Understanding Micro-Climates
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Understanding your micro-climate is crucial to a well-designed permaculture system. A micro-climate describes how the general climate of a region is modified by various land forms, buildings, planting and bodies of water that can have a significant impact of wind, temperature and amount of sunshine it experiences.
Permaculture designs seek to make maximum use of the potential benefits of micro climates to aid in providing a productive variety of edible species designed in balance with natural ecologies.
The direction in which a hillside faces, largely determines the micro-climate that is present on any given site. A north facing site is considered best for growing crops as it will receive most sunlight and warm up more quickly in the morning (important to start plant growth early in spring before pest numbers build up).
Slope also effects movement of frost, which will flow downhill in a similar way to liquid water and pool in low depressions or where it is blocked by thick vegetation. As frost snakes its way down a landscape it will settle in low points ‘frost pockets’ and have a greater impact on growth of plants in these areas. Steep hillsides inherently have better frost drainage.
Lakes, ponds and rivers can also buffer the temperature of the surrounding landscape Water is the world’s greatest source of thermal mass, yet another amazing quality of this living and life-giving substance. This means it can retain heat and cold and re-release them when temperature switches occur. This can create a small frost-free area for a longer period around it, thus giving a bit of a season extension. Light is also reflected off of the water surface.
Appropriately placed ponds near houses can also give extra solar radiation for warming the house due to the reflection.
The aspect of site is one of the most important features and determines how much light an area will receive (particularly in winter) and drainage of water and frost.
Wind has a profound influence on both light and heat, and designers have the potential of managing it through wind breaks and wind tunnels. Prevailing winds are predictable and can be accounted for. For maximum efficiency, wind breaks should be around forty percent permeable and created with multi-functional trees, such as nitrogen-fixing legumes. Well-placed breaks can save energy in homes, reduce stress for animals, provide barriers for wildlife, supply forage for domesticated animals, reduce erosion, increase garden yields, and more. Thirty percent of the land can be used for wind breaks without losing productivity, but it is also important to be prepared for larger wind issues, such as with hurricanes and tornadoes.
Some of the important considerations and responses to weather are, location of growing areas in good relation to solar access and, also being able to be modified to offer partial shade during the hotter summer months. In New Zealand, these are generally in north easterly position with shelter to south and west to protect from the dominant winds.
Permaculture designs seek to make maximum use of the potential benefits of micro climates to aid in providing a productive variety of edible species designed in balance with natural ecologies.
The direction in which a hillside faces, largely determines the micro-climate that is present on any given site. A north facing site is considered best for growing crops as it will receive most sunlight and warm up more quickly in the morning (important to start plant growth early in spring before pest numbers build up).
Slope also effects movement of frost, which will flow downhill in a similar way to liquid water and pool in low depressions or where it is blocked by thick vegetation. As frost snakes its way down a landscape it will settle in low points ‘frost pockets’ and have a greater impact on growth of plants in these areas. Steep hillsides inherently have better frost drainage.
Lakes, ponds and rivers can also buffer the temperature of the surrounding landscape Water is the world’s greatest source of thermal mass, yet another amazing quality of this living and life-giving substance. This means it can retain heat and cold and re-release them when temperature switches occur. This can create a small frost-free area for a longer period around it, thus giving a bit of a season extension. Light is also reflected off of the water surface.
Appropriately placed ponds near houses can also give extra solar radiation for warming the house due to the reflection.
The aspect of site is one of the most important features and determines how much light an area will receive (particularly in winter) and drainage of water and frost.
Wind has a profound influence on both light and heat, and designers have the potential of managing it through wind breaks and wind tunnels. Prevailing winds are predictable and can be accounted for. For maximum efficiency, wind breaks should be around forty percent permeable and created with multi-functional trees, such as nitrogen-fixing legumes. Well-placed breaks can save energy in homes, reduce stress for animals, provide barriers for wildlife, supply forage for domesticated animals, reduce erosion, increase garden yields, and more. Thirty percent of the land can be used for wind breaks without losing productivity, but it is also important to be prepared for larger wind issues, such as with hurricanes and tornadoes.
Some of the important considerations and responses to weather are, location of growing areas in good relation to solar access and, also being able to be modified to offer partial shade during the hotter summer months. In New Zealand, these are generally in north easterly position with shelter to south and west to protect from the dominant winds.
How to Make a Micro-Climate
Plan Your Garden to Create Perfect Microclimates
- Covering beds with plastic helps dry out and warm up soil.
- Water-filled plastic bottles will absorb heat during the day and release it at night.
- Grow cool-season crops in the shade of taller plants.
- Windbreaks made from willow or hazel filter harmful gusts.
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