Permaculture for Food Security 

Urban Home:

• Lot Size: Urban lots are typically the smallest, ranging from 1/10th of an acre to 1/8th of an acre (approximately 4,356 to 5,445 square feet). In dense urban areas, lots can be even smaller.

• House Size: The average size of new single-family homes in urban areas is likely smaller than the national average, potentially around 1,500 to 2,000 square feet. This can vary significantly depending on the city and the type of housing (e.g., row houses, detached houses).

• Total Square Footage (Approximate): Combining the lot size and house size, the total square footage for an average urban home could be estimated at around 6,000 to 7,500 square feet. This includes the house footprint and the small yard or outdoor space.

Suburban Home:

• Lot Size: As discussed previously, suburban lots typically range from 1/4 acre to 1/2 acre (approximately 10,890 to 21,780 square feet).

• House Size: The average size of new single-family homes in suburban areas is around 2,300 to 2,500 square feet.

• Total Square Footage (Approximate): Combining the lot size and house size, the total square footage for an average suburban home could be estimated at around 13,000 to 24,000 square feet. This includes the house footprint and the front and back yards.

Rural Home:

• Lot Size: Rural lots are typically the largest and can vary significantly, from 1 acre to multiple acres. For this approximation, let's consider an average of 1 acre (43,560 square feet).

• House Size: The average size of rural homes can also vary, but it's often comparable to or slightly larger than suburban homes, potentially around 2,000 to 2,500 square feet.

• Total Square Footage (Approximate): Combining the lot size and house size, the total square footage for an average rural home could be estimated at around 45,000 to 46,000 square feet or more. This includes the house footprint and the large yard or acreage.

The amount of space needed for a family of four to produce a significant portion of their food using permaculture principles 

• Diet: A vegetarian diet requires less land than a diet including meat.  

• Climate: Growing seasons and yields vary significantly by climate.  

• Soil quality: Healthy, fertile soil produces more food per square foot.

• Permaculture design and techniques: Efficient design and intensive techniques like vertical gardening and companion planting can increase yields in a smaller space.

• Level of self-sufficiency: Are you aiming to produce all your fruits and vegetables, or also grains, meat, and dairy?

Estimates:

• Minimum: With very intensive permaculture design and a primarily vegetarian diet, it might be possible to produce a significant portion of a family's fruits and vegetables on 1/4 acre (approximately 10,890 square feet).

• More realistic: For a more diverse diet including some animal products and a more manageable level of intensity, 1/2 to 1 acre (approximately 21,780 to 43,560 square feet) would be more realistic.

• Greater self-sufficiency: To produce a larger portion of grains, meat, and dairy, or to have more room for orchards, livestock, and other elements, several acres would be needed.

Breakdown of Land Use in a Permaculture System:

• Gardens: Intensive vegetable gardens using techniques like raised beds, hugelkultur, and companion planting.

• Food forest: A multi-layered system of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers that provides fruits, nuts, berries, and other edible plants.  

• Orchard: Fruit and nut trees.

• Animal systems: Chickens, ducks, or other small livestock for eggs, meat, and pest control. Larger animals like goats or sheep would require more space.  

• Water harvesting and storage: Ponds, rain barrels, and other systems for collecting and storing water.  

• Composting and soil building: Areas for composting and other soil improvement practices.

Key Considerations:

• Start small and expand: It's best to start with a smaller area and gradually expand as you gain experience and knowledge.

• Focus on perennials: Perennial plants (those that live for multiple years) require less maintenance than annuals and can provide a consistent source of food.  

• Observe and adapt: Permaculture is about working with nature, so it's important to observe your land and adapt your design and practices accordingly.  

Important Note:

These are just rough estimates. It's crucial to consider your specific circumstances, including your diet, climate, soil quality, and level of self-sufficiency, when determining how much space you need. Consulting with a local permaculture expert or taking a permaculture design course can provide more personalized guidance. Even if you don't have enough land to produce all your food, applying permaculture principles to a smaller garden or even a balcony can still provide a significant amount of fresh, healthy produce.

