Observe. Integrate. Design

Module 07 / 25

The Home System

Flowers and diverse garden plantings beside an access path.

Topics

  • Patterns and elements of domestic self-reliant economies
  • Distribution of economic function by zone and sector analysis
  • Transition from consumer to producer households

What you’ll learn

Learning goals

  • Understand the pivotal role of household capacity in resisting economic predation
  • Design an example home system by placing buildings, vegetation, and infrastructure

Read, watch & explore

Getting the books · access & editions

Use your own copy, buy the book, or borrow it through a library when possible. If you are local to me, contact me about borrowing a copy. You can also contact me for information about digital or other access to assigned readings.

Ask about reading access ↗

If your edition uses different page numbers, contact me and we can match the correct section. Contact instructor.

The household as a system

Use the household-money reading in Module 21.

Book reading

The Resilient Farm and Homestead

Ben Falk

Pages 21 to 24: Household-system discussion

Pages 30 to 37: Household-system discussion

Pages 61 to 79: Household-system discussion

Page 427: Household-system discussion

Pages 427 to 430: assigned in Module 21 (Household-money reading)

Book access & editions

Zones and relationships

Watch

Permaculture Zone 1 Video

YouTube

Watch on YouTube

If the player does not load, use the source link.

Watch

Permaculture Zone 2 Video

YouTube

Watch on YouTube

If the player does not load, use the source link.

Watch the Permaculture zones resource in this module.

Use the design discussion to show how buildings, growing areas, storage, paths, and household work connect. Add these relationships to your current design. Where your chosen site has no house, show its relationship to the people and facilities that support it.

Exercise & discussion

Discussion: Discuss aspects of your design with me: buildings, vegetation, and infrastructure

What to prepare

  • The design drawing showing the relationships between buildings, vegetation, infrastructure, paths, storage, and household work.
  • Brief notes explaining these relationships, including the supporting people and facilities if the site has no house.

Save written notes as a document or PDF. For paper maps or handwritten notes, use a clear photo or scan. You can combine related work in one file.

Share & discuss

Attach your home-system drawing and notes.

Email the address listed under “Get In Touch” on my contact page. Do not use the contact form. Include the Permaculture Design Course, Module 7, and “Home-system relationships” in your subject or message.

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Readings & resources

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