Patterns in Nature
I really enjoyed this lesson and feel confident that I have a good grasp on the concepts but as always, I wanted to share my answers to the reflection questions for peer review. Thanks!
Prompts for discussion and reflection:
What is biomimicry, and how does it influence permaculture design?
Biomimicry is the science of observing and mimicking nature to solve problems. Permaculture is about observing and learning from Nature to develop sustainable human systems. Through biomimicry, we can observe and mimic nature to solve problems in our designs which, in turn, creates a more sustainable system overall.
How can patterns from nature, like chaos and eddies, be applied to create more diverse and biodiverse spaces?
Chaos refers to the unpredictable in nature. By allowing chaotic growth in certain areas of the garden you can mimic natural landscapes, leading to increased biodiversity and sustainability. Eddies are swirling patterns where energy/matter gather and become concentrated. If left untouched, eddies can lead to stagnation. An example of an Eddie would be the far corner of one of the ponds on my site. All the fallen debris (leaves, logs, etc) float to and collect in this corner of the pond. Currently this accumulation of debris is causing stagnation in the pond. This “waste” can become a resource with proper utilization. The logs can be removed and utilized for a growing mushroom while the smaller debris can be composted and added to veggie beds.
Explain the concept of entropy in permaculture and give an example of how it can be harnessed for sustainable design.
Entropy is the measure of chaos/disorder in a system and in permaculture it is about the transformation of decay to renewal. A good example would be creating natural habitat with decaying logs.
How does the Golden Ratio contribute to both aesthetics and functionality in permaculture design? Give an example.
When applying the Golden Ratio to designing a layout for tree plantings, aesthetically it will create a balanced, harmonious visual while also ensuring each tree has the necessary spacing for optimal growth.
Describe the idea of ecosystems as nested layers of relationships. How can you use this concept in your permaculture projects?
Ecosystems are comprised of relationship patterns. The bees harvest pollen and nectar from the flowers for food, the flowers in turn are pollinated. The bees produce honey for themselves, and other individuals brave enough to harvest it. When the bee dies, its body is decomposed by bacteria and the nutrients are returned to the soil. These are all relationship patterns. Through observation we can discover the relationship patterns in any given area and utilize them to the advantage of our designs. Back to the bee example, through observation I can uncover the route the worker bees tend to travel from their hive and position my orchard in their line of travel to aid in pollination.
Why is recognizing patterns like fractals important in permaculture design? Give an example of how fractals can be applied.
Fractals are parts that resemble the whole, repeating across multiple scales. Recognizing potential fractals of a design can act as a guide and expresses the interconnectedness of everything. For example, when designing a water system for the garden I can draw inspiration from how nature distributes water through branching patterns and mimic that pattern on a smaller scale.
How can you use the concept of infinity to create more sustainable systems in your permaculture projects?
In nature, infinity refers to the concept of limitless cycles. The goal of a permaculture design is to create an infinitely self-sustaining system. By understanding these endless cycles, we can design in a way that aligns our systems with them. For example, by observing how water naturally cycles through a site, you can mimic this cycle and apply it to your design creating a practical and sustainable watering system.
Discuss the value of embracing chaos and random order in your design. Provide an example of how this can be applied practically.
By embracing chaos in your design, you leave room for adaptability and encourage resilience, which leads to a more sustainable design. A practical application would be to allow random plants room to grow between your intentional plantings in the garden, increasing biodiversity.
Explain how you could use the principles of biomimicry to design a composting system that mimics natural decay.
Through observation on my sight, I have seen how nature recycles her nutrients. Plants die off and leaves fall in autumn. Bugs begin to accumulate in the debris, breaking it all down. The wild turkeys scratch through this leaf litter looking for those bugs and other things to eat. Their scratching turns the debris accelerating decomposition. The turkeys also defecate, adding more nutrition to the layers of debris. I can mimic this process in my own compost design by piling plant matter in layers and utilizing chickens to turn the compost for me.
In what ways can the concepts of chaos, eddies, and infinity enhance the design of water management systems in permaculture?
By embracing chaos in areas of our water management system we can encourage biodiversity and allow for adaptations. Eddies, which are patterns derived from chaos, are excellent points to tap into the cycle, turning waste into resource. The water cycle is a pattern of infinity, understanding this we can learn to take advantage of the cycles of water in our designs. There are fresh springs on my site that I intend to incorporate into my final design. They are chaotic in nature, as the flow of water from them can vary. There is an area where runoff from one spring pulls, forming and Eddie. This Eddie can be utilized, either by digging out the ground to create a small duck pond or directing this water to irrigate a small orchard.
How can you apply the lessons learned from this article to your specific permaculture project at home or in your community?
Through observations on my site, I can begin to recognize the patterns and relationships that make up the ecosystem here. I can learn to tap into these patterns, like the Eddie in the corner of the pond. I can use biomimicry to inspire aspects of my design, like mimicking my compost pile after the relationships observed between the plant debris, bugs, and wild turkeys. Like a fractal, my design site can be used as a model and scaled up to a community garden or to inspire others in my community to design their own systems.