[Scpg] A Permaculture Designers Checklist

[Wesley Roe and Marjorie Lakin Erickson]

A Permaculture Designers 
Checklist 
http://www.permacultureinternational.org/articles/pcdesignerschecklist.htm

Compiled by Rene & Lorraine van Raders, drawing on work and inspiration 
from Max Lindegger, Theo Utzinger & Jorji Mindell.

1. OBSERVATION:
Spend time noticing what is happening on your site. Use senses – listen, 
look, smell, touch, taste and feel. Use intuition. Make no lasting 
judgements – just notice – what are your impressions. Write it down.

2. SITE ANALYSIS
Map boundaries, property size, neighbours, (what’s happening upstream, 
upwind and around), proximity to main roads, towns, cities, ports, 
industries etc. – i.e. your external resources.
Topography: from contour maps marl the valleys and ridges, determine slope 
gradients (keyline).
Aspect: (orientation), sun angles (including horizon points).
Wind: wind roses for area, damaging winds, desirable winds.
Climate: average rainfall and distribution, temperatures – max/min, storms, 
hail, frost, humidity, light, altitude.
Microclimates.
Soils & Geology: soil maps of your area, agricultural studies, soil types, 
analysis, depth, drainage and absorption, stability of the site.
Hydrology: drainage patterns, springs, creeks and streams, surface water, 
catchment – size and quality, flood levels, water reticulation.
Views: good, bad where time will be spent (need to create views?)
Utilities: electricity, gas, town water, sewerage, telephone.
Council Activities: public transport, fire brigade, council rubbish 
collection, recycling, and spraying.
Traffic & Access: existing roads, farm roads, new roads required?, 
frequency of traffic, heavy or light vehicles, pedestrian traffic.
Structures: house, shed, buildings.
Vegetation: flora, forests, exotic species present, ground covers, 
poisonous plants, rare species – state of health of all the above.
Fauna: native and introduced species. Local ‘pest’ species and creatures 
causing fear (snakes, spiders, green ants etc)
History: logged, cropped, pasture, sprayed, farm dump sites - (talk to 
locals, study old books, maps, photos). Aboriginal history. Landmark 
disasters (what years).
Rules & Regulations: Council constraints (and other government agencies); 
zoning, permission of land use, easements.
Future plans for the area: subdivisions planned, industry, tourism/
Problems & Hazards: fire, flood, contamination, noise/air/visual pollution.
Potentials & Assets: waterfalls, suitable windmill/hydraulic ram sites, 
views, rock outcrops, historical value etc.
Resources in Neighbourhood: sugar mills, sawmills, factories, hospitals, 
schools, shops, fire stations, dump, free plant and seed sources, sand, 
gravel, timber, mulch, water, fodder, clay, stone, machinery.
Imports / Exports: food, building materials, fossil fuels, mulch, rubbish etc.

Identify areas for further research.

3. BRIEF
Get a brief from all people living on site. ( Talk to them separately if 
possible, do it on the property)
Name and age of client, ownership details, address of property.
Name and ages of all other residents showing relationship to client.
Occupations of all people on site. List pets.
Needs: food requirements, shelter etc.
Dreams: everyone’s wish list.
Future Plans: goals for life/property.
Lifestyle: likes, dislikes, values. How is each person’s time spent?
Financial budget: what money do you have to work with?
Personal resources: everyone’s skills, knowledge, information resources,
hobbies, health.
Community contacts: friends, acquaintances, organisation memberships.
Favourite foods/species: fruits, meats, vegetables, flowers.

4. DRAW BASE PLAN
Put your observations and findings on paper. Your base map should contain 
everything existing on the property. Remember to mark north and put 
everything to scale. Using overlays, here and in the later stages can be 
most useful.

5. CONCEPT
What is your client wanting to achieve? Do they want to make money out of 
their property? Do they want to be more 
self-reliant/ethical/environmentally friendly? Why do they want a 
Permaculture design carried out?
The more general the concept the better – commercial orchard rather than 
mangoes; some form of income, rather than a commercial orchard.

6. LAY OUT ZONES
Set out approximate areas of activity. The overall pattern. Remember zones 
farthest away get the least attention.

7. EARTHWORKS
Draw in and schedule any earthworks to be done e.g. house excavations, 
dams, earth banks, swales, drains etc.

8. STRUCTURES
Plan location of the structures wanted – mark out all intended structures 
so site can be designed accordingly (even if they are in the long-term plan).

9. SPECIES SELECTION
Plan location for vegetation and animals, taking into account likes and 
dislikes of clients and reasons for including each species. Remember to 
plan for mature size of plants (plant sacrificial species to fill gaps 
until that time).

10. TIMELINES
Schedules events. Remember to take into account seasons, budget, person 
power, plant growth etc. Make specific short term plans and general long 
term plans.

11. COSTING
Client will need an estimate to suit their financial situation. Keep within 
their means.

12. PRESENTATION
This is an important time. If you have listened to and followed the 
directions of your client, they will have a management plan that motivates 
then and can easily be followed. Remember this is their property, unless of 
course it is yours! It must suit the people who live there if it is going 
to be completed. The more detail and direction you can give them, the more 
likely it is the design will succeed, but the plan must be flexible.
Make sure the client understands the principles behind the design, so that 
appropriate modifications can be made.
Depending on the situation, your presentation can be as professional or as 
casual as your client requires – tailor it to them.

AND NOW COMES IMPLEMENTATION 
.WELL DONE!

Lorraine and Rene van Raders are members of Permaculture International Ltd.
They can be contacted at:
The Green Piece Permaculture Garden
PO Box 389, Malanda. Qld. 4885
Tel (+61) 7 4096 5138

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