It is Environment Week June 3 to 9! How Permaculture Helps...

It is Environment Week - a whole week dedicated to celebrating our environment - learn more here.  We often take for granted the functions that our environment provides for us - such as providing food and medicine, converting waste, carbon sequestration, air and water purification, spirituality, and so much more.  These are called 'ecosystem functions'.  Permaculture loves looking at functions of designs, especially stacking many functions together.  Below we have listed three simple design components and have listed their corresponding ecosystem functions - it is amazing what effective design can do!

Next time you are thinking about a design think about how many functions you can stack together, and think about what ecosystem functions the design will provide.  The more the better, as we depend on these for our livelihood and survival!

Design

Ecosystem Function

Mounded no till garden beds with cover crops.

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Improve carbon sequestration by improving soil biology, nutrient cycling, increased water storage capability, food and medicine production, improving air quality.

Grey water system.

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Improve water and air quality, carbon sequestration,  nutrient cycling, decomposition of waste, disease control.

Food forestry.   

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Improve carbon sequestration by improving soil biology, nutrient cycling, increased water storage capability, food, fuel, and medicine production, improving air and water quality, pollinator habitat, cultural and spiritual inspiration, temperature regulation.