SITE OBSERVATION ENV 270 2 15

Site Analysis Fundamentals of Permaculture

Direct Observation: Gain an intimate knowledge of the nature of your site; listening,
seeing, feeling, smelling, tasting. Observe survival strategies of existing natural systems.

Intuition, Contemplation: Close your eyes... What qualities impress you (vitality,
wildness, neglect, abuse, potential…)

AESTHETICS & ATMOSPHERE___________________________________________

Beautiful, ugly, peaceful, sanctuary, hostile, fearful, wasted, sad, fun…

EXISTING NATURAL RESOURCES____________ ___________________Condition?

Sun Direction: Orientation (locate a north arrow on your base map drawing)
Wind/Air: Seasonal direction winter; summer; air drainage
Water: Ponds, streams, bogs, marches; springs; rainwater runoff/drainage; flood plain;
fords; dams; swales, ditches; where does run-off go/come from?
Microclimates: Frost pockets; thermal belts; airflow; shade; solar gain/refection
Topography: Elevation above sea level; contours; keylines & keypoints; valleys; ridges
Slopes: Aspect; gradients (gentle, medium, steep)
Soils: Types - rocky, fertile, wet, clay; color, compaction, erosion
Rocks, sand, minerals: Potential building materials, obstructions, microclimate
Flora: Trees, crops, gardens, ground covers, (wild or exotic); “edges”; native edible
forage, wildlife habitat; (Stage of succession, invasive, poisonous…
Fauna: Domestic; native wildlife
Sacred Places: Springs; groves, old trees… (use your “6th” sense, memory/sentiment)
Views

ACCESS, CIRCULATION & PARKING______________________________________

Vehicular: Existing roads, driveways, bridges, bicycle paths, public transit
Pedestrian: Existing footpaths, sidewalks
Domestic Animals: Territory
Wildlife: Existing wildlife corridors, animal trails
3. SITE ANALYSIS ENV 270 2 15
Fundamentals of Permaculture

Street Address, County

Property Size: acreage, lot size
Locale: urban/suburban/rural (city/town/countryside)
Geography: valley, ridge, plain; watershed bioregion boundaries
Land Use Capability: (based on profile model) wilderness, mining, lumber, hunting,
fishing, agriculture…
Wildlife Habitat Type (see The Field Guide to Wildlife Habitats of the Eastern United
States, by Janine M. Benyus (1989, Simon and Schuster, ISBN 0-671-65908-1).

METHODS OF ANALYSIS_______________________________________________
Hard Data Collection: Maps; records of wind, rainfall, floods, fire; local native plant &
animal species lists; soil tests; knowledge of local people (List sources)

TOPOGRAPHY__________________________________________________________
Altitude: Elevation above sea level, highest, lowest
Longitude/latitude

CLIMATE_______________________________________________________________
Wind: Speed and direction in winter; summer
Annual Rainfall
Temperatures: Minimum/maximum
Humidity
Planting Zone, Season

EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE____________________________________________
Utilities: Electric, gas, oil, wood, etc. (poles, pipes, conduits; from where?)
Water: Drinking water source - well (depth), municipal (from where?)
Sewage: Septic, municipal, composting (where does your sewage go?)
Garbage: Municipal, composting, recycling where does your garbage go?)
Food Production

EXISTING STRUCTURES________________________________________________
Houses, Barns, Greenhouses, Outbuildings
Gardens, Fields, Pastures
Fences, Walls, Ruins, Bridges, Windbreaks (natural or planted)
SOILS__________________________________________________________________
Types, soil test results
Drainage, absorption
Perk test results

HISTORY OF SITE_______________________________________________________
(The original ecosystem should suggest how it could best be used for human habitation.)
Previous Land Uses: Residential, cropped, pasture, logged, graded, wetland (landfill)
Nature: Original/pre-colonial native vegetation; virgin wildlife habitat type; topography
Buildings: Use, historical significance
People: Native American tribe, post-colonial family, business, war…
Soil/Air /Water Fertility/Pollution: Stewardship, abuse (chemical use)…
Natural/Manmade Disasters: Fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, drought, contamination

OFF-SITE/LOCAL RESOURCES &/OR INTERFERENCE/HAZARDS_____________

Adjacent Land Uses
Upsteam/upwind issues: pollution; run-off…
Noise, Visual Pollution, Odors: Road traffic, airplane flight path, rifle range…
Soil/Air/Water: Pesticides, factory emissions, acid rain, toxic farm runoff…
Electrical Pollution: Power lines, transmission boxes
Continuation of Wildlife Corridors: Deer paths, bluebird trail…
Social Community
Potential Sharing/Bartering: People, business, plants/seed, biomass, timber, mulch…
Potential Markets
Public Open Space
Threats of Local Development

LOCAL MUNICIPAL/LEGAL REGULATIONS________________________________

Zoning Land Use Designation/Ordinances: Residential; yard setbacks, parking,
animals…
Building Codes
Sewage Authority
Community Agreements
Land Development/Deed Restrictions & Easements
Mineral Rights, Water Rights
SITE ASSESSMENT ENV 270 2 15
Site Analysis Fundamentals of Permaculture

Evaluate the supporting capability of the land for human inhabitants; for native and food
producing plants; for domestic and native animals. Summarize its human use to date.
Has the land been used in a manner which is beneficial to both nature and humans; or has
its use by humans been at the expense of nature?

OPPORTUNITIES & CONSTRAINTS (make one list for each)

Identify site potential and restrictions, recommending possible site development:

Evaluate the existing/potential house/building site (is it practical?)

Circulation (is it efficient?)
Existing/potential water harvesting (roof collection, swales, gravity-fed irrigation
ponds, dams, drinking water…)
Existing/potential microclimates (abundant rainfall/, droughts, sun/shade, wind breaks)
Existing/potential for passive solar heat gain (southern exposure, water reflection, sun
traps, thermal mass…)
Existing/potential wind energy, hydro power, solar gain (off-grid electric power,
water pumping/heating, heat…)
Wind protection (existing/potential wind breaks, slopes)
Waste/nutrient recycling (composting toilets, greywater, system, artificial wetland…)
Garbage (reduction, reuse, recycling, compost, mulch)
Food production (gardening, orchards, forest gardening, edible landscape, cash crops,
mini-farming, greenhouse, wild edible/medicinal plants, poultry or other livestock)
Recovery/rehabilitation/preservation (wilderness, soils, historic buildings/structures)
Soils (potential for cultivation, construction, building materials)
Vegetation (potential wind breaks, wild/domestic animal forage, conservation areas,
medicinal or edible wild plants, woodlot for firewood or timber)
Existing Edges (wild-life habitat, food production, sun trap/wind protection…)
Timber/Fire Wood Harvesting
Natural building materials (rocks, earth, fiber, timber, bamboo, etc.)
Craft/clothing materials (basket willows/rushes, sheep’s wool, etc.)