| We can visualise zones as a series of concentric circles, the innermost circle being the area we visit most frequently and which we manage most intensively. Zones of use are basic to conservation of energy and resources on site. We do not have endless time or energy, and the things we use most, or which need us often, must be close to hand. We plan our kitchens in this way, and we can plan our living sites with equal benefit to suit our natural movements…
Now, any one component can be placed in its right zone, at the best distance from our camp, house or village. As our very perfect "target" model does not fit on real sites, we need to deform it to fit the landscape…
Zoning (distance from centre) is decided on two factors:
- The number of times you need to visit the plant, animal or structure; and
- The number of times the plant, animal or structure needs you to visit it.
| Some factors which change in zone planning as distance increases |
| Factor or Strategy |
ZONE I |
ZONE II |
ZONE III |
ZONE IV |
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| Main design for: |
House climate, domestic sufficiency. |
Small domestic stock & orchard. |
Main crop forage, stored. |
Gathering, forage, forestry, pasture. |
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| Establishment of plants |
Complete sheet mulch. |
Spot mulch and tree guards. |
Soil conditioning and green mulch. |
Soil conditioning only. |
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| Pruning and trees |
Intensive cup or espalier trees. |
Pyramid and built trellis. |
Unpruned and natural trellis. |
Seedlings, thinned to selected varieties. |
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| Selection of trees |
Selected dwarf or multi-graft. |
Grafted varieties and plants managed. |
Selected seedlings for later grafts. |
Thinned to selected varieties, or by browse. |
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| Water provision |
Rainwater tanks, bores, wind pumps, reticulation. |
Earth tank and wells, bores. |
Water storage fire control. |
Dams, rivers, in soils. |
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| Structures |
House/green-house, storage integration. |
Greenhouse and barns, poultry sheds. |
Feed store, field shelter. |
Field shelter grown as hedgerow and woodlot. |
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| Information |
Stored or generated by people. |
In part affected by other species. |
As for II. |
Arising from natural processes. |
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Source: Mollison (1992, pp49-50).
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