Student Worksheet

Thought-starter: By taking the time to look at and engage with nature we can design solutions that suit our particular situation.

Principles of Permaculture

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, Don’t Segregate
Use Small and Slow Solutions
Use and Value Diversity
Use the Marginal
Creatively Use and Respond to Change

Analysing the Principles

Now, find the questions below related to your chosen principle. Remember to only answer the questions related to your principle.

1. Observe and Interact Activities:

a. Imagine that this is your garden. Observe it closely before you do plant anything.

What words could you use to describe this environment?

Now, choose which plants you think will grow well here. Circle the ones you think will thrive in the garden based on your observations.

Carrot - A carrot is a plant with an edible root. It likes sandy soil and full sun. You will need to water it well.
Okra - Okra is a plant with edible seed pods. It grows well in arid environments.
Tomato - Tomatoes are plants with edible fruit. They like nutritious soil. You will need to water it well.
Macadamia - This is a tree with edible nuts. It is native to Australia. It is part of the Proteaceae family (which includes Banksia).
Tree fern - This is a fern. It is native to Australia. It grows in the rainforest. You will need to water it well.
Feijoa - This is a tree with edible fruit. It grows well as a hedge. It is fire retardant.

b. Think, Puzzle, Explore...

What do you think about the principle; Observe and Interact?

What questions or puzzles do you have about this principle?

What does this principle make you want to explore?

2. Catch and Store Energy Activities:

Have you heard the saying “Make hay while the sun shines”? By collecting resources when they are abundant, we can store and use them in times of need.

a. The energy cycle is the way that energy moves through a system. Draw arrows to connect these elements to show the directions of the energy cycle (e.g. energy from the sun feeds the tree). You can draw as many arrows as you need.

SUN	TREE	GRASS
PEOPLE	DECOMPOSERS LIKE WORMS	CATTLE

b. At what points in the system can you see opportunities to store energy? Label them above.

c. Think, Puzzle, Explore...

What do you think about the principle; Catch and Store Energy?

What questions or puzzles do you have about this principle?

What does this principle make you want to explore?

3. Obtain a Yield Activities:

This principle is about making sure you get something meaningful out from the work that you put in.

a. In many modern jobs you put in time, and get out money. But there are other reasons that we work - how many can you think of and add to the diagram below?

Keep in mind, work can include activities like gardening, child rearing, caring for elders, study, etc.

b. Think, Puzzle, Explore...

What do you think about the principle; Obtain a Yield?

What questions or puzzles do you have about this principle?

What does this principle make you want to explore?

4. Apply Self Regulation and Accept Feedback Activities

This principle is about taking little steps, then stopping and evaluating what you achieved, listening to other people’s feedback and opinions.

Sometimes it’s hard to accept feedback. We can make this easier in the way we use language. Here are some tips for good feedback:

Be kind (try to imagine how they are feeling).
Be specific (“it’s weird” won’t help them fix it. Try to work out exactly what it is that is bothering you about it).
Make it clear that this is your opinion (start with statements like “I think” or “I feel”).
Use 2 stars and a wish (2 things you really like about it, and 1 thing that you would like to see. You can also use the wish to suggest an alternative).

a. Imagine your friend has come to you with a plan. They are really excited about it. They want to turn the whole school oval into a vegetable garden. You know that this plan has a few issues - how will you tell your friend your feedback, remembering to be kind, specific and provide alternatives?

b. Think, Puzzle, Explore...

What do you think about the principle; Apply Self Regulation and Accept Feedback?

What questions or puzzles do you have?

What does this principle make you want to explore?

5. Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services Activities

This principle is about trying to reduce your dependence on non-renewable resources.

a. Renewable energy is energy that comes from a source that is not depleted (run out) when used. List as many types of renewable energies and non-renewable energies as can you think of.

b. Think, Puzzle, Explore...

What do you think about the principle; Use and Value Renewable Resources?

What questions or puzzles do you have about this principle?

What does this principle make you want to explore?

6. Produce No Waste Activities

Waste is really just stuff that has ended up in the wrong place. This principle is about trying to reuse those resources in useful ways so that you don’t waste anything.

a. See if you can think of ways to refuse, reduce, reuse, repair and/or recycle the following kinds of waste. If you can’t think of anything, just write “none” in that box and move on.

b. Think, Puzzle, Explore...

What do you think about the principle; Produce No Waste?

What questions or puzzles do you have about this principle?

What does this principle make you want to explore?

7. Design From Patterns to Details Activities

By stepping back, we can observe patterns in nature and society. These can form the backbone of our designs, with the details filled in as we go.

a. List as many different patterns as you can think of that can be found in nature.

b. Think, Puzzle, Explore...

What do you think about the principle; Design From Patterns to Details?

What questions or puzzles do you have?

What does this principle make you want to explore?

8. Integrate, Don’t Segregate Activities

This principle is about putting the right things in the right place, so relationships develop between them and they support each other.

a. Have you heard the saying “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”? For example, soil + water + tomato seed can equal a whole crop of tomatoes! How many examples of “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts” can you think of?

+ =

+ =

+ =

+ =

b. Think, Puzzle, Explore...

What do you think about the principle; Integrate, Don’t Segregate?

What questions or puzzles do you have?

What does this principle make you want to explore?

9. Use Small and Slow Solutions Activities

This principle is about using small and slow systems solutions that are easier to maintain than big ones.

a. Here is a list of issues. Can you think of some examples of big/fast solutions, and small/slow solutions? Then, try and think of some benefits to keeping it small and slow.

b. Think, Puzzle, Explore...

What do you think about the principle; Use Small and Slow Solutions?

What questions or puzzles do you have?

What does this principle make you want to explore?

10. Use and Value Diversity Activities:

Have you heard the saying “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”? Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats.

a. A 'biodiversity hotspot' is a place with a particularly high level of diversity in its plant and animal life. List the areas around your school that you believe could be biodiversity hotspots.

b. Think, Puzzle, Explore...

What do you think about the principle; Use and Value Diversity?

What questions or puzzles do you have?

What does this principle make you want to explore?

11. Use the Marginal Activities:

This principle is about where the most interesting events take place. A Marginal area is a place where two different environments connect; for example when a park meets a nature reserve.

a. The edge between environments is often where the most interesting biological hotspots appear, where things are the most productive, and where people are the most inventive. List some of the plants, animals, and people that you might find on the edges between these environments:

b. Think, Puzzle, Explore...

What do you think about the principle; Use the Marginal?

What questions or puzzles do you have?

What does this principle make you want to explore?

12. Creatively Use and Respond to Change Activities:

Things are always changing. This principle is about carefully observing, and how when intervening at the right time, we can use change to create positive impacts.

Make a list of some predictable changes. For example, think about how the seasons affect the land, think about growing up and what happens when you get old.

A.

B.

C.

Now think of some unpredictable changes, and what results they could have. For example, natural disasters, scientific breakthroughs, etc.

A.

B.

C.

Designers need to create systems that are adaptable so that they can still be used if the surrounding circumstances change.

Think, Puzzle, Explore...

What do you think about the principle; Creatively Use and Respond to Change?

What questions or puzzles do you have?

What does this principle make you want to explore?

Reflection

Work independently to think about this lesson and complete the following sentence starters:

I used to think...

But now I think...

Creative Sustainability - Introducing Permaculture

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