Four Zone Food Security System for a Permaculture Village - Design for Resilience

Four Zone Food Security System for a Permaculture Village -
Design for Resilience
by Willi Paul, Planetshifter.com Magazine

http://planetshifter.com/node/2187

Very interesting design pattern Will.

Is there a specific climate you plan to setup the village in? Or, is this a general plan that you are sharing for any climate?

It does spark some good ideas. Why did you choose adobe for the homes? Why not cob or a wofati?

I do not understand why zones one, two, and three and separated as they are. A neighborhood is a composition of homes and families with the intention of creating a community, and the resources (e.g. village security, shared tools, gardening teams, cooking space, family support) could be designated buildings and shared duties within the town. Like the vikings, you could have a feasting hall that everyone could use for cooking and dining.

How would the food be cooked? Some ideas: rocket mass stove, double chamber cob oven (Ernie Wisner), solar cookers...

How would water be cleaned? Some ideas: wetland ecosystem, ponds, solar heaters...

How do you plan on handling fecal matter? Some ideas: wetland ecosystem, composting...

From what I understand, this village setup could work like a communal house but on a larger scale. What do you mean by "village security unit"? Would this entail police-like people or just a militia? If the area is designed with an open floor plan with less sectionalizing, it could eliminate the need for a "security unit" because people would feel welcomed. Kinda as Benjamin Franklin described, the colonists that lived with the Native Americans never wanted to leave, and the Native Americans that visited the colonists never returned to the colonists after living with them for a year. This is kinda what I think you should aim for in the village.

Is there a specific climate you plan to setup the village in? Or, is this a general plan that you are sharing for any climate?

General scheme.

It does spark some good ideas. Why did you choose adobe for the homes? Why not cob or a wofati?

Just a guess!

I do not understand why zones one, two, and three and separated as they are.

Separation to highlight the zones. Yes, we are looking for integration and overall harmony!

A neighborhood is a composition of homes and families with the intention of creating a community, and the resources (e.g. village security, shared tools, gardening teams, cooking space, family support) could be designated buildings and shared duties within the town. Like the vikings, you could have a feasting hall that everyone could use for cooking and dining.

Very good. This plan is focused on security mostly.

How would the food be cooked? Some ideas: rocket mass stove, double chamber cob oven (Ernie Wisner), solar cookers... How would water be cleaned? Some ideas: wetland ecosystem, ponds, solar heaters... How do you plan on handling fecal matter? Some ideas: wetland ecosystem, composting...

All good and can be addressed next....

From what I understand, this village setup could work like a communal house but on a larger scale.

Yes!

What do you mean by "village security unit"? Would this entail police-like people or just a militia?

Both passive measures (see plan) and watch teams.

If the area is designed with an open floor plan with less sectionalizing, it could eliminate the need for a "security unit" because people would feel welcomed.

This is the sticky part. What if the outsiders are hostile?


Willi Paul
New Mythologist & Transition Entrepreneur
newmythologist.com | PlanetShifter.com Magazine | openmythsource.com
@planetshifter @openmythsource @PermacultureXch
415-407-4688 | pscompub@gmail.com

Willi Paul asks :

"This is the sticky part. What if the outsiders are hostile?"

Your design reminds me of the castle moat system of medieval times . Those castles , though , had walls and were subject to siege warfare .

So , I imagined myself as an invader who wished to overcome your defenses . Thistles are no problem . I walk through thistles and poison ivy almost daily . Yesterday I stood in a dogrose thicket to reach the blackberries they surrounded . Worth the effort . Delicious !

I would dam or divert the stream and easily neutralize the moat system .

The circular pattern is more suited for peacetime activity . Circles are easily surrounded . Think Crazy Horse vs. George Custer . A fast and aggressive advance straight into the circle quickly results in two smaller and surrounded circles .

You may need an escape route vs . defending the inner circle .

This is an interesting table top exercise , Willi !

Hi Wayne -

Good feedbacks. You advanced the thesis!

I would add that my vision was for 4 - 5 hungry, sleepless traveler folks - or a family - as likely "invaders!"

Slowing down the manic wanderers is more of what I had in mind, although there could be guns in this scenario.

Diverting a 6' deep by 12' wide stream? That's a lot of noise and time to stop the crossers?

Your moat is my moat!

Well then Willi , How about a guest house or two at the perimeter ! Much nicer vision than where I was headed .

I wouldn't think that a guard house would be strategic

In the end, permaculturist's need to deal with all of the elements of a sustainable village,
Including often neglected security issues. The future will not include Eco-tourism!

This world is captured in my new mythology. See planetshifter.com for this vision