Permaculture Principle No. 11 is “Use Edges and Value the Marginal.”

Permaculture, in simple terms, is a way of designing and creating systems – like gardens or farms working in harmony with nature.

The word “permaculture” itself comes from combining “permanent” and “agriculture” or “culture,” reflecting a focus on sustainability and long-term thinking.

Permaculture was co-founded by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in Tasmania, Australia, in the 1970s. Both Mollison and Holmgren played significant roles in developing and popularising permaculture.

Bill Mollison, an Australian ecologist, researcher, and teacher, was a driving force behind the development of permaculture. He observed natural ecosystems and traditional agricultural practices, inspiring the creation of a holistic design system.

David Holmgren, also an Australian ecologist, collaborated with Bill Mollison in refining and expanding permaculture principles. Holmgren’s contributions have been crucial in shaping the design framework and principles of permaculture.

In a nutshell, permaculture is like learning from nature’s playbook to create sustainable, efficient, and harmonious systems that support both the environment and people.

It’s about being smart, observing, and working together with the Earth to create a better way of living.

There are 12 Permaculture Principles and we will be looking at each one every month over the year and how we use it in our garden

Permaculture Principle No. 11:

“Use Edges and Value the Marginal.“

Permaculture Principle No. 11 is “Use edges and value the marginal.” This principle emphasises the importance of utilising the interfaces or boundaries between different elements in a system, as these often have the highest productivity and diversity. It also encourages valuing unconventional or overlooked resources and opportunities. Here’s a detailed breakdown of this principle into explanation, application, and expected outcome:

Edges: In nature, edges are where two systems meet, such as the boundary between a forest and a meadow or land and water. These transitional zones often support a higher diversity of life and more interactions between species. This is known as the “edge effect,” which highlights the richness and productivity of these areas.

Marginal: Marginal refers to the unconventional, overlooked, or underutilized elements within a system. This principle values these elements for their unique contributions and potential, encouraging us to see opportunities where others might see waste or insignificance.

By leveraging edges and valuing the marginal, permaculture design seeks to maximise the productivity and diversity of a system, creating spaces and opportunities that might otherwise be neglected.

In Gardening and Farming:

• Maximise Edge Zones: Create edges in landscapes by designing ponds, swales, or terraces. For example, the edges of a pond support both aquatic and terrestrial life, enhancing biodiversity.
• Intercropping: Plant crops in strips or patches to create more edges between different plant communities, which can increase yields and support beneficial insects.
• Hedgerows: Incorporate hedgerows or buffer zones between fields to provide habitats for wildlife, act as windbreaks, and enhance soil stability.

In Land Design:

• Pathways and Boundaries: Use paths, fences, or walls creatively by planting herbs, climbers, or flowers along them to increase productivity and biodiversity.
• Contour Lines: Design on contour (e.g., keyline plowing) to create edges that slow water flow, enhance infiltration, and increase planting areas.

In Social Systems:

• Inclusivity: Value the “marginal” people, perspectives, or ideas that may be overlooked. Diverse perspectives often bring creative solutions and innovation to community projects or organisations.
• Community Margins: Invest in marginalised areas of a community (e.g., underused spaces or underserved populations) by turning them into gardens, public spaces, or hubs for community engagement.

In Resource Management:

• Waste Reuse: View waste as a resource. For example, use kitchen scraps for compost, convert old pallets into raised garden beds, or turn greywater into irrigation.
• Microspaces: Utilise small or “marginal” spaces, such as rooftops, balconies, or urban lots, for productive activities like container gardening or beekeeping.

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Enhanced Biodiversity and Productivity:

• Systems with abundant edges support a wider variety of species, leading to greater resilience and ecological richness. For example, planting along a pond’s edge can attract diverse wildlife while also enhancing the system’s productivity.

Efficient Use of Resources:

• Valuing the marginal allows us to repurpose and optimise overlooked resources, reducing waste and costs. For example, converting marginal land into productive spaces can provide food and habitat without requiring significant investment.

Social Inclusion and Creativity:

• By involving and valuing marginalised people or ideas, communities can foster inclusivity and innovation. This strengthens social bonds and opens up new opportunities for collaboration.

Sustainable Land Use:

• Designs that make use of edges and marginal spaces maximise land efficiency without overexploiting the environment, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience.

Resilience and Innovation:

• Marginal ideas and unconventional practices often lead to breakthrough solutions. Valuing these helps build systems that are adaptable and capable of evolving with changing conditions.

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By applying the principle of “Use edges and value the marginal,” permaculture practitioners can create systems that are diverse, inclusive, and productive. This principle reminds us to look beyond the obvious and to value the hidden potential in both natural and human systems.

There are 12 permaculture Principles we will be looking at each one every month

When looking at implementing the design into our garden we looked at setting our sections up into different areas that suited, we have

1. Food Forest Area
2. Raised Bed Area
3. Kitchen Courtyard

This is a shot of our home showing the surrounding area. We are on a hill, at the top of the hill and behind us the fields you see are an even steeper hill

This is a long term project that will take time to grow and fill out, but we are adding to it each year and still getting harvests from the berries. Last year was our first year getting some apples from the trees. Observing and self regulating as we go along.

Take a look at some of the starting blogs for more details of how we got started and what we have added A Little About Us and Where The Food Forest Has Started From – 2022 Update and Food Forest Area- New Fruit Trees Planted For 2023

We integrate plants, companion planting and guilds throughout our areas from the larger spaces of the food forest down to the smaller raised beds. There is always a mix of crops planted next to each other to support each of them, from pest control companion planting such as chives, nasturtium and calendula to nitrogen fixing plants like lupins, peas and beans. Take a look at our tour to see what we plant up in these areas

PDC Permaculture Design Certificate

Peter received his Permaculture Design Certificate online in 2019 with Oregon State Uni. Certified by the Permaculture Institute of North America. Taught by: World Renowned Permaculturist Andrew Millison

Peter designed our garden using the Permaculture Design processes and the 12 Permaculture Principles.

Katrina finished her Permaculture Design Certificate Professional PDC PRO in 2024 to continue the process and pass all the knowledge onto Clayton and others.

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A post shared by KATRINA & CLAYTON | Food Forest Garden (@buildingafoodforest_scotland)

Katrina & Clayton and family live in East Ayrshire and share their daily life in the garden on instagram. They practice permaculture principles in the garden, reducing & repurposing waste whenever they can. Katrina shows how home educating in nature has helped Clayton thrive. 

Clayton Completed The 2 Grow and Learn Courses with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society This Year. Clayton has just turned 17, Autistic, Non Verbal & has been Home Educated for the last 7yrs. Katrina & Peter both hold their PDC Permaculture Design Course from Oregon State University 

They featured on BBC Beechgrove Gardens Ep23 2022 and returned in 2023 for an update, Katrina & Clayton are also columnists for ScotlandGrows Magazine, Guest Blog for Caledonian Horticulture as well as working with Gardeners’ World Magazine and many other brands. They are also Authors of the new children’s book: Clayton’s New Garden Journey: A Story of Autism and Growing available on Amazon 

Author of the new children’s book series: Clayton’s Garden Journey: A Story of Autism and Gardening and Sowing, Growing, Weather and Seasons Weekly Gardening Record Book available on Amazon