Intro to keyline

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An Introduction toThe KEYLINE SYSTEM OF DESIGN:

Harry Wykman,PEACETREE PERMACULTURE

PDC, PICKERING BROOK, 10th of March, 2012

P. A. Yeomans and the Keyline System ofDesign

Yeomans andKeyline

❖ Yeomans❖ The Keyline Scaleof Permanence❖ P7 — pattern todetail

Keyline and Climate

Keyline and LandShape

Keyline and WaterManagement:

bringing water undercontrol

Resources

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Yeomans the Man

Yeomans andKeyline

❖ Yeomans❖ The Keyline Scaleof Permanence❖ P7 — pattern todetail

Keyline and Climate

Keyline and LandShape

Keyline and WaterManagement:

bringing water undercontrol

Resources

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Percival Alfred Yeomans

● self-taught mining engi-neer / hydrologist

● inventor

The Keyline Scale of the RelativePermanence of Things Agricultural

Yeomans andKeyline

❖ Yeomans❖ The Keyline Scaleof Permanence❖ P7 — pattern todetail

Keyline and Climate

Keyline and LandShape

Keyline and WaterManagement:

bringing water undercontrol

Resources

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1. Climate

2. Land Shape

3. Water Supply

4. Farm Roads

5. Trees

6. Permanent Buildings

7. Subdivision Fences

8. Soil

Principle 7: Design from patterns to detail

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Principle 7: Design from patterns to detail

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Principle 7: Design from patterns to detail

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● Top down, but derived from Principle 1.

Principle 7: Design from patterns to detail

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● Top down, but derived from Principle 1.

● However, "the map is not the territory"

Keyline and Climate

Yeomans andKeyline

Keyline and Climate

❖ Climate

Keyline and LandShape

Keyline and WaterManagement:

bringing water undercontrol

Resources

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Climate

Yeomans andKeyline

Keyline and Climate

❖ Climate

Keyline and LandShape

Keyline and WaterManagement:

bringing water undercontrol

Resources

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"The purpose of Keyline tech-niques and the keyline scale ofpermanence in relation to cli-mate is the take completeadvantage of all weatherand climatic phases thatwill enhance soil climatethrough maintenance in the soilof improved relationships be-tween the factors of moisture,warmth, and air , and, by con-trast, minimise to the fullthe disadvantages of thoseclimatic elements that de-stroy , namely, flood rains,drought and fire."

Keyline and Land Shape

Yeomans andKeyline

Keyline and Climate

Keyline and LandShape

❖ the primary landunit

❖ main ridge

❖ primary valley

❖ primary ridges

❖ sink

❖ whole

Keyline and WaterManagement:

bringing water undercontrol

Resources

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The Primary Land Unit

● Main Ridge

● Primary Valley

● Primary Ridges

● Catchment / Sink

The Primary Land Unit

● Main Ridge

● Primary Valley

● Primary Ridges

● Catchment / Sink

The Primary Land Unit

● Main Ridge

● Primary Valley

● Primary Ridges

● Catchment / Sink

The Primary Land Unit

● Main Ridge

● Primary Valley

● Primary Ridges

● Catchment / Sink

The Primary Land Unit

● Main Ridge

● Primary Valley

● Primary Ridges

● Catchment / Sink

The Primary Land Unit

● Main Ridge

● Primary Valley

● Primary Ridges

● Catchment / Sink

“The most significant aspect ofthis analysis is that it involvesa pattern, a recognition thatsmaller shapes are integratedto form a larger whole, and thatthis pattern might be repeatedseveral times on a singlemedium-sized property.”

Keyline and Water Management:

bringing water under control

Yeomans andKeyline

Keyline and Climate

Keyline and LandShape

Keyline and WaterManagement:

bringing water undercontrol❖ The Keypoint andthe Keyline

❖ The Keyline Plow

❖ Whirlwind, NewMexico❖ whirlwind —before❖ whirlwind —before❖ whirlwind —before❖ whirlwind —before

❖ earthworks

Resources

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The Keypoint and the Keyline

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The Keyline Plow

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Whirlwind, New Mexico

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rainfall: 150 - 175mm annual rainfall

Before and After KeylinePlough Intervention

Before

● deeply biologically degraded

● climatic forces destructive/ degenerative

After

● the beginning of regenerativeprocesses

● water and sun movefrom destructive toconstructive processes / forces

Earthworks - Storage for People / Stock

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● controlled water distribution

● put water through its ’duties’

Resources

Yeomans andKeyline

Keyline and Climate

Keyline and LandShape

Keyline and WaterManagement:

bringing water undercontrol

Resources

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Credits

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This document, authored by Harry Wykman is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia License.

● 35 Woolgar WayLOCKRIDGE, 6054

● (08) 9377 1258

● harry@ptpc.com.au

● www.ptpc.com.au