Human Settlements Review - Parliamentary Monitoring Group

Human Settlements Review, Volume 1, Number 1, 2010
• The use of edges and the appreciation
of value in the marginal. The edges
of fields, rivers and any other similar
elements often provide the most
interesting events. Marginal areas
often serve functions that are not
given enough recognition; and
• Creative use and response to
change. One must respond proactively
to uncontrollable change by
using the change to one’s advantage.
This principle links up with the first
principle in a cyclic manner.
The principles of Permaculture are within
the boundaries of the three principles of
sustainability, although the Permaculture
principles give direction to achieving
sustainability and encompass the principles
proposed (and adapted by the author) by
Pretty.
An example of a Permaculture system,
encompassing the house, will be given. The
house should be made of natural and recycled
materials that are locally available so that
transportation of materials is kept to a short
a distance as possible, thus limiting pollution.
The position of the house is important, so
the house should face north (in the southern
hemisphere) to make the most use of available
heat from the sun. This position will also
enable maximum use of solar power, whether
it is in the form of photovoltaic cells or solar
water heaters. The house should be on a slight
slope so that waste water from the house
can be used to water crops via gravity. The
roof should be used to capture rainwater for
drinking and washing.
Waste from the kitchen can be turned to
compost or fed to chickens and pigs. Trees
should be planted to block wind and provide
shade. Some of these trees should be a
mixture of fruit trees to provide food for the
residents of the house as well as any animals
while leguminous trees should be planted to
improve the soil’s fertility. Home gardens close
to the house are also an essential element
in Permaculture as these provide food to the
people living in the house. Elements such
as a herb garden, which are often used, are
placed as close to the house as possible while
elements that are seldom used are placed
further from the house.
One will also notice micro-environments
around the home and one should make use
of these as they will provide conditions for
different plants to flourish. An example of this
would be to grow lettuce (a winter crop) on the
south of a house (in the southern hemisphere)
during summer as this side is colder than the
north side and thus allowing one to grow crops
out of season. Another part of Permaculture is
to make full use of all available space. In this
way, one should plant different crops together,
although one must take note to plant crops that
complement each other as some crops do not
grow well together. The last important point of
Permaculture is to make use of any available
resources that are unique to the area, but
without degrading the resources.
9. Housing in South Africa
At the end of Apartheid, the approximate
backlog of housing at that time was estimated
to be 2 million houses, with population growth
increasing the need for housing by 150 000
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