Class Two: Creating a Zone Map // Introduction to Permaculture Mini Course

Instead of laying out your site in terms of aesthetics only, think more about efficiency and frequency. This will make your life so much easier.

I live on an old farm that was established in 1775. The first car wasn't invented until 1886 and the first tractor didn't make an appearance until 1892. That's more than 100 years of farm operation with a working barn and fields. How did folks get from point A to B on their properties, plow their fields, grow crops, and care for animals without machinery? They walked and used animal power like horses or oxen. That means my farm had to be laid out in such a way that everything was accessible. No one wants to walk 2 acres up the hill from my house to see their animals in the barn. Rather, the barn was built within about 50 steps of my side porch. A private farm road or driveway is all that separates this old house's porch and walkway from the barn, which then leads up to the separate stable.

Working smarter, not harder has everything to do with placement of structures and growing spaces. There's so much less labor, energy and resources involved in moving supplies, animals, water, and equipment when everything is grouped or placed strategically. Plus wildlife is less likely to encroach on spaces where humans and activity regularly frequent. Here's a few examples of things to consider when planning out your site.