Permaculture Design Principle 2 – Each Element Performs Many Functions

The second Permaculture Design principle is ‘Each Element Performs Many Functions’.

To maximize efficiency in a design, every element is selected and placed to serve multiple functions. Achieving this requires a thorough understanding of each element’s properties, especially if the element is a plant or animal. This includes understanding its needs, outputs, attributes, optimal conditions, and tolerances.

A practical approach is to conduct a ‘functional analysis‘ which identifies an element’s needs, products, behaviours, and intrinsic characteristics. For plants, this involves examining aspects such as:

• Form: Lifestyle (annual or perennial), deciduousness (deciduous or evergreen), and physical structure (ground cover, shrub, tree, or vine) including height.
• Tolerances: Light requirements (shade, partial shade, or full sun), preferred habitat (dry, moist, or wet), elevation (low or high), climate adaptability (arid, temperate, subtropical, or tropical), and soil preferences (type and pH).
• Uses: Functions such as edibility, medicinal value, animal forage, soil improvement (e.g., nitrogen-fixing, cover cropping), and environmental protection (e.g., erosion control, windbreaks).

An Example of Functional Analysis

Let’s consider the Willow tree as an example for carrying out a functional analysis:

Form: Deciduous, weeping habit, can grow up to 30m tall, fast-growing, and short-lived. It propagates easily from cuttings.

Tolerances: Thrives in full sun and moist, well-draining soil. Commonly found near streams and in damp areas, salt-tolerant, and adaptable to various soils and pH levels.

Uses: The various uses of willow trees are detailed below in the following categories.

• Medicinal Source: The bark of the white willow contains salicin, a chemical similar to aspirin. This compound is used for treating pain, headaches, and inflammatory conditions.
• Material for Construction and Manufacturing: Willow wood is utilized to make furniture, cricket bats, tool handles, and toys. It’s also used in wood turning and for crafting wood veneers. Additionally, willows provide wicker for weaving baskets and making fish traps. The fibers from willow wood are used to produce rope, string, and paper. Artists commonly use willow charcoal for drawing.
• Energy Source: Willow is cultivated for biomass, a renewable energy source that helps reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and petroleum products.
• Ecological and Environmental Uses:
  • Riparian Buffers: Willows serve as natural barriers that prevent chemicals from entering streams, ponds, and lakes.
  • Phytoremediation: Willows help clean up toxins from contaminated sites.
  • Wastewater Management (Biofiltration): These trees filter contaminants from wastewater, making them suitable for use in ecological wastewater treatment systems.
  • Environmental Protection and Preservation: Willows are employed for land reclamation, streambank stabilization, slope stabilization, soil erosion control, and construction of shelterbelts and windbreaks.
  • Environmental Reconstruction: They are used for creating wetlands and enhancing wildlife habitats.
  • Gardening: Willows are useful in constructing hedges, living fences, and other garden structures.
  • Living Snow Fences: Strategically planted willows trap drifting snow, aiding in snow management.
• Agricultural Uses: Farmers utilize willows as forage for livestock, providing a sustainable feeding option.
• Horticultural Uses: Willow bark contains natural growth hormones beneficial for rooting new plant cuttings.

These diverse applications highlight willow trees’ versatility and significant contribution to sustainable practices across various fields.

Practical Application of Functional Analysis in a Rural Setting

Using the information gained from this functional analysis, we can design a practical application of the Willow tree, and apply the principle of ‘Each Element Performs Many Functions’.

On a steep slope next to a creek bank adjoining a farm, planting willows can address multiple issues. The tree’s extensive root system stabilizes the bank and mitigates erosion from rainwater runoff. The roots also extend into the water, providing habitat for fish and filtering contaminants from farm runoff. Above ground, the dense canopy offers evaporative cooling and wind protection, enhancing the microclimate and supporting local wildlife. The willow also serves as a natural forage source and provides shaded shelter for farm animals such as sheep.

This example demonstrates how one element, the willow, can perform a multitude of functions, effectively applying the principle that ‘Each Element Performs Many Functions’ in permaculture design.

Applying Functional Analysis in Urban Garden Design

An excellent demonstration of functional analysis can be seen in the setup of a grapevine trellis in an urban backyard garden. This example showcases how each element serves multiple purposes, enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of the space.

This is what it looks like in real life, when first built:

Here’s the same system, fully grown:

This diagram shows the layout of the garden bed design.

Each of the elements (components) of this design and the multiple functions they serve are described in further detail below.

Grapevine Trellis

The grapevine supported on it’s north-south oriented trellis performs the following functions.

• Climate Control: The grapevine provides shade for two 2.4mx1.2m (8’x4′) vegetable beds, protecting them from the harsh western sun and strong winds.
• Microclimate Creation: Transpiration from the leaves increases the humidity around the plant, which creates a favorable microclimate for the strawberries planted underneath.
• Organic Mulch: In autumn, the falling leaves from the grapevine act as natural mulch for the strawberries.
• Food Production: The vine produces both grapes and edible vine leaves, contributing to the garden’s yield.

Strawberries

The strawberry plants which form an low-growing plant understory beneath the grape vine perform the following functions.

• Ground Cover: The strawberries serve as a living mulch, conserving soil moisture and reducing water evaporation during hot months.
• Edible Produce: They provide a delicious crop of strawberries.

Companion Planting

To support the grapevine, Citronella Geranium and Hyssop are planted on either side of the trellis.

• Citronella Geranium: This plant acts as a natural insect repellent, when the leaves are rubbed against the leaves release aromatic oils which are mosquito repellent, ideal for evening gardening sessions.
• Hyssop: This companion plant functions as a trap crop, serving as a decoy to lure shield bugs (harlequin bugs) away from other garden plants, while it withstands and recovers from pest attacks. Additionally, it is recognized for its medicinal properties in traditional herbalism, especially in treating lung ailments, thereby enhancing both the utility and diversity of the garden.

Trellis Utilisation

Beyond supporting the grapevine, the trellis serves additional roles. In the grapevine’s dormant period in winter, it supports climbing peas, facilitating succession planting—a core principle of permaculture that ensures continuous productivity all year round.

This example underlines the importance of deeply understanding the nature and potential of each element used. Knowing the plants’ needs and behaviours is crucial for creating effective designs.

Designing with life means integrating living systems thoughtfully and respectfully, aligning with the inherent harmony and efficiency of nature.

Requirements for Effective Functional Permaculture Design

In order to produce functional and effective designs, we need to thoroughly understand:

1. The nature of the elements we are designing with, and
2. The range of elements available that we can possibly use in a design situation,
3. The reason and justification for using each and every elements from the range of choices available.

In functional design, unlike aesthetic design, every design element must have an objective justification. Consequently, we should be able to articulate the reasons for including a particular element, as well as our rationale for preferring one element over another.

The Importance of Plant Knowledge in Permaculture Design

Designing effective permaculture food production systems primarily involves an in-depth understanding of plants. If we are not already familiar with the intricate details of plant life, we should start as soon as possible. Permaculture design requires a high level of horticultural expertise, which can only be acquired through sustained interaction with plants. In essence, the quality of our designs will correlate directly with our depth of knowledge about plants and the diversity of species we are familiar with. Remember, plants are more than just decorative elements; they are living entities crucial to the ecosystem.

When designing, we are working with life itself. Without a thorough understanding of this life—its needs, behaviors, and interactions—we cannot effectively design living ecosystems.

Ultimately, a deep and genuine connection with nature enriches our designs, mirroring nature’s own harmony and efficiency. This connection is essential for creating sustainable and productive permaculture gardens that thrive in natural balance.