permaculture

[Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

Please do not take this as discounting the value of long term 
observation.  Certainly that has great value, especially in the context of 
a developing PC planting.  I do think one can come to some pretty rapid 
guesses on how things have developed once one sees a few 
similar  landscapes.  One of the best ways to learn how a place can develop 
is to tour the neighborhood and meet the neighbors.  Most landscapes are 
not unique, getting a look at developed landscapes and speaking with those 
who have been on that land can give one a real head start.  A tromp through 
local natural areas and a chat with their mangers is also helpful.  Most 
areas have historians, official and unofficial, finding these folks can 
give one an excellent incite on how the land was used.  Ideally you get to 
walk the place with the former owner(s), solving many mysterys and avoiding 
mistakes others have made before you got there.

The rest is more conventional.  Grab a shovel and note book, then take a 
walk.   Observe slope and aspect, noting possible microclimates, check soil 
depth and type (see my paper on Reading the Landscape in the midwest PC 
file for tips on evaluating soils).  Note wet areas and rocky spots.  Look 
for clues in the vegetation.  One should also keep distance to roads and 
buildings in mind, I've seen some really dumb driveways  built so one can 
put a house in a pretty spot.  Do the same walk at different times of the 
day, note especially the influence hills and trees have on your daylight 
and keep the seasonal changes in solar angle in mind.  Wait for a heavy 
rain, do the walk again, note where the water moves and ponds.

Now take these two sources of information and use them as a base for 
preliminary design work.  Let that design sit for a week, then do the walk 
again with your design ideas in hand.  This is the time to listen for those 
little voices (or the booming voice of God if that's your thing).

Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM