By Jay Butler
Permaculture is a way of designing and living in harmony with nature. It is based on 12 principles that guide us to create sustainable and resilient systems. One of these principles is Patterns to Details. This principle tells us to observe the patterns in nature and use them as a guide to design our own systems. By Observing and Connecting, and then identifying patterns, these principles become our tools that help us avoid costly “Tier One” mistakes. Examples of which are putting a house, barn, road, pond, swale, or well in the wrong place. In this blog post, we will explain what this principle means, why it is important, and how to apply it in practice to obtain the best outcome.
What is the Principle of Patterns to Details?
The principle of patterns to details states that we should first look at the big picture before we focus on the small details. This means that we should observe the natural patterns that exist in our environment, such as the shape of the land, the flow of water, the climate, the seasons, the plants and animals, and so on. These patterns can help us understand how nature works and how we can work with it.
The image above depicts the natural zones and patterns of the Farmville Gardens site by elevation, water behavior, proximity to destination points, plant life, microclimates, and vistas.
Then, we should use these patterns as a framework to design our own systems, such as gardens, farms, buildings, communities, and so on. We should choose the elements that fit well with the patterns and place them in a way that enhances their functions and relationships. We should also pay attention to the details that make our systems more efficient, productive, beautiful, and enjoyable.
By using the patterns that were observed, we can design regenerative systems that integrate with the site naturally. The image above is based on our recent design exercise integrating the natural zones into the design. This is not the final design. It is to help with discussing the patterns and finding the right fit for the details with architects and engineers.
By following this principle, we can create systems that are more adaptable, diverse, harmonious, and resilient. We can also avoid wasting time, energy, and resources on unnecessary or inappropriate details that do not match the patterns.
Why is the Principle of Patterns to Details Important?
The principle of patterns to details is important because it helps us to:
- Align our designs with nature’s wisdom and intelligence
- Create systems that are more functional and integrated
- Save time and energy by avoiding trial and Tier One errors
- Reduce waste and pollution by using appropriate materials and techniques
- Increase diversity and resilience by mimicking nature’s complexity
- Enhance beauty and aesthetics by following nature’s forms
How to Apply the Principle of Patterns to Details in Practice?
To apply the principle of patterns to details in practice, we can follow these steps:
- Observe the patterns in your site and context. Look at the natural features, such as the topography, hydrology, climate, soil, vegetation, wildlife, etc. Also look at the human features, such as the culture, history, needs, values, goals, etc. Try to identify the main patterns that shape your site and context.
- Analyze the patterns and their functions. Try to understand how each pattern works and what role it plays in your system. For example, how does the slope affect the water flow? How does the wind affect the temperature? How does the soil affect the plant growth? How does the culture affect the behavior? How do these patterns interact with each other?
- Design your system based on the patterns. Use the patterns as a guide to choose and place your elements. For example, if you want to design a garden, you can use the pattern of contour lines to create swales or terraces that capture water and prevent erosion. You can use the pattern of sectors to place your plants according to their needs for sun or shade. You can use the pattern of zones to place your elements according to their frequency of use or maintenance.
- Add details that enhance your system. Once you have designed your system based on the patterns, you can add details that make it more efficient, productive, beautiful, and enjoyable. For example, you can add details such as mulch, compost, drip irrigation, trellises, pathways, benches, sculptures, etc. These details can help you improve the soil, water, plant health, yield, accessibility, comfort, and aesthetics of your garden.
- Observe and adjust your system as needed. After you have implemented your system, you should observe how it performs and how it responds to changes. You should also monitor your own feedback and satisfaction. You may need to tweak some details or even change some patterns if they do not work well or if your needs or goals change.
By following these steps, you can apply the principle of patterns to details in your own design projects. You can also use this principle in other aspects of your life, such as planning, organizing, learning, communicating, etc.
Conclusion
The Principle of Patterns to Details is a powerful tool that can help us create systems that are more aligned with nature and more suited to our needs and goals. By observing the patterns in our environment and using them as a guide to design our systems and add details, we can create systems that are more functional, integrated, adaptable, diverse, harmonious, resilient, labor efficient, and beautiful.
We hope this blog post has inspired you to apply this principle in your own projects and life. Remember that permaculture is not only a way of designing but also a way of living. By applying the permaculture principles, we can live more sustainably and joyfully with ourselves, each other, and the planet.
Thank you for reading and happy designing!