Permaculture Design Principle 9

Polyculture and Diversity of Species - Resilience and resistance to pest attacks

Aim to include a variety of each species of food plants or animals. Diversity in nature builds resilience and resistance to pest attack. It also lets us find which variety works well in our own particular climate and microclimates.

Planting Strategy: 1st-natives, 2nd-proven exotics, 3rd unproven exotics - carefully on small scale with lots of observation.

Yields of monocultural systems will probably be greater for a particular crop than the yield of any one species in a permaculture system, but the sum of yields in a mixd system will be larger. The aim is to disperse yield over time, so that products are available during every season.

If the system has a diverse plant and animal species, habitats, and microclimates, the chance of widespread pest problems is reduced.

1. Relative Location - Where stuff in the right place
2. Each Element Performs Multiple Functions - Multitasking
3. Multiple Sources for Each Need - Redundancy planning to reduce failure
4. Energy Efficient Planning - Zoning & sectors
5. Using Local Biological Resources - "Think globally, Act Locally"
6. Cycling of Energy - Reconnecting movement of energy
7. Optimum Sizing & Stacking - Intensive systems under control
8. Accelerating Plant Succession and Evolution- Working with Nature, not against Her
9. Polyculture and Diversity of Species - Resilience and resistance to pest attacks
10. Increasing "Edge" Within a System - Increasing productivity through edge effects and natural patterns

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