Grape vines on an arbor over the porch, free range laying hens, natural swimming pools, ripe cherry tomatoes ready to pick off the plant, plenty of yard for the pup to run parameter–permaculture zone 1 is a beautiful zone full of enjoyment, ease, and abundance.
In this article, we’re going over the basics and the wonder of permaculture zone 1. First, we’ll explore the permaculture zones model and why we use it in the first place. Then, we’ll go over the function of zone 1 and the kinds of elements that belong there. We’ll discuss how to use this zone for beauty, enjoyment, and convenience. We’ll talk about the kind of care and yields you can expect in this zone. And lastly, we’ll go over the plants, animals, buildings, structures, and water sources in this zone.
This article is part of a series about permaculture design. If you are interested in learning more about permaculture design, check out this article. Here, I break down permaculture design into 5 easy steps you can begin to implement now, even without land.
The Permaculture Zones
So what are the permaculture zones and why are they important? The permaculture zones are a system designers use to organize the landscape. There are six in total, starting with zone 0 inside the home. From there, each zone surrounds the home getting further away with each transition into a new zone.
This system is designed to create ease and efficiency across the design. We place the high-maintenance elements that need a lot of attention closest to the home where they’re easiest to access. And we place the low-maintenance elements that rarely require our attention furthest away from the home. This system ensures that our energy is spent efficiently and that all elements get the attention they need.
For example, tomatoes often need daily attention, whether that’s harvesting, pruning, mulching, planting, pulling, or picking off hornworms. If the tomatoes are on the opposite side of the property from the house, it’s likely some of those needs will be neglected because they’re such a trek from the house. However, if they’re closer to the house, they’re much more likely to get the attention they need because they’re easier to get to them.
Permaculture Zone 1
Permaculture zone 1 is very human-centered. It’s the area immediately around the home and therefore encompasses all of the outdoor spaces created for people. Placing elements to increase our enjoyment of these outdoor spaces is a main goal for this zone.
Not only is zone 1 about creating pleasant human spaces, but it’s also where we put those plants and other elements that require a lot of maintenance. Lettuce, for example, needs a lot of water and weeding. By placing lettuce beds near the home, not only do you have access to it when you want a salad for lunch, but it’s easier to give the lettuce the attention it needs when it’s so close to your doorstep. Plus, if you’re enjoying the sunset on the porch and look over to see the lettuce needs weeding, you can just reach over and do it real quick.
Permaculture zone 1 is also important for creating microclimates around the home. If you want shade, better airflow, less wind, no bugs, etc., there are ways to create microclimates to provide you with those things. Because you’re creating these microclimates, it’s also easy to place sensitive elements in them. For example, paw paw trees don’t like heavy snowfall and winter winds. If you’re creating a microclimate to minimize snow and wind in the winter, you can easily place your paw paw tree there to help it thrive.
Zone 1 Needed Care
The care given to the elements in this zone is usually daily, multiple times per day. This zone holds the most high-maintenance plants and elements because we want to make the work easier for ourselves by having it closer by. This is what that work usually looks like:
- Intensive daily weeding, pruning, or deadheading
- Hand watering daily or multiple times per day
- Frequent cleaning and maintenance
Zone 1 Yields
The yields from permaculture zone 1 are usually geared toward enjoyment and simple pleasures. Quick access to salad greens for lunch, nearby herbs for tea in the morning, and ornamentals to bring beauty to our outdoor spaces. These are the yields we usually get from this zone:
- Quick harvest veggies and herbs for meals and tea
- Beauty and aroma
- Microclimates like shade in the summer
- Areas to spend time outdoors and relax
Zone 1 Crops & Plants
There are three categories of plants who live in this zone: high-maintenance crops, ornamentals, and microclimate plants. The plants in this zone serve one of those purposes. Food crops that are grown in this zone either need our attention every day, multiple times per day, or we want them nearby so we can easily access them. We also plant ornamentals and other beautiful plants to create beauty and pleasant aromas around the house. And lastly, we also put plants in this zone that will help us create microclimates. For example, by placing a short, deciduous tree in front of the house, you receive shade in the hot summer and sunlight in the cold winter. Here are more examples:
- Salad greens and vegetables like cherry tomatoes and cucumbers
- Herbs you like to harvest and use fresh
- Lawn
- Ornamentals
- Plants to attract butterflies and hummingbirds
- Trees and shrubs to create microclimates around the house
- Potted plants
- Plants to deter biting incests like rosemary and lavender
- Sensitive plants that require particular microclimates
Zone 1 Animals
The animals who live in permaculture zone 1 are those who don’t take up too much space and require daily attention. Of course, all animals need to be fed every day, but the animals in this zone often need other kinds of attention, too. Like collecting eggs from the chickens, for example. Here are some other examples of animals who can live in this zone:
- Laying hens and other small-scale poultry
- Vermiculture
- Rabbits
- Crickets
- Outdoor pets
Zone 1 Buildings & Structures
Because zone 1 is largely about creating outdoor people spaces for enjoyment, many of the structures in this zone are for that purpose, like patios and arbors. Here are some more examples of zone 1 structures:
- Deck and patio
- Arbors and trellises
- Bird baths and feeders
- Firewood storage
- Shed
- Chicken coop
- Other structures for animals in this zone
- Permanent raised beds and gardens
- Herb spiral
- Natural swimming pools or other swimming areas
- Outdoor shower or bath
- Play areas for pets and kids
Zone 1 Water Sources
In permaculture 1, we don’t have any major irrigation systems. In this zone, we stick to the small-scale watering systems most people are familiar with, such as:
- Rain barrels
- Hoses and sprinklers
- Greywater recycling
- House tap water and watering cans
- Natural swimming pool
More About Permaculture and Permaculture Zones
There are five more permaculture zones to explore, each one with an exciting variety of options. If you are interested in learning about these other zones, read this article on the permaculture zones. In this article, I go over the rest of the zones and which elements to place where.
If you are interested in learning more about the permaculture design process, you can click the highlighted link. In this article, I break down permaculture design into 5 simple steps. Plus, I give you some workbooks and resources to help you on your journey of permaculture design.
There is also an abundance of permaculture books and resources available. If you are looking for more of these resources, check out my Bookshop. On my Bookshop. you’ll find all of my favorite books available to you at a discount. This includes a list of permaculture and regenerative farming books.
Summary
Permaculture zone 1 is a place where creativity meets abundance and beauty. This zone is a human-centered one that’s designed to create magnificence, ease, enjoyment, and comfort for you and your family.
In this article, we discussed the basics of this permaculture zone. We outlined what the zones are and why they’re important. We went over the function of zone 1 and the kind of care it requires. And lastly, we summarized the kinds of permaculture elements that belong to this zone. Plus, you now have an abundance of permaculture resources to explore.
What are you planning or dreaming of including in your zone 1? Put your thoughts, plans, and dreams in the comment section below, I would love to hear from you!
Thanks for reading and happy designing!
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