The document outlines the SADIMET design process, which involves 6 main steps: 1) conducting a site survey, 2) analyzing the site to identify functions and areas of production needed, 3) designing systems to fulfill the identified functions, 4) implementing and maintaining the design, 5) evaluating the design, and 6) tweaking the design as needed. The design process focuses on holistically meeting the client's goals while addressing the needs of the land through integrated systems that utilize beneficial relationships to minimize effort and waste. Feedback is incorporated from the client and tutors at various stages of the process.

1. SADIMET DESIGN PROCESS
Site indicators Problems
Borders/boundaries
(plants, etc.)
Microclimates
Climate
Water time soil water
Community
SITE labour
Soil Vegetation
Assets money
Wind AREAS OF COST
Sectors Fire (LEAKS) nutrients
Maps
Resources
Local knowledge
Values SURVEY
CLIENT OBSERVED Elders
Goals EXPERIENCES
Constraints Other designs
BASE MAP 1
House/buildings Soil Conservation
FEEDBACK
Drainage Fodder
Privacy
Wildlife Fuel Heat Food
Fertility
Cash income
Energy FUNCTIONS
Demo/training
Windbreak ANALYSIS
Protection Irrigation
INTEGRATE FUNCTIONS/
Elevation BASE MAP 2
Zones & planning CREATE RELATIONSHIPS
Sectors SPECIES’ DETAILS INPUT/OUTPUT
PLACEMENT ANALYSIS FEEDBACK
(design from patterns
to details) DESIGN FIT SYSTEMS/
ELEMENTS TO FULFIL
CROPPING PATTERNS
FUNCTIONS
LEGAL (GRANTS,
REGULATIONS, ETC.)
FEEDBACK
sources of sequence
seasons
resources
community IMPLEMENTATION HINTS
interaction & support • start at the back door
& MAINTENANCE
• start small & build on success
• experience - learn from mistakes
FEEDBACK costs outputs • locate components
REPORTS &
• give them relationships
DOCUMENTATION
• time plan - how will it grow
WHAT’S GOING WELL ? • only grow as much as resources allow
WHAT’S CHALLENGING ? • allow for growth
EVALUATION
• start with fertile areas & expand
& T W E A K I N G AGAINST AIMS/OBJECTIVES • follow natural patterns
CONTINUOUSLY/AS REQUIRED • apply principles
© Chris Evans 2008 Permaculture Design Course - SADIMET Design Process

2. Designed Visions Permaculture Design Course Handout
Source: © Chris Evans 2003

3. Designed Visions Permaculture Design Course Handout
Source: © Chris Evans 2003

4. Designed Visions Permaculture Design Course Handout
Themes in Design
Yield
The sum total of surplus energy produced by, stored, conserved, reused or
converted by the design. Energy is in surplus once the system itself has
available all its needs for growth, reproduction & maintenance (and thus the
extra is available for export, use or trade).
Resource
Energy storage to assist yield.
Categories of resources;
1. Those which increase with modest use e.g. coppice, information;
2. Those unaffected by use e.g. sunlight, water through mill, view;
3. Those which disappear or degrade if not used, e.g veggies (overcome
by 'weeds', etc), bees;
4. Those that are reduced by use. e.g. oil, clay deposits;
5. Those that pollute or destroy other resources if used. e.g. nuclear
power, concrete.
1-3 are commonly produced in natural systems & rural living situations & are
the only sustainabie basis of society.
4 & 5 are as a result of urban & industrial development.
(maximise number of useful energy storages).
Entropy
Dissipated energy - no longer in a form usable by the system - bound or
dissipated energy; energy unavailable for work, or not useful to the system
(1+1=1.5 ....minimise entropy).
Synergy
Organisms are energy transformers. They survive by using this energy and
their survival is a function of their ability to use it. Energy produced by
elements in harmonious cooperation with each other is GREATER THAN THE
SUM OF- ITS PARTS (1+1=3 ....maximise synergetic connections).
Guild
Assemblies of plants & animals of different species, occurring together over
their range. Guilds act to assist our health, aid our management (work) and to
buffer against adverse environmental effects.
Microclimate
The summation of environmental conditions at a particular site, as affected by
local factors rather than climatic ones.

5. Designed Visions - Permaculture Design Course Handout
Design Activity – Hints on the Process
The main purpose of the design activity is to provide an opportunity for supported
practice & to show that you have achieved and are able to implement an
understanding of the permaculture principles and their application using the design
process.
Step One: Survey
Site analysis:
• Create a base map with existing boundaries, structures, land/vegetation types
(pasture, trees, etc.), water bodies, access routes, etc. You can also make a site
profile/transect to show slope/shape of land.
• List information on climate, soil, plant species (esp. those indicating types of site),
water/moisture, wind, microclimates, etc. Pay attention to those things that may act
as limiting factors and/or resources, and potential hazards e.g. flooding, fires. Include
historical information about the site.
• List areas/types of erosion (leaks) i.e. where resources are being lost from the site
e.g. soil, nutrients, water, money, skills, etc.
Client Analysis:
• Use client questionnaire handout as a basis for your client interview.
• List goals of client - their vision for the land, what they want to achieve.
• What is their timeframe for achieving these goals?
• List the resources they have, e.g. time, skills, money, etc.
• List their constraints/limiting factors, other relevant information.
Step Two: Analysis - Identify Functions/Areas of Production needed
• What functions are required to meet the needs of the client & land, prevent the
resource leaks etc? e.g. livestock, irrigation, income generation, soil conservation,
shelter, security, etc. Some of the "areas" can be sub-divided e.g. income generation
into bees, vegetables, fruit, livestock, crafts, etc.
Step Three: Design
• What systems are needed to fulfill the functions required?
• List these & examine linkages/beneficial relationships that exist between the
systems. Examine the needs/outputs/characteristics of the different systems
(systems' analysis).
• Experiment with placement of systems (using a map) & examine if their productivity
can be improved (or erosion reduced) by siting them in different places.
• Select and place elements to fulfil the functions identified as needed in the different
systems. Give an idea of species' composition of relevant systems e.g. windbreaks,
orchard, kitchen garden, etc.
• Integrate functions to satisfy needs with outputs i.e. allow the systems/elements to do
the work to decrease effort (work) & waste (pollution).

