another newbie

[ali_celt]

Hi all,
Just thought I'd introduce myself, I have been hovering and reading lots for a while now.
Have just moved house to a place with lots of potential for a decent sized permaculture set-up, (1600sqm) I just have no idea where to begin with it all!
So I'm reading and reading and trying to figure out where to put things and how to set everything up.
Also need to determine what fruit trees i want while it's still the time to plant them bare-rooted - luckily i have a fruit tree nursery just up the road that has a whole range of fabulous organic and heirloom trees so I will be going up there and discussing it with them at the next possible opportunity too!
Anyway, thanks for having me!
Ali

[ecodharmamark]

Gday Ali

Welcome to the forum.

Try observing (and recording for later design inspiration) all the natural elements that come into play on your 1600sqm for at least 12-months. I know it's hard, but it really is worth it in the end. As Mollison says, " One hundred hours of thought; one hour of work".

Oh, and Holmgren's first Principle: Observe and [only then] Interact.

Some other maxims Holmgren provides in his book* for us to ponder:

All observations are relative.
Top-down thinking, bottom-up action.
The landscape is the textbook.
Failure is useful so long as we learn.
Elegant solutions are simple, even invisible.
Make the smallest intervention necessary.
Avoid to much of a good thing.
The problem is the solution.
Recognise and break out of design cul-de-sacs.

* Holmgren, D (2003) Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. Hepburn: Holmgren Design Services. p15

Cheers, Mark :)