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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.
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● www.ptpc.com.au