When you’re out walking in nature, it’s easy to get caught up in the beauty of your surroundings and forget that you’re also accumulating valuable information that can be applied to your permaculture design. Here are three things to look for while you’re on your next nature stroll: evidence of water drainage, soil types, and plant succession. With a keen eye, you can use what you observe in nature to inform your own permaculture plans.
When we want to look for evidence of water drainage, terrain can be a big indicator of where the water goes when it rains or when the snow melts. A flat terrain will help make sure that even with a large amount of rainfall, the water is evenly spread throughout an area and won’t stay in one place for too long. On the other hand, hilly terrain can quickly cause runoff with how the terrain dips and slopes. Shady areas are helpful too. Shade from trees and plants allow for better absorption — which means less chance of runoff since it’s not evaporating as quickly as it would be in full sun! Comparing terrain, shade, and amount of rainfall in your area can give you some insight into where the water goes when Mother Nature brings showers!
When it comes to gardening, there’s one important element that should always be top of mind: soil. Are you looking at sandy ground? Clay-based earth? Or maybe soil that is rich in organic matter? Pay attention – erosion can quickly take its toll on sandy soil while clay retains moisture too long leading to waterlogging and plant damage. Adding organic amendments such as mulch helps create structure and keeps soil healthy as well as providing hospitable homes for earth critters and fungi. Soil type is definitely something to keep an eye on if you want your plants to not only survive, but thrive!
It’s amazing to observe the way that plants can completely change an area in such as short amount of time. After a plot of land is freed up from a forest, you’ll quickly see seedlings spring up and shoot for the sky, with height being a primary goal. As these seedlings grow, you’ll start to witness what’s called plant succession happening; different species start to take over the area, often due to any inherent defects or weaknesses the prior flowers had. Of course, depending on the environment and geography where the forest used to be might help determine which plants arrive first, but regardless it’s always quite fascinating to recognize this cycle of life and death in nature!
To witness plant succession in action, all one has to do is look at an area previously covered in forest. Sure, the sight of a stump isn’t exactly as aesthetically pleasing as a grove of trees was, but height is often deceiving – there’s definitely more life than meets the eye! Seedlings emerge from the soil, ever so slowly taking whatever space and resources they can find from any defects caused by forest fires, natural loss or deforestation. Though we humans are only spectators who can observe and appreciate this transformation into something new, it’s actually part of Nature’s cycle for the land to be taken over by newcomers and re-adapted for future use.
All in all, remember that the best tip for finding the perfect plants for your yard is simply to go out and look around. By considering these three main factors – water drainage, soil type, and plant succession – you’ll be able to identify plants that are well-suited to your specific site conditions. And who knows? Maybe you’ll even find a few new favorites along the way. Happy permaculture planning!
Jackson Bowman
