the worm farm, which is easier to manage than ordinary composting, and can be located in Zone One for easy access. We are more likely to feed the worms their regular kitchen scraps if they are nearby.
Think of the worms like a workforce; the more we can get them to do, the less work for us. Worms can not only till soil for us, they do the amazing job of converting organic scraps into a beautifully rich fertiliser.
Think of the worms like a workforce; the more we can get them to do, the less work for us. Worms can not only till soil for us, they do the amazing job of converting organic scraps into a beautifully rich fertiliser.
Vertical herb gardens or seedlings can also be located in Zone One, near the kitchen, as we tend to use them often and they need daily care and watering, especially when they’re in pots.
Other small animals, and anything else that needs to be accessed daily, such as firewood or a water tank, can be positioned in Zone One.
Read more: How to Grow Edibles on Your Balcony
Other small animals, and anything else that needs to be accessed daily, such as firewood or a water tank, can be positioned in Zone One.
Read more: How to Grow Edibles on Your Balcony
Zone Two
Zone Two is the place for larger plantings and things that we need to access frequently but not as often as Zone One.
Zone Two might contain beehives, small fruit trees, such as soft fruits and lemons, as well as compost.
This image shows an espaliered fruit tree which is a space-saving method for raising fruit trees. As well as supporting the tree, the stone wall radiates heat to promote growth. This works well for apple, peach, nectarine and plum trees.
Zone Two is the place for larger plantings and things that we need to access frequently but not as often as Zone One.
Zone Two might contain beehives, small fruit trees, such as soft fruits and lemons, as well as compost.
This image shows an espaliered fruit tree which is a space-saving method for raising fruit trees. As well as supporting the tree, the stone wall radiates heat to promote growth. This works well for apple, peach, nectarine and plum trees.
The chickens, if you have them, can be located in Zone Two. Like worms, chickens have an important job in the permaculture workforce and they have a number of crucial roles to play.
They convert organic waste into food in the form of beautiful fresh eggs; they create a highly useful organic fertiliser; and they also eat pests and weeds. A portable chicken tractor that can be moved around the garden is a good idea to reduce your workload. Instead of you having to gather their manure for fertiliser and distributing, they are doing this for you, and can simultaneously weed and remove pests.
Read more: The Neighbourly Way to Keep Chooks
They convert organic waste into food in the form of beautiful fresh eggs; they create a highly useful organic fertiliser; and they also eat pests and weeds. A portable chicken tractor that can be moved around the garden is a good idea to reduce your workload. Instead of you having to gather their manure for fertiliser and distributing, they are doing this for you, and can simultaneously weed and remove pests.
Read more: The Neighbourly Way to Keep Chooks
If you are planning a small pond, Zone Two is a good place to locate this and has multiple uses on a property. A pond stocked with aquatic life can play an integral role in pest control and can create a cool area, that is also an ideal spot to sit and rest.
Small and frequently accessed garden beds can also be located in Zone Two. In the initial design, try to think of all your different systems, how often you use things and where they can be located for ease of access.
Zone Three
Larger vegetables such as pumpkins and any vegetables that you want to grow in bulk can be located in Zone Three.
You might have another compost in this area if you need to access it for these plantings. Also consider mulch and irrigation systems for these areas and where these should be located to increase efficiency and reduce your labour.
Read more: Easy Vegetable Gardens for Black Thumbs
Larger vegetables such as pumpkins and any vegetables that you want to grow in bulk can be located in Zone Three.
You might have another compost in this area if you need to access it for these plantings. Also consider mulch and irrigation systems for these areas and where these should be located to increase efficiency and reduce your labour.
Read more: Easy Vegetable Gardens for Black Thumbs
Large fruit trees and orchards can be located in Zone Three. Consider mulching areas so that fruit trees and vegetables don’t have to compete with grass.
Sheet mulching and ‘no-dig’ gardens are another way to reduce workload – while initially taking time, these more than pay off in the longer term, as sheet mulching kills weeds, meaning less ongoing weeding; it provides natural slow-release fertiliser, meaning less need for added fertiliser; and holds moisture effectively, meaning less watering.
Sheet mulching and ‘no-dig’ gardens are another way to reduce workload – while initially taking time, these more than pay off in the longer term, as sheet mulching kills weeds, meaning less ongoing weeding; it provides natural slow-release fertiliser, meaning less need for added fertiliser; and holds moisture effectively, meaning less watering.
Think of how one element can be used in a number of ways – for instance, a fruit tree for shade, such as an apricot, or a trellis to provide shade, with a climbing vine or climbing fruit, such as kiwi fruit.
Don’t assume that a permaculture garden has to be boring and without colour simply because it is functional. There are all kinds of flowering plants and herbs that have a multitude of uses and are most at home in a permaculture garden.
Marigolds and nasturtiums, for example, are brightly coloured and ideal as pest repellents. And many herbs, such as rosemary and lavender, are both functional and pretty and also repel pests. There are many attractive plants that can be grown for medicinal purposes too, such as comfrey, echinacea, and calendula. They can be used for composting, too.
Marigolds and nasturtiums, for example, are brightly coloured and ideal as pest repellents. And many herbs, such as rosemary and lavender, are both functional and pretty and also repel pests. There are many attractive plants that can be grown for medicinal purposes too, such as comfrey, echinacea, and calendula. They can be used for composting, too.
Larger water features, such as a dam, can be located in Zone Three and in this area too, consider any irrigation systems that may need to be used for Zone Three plantings.
Zone Four
For larger properties, Zone Four would be a relatively untouched area where wild fruit trees, nut trees, and timber to be felled for firewood might be found.
For larger properties, Zone Four would be a relatively untouched area where wild fruit trees, nut trees, and timber to be felled for firewood might be found.
Or for properties with large animals and livestock that might require more space but less attention, they can be located in Zone Four.
Zone Five
The area beyond the garden, Zone Five, is a wild area or buffer, generally untouched by humans. It might be a forested area that is outside the boundary or inside your property. It can be an area purely for conservation or it can provide shelter from prevailing winds, or it might be an area that needs managing for bushfire. You could create a Zone Five corridor with your neighbours, which can act as a wildlife corridor.
The area beyond the garden, Zone Five, is a wild area or buffer, generally untouched by humans. It might be a forested area that is outside the boundary or inside your property. It can be an area purely for conservation or it can provide shelter from prevailing winds, or it might be an area that needs managing for bushfire. You could create a Zone Five corridor with your neighbours, which can act as a wildlife corridor.
And that brings us back to Zone Zero. Here you can gather the harvest and reap the very satisfying rewards for your labours. Any excess can be stored by pickling or bottling, given away to friends and neighbours, bartered, or sold to local co-ops or farmer’s markets. Enjoy…
YOUR SAY
Tell us about your experiences with permaculture in the comments section.
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YOUR SAY
Tell us about your experiences with permaculture in the comments section.
MORE
Home Grown: Create Your Own Kitchen Garden
So Your Garden Style Is: Cook’s Garden
Zero Tolerance: 21 Ways to Waste Less at Home
This is the human centre or living space, so usually the house itself. In a permaculture garden, the house will be designed or retrofitted to work with nature – using the sun to bring in light and warmth and using design elements and materials to shelter from the elements where necessary.