Sources and related content

If the world adopted a plant-based diet, we would reduce global agricultural land use from 4 to 1 billion hectares

ourworldindata.org

Food forests; a sustainable option for agriculture - WUR

www.wur.nl

Small livestock - Permaculture Association

www.permaculture.org.uk

Rehydrating the Landscape with Permaculture: A Blueprint for Water Resilience

worldpermacultureassociation.com

Example 

Vegetarian family of four. That wants to produce all their food. fruits vegetables grains using permaculture methods. Okay, focusing on a vegetarian family of four aiming for complete food self-sufficiency (fruits, vegetables, and grains) using permaculture methods refines the estimate. This is an ambitious goal, requiring careful planning and dedicated effort.

Land Area Estimate:

For this scenario, I'd estimate that at least 1 acre, and potentially up to 2 acres (43,560 to 87,120 square feet) would be necessary.

Reasoning:

• Grains require significant space: Unlike fruits and vegetables, grains like wheat, rice, or corn require a substantial amount of land to produce enough calories for a family. This is the primary reason for the increased land requirement compared to a solely fruit and vegetable-based system.

• Permaculture for grains is possible but challenging: While permaculture principles can be applied to grain production (e.g., using perennial grains, no-till methods), it's generally more land-intensive than conventional grain farming.

• Diversity and resilience: Having more land allows for greater diversity in crops and more resilient systems. This is important for dealing with pests, diseases, and weather fluctuations.

• Supporting ecosystems: A larger area allows for more diverse ecosystems, which can benefit the overall health and productivity of the system.

Breakdown of Land Use (More Detailed):

• Intensive vegetable gardens: Using raised beds, hugelkultur, and other intensive techniques to maximize yields in a smaller space.

• Food forest: A multi-layered system of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers providing fruits, nuts, berries, and other edible plants. This would likely be a significant portion of the land.

• Grain production area: This area would be dedicated to growing grains like wheat, oats, or rice.

• Composting and soil building: Ample space for composting, cover cropping, and other soil improvement practices.

• Water harvesting and storage: Systems for collecting and storing rainwater and other water sources.

• Support systems: This includes space for a small greenhouse, tool shed, and other necessary infrastructure.

Additional Considerations:

• Climate: Climate plays a crucial role. In warmer climates with longer growing seasons, it might be possible to produce more food on less land.

• Soil fertility: The existing soil quality will significantly impact yields. Soil improvement will be an ongoing process in a permaculture system.

• Skill and experience: Permaculture requires knowledge and skill. It takes time and experience to develop a productive and self-sustaining system.

• Off-farm inputs: Even with permaculture, some off-farm inputs might be necessary, such as seeds, compost, or occasional amendments.

Important Note:

Even with 1-2 acres, achieving complete self-sufficiency in all food needs, including grains, is a very ambitious undertaking. It requires significant commitment, knowledge, and ongoing effort.

It's highly recommended to:

• Start small and expand gradually: Begin with a smaller garden and gradually expand as you gain experience.

• Take a permaculture design course: A formal course can provide valuable knowledge and skills.

• Connect with local permaculture practitioners: Learning from experienced local growers can be invaluable.

While complete self-sufficiency is a challenging goal, even partial self-sufficiency can provide numerous benefits, including fresh, healthy food, reduced environmental impact, and increased connection to nature.

Outline for a permaculture course and strategy for a family of two adults two children on two acres.

Here's a combined permaculture course outline and a strategy for a family of two adults and two children on two acres, keeping in mind the goal of producing all their food (vegetarian diet including grains):

I. Permaculture Design Course Outline (Adaptable to Self-Study or Formal Course):

A. Introduction to Permaculture:

• What is Permaculture? Ethics (Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share), principles (observe and interact, catch and store energy, obtain a yield, apply self-regulation and accept feedback, use and value renewable resources and services, produce no waste, design from patterns to details, integrate rather than segregate, use small and slow solutions, use and value diversity, use edges and value the marginal, 1 creatively use and respond to change). 2  

• 1. ta.wikipedia.org

• ta.wikipedia.org

• 2. brightonpermaculture.org.uk

• brightonpermaculture.org.uk

• 
  
• History and Background: Origins of permaculture, key figures (Bill Mollison, David Holmgren).

