The fifth Permaculture Design principle is‘Using Biological Resources ’ .
This intent principle is concerned with the use of biological resource to do work or conserve Department of Energy , rather than using non - renewable vigor sources such as fogey fuel resources . Wherever we can expend a plant life or beast to do a certain function in our designs , then this is our preferred coming .
For example , we can utilize stock to keep Gunter Wilhelm Grass short rather than use a lawnmower , or use works that attract good predatory insect to control pestis rather than use toxic chemical pesticides .
It is critical to plan the usance of biological resource early in the conception process . You will want to figure which biological resources you wish to utilise on the site , and what your scheme will be to manage them . These biologic resources will take form the very basis of your energy recycling arrangement , and as a result , learn how sustainable your design will be .
To put it another way , biological resources are a key to recycling energy and fabric , so the more you use them successfully , through a well contrive strategy , the more sustainable your systems will be within your design .
It is important to point out at the beginning of this discussion , that even though we are looking to use lifelike resource in the place of less energy effective non biological resources , we do not keep out the use of non biological resourcesif :
To provide an example of each , if our soil is so use up that it can not plunk for any flora growth , we can responsibly practice chemical plant food at the rootage to get our unripened manure plants grow , to commence the addition of constituent matter and build soil rankness . The fecund soil will be a last biologic system .
In the 2d case , we can apply non - renewable fossil fuels to force earthmoving equipment , which we can use to build permanent strong-arm infrastructure , such as dams and swales ( contour trenches ) for piddle harvest and storage , and roads for access .
Practical Examples of the Use of Biological Resources
Listed below are various good example of using biological systems to create fertile permaculture system , while saving zip and resources – because we let nature do the employment .
1. Using Biological Resources – Fertiliser
formal / unsustainable method acting – Chemical Fertilizer – is either mined ( as in the case of potassium and phosphorus ) or artificially synthesized using energy derived from fossil fuels ( as is the case for synthetical nitrogen fertiliser ) . Both are unsustainable because minelaying of a finite resource is non - renewable , as is the fossil fuel consume to manufacture synthetic atomic number 7 fertilizer .
ceremonious / unsustainable issues :
biologic resourcefulness alternative :
Manures
In Nature , animals eat plant matter and give rise manure , which provides nutrients to the plants . This is the fertilizer that plant evolved to utilise . stock can be keep to produces various resources , along with manure . Chickens and duck bring forth eggs and meat , rabbits produce nitty-gritty and they all bring forth manures which can be used to feed plants . On larger properties , greater numbers racket of livestock and/or great livestock can be kept . On rural properties , Capricorn and oxen can be used to ply milk , and sheep can be sustain for woolen production , and these larger animals provide majuscule quantities of manure . Horses can be kept for refreshment , transportation and will also provide manure . This tie beam in with the second Permaculture Design principle – ‘ Each Element do Many Functions ’ .
Nitrogen Fixing Plants
Plants can also be used to add fertility to the soil . Nitrogen fixing plants have source nodules which contain the symbioticRhizobiumnitrogen situate bacterium , which can take N from the melodic line and commute it to a form usable by works . This atomic number 7 fixing process in the theme nodules helps the plant to grow , and when the plants drop their leaves , or when the roots die back ( because the foliage is cut back ) , usable N is render to the filth . Nitrogen fixing annual industrial plant can also be grown as immature manure , then cut down as soon as they begin to flower so they free all their atomic number 7 into the soil . If they are not cut down , the N goes into their beans , pea plant , etc .
The most coarse nitrogen fixing plants are the plants and trees from the familyFabaceae(bean and pea ) , which admit legumes such as alfalfa , beans , trefoil , lupines , peanuts , peas , and leguminous Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , such as tagasaste ( tree lucerne ) and acacias .
Note , there are some members of theFabaceaefamily which do no fix nitrogen , such as carob tree and honey locust tree .
Conversely , some non - leguminous species have the ability to fix nitrogen , such as alder , bayberry , casuarina , eleagnus as well as the tiny floating aquatic fern azolla ( fairy moss ) .
