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20 May/June 2015 Landscape and Irrigation www.landscapeirrigation.com LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION Noise pollution is a common complaint among homeowners living in busy, subur- ban communities. A perimeter fence can dampen sounds of traffic and neighbors, but, on its own, doesn't offer any additional benefits by being placed in the landscape. On the other hand, a well-placed water feature, perhaps near a bedroom or living room window, diminishes noise pollution while also offering a climate moderator, a habitat for wildlife, and, when plants are included, soil-building capabilities. When landscape professionals use a feature to minimize waste, human labor and energy input to achieve a high level of synergy between the design and the envi- ronment, they are using a method known as a permaculture. Originally referred to as "permanent" agriculture, the term has been expanded to represent "permanent" culture and has gained in popularity among land- scape designers, architects and contractors. WHAT IS PERMACULTURE? Permaculture is a design science that mimics patterns found in nature. "Decisions around planning land use are ecologically sensitive and strive to develop beneficial relationships between the features and humans," said Erik Ohlsen, owner/principal of Permaculture Artisans in Sebastopol, Calif. It is not a specific technique or mate- rial, but instead it is a broader approach to planning land use. Landscapes planned with permaculture principles are designed to imitate nature, while reducing inputs like labor and energy by creating a symbi- otic relationship with the environment that ultimately produces yields that are greater than any one source. This design approach is not simply considering one thing or one aspect of a landscape, it is an integrative approach that combines multiple functions for an opti- mized impact. "It's more than the plant you see in the ground. It's about soil building, increasing wildlife and pollinator habitat, etc.," said Josiah Simpson, landscape de- signer at Regenerative Design Group in Greenfield, Mass. Australians Bill Mollison and David Homgren are credited with coining the phrase "permaculture" during the late 1970s; however, these concepts have been used for centuries, and indigenous cultures still rely on this land-use approach today. THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX Creating landscape designs with a perma- culture approach begins with a thorough assessment of the site. "We ask the client who they are and how they plan to use a feature," said Simpson. Then he studies the desired location, the sun and shade pat- tern, how water naturally flows through the property, and where people and vehicles access the property. In considering each of these factors, Simpson is able to plan ahead for client comfort, and in the interest of the envi- ronment. For example, a patio close to a client's home is easily accessible for daily use, but less than ideal for the environ- mental conditions. A deciduous vine trellis over the patio provides naturally cooling shade from the summer sun. In the fall, the leaves drop, allowing winter sun to naturally warm the area. "If it's a tight stone patio that we know will have water runoff, we integrate a pitch to a French drain or a rain garden and create a microhabitat for wet plants to grow," he added. Crafting a landscape plan with per- maculture principles provides designers an opportunity to reap multiple benefits. "Every element I choose provides more than one function," said Ohlsen. "It's called stacking." Designing to mimic patterns found in nature ■ BY KATIE NAVARRA PHOTOS BY ERIK OHLSEN, PERMACULTURE ARTISANS Permaculture in Landscape Design