• Design Process: Observation, site analysis, sector planning, zone planning, element analysis.

B. Ecological Principles:

• Ecosystems and Natural Patterns: Understanding how natural systems function, including nutrient cycles, water cycles, and energy flows.

• Soil Ecology and Health: Importance of healthy soil, soil building techniques (composting, cover cropping).

• Water Management: Water harvesting, greywater systems, irrigation strategies.

C. Design Elements and Techniques:

• Site Analysis and Mapping: Assessing the site's climate, topography, soil, water resources, and existing vegetation.

• Zone Planning: Designing different zones based on frequency of use and management intensity (Zone 0: Home, Zone 1: Intensive garden, Zone 2: Orchard/food forest, Zone 3: Broadacre crops/pasture, Zone 4: Semi-wild, Zone 5: Wilderness).

• Sector Planning: Analyzing external energies that influence the site (sun, wind, water flow) and designing to maximize beneficial influences and mitigate harmful ones.

• Specific Techniques:

  • Food forests: Creating multi-layered edible ecosystems.

  • Hugelkultur: Raised beds built on decaying wood and organic matter.

  • Keyhole gardens: Circular raised beds with a central access path.

  • Companion planting: Planting different species together for mutual benefit.

  • Animal systems: Integrating animals into the system for pest control, fertilization, and food production.

  • Seed saving and propagation: Saving seeds from successful crops and propagating new plants.

D. Social and Economic Aspects of Permaculture:

• Community building: Creating local networks and sharing resources.

• Local economies: Supporting local farmers and businesses.

• Social justice and equity: Ensuring that permaculture benefits all members of the community.

II. Permaculture Strategy for a Family of Four on Two Acres:

A. Site Assessment and Design:

1. Thorough Site Analysis: Map the property, noting sun exposure, wind patterns, water flow, soil types, existing vegetation, and any microclimates.

2. Goals and Priorities: Define specific goals for food production, taking into account the family's dietary needs and preferences.

3. Zone Planning:

   • Zone 0 (Home): Focus on energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction.

   • Zone 1 (Intensive Garden): Located close to the house for easy access, focus on high-yield vegetables and herbs.

   • Zone 2 (Food Forest/Orchard): Plant fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, and other perennial edible plants.

   • Zone 3 (Grain Production/Pasture): Dedicate a significant portion of the land to grain production and potentially a small pasture for poultry or other small livestock.

   • Zone 4 (Semi-Wild): Allow a portion of the land to remain semi-wild, providing habitat for wildlife and supporting ecosystem health.

B. Key Elements and Systems:

1. Food Forest: Design a diverse food forest with a variety of fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, and groundcovers. Consider the mature size of trees and their spacing.

2. Intensive Vegetable Gardens: Utilize raised beds, hugelkultur, and other intensive techniques to maximize yields in the vegetable gardens. Focus on staple vegetables and those that the family enjoys.

3. Grain Production: Dedicate a specific area to grain production. Research appropriate grain varieties for your climate and consider no-till or low-till methods to minimize soil disturbance.

4. Animal Systems (Optional): Consider integrating chickens or ducks for eggs, pest control, and fertilization. If space allows, consider larger animals like goats for milk or meat (requires more management and resources).

5. Water Management: Implement water harvesting systems, such as rain barrels and swales, to conserve water and irrigate the garden.

6. Composting and Soil Building: Establish a composting system to recycle organic waste and improve soil fertility. Use cover crops and other soil-building practices.

C. Implementation and Management:

1. Start Small and Expand Gradually: Begin with a smaller area and gradually expand as you gain experience and resources.

2. Prioritize Soil Health: Focus on building healthy soil through composting, cover cropping, and other soil improvement practices.

3. Observe and Adapt: Regularly observe the system and make adjustments as needed based on feedback from the environment.

4. Community and Networking: Connect with local permaculture practitioners, farmers, and other gardeners to share knowledge and resources.

This outline provides a starting point for a permaculture strategy on two acres. Remember to adapt it to your specific climate, site conditions, and family needs. Continuous learning and observation are key to success in permaculture.