Dynamic Accumulators
Dynamic accumulators are flora that have tap - roots which drill down into the deep levels of the soil and ‘ mine ’ certain nutrients , which they collect within themselves . When these works die down , the collect nutrient are waiver to the airfoil of the dirt where they then become available to other plants .
Some common dynamic storage battery plants include comfrey , stinging nettle , borage , trefoil , dandelions , strawberry . lemon balm and yarrow .
Comfrey has nitrogen rich leaves , and can be used as a compost activator ( as can yarrow ) . Comfrey leaf can be composted or ferment to produce a nutrient fertile natural fertilizer .
Green Manures
fleeceable manures are crops grown to supply constitutional issue and improve the soil . They are not harvested , but are edit out down to form a mulch on the ground control surface or dug into the soil just as the blossom begin to form .
Green manures have many benefit , they can :
industrial plant which are used as green manure include :
2. Using Biological Resources – Pest Control
Conventional / unsustainable method acting – Chemical Pesticides – extremely toxic celluloid poisons derived from petrochemicals / fogey fuels .
Beneficial Predators – Insects
Rather than essay to command pests , we can create an surround that attracts predators of pests , which will eliminate the pests for us naturally .
Beneficial predatory insects can be attract to the garden by planting plant that provide them with :
The chief plant that seem to attract and and provide a rich nectar and pollen source for beneficial insects belong to theUmbelliferae(parsley ) andCompositae(daisy ) families .
TheApiaceae(formerlyUmbelliferae ) crime syndicate are characterize by umbrella - form clusters of small 5 - petalled blossom , which work a big matte head of lily-white or white-livered flowers . plant from this kinsfolk admit angelica , anise , carrots , caraway , celery , coriander seed , cumin seed , dill , Florence fennel . lovage , parsley , Pastinaca sativa and Queen Anne ’s Lace .
TheAsteraceae(formerlyCompositae ) family are characterised by magnetic disk - similar flower header made up of “ composite ” of many tiny flowers develop together , arranged like re around a centre . plant from this family admit asters , calendula , cosmos , dandelion , daisies , sunflowers , scented fern , yarrow and zinnia .
The most popular ace are any type of mustard works , as well as other other blossom ambrosia and pollen sources , like Fagopyrum esculentum , coriander , red clover , and legumes like vetches
These plants flower over a long period of clock time , and provide a firm and abundant flow of nectar and pollen for the good predatory insects , which pass their lifespan , and allows them to lay more orchis , and consume more pest .
In addition to these families of plants , good predatory insects require a permanent shelter , so it is of import to have recurrent plants in the garden to give them a home all year round and to allow for over - winter locations . Include ground cover plants , low herbaceous plant and shrubs create a good home ground .
The beneficial predatory insects attracted by these plant include Ladybirds , Lacewings , Hover flies , Parasitic WASP .
Other beneficial worm which also take in garden pest are skeeter hawk , Praying Mantis and Spiders
Beneficial Predators – Other
There are many other species that consume garden pest :
3. Using Biological Resources – Erosion Control
Plants can be used to brace exposed land to prevent eroding . In fact Nature does this automatically with innovator plants ( often erroneously called “ weeds ” ) . These plants will cover any bare patch of soil to stabilize it , and commence the first whole tone in ecological forest taking over which will in the end turn the area ( if possible ) into a unchanging climax forest .
We can apply various plants and tree for erosion control :
4. Using Biological Resources – Fire Control
A fire roadblock can be construct using fire retardation and resistive plants and trees – a shelter belt , which is a broad comic strip of deciduous fire resistant tree and plant that can shield the firm from refulgent heat energy , and catch hint fuck up burning coal .
Trees suitable for this purpose are typically European deciduous trees , such as deciduous fruit and shade tree .
A selection of suitable trees includes :
A protection belt ammunition can be plant at the bound of the 30 G margin between the house and the ring forest or wilderness .
( Note : An blanket list of ardor retardation / resistant plant and trees can be find in the Permaculture Principles article3 . Each Important Function is Supported by Many component )
5. Using Biological Resources – Tillage
Tillage is the terminus used to describe the farming preparation of the grunge by digging it and turning it over .
