Organic Gardening: System Design

"In human systems, we have confused the order of hierarchical function with status and power, as though a tree stem were less important than the leaves in total" - Bill Mollison

In this series I have talked about various elements of an organic garden like, compost, pests, companion planting etc. But it is how we place these elements that determine their effectiveness within your garden system and this is called System Design. Though I have drawn on many sources for system design and indeed this is an ongoing dynamic exercise. The root or base of system design for me, originates from ancient traditional farming practises that have been analysed and transformed with modern scientific knowledge. This organic dynamic system design was initially created and implemented by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren who catalysed a true green revolution called Permaculture. What is Permaculture? You might ask, and I'll let Bill himself explain in a video at YouTube: search "The Permaculture Concept"

System design is perhaps the most powerful tool in any organic gardener's repertoire. Through careful analysis of a multitude of factors and the combination of all elements it is possible through system design to achieve overabundance and maximum efficiency within your garden/system. David Holmgren recently released a book (see book list footer) which includes 12 design principles that can be dynamically applied to any system design be it a balcony garden, rooftop, backyard, small holding or large scale commercial farm:

1. Observe and interact
2. Catch and store energy
3. Obtain a yield
4. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback
5. Use and value renewable resources and services
6. Produce no waste
7. Design from patterns to details
8. Integrate rather than segregate
9. Use small and slow solutions
10. Use and value diversity
11. Use edges and value the marginal
12. Creatively use and respond to change

Perhaps you have noticed I keep on using the word dynamic and this is because there is only one constant in our universe and that is change. Wherever you are whatever your situation, climate, economics, needs, wants etc they are unique to you and ever changing along with the rest of the universe. This means that it is wholly necessary to be dynamically fluid and positively responsive to that constant change of yourself and your immediate environment. Many times have I been confronted

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