Permaculture 2: Ecosystem Mimicry FALL 2025

Good site assessment and design takes into account multiple scales at once. This assignment encourages you to consider elements large and small and how they relate to your design ideas.

GOAL: Conduct research and make observations that will inform your design thinking.

USE THE QUESTIONS AND GUIDELINES BELOW TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ON EACH "ELEMENT".

QUESTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE ASSIGNMENT ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE IN RED.

Bioregion

Bioregions are defined through physical and environmental features of the landscape, including ecosystems, mountain ranges, watershed boundaries, and soil and terrain characteristics.

1. What is the larger bioregion your site is a part of?
2. What unique natural features are present in your bioregion?
3. What human attitudes and values do you think distinguish your bioregion?

FIND YOUR BIOREGION HERE: https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions-north-america. **Note that EPA provides 3 different maps with different levels of detail; we recommend Level II if you can't get more specific.

Watershed

1. Where does water come from onto your site?
2. Which higher elevation area, perhaps bounded by ridges or mountains, sends water your way, either on the surface or via groundwater?
3. Where does your land drain?
4. What named creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes does water from your landscape drain into?
5. How big is the watershed you are a part of?

In addition to Internet searches, if you are in North America consider connecting with experts and resources at your local Cooperative Extension or Soil and Water Conservation District offices to gather information. Also walk around your site following land contour, ditches, and streams. What observations do you have about the larger watershed in which your site is situated?

Neighborhood

1. How would you define the boundaries of your neighborhood?
2. Note the types of land use. What percentage of land would you estimate is forest? Water? Field? Farmland? Lawn? Roads?

Talk to at least three of your neighbors about what they like or do not like about the landscape and land use. If possible, seek out at least one long-time resident who can tell you about the neighborhood’s past land use and appearance.

If you have a little extra time, you may want to investigate Historic Aerials online to see how the area has changed (if available): https://www.historicaerials.com/viewer

Wildlife

1. Who do you share this land with? Have you ever considered that wildlife are simply our non-human neighbors, and ones whose families likely lived on this land long before us?
2. Look for evidence of wildlife on your site. What wildlife might frequent your location or seasonally pass through?
3. What are some of the habits and preferred habitat of these creatures?
4. Will plans for your site impact their behavior? If so, how? Might your plans attract new wildlife? If so, how?

Think how we can "integrate instead of segregate." We might not want deer eating our primary crops, but intentionally feeding them at the margins might enable a reciprocal harvest of venison each Fall.

ASSIGNMENT:

• Bioregion: Give an elevator pitch for your bioregion as if you are trying to convince everyone to move there.
• Watershed: Find a map of your watershed and submit it. Briefly describe in a paragraph what you learned about your watershed.
• Neighborhood: Describe what you learned about your neighborhood’s history and current status. You may wish to include an aerial or two to show how it has changed. What would be your ideal vision for the future of this neighborhood?
• Wildlife: Share the connections among wildlife and your current site. How does your plan honor your wild neighbors while still providing for your family and/or business?

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION

1. Paste the link to your slideshow template below.
2. Click "Save Changes" to submit.