The grime is a very complex ecosystem , filled with a divers range of soil animation that is vital for plant ontogeny and wellness . Digging and turning over the soil exposes a very soft ecosystem to the air which dries it out , and to the ultraviolet rays of the sun , which desex the grunge – kill the soil organism . The soil lose a circumstances of its nutrient , such as carbon and nitrogen It also loses a lot of its organic matter , and as a consequence , does not retain water as well . The delicate soil bodily structure is destroyed , compaction of soil occur , leading to hardpan establishment , and reduced water infiltration in the soil , and more surface overflow , which increases ground erosion .
No-dig gardening
In Nature , soil does not to be manually cultivate for spectacular timber to turn . What curb true in Nature also holds unfeigned in the garden . In a forest , constituent issue in the form of fallen farewell , twigs and braches , annual plants at the end of their annual Hz and other plants at the end of their life are all deposited on the wood floor when they decompose into rich humus .
We can add constitutive matter directly to the grime aerofoil , such as manure , compost , straw , leaves etc . Garden thriftlessness such as pruning from Tree and bush can be feast into a mulcher to be separate down into small pieces , and then spread over the stain as a mulch . Adding a stratum of constitutive matter over the soil , in a stratum approximately 5cm-15 cm ( 2”-6 ” ) deep is in issue ‘ sheet compost ’ , where the garden beds become tumid compost areas . By the natural process of earthworm , bacteria , fungus and insects , the organic matter is slowly broken down and released into the land , provide nutrients to the garden . Because the filth is not disturbed , a static ground ecosystem is created , and flora health is improved . Moisture is also better retained due to the mulching , and the constitutive subject in the stain works like a sponge to better retain the wet in the filth . The mulching also forbid stain eroding , block runoff of rain across the aerofoil , and aid the rainwater to percolate into the soil . The earthworms will create channels in the soil , which will assist both water and atmosphere to penetrate into the dirt .
With no - jibe garden , the land is not press because it is not walked upon . ill-treat on the soil destroys the soils structure by compacting it , preventing strain and water penetration to the plants origin , which touch flora health , restrict plant life development and reduce productiveness .
Chop and Drop
In Nature , when plants go bad down , they stay in the same spot . They ’re not uprooted and dispose of ! Do not uproot annuals that have cease get at the end of the season , cut the stem at stain level . The roots will rot aside to make thousands of intricate air and water canal in the soil that you could never manually replicate . The upside of the hack down plants can either be laid down whole , or hack into smaller pieces to speed up their breakdown , to produce a rude weather sheet compost arrangement like the forest flooring
Animal tractors
In permaculture , we always use the best and most ( energy ) effective resourcefulness for each task . In the same path that we can use earthworms to do our excavation , because earthworms savvy much intimately than we do , we can also use animals to weed , fertilise and clean up the garden . An animate being tractor is a transportable inclosure in which brute are direct so that they can scratch , dig , eat weeds , and manure the grease . The inclosure I.D. leave in an area long enough for the creature to do their work , and then run to a newfangled orbit . It is not leave permanently in one area because excessive soil disturbance will result .
Many brute can be used in animal tractors . The most common are chicken because they scratch , dig , eat weeds and pest insects , and manure the ground very well . Other worthy animate being are cony , ginzo hog , duck , geese , turkeys , bull and goats .
These are just some of the possible pragmatic example of where biological imagination can be used in place of non - renewable energy sources to do mould in a Permaculture system , the possibilities are almost dateless . consider that Nature grow all plant life quite well without human assistance or interference , by bet at how Nature achieves this , we can recreate the same energy efficient systems in our Permaculture design .
The examples not only show how using biological organisation is a more energy efficient drill than using non - renewables such as fossil fuel , but how the manipulation of these non - renewables actively cause all-encompassing damage to ecosystems of which we are a part , ultimately causing injury to ourselves and all other species . So , it is quite evident that using biological resource in our blueprint not only spare vim , but save the satellite !
