Permaculture Design A step-by-step guide
by Aranya
Permanent Publications 2012 Pbck; 191 pp
UK Permaculture teacher Aranya has produced a new book on Permaculture design. This handy field guide takes you step-by step through all the main skills required of the permaculture designer in one slim volume: observation; surveying mapping and surveying; the client interview; drawing up a design proposal, and how to implement it, and much more besides.
The same topics are covered in other Designer manuals, such as Patrick Whitefield’s Earth Care Manual, but this book covers each topic in more detail, with excellent graphics, photos and illustrations throughout.
The sections on surveying and mapping techniques are particularly clear and full of practical advice, including marking contours with an “A-Frame” and full details on measuring a site and making a base-map.
I could have done without the section at the end on “Designing zone zero zero” which strays into the territory of personal development- an entirely different subject- but I would certainly recommend it as a practical how-to guide for the student designer, and the the experienced will also find it a valuable addition to their knapsack. Also promises to be hugely valuable as a teaching tool.
