12.2 Sector and zone analysis

Sector and zone analysis are crucial tools in permaculture design. They help you understand your site's energy flows and organize it efficiently. By mapping out sectors and zones, you can make smart decisions about where to place elements like gardens, buildings, and animals.

These techniques optimize resource use and minimize wasted energy. They guide you in working with nature's patterns, not against them. This creates a more sustainable and productive design that fits perfectly with your specific site conditions.

Sector Analysis

Sector Diagram and Energy Flows

Top images from around the web for Sector Diagram and Energy Flows

• 

  Expanding Zones and Sectors in Permaculture: Integrating New Perspectives - Permaculture ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Open Source and DIY Permaculture Design Resource and Tutorial View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Expanding Zones and Sectors in Permaculture: Integrating New Perspectives - Permaculture ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Expanding Zones and Sectors in Permaculture: Integrating New Perspectives - Permaculture ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Open Source and DIY Permaculture Design Resource and Tutorial View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Sector Diagram and Energy Flows

• 

  Expanding Zones and Sectors in Permaculture: Integrating New Perspectives - Permaculture ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Open Source and DIY Permaculture Design Resource and Tutorial View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Expanding Zones and Sectors in Permaculture: Integrating New Perspectives - Permaculture ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Expanding Zones and Sectors in Permaculture: Integrating New Perspectives - Permaculture ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Open Source and DIY Permaculture Design Resource and Tutorial View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• A sector diagram visually represents the energy flows and external influences that affect a site
• Includes natural energies such as sunlight, wind, water, and wildfire as well as human-influenced energies like noise and pollution
• Divides the site into sectors based on the direction and intensity of these energy flows (sunlight from the south, cold winds from the north)
• Helps identify opportunities and constraints for design based on these external energies
• Allows for strategic placement of elements to take advantage of beneficial energies and mitigate negative influences

Efficiency and Site Optimization

• Sector analysis enables efficient use of resources by aligning design with natural patterns and cycles
• Identifies areas suitable for solar energy collection, wind power generation, or water catchment based on prevailing conditions
• Reveals microclimates within the site that can be utilized for specific plants or functions (sunny south-facing slope for gardens)
• Informs the placement of structures, vegetation, and other elements to optimize energy efficiency and functionality
• Contributes to a more sustainable and resilient design by working with, rather than against, the site's inherent characteristics

Zone Planning

Zone Concept and Relative Location

• Zone planning organizes a site into concentric zones based on the frequency of human interaction and energy requirements
• Zones range from 0 to 5, with Zone 0 being the most intensively used area (house) and Zone 5 being the least managed (wild or untouched areas)
• Relative location refers to the placement of elements in relation to each other and the zones they belong to
• Aims to minimize energy expenditure and maximize efficiency by locating frequently used elements closer to the center (Zone 1 kitchen garden near the house)
• Takes into account the connections and interactions between elements to create beneficial relationships (placing a chicken coop near the garden for pest control and fertilization)

Zone Descriptions and Element Placement

• Zone 0: The house or living space, the center of activity and energy use
• Zone 1: Intensively managed areas near the house for daily interaction (herb gardens, small animal systems, workshop)
• Zone 2: Less frequently managed areas for occasional interaction (larger scale gardens, orchards, smaller livestock)
• Zone 3: Farming or commercial production areas visited weekly or seasonally (field crops, pastures, larger livestock)
• Zone 4: Managed wild or semi-wild areas for resource collection and minimal intervention (timber production, wild foraging)
• Zone 5: Unmanaged or protected wild areas for observation, inspiration, and ecosystem services (native forests, wildlife habitats)
• Element placement within zones depends on their needs, outputs, and the desired interactions with other elements
• Considers factors such as sunlight, water, soil, and accessibility when locating elements in their appropriate zones (placing a greenhouse in a sunny Zone 1 area with easy access to water and the house)