Living Landscapes
Observe. Integrate. Design

Module 20 / 25

Design for Invisible Structures

A Living Landscapes planting plan with curved garden beds and paths.

Topics

  • Types and importance of invisible structures: Hierarchies and networks, information flow
  • Strategies in community organizing and development
  • Issues of land use and building regulation, law vs. practice, attitude, and mores

What you’ll learn

Learning goals

  • Evaluate health and conviviality of legal and social environments

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.

Social systems and communication

Watch

Spiral Dynamics

YouTube

Watch on YouTube

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

Read

Social Permaculture: What Is It? - Foundation for Intentional Community

ic.org

Open resource

Regulation and shared decisions

Land use and building regulation: Check current local rules for your own site.

These readings also support Module 23; read them once.

Book reading

Practical Permaculture

Jessi Bloom and Dave Boehnlein

Pages 296 to 298: group communication, decision-making, and local regulatory work; shared with Module 23

Pages 302 to 303: group communication, decision-making, and local regulatory work; shared with Module 23

Book access & editions

In the discussion, identify who makes decisions about your design, who does the work, how information is shared, and how disagreements or changes will be handled. Apply the same questions to a documented community example when your project has no group.

Exercise & discussion

Discussion: decision-making, responsibilities, communication, and changes in your design or a documented community example.

What to prepare

  • Discussion notes covering decisions, responsibilities, communication, disagreements, and changes in your design or a documented community example.

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 decision-making and responsibilities 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 20, and “Decision-making and responsibilities” in your subject or message.

Find my email address ↗

Readings & resources

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