6. Designed Visions - Permaculture Design Course Handout
Feedback to client
Feedback the outcome so far & if the client has any changes/suggestions etc. Is the design
helping to achieve their goals while meeting the needs of the land? Are new problems being
created?
Step Four: Implementation & Maintenance
• Detail the sequence of implementation - which systems/elements go in first (priority
ranking). Give an idea of time needed to implement the different priorities.
• Give an idea of costs of implementation over time.
• Give an idea of outputs coming from the designed system, over time if possible.
• Detail how the design is maintained and/or added to over time (including the
priorities, sequence and costs of doing this).
• Detail how the design involves and/or benefits the community/region as a whole.
• Make a detailed map with systems & placement.
Step Five: Evaluate
• Feedback the design so far & if the client has any changes/suggestions etc. Is the
design helping to achieve their goals while meeting the needs of the client & land?
Are new problems being created? Is the design realistic/achievable? Are there any
unnecessary costs?
Step Six: Tweaking
• Modify as required.
Presentation
You will have 60 minutes for presentation of which approximately:
• 5 mins on introduction, summarising step one.
• 40 mins to present the design, including all the items in step four. Include information
on process - how you came to reach the decisions/selections you made, what other
options had you considered?
• 5 minutes question/answers, clarification etc.
• 10 minutes feedback from client/tutors (don’t allow feedback on this feedback!).
• Make sure all the group is involved in the presentation.
• You don't have to give details of every plant/animal in the design, but give
representative samples e.g. structure of the windbreak, orchard, vegetable beds etc.

7. Designed Visions Permaculture Design Course Handout
Permaculture Designers Checklist
Name[s] of Client[s];
Address;
Size of Property;
Number of People on site and Relationship:
Ages;
Special Needs;
Occupations / Skills;
Lifestyle:
Eating Habits;
Level of Food Self-sufficiency Required;
Clients Wants and Needs:
Financial Situation:
On-site Resources;
Security of Tenure;
Potential catastrophes; (e.g. fire, flood and frost);
Plans and Drawings;
Known Problems;
Privacy;
Priorities:
Water Catchment: (Quality and Size);
Water (General):
Sewage & Waste:
Soil (General);
Erosion:
Aspect:
Sacred Sites:
Archaeological Sites:
Addresses of like-minded local people;
Source: Terra Firma – permaculture design & teaching – Patsy Garrard & George Sobol –
terrafirma@gn.apc.org - Based on an original by Lea Harrison

8. Designed Visions Permaculture Design Course Handout
Environmental Analysis
Historical land use: Talk to locals, look at old maps, photos.
Recent site history: Logging, cropping, spraying, crops, uses.
County structure plans:
Topography: Contour maps and Field survey.
Identify key areas.
Mark volleys and ridges.
Determine slope gradient.
Sector analysis: Aspect (direction of slopes).
Sun Sectors (winter & summer sunrise to sunset).
Wind (wind rose for the area – prevailing wind
direction, damaging winter winds).
Soils & geology: Geological maps.
Types of soil and Analysis.
Soil tests: Field Test Kits.
Drainage and Absorption.
Soil Depths, a and b levels.
Stability of site.
Vegetation: Flora - mix, identification, health.
Forests - type, age, condition, value, density, exotic
species, ground cover, poisonous plants.
Fauna: Grazing animals, waterfowl, native birds, ntroduced
animals, creatures of pain and fear.
Climate: Altitude.
Frost.
Hail - timing, frequency and directions.
Storms - timing, frequency and directions.
Average Rainfall.
Minimum and maximum temperatures.
Hydrology: Drainage patterns.
Springs.
Rivers and Streams.
Farm roads:
New roads required: Costs?
Source: Terra Firma – permaculture design & teaching – Patsy Garrard & George Sobol –
terrafirma@gn.apc.org - Based on an original by Lea Harrison

9. Designed Visions Permaculture Design Course Handout
Particular features: Rock outcrops.
Landslides.
Waterfalls.
Caves.
Swimming holes.
Suitable windmill / hydraulic ram sites.
Views.
Local utilities: Electricity.
Gas.
Mains water.
Telephone.
Mains Sewerage.
Shops.
Schools.
Public transport.
Hospitals.
Fire brigade.
Dump.
Council constraints: Planning permission.
Water extraction.
Easements.
Macro landuse: What is happening upstream and over the fence?
Local resources: Sawmill.
Factories.
Free plant and seed sources.
Biomass.
Quarry.
Livestock breeders.
Local skills/producers.
Noise: Rail, air, road, industry.
Visual pollution:
Smells: Sewage works
Tannery
Source: Terra Firma – permaculture design & teaching – Patsy Garrard & George Sobol –
terrafirma@gn.apc.org - Based on an original by Lea Harrison