How would you go about choosing and preparing a suitable site for a successful permaculture community?
what features would you wish to avoid?
is there a recommended process or blueprint?
(think of landscape, resources, proximity, culture, climate, etc.)
Answer:
PERMACULTURE ANSWER
there are so many variables that it is difficult to answer this ,so the answer here is general ,we can give a blue print for a specific Country or location in a country
a general blue print is impossible
Each place is individual in resources,indigenous peoples ,climate ,politics,species of flora and fauna etc.
THE MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE IS HUMANS and HUWOMANS
If it is a country that has Native people ,(most of the countries that i have lived in)and it is the type of country i would prefer for this kind of concept
mostly because of the extra labor posibilities
the first thing i would look for is a local comunity IN NEED.
with out people to do the work or to benefit there is no point ,
and inicially a lot of labor is needed to get started ,far more than a handfull of permies .
And if it is a first world country you would need more than a handfull to build a sustainable and auto suficient settlement in a relative short time.
WATER
seccondly a good supply of permanent water ,
a mountain on the side would be nice
this helps with harvesting and a gentle slope makes the harvesting system easier to design.
CLIMATE
sub tropics is the most usefull climate to give the greatest variety of plants and is good to grow something all year round
(I am in the humid tropics now and a whole range of veggies is not possible ,)
PANORAMA & Business
One should be in a beautifull spot so that tourism could be a business that brings cash in to the fold
or at least near a larger town to sell any exesses or to have paying visitors
A school is essential to bring in cash and to spread the knowledge
ARTISANS
include some artisans and builders , among the participants
to iniciate other ways to make money,and to teach others and add to the expertise of devellopment
and some cash is needed to install equipment in todays world ,solar panels ,electronics ,tools and building material to make building material ,(make your own clay baked blocks for example )
there are a variety of styles of houses that can be build very cheaply ,such as bamboo ,or adobe ,and thatching
or the Earthship kind that are build from trash.
a friendly farmer as neighbour is an asset ,for example bales for building
Internet to put out and collect information as well as to draw new people and visitors
I know this may go against the grain for those who want to go back to Nature ,
But personally i am old and want to get a place off the ground and running within 3 years
Other people may have 20 years to build something up
but with present day global collection of crisis everyone has become impatient
So we must use all that we know to speed up devellopment
and popularity.
Soil can be build in about 3 to 5 years
and plants can be imported
although if there are forests (timber and habitat for a wide range of animals ,and plants for stock ) ,
a river bed (a variety of gravel,sand rocks ,often clay near by )these would be added resources for material
And build for visitors to be impressed by your performance ,
and who will leave their money behind for the services,schooling ,food and accomodation provided ..( a dormitory at first and maybe cabins later )
in return give them the magic of independence from the technical world (almost) and be an example of sustainability and autosuficiency and health
South Africa is a good relative safe country where large farms can be bought cheaply
To buy a farm with a group of people to make into a permaculture settlement is the best idea ,because a lot of the basic infrastructure already exists
A steep cliff near a constantly running stream at the toe of the cliff, with large grazing pastures on top of the slope.
See: http://www.nps.gov/band
What? I already have a home.. if you do.. why not start there? THE BEST SITE IS WHERE PEOPLE ALREADY RESIDE. Sydney for example would make a terrific permaculture community. London? Yes, even London. .. Los Angeles ? It's a bit so-so but I think it could still work out. Urban designers need to take advice.. and permacultors need to move on from the 60's.
Look, being a hippie is still hip but it's not the start and finish of permaculture... you don't have to establish a commune to make sensible decisions about your built environment.. (my thoughts, at least). Get yourself elected to city council and start making subtle changes for the better.
Try fairy land, they sound about the same
The answers post by the user, for information only, FunQA.com does not guarantee the right.
More Questions and Answers: