There’s a whole world of potential when it comes to permaculture design! It’s sometimes easy to forget just how much room there is for creativity and exploration. That’s why I’ve created this list of permaculture elements: to inspire you to think of all of the things you can include in your designs!
I’ve spent years studying sustainable agriculture and working as a farmer and gardener for many farms, homesteads, and public gardens. In my time daydreaming of all the things I can do in the future on my own permaculture farm, I’ve curated this list. So, in this article, you’ll find many ideas of elements for your permaculture designs.
Are you ready to get inspired? Let’s get into it!
What are Permaculture Elements?
Permaculture is a farming and gardening system that mimics nature. In permaculture, we aim to create systems and relationships that are efficient, low-effort, high-yield, and, most importantly, sustainable. To achieve this, we include many different parts in the design and put them in relationship with each other. All of these things that we can include in our designs are called elements. These relationships are designed to create internal support systems for each element. That way, they rely more on each other than us to thrive. Just like in nature!
Permaculture Elements to Include in Your Landscape Designs
There are many things we can include in our permaculture designs: plants, gardens, animals, water elements, buildings, structures, compost, mulch, wild elements, energy systems, and more. Here’s a list of some examples of permaculture elements:
Botanical Elements
- Fruit trees
- Nut trees
- Other types of trees (maples, medicinals, etc.)
- Fruit shrubs
- Perennial vegetables
- Perennial herbs
- Grains
- Flowers
- Native plants
- Ornamental plants
- Annual vegetables and herbs
- Mushrooms
- Endangered plants
- Woodland crops (ginseng, ramps, etc.)
- Microgreens and sprouts
- Seeds
Garden Elements
- Annual vegetable gardens
- Cut flower garden
- Ornamental garden
- Herb garden
- Herb spiral
- Orchards
- Vineyards
- Sensory garden
- Mandala garden
- Pollinator garden
- Wildflower garden
- Woodland garden
- Native or endangered species garden
- Public gardens
- Community gardens
Animals
- Chickens
- Turkeys
- Ducks
- Geese
- Guinea fowl
- Rabbits
- Pigs
- Goats
- Sheep
- Cows
- Deer
- Bulls
- Bison
- Llamas
- Alpacas
- Camels
- Horses
- Donkeys
- Mules
- Bees
- Crickets
Water Elements
- Rainwater collection
- Greywater system
- Wells
- Drip irrigation
- Flood irrigation
- Ditches
- Ponds
- Natural water bodies
- Spring water pumps
- Bird & bee baths
- Swales
- Fountains
Buildings & Structures
- Greenhouses
- Hoop houses
- Propagation house
- Cold frames
- Barns
- Bug hotels
- Bat towers and roosts
- Animal shelters
- Chicken tractors
- Animal fencing
- Garden fencing or walls
- Sheds
- Tool sheds
- Woodshop
- Walk-in cooler or cool-bot
- Root cellar
- Wine cellar
- Cheese cave
- Drying room or house
- Dry storage
- Pantry
- Chest freezers
- Sauna
- Earth ships
- Treehouses
- Community gathering areas
Compost, Mulch, & Fertilizer Elements
- Traditional compost
- Manure compost
- Humanure compost
- Vermiculture
- In-bed compost
- Hugelkultur
- Korean natural farming
- Compost tea
- Leaf mulch
- Wood chips
Wild Elements
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Foraging
- Trails
- Wildcrafting
- Habitat restoration
- Art (stone structures, portals, etc)
- Traditional skills
Heat & Energy
- Wood stoves
- Masonry heater
- Rocket mass heater
- Wood lot
- Solar system
- Wind turbines
- Hydropower
- Thermopower
Other Permaculture Elements & Systems
- Silvopasture
- Companion planting
- Forest farming
- Korean natural farming
- Hugelkultur
- Plant guilds
- The Lean Farm method
- No-till farming
- Edible landscaping
- Anti-racists practices
. . . & More!
There are so many more permaculture elements to add to your landscape design. Do you have more suggestions or ideas? Put them in the comments below!
The Free Permaculture Visioning Workbook
If you’re interested in permaculture design, I recommend checking out the free visioning workbook. Learn about the second step in the permaculture design process: visioning (arguably the most fun and creative step). In this guide, you’ll learn which elements fit your dreams, needs, and intentions. Get the guide in your inbox by typing in your email above!
Summary: Permaculture Elements
So are you inspired yet?
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list and will keep it for when it’s time to start thinking about creating your own design. Like I said earlier, this list may be long but it’s not complete. I encourage you to use your imagination and think creatively about the problems you wish to design for yourself. If you’d like to learn more about permaculture, read this article on permaculture design.
And as always, if you have suggestions or comments, leave them in the comment section below, I would love to hear from you!
Thanks for reading and happy designing!
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