Being Multi-functional
Permaculture design promotes things that are multi-functional rather than things that have only one use. A medium-sized sharp knife can be used for a wide range of tasks indoors: even be used for circus acts. Whereas fish knife is only designed for fish. And, even then, the fish-knife requires skill and patience. Without this specialist skill we could get cold fish with hidden little bones.
A building can be masterfully designed to be multi-functional. It can shelter us in many ways. As a result, we can have natural light to illuminate many activities. We can be protected from wild-fire. The roof can collect water and shed debris. The internal walls can store heat to be released at night. The shape of the building can also serve as a wind break. An internal courtyard can provide a welcome shady retreat.
- On the other hand, a poorly designed building requires artificial lighting during the day. A sick building can make us ill from poor air circulation and we are less likely to be productive or enjoy life.
Multi-functional People
We live in an era where workers are expected to have high levels of expertise in order to compete. Contrast this with a permaculture lifestyle where we explore new ideas. Growing food at home, connecting with others, learning from elders and reconnecting with nature helps us develop a range of skills that are productive and rewarding.
Multifunctional Plants
1
) Moringa Moringa oleifera,
) Moringa Moringa oleifera,- Nutritious leaves
- Seeds edible – the horseradish tree
- Seeds filter water
- Fast growing shade cover/erosion control
- Goats and rabbits feed on leaves
2) Madre de cacao Gliricidia sepium
- Fodder crop for our hogs, goats and chicken
- Living fence-grows from cuttings and used to form fence
- High N for compost
- Used for contour planting
- Biomass for mulch
3) Ipil Ipil
- Leucaena leucocephala
- High N for compost
- Used for erosion control on contours
- Biomass for mulch
- Leaves made into meal for high protein by weight feed
Leucaena leucocephala4) Neem Azadirachta indica
- Shade
- Leaves repel weevle in rice
- Leaves prevent termites in books
- Fuel for cooking, charcoal and wood
- Grows vigorous after pruning
- Berries are good fertilizer
- Village pharmacy
- Medicinal oil
- De-worming medicine
cooking, charcoal and wood 5) Bamboo [technically a grass]
ically a grass]- Solid fuel and charcoal
- Decorative woodwork
- Furniture
- Shade
- Contour erosion control
- Edible shoots.
- Leaves for goats and geese.
- Tea for humans high in silica. This tea can also aid hair growth.
- Building material
Enjoy our new moodle Elearning program today.
