Never Finished: Pattern Literacy by Toby Hemenway

Oct 19, 2022 14:16:20

Before he died, Toby Hemenway started a book that he intended to call Pattern Literacy. I would have loved to have read this book, if only it had been finished. (Both of his others are infinitely re-readable. Pattern Literacy would have been pure gold...)

(Sample here on his old blog: https://tobyhemenway.com/1246-becoming-pattern-literate/)

Does anyone have an idea what would be an approximate book to read?

Oct 19, 2022 14:45:30

While I have not read either of these books the reviews sound like they are both something that you or others might be interested in, especially for the information on patterns:

https://permies.com/wiki/39124/Permaculture-Design-Step-Step-Guide

https://permies.com/wiki/119855/Permaculture-Design-Companion-Jasmine-Dale#1359392

Oct 19, 2022 16:51:16

Anne Miller wrote: https://permies.com/wiki/39124/Permaculture-Design-Step-Step-Guide
https://permies.com/wiki/119855/Permaculture-Design-Companion-Jasmine-Dale#1359392

These books are both by UK authors. Design aspects must be particularly interesting to UK Permaculturists I guess!

Oct 19, 2022 18:17:54

In Bill Mollison's Permaculture: A Designer's Manual, chapter four is entitled "Pattern Understanding." It has extensive explanations and illustrations. The book is pricey, but maybe you can find a copy at your local library.

Oct 20, 2022 04:05:29

I can't believe I didn't mention Mollison's books. I did notice that the titles of the books I reference were so similar.

Rachel Lindsay wrote:These books are both by UK authors. Design aspects must be particularly interesting to UK Permaculturists I guess!

To me, patterns would be universal. Mother Nature may plant different plants in different parts of the world though wouldn't the ocean's patterns be similar all over? Seashells are also similar worldwide.

The eight basic patterns are spirals, waves, streamlines, cloud forms, lobes, branches, nets, and scatter.

The last one scatter I am not familiar with though I feel it refers to something like looking at a tree seen from above, a tree's crown may present a scattered pattern.

The use of natural patterns can be seen in a herb spiral.

I look at my property for patterns like how the trees are grouped into clusters.

This thread might be of interest to others:

https://permies.com/t/164449/patterns-design

Grow a forest with seedballs and this tiny ad:

how do we get more backing of the brk?

https://permies.com/t/145583/backing-brk

Sepp Holzer Desert or Paradise Documentary