Overview
We are now going to go on a little journey together looking at how I am going to use the permaculture principles in helping me compile a list of questions to help guide me towards buying a house. Admittedly it sounds like this journey has the potential to be a tiny bit boring, so I will add a little hummer here and there along the way.
Observe & interact
Observation is going to be the primary tool used whilst asking myself the questions proposed in this design. Due to the theoretical nature of the design, many of the answers will be reached using simple observation skills along with knowledge of the local area and weather conditions. Some answers will involve a little more interaction, such as moving around and looking at things from different perspectives and having a general good old nosey around the property.
The kinds of questions I will propose will be on the lines of Is the house in an area that floods? Is there any visible damp inside the house or a good possibility of damp? These are basic questions and straight forward to answer. I will also be adding some questions that will involve using visualization skills such as: How you would like to see the house in 3 years? Visualise different permaculture designs for the garden.
Catch & Store Energy
The following questions pop straight into my mind around catch and store energy, are there any solar panels attached to the house? Does the house get morning sunlight? Would it be possible to harvest water from the house roof? These questions are coming from a very practical perspective and could lead to asking other questions depending on the answer. The whole idea of having a list of questions is to stimulate my thought process prompting me to build upon each answer.
Obtain a Yield
With my love for growing edible plants, a large part of buying a house is to have a garden where I can grow food. I am going to be asking myself questions about: How much sunlight does the garden get? Are there frost pockets in the garden? Which direction is the garden facing? Obtaining a yield does not just stop at food production in a garden. The garden could also become a place of education, the sharing of knowledge is a two-way transaction where all involved can obtain a yield in learning. Listening to people’s stories I find fascinating, having a garden where it would be possible to talk to passers-by would add value to the house and would be a valuable yield.
Apply Self-Regulation & Accept Feedback
Something I am very cautious of when thinking about buying a house is what would happen if my employment situation changed and I had to go onto a lower wage, could I still afford to live in this house. Questions to ask would be: Could I afford the mortgage if I had to take a lower-paid job? Do I have the money to invest in the house? If we need to replace any major areas of the house; kitchen, bathroom, etc. do we have the available resources? What are our needs with regards to the house?
Applying self-regulation is going to be an important principle to always remember especially when buying a house. Living in a large posh house might make somebody appear to be a successful person but not if it costs them sleepless nights worrying over all the bills that come with such things. I am quite fortunate that I have a voice in my head that is often asking me if I am sure about something. Accepting feedback even if it is listening to your thoughts and feelings if used correctly can be of great value. It is common knowledge that everybody hears that voice in their head, it is only the insane people who say they do not hear it.
Use & Value Renewable Resources & Services
The chances of putting up a wind turbine in the garden might be extremely slim but the house may come with solar panels or we could think about adding them in the future. An alternative option would be to use a green energy provider for the electricity and gas resources inside the house. The sorts of things to ask here would be: Are there any solar panels attached to the house? I asked this question under the Catch & Store Energy principle, a lot of the questions I will be asking in the design will fit into multiple principles. Permaculture design is about combining the various elements in a system creating a whole system design, ideally in a closed loop.
Produce no waste
Picking up from where we just finished off with designing closed-loop systems, under this principle of produce no waste the sort of questions that come into my mind are: Can I add a compost area into the garden? A question for the inside of the house could be: If we needed could we renovate instead of replacing it? Follow on questions here would be: What is the state of the interior doors? Is the kitchen up to a high standard or in need of replacing?
DIY is not my greatest asset, fortunately, my partner will be able to step in here and hopefully add a more informed opinion on such matters whilst I apply the permaculture principle of self-regulation and accept feedback.
Design from Patterns to Details
Now we have got this far into the principles, certain patterns from the answers to the questions been asked in the design will be starting to standout. A picture should be getting built up from these answers and patterns will be presenting themselves helping to form conclusions from all the details expressed in the answers.
We are now starting to move into the Yes, this house fits well with my needs and wants, or we might get the big flashing No, this is not going to fulfil my permaculture needs or wants. Either way, this is the stage to be paying attention to the answers. I want to be sleeping soundly in my bed at night.
Integrate Rather than Segregate
After collating all the answers and knowing if this house fits into the permaculture “Yes” category you should be starting to see how all the different elements and principles are flowing together, along with a vision forming of what is going to be possible if this house belonged to us.
We can now see how the garden supplements the house and vice versa in this design. You will know when you are working in the flow of this principle by the constant nodding of the head when you are reading your answers to all the questions.
Use Small & Slow Solutions
The medieval French adage: Rome wasn’t built in a day, is a good place marker to work from here with the design. Great things need time to be created. Here is a good place to stop, relax, breathe, and once again spend a little time visualising how you would like to see the house in 3 years. Followed by a much longer visualisation of how you would like to see the garden in 3 years. Wow, the garden looks amazing don’t you think.
There is going to be a good chance when working to a tight low budget that lower-priced houses may come with the need for a little extra work. Having a garden that resembles a tip may be of more value than a very neat garden with lots of concrete and not much soil. It’s often easier to start a garden from nothing than to change a monstrosity that somebody has created that involves them doing no work.
Use & Value Diversity
Fresh from the garden visualisation a picture of how you can use and value the diversity living at this property and how much it will have a positive effect on your lives. Everything is now in a state of fluid thanks to all the questions you have asked. The house has everything you need and those few things that need to be done can be done.
At this stage of the journey through the principles, you should have the answer to whether this is the correct house. The final two principles should confirm any outstanding concerns.
Use Edges & Value the Marginal
Everything should be fitting together nicely now; you know this is the house for you. You have several potential designs for the garden, the house design is feeling like home. In your mind, you have watched the sunset from your garden in summer and through the living room window in winter. The location of the house is in the most perfect place thanks to all the great questions asked throughout the process of this design.
Simple things like yes, I can sit whilst working on my computer and watch the birds in the garden. Having a footpath next to the garden allows me to talk to passers-by. These are the little questions that can add so much value to the house. Buying a house is not all about how the house looks or the size of the garden it is the edges that add value to you on a more personal level, so it is very important to remember to look at the edges and to value the marginal.
Creatively Use & Respond to Change.
Living in this world we need to be prepared for change, how we respond to that change is what is important. Permaculture is a design system that looks to turn an unexpected event into an opportunity to be creative. I am sure once a house has been bought something unexpected will present itself, perhaps a little determination might be needed to respond creatively, in the end, I am sure it will all turn out good.
I hope I am correct…….
