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The Top Five Features for Designing Your Property Using Permaculture
In the last article in this series, we looked at the benefits of having your property designed by a permaculture expert.
Today, we are looking at some of the technical frameworks that go into the designer’s report. While every design is unique, we’ll focus on the top five design features as they pertain to permaculture.
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By Tanner Sagouspe, Rise Writer
Apr 13, 2025 · 6 min read
Hydrology
Hydrology is going to be one of the most connected features of topography. Knowing the direction of your slope unlocks the knowledge of what path water will take. Hillside properties can pose a significant problem if water flows in a straight line downhill, causing erosion of the soil that plants need to grow in.
The permaculture designer will look at all the hydrological aspects of your property. If you’re on a hillside and water flows gradually down the slope, you can capture and soak it into the ground for your trees and perennial berry bushes. But what if you are part of a series of townhouses with shared driveways or parking? The permaculture designer can look into how you can take that excess stormwater and direct it into a series of gardens or flower beds.
Hydrology is crucial to design. With the proper roofing, gutters, and rain barrels (and water filtration systems), you can collect water from your home to quench your thirst or soak your gardens. Just 1-inch of rainfall over a 1,000 square-foot home equates to roughly 600 gallons of water. In areas affected by drought, this could make a difference in your water bill during those relentless summer months.
Lighting
How your home accesses light is also a crucial aspect of permaculture design. The aspect, or slope direction of the property, can affect that access. Are you on a slope facing the sun, or are you facing away? Does your house have windows in locations where they will receive direct sun in the winter but indirect light in the summer months?
The designer will be able to look at the property and see locations to place various features, from solar panels to vegetable gardens. Maybe you’re planning a food forest and wondering how best to take advantage of the sunlight. The designer can help guide you through what plants will be able to fill the sunny space during the growth of the trees and then what will fill the space later as a shade-tolerant perennial.
Sometimes too much sun can be a downside, warming your western rooms or making a section of the patio unbearable for most of the afternoon. Your designer may recommend trellis plants that can turn that extra sunshine into a snack right outside your window and block the hot summer sun.
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Tanner Sagouspe
Tanner Sagouspe has a Masters in Environmental Management and is a Permaculture Designer who promotes tackling the climate crisis at home.
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