The first thing I do in my permaculture design practice (after sharing a cuppa & viewing the clients wishlist) is take 5 random soil samples and send it to my lab for an exhaustive report. I won’t plant a single seed until I know what the lead levels are and any other toxic nasties . 

A walk around the property with and without the client is a must

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I like to do a rough sketch as I wander about. Sit and simply observe. And just keep repeating the process. If a photo could be handy later on I’ll take a snap on my smart phone.

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Where traditional landscapers would disturb the soil and scar the landscape on a sloping backyard, I would install swales and permeable paths.

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I take lots of measurements, generally using found objects like trees, trampolines, fire pits, existing structures. This is a good opportunity to engage the children early on as I have a funky old school tape measure they find intriguing. 

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It’s too early to think about zones (more on that in my blog) but the observation of sectors is vital. Think wind, sun, & rain in addition to wildlife corridors, pollution, noise, weeds etc

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Z is for Zones. In permaculture design a zone is an area around a home where elements are placed according to energy use , quantity yields and frequency of visits.

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