PDC Design & Implementation Strategies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In permaculture design, what does the concept of 'relative location' primarily refer to?
- Placing elements based on their GPS coordinates
- Positioning elements so they support and benefit each other (Correct answer)
- Locating the design site relative to the nearest city
- Determining which hemisphere the design is in
Correct answer: Positioning elements so they support and benefit each other
Relative location means placing elements in relationship to one another so their outputs and needs create mutually beneficial connections.
Question 2: Which implementation strategy involves starting with the smallest, most controllable intervention to test a design before scaling up?
- Zone 0 prioritization
- Broadscale earthworks first
- Small and slow solutions (Correct answer)
- Stacking functions immediately
Correct answer: Small and slow solutions
The 'small and slow solutions' principle encourages testing designs at small scales to learn and adapt before committing large resources.
Question 3: During site analysis, a permaculture designer maps water flow across the land. This process is best described as:
- Sector analysis
- Zone planning
- Observation mapping (Correct answer)
- Broadscale survey
Correct answer: Observation mapping
Observation mapping involves recording site-specific patterns such as water movement, sun angles, and wind before finalizing design decisions.
Question 4: A designer wants to implement a forest garden using a phased approach. Which phase typically comes FIRST?
- Planting understory shrubs
- Installing canopy trees
- Establishing pioneer species and soil preparation (Correct answer)
- Building water harvesting swales
Correct answer: Establishing pioneer species and soil preparation
Pioneer species and soil preparation create the conditions needed for successive plantings, mimicking natural forest succession.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a 'design brief' in permaculture project planning?
- To list all plants available at local nurseries
- To summarize client goals, constraints, and site conditions before designing (Correct answer)
- To document the final planting layout after implementation
- To calculate the financial return on investment
Correct answer: To summarize client goals, constraints, and site conditions before designing
A design brief captures the client's vision, resources, limitations, and site data to guide the designer before any solutions are proposed.
Question 6: In the OBREDIM design methodology, what does the letter 'B' stand for?
- Boundaries (Correct answer)
- Budgeting
- Biome
- Broadscale
Correct answer: Boundaries
OBREDIM stands for Observation, Boundaries, Resources, Evaluation, Design, Implementation, and Maintenance.
Question 7: Which design strategy best addresses the challenge of implementing permaculture on a client's land without disrupting existing income-generating activities?
- Implement all changes simultaneously during the off-season
- Use a phased implementation plan that integrates with current land use (Correct answer)
- Remove all existing systems before introducing permaculture elements
- Focus only on Zone 1 and ignore productive zones
Correct answer: Use a phased implementation plan that integrates with current land use
Phased implementation allows permaculture elements to be introduced gradually while existing livelihoods and systems continue to function.
PDC Design & Implementation Strategies 2
In permaculture design, what does the concept of 'relative location' primarily refer to?