What Is The Significance Of “Use Small And Slow Solutions” In Permaculture?

“I’m new to permaculture and I’ve been reading about the principle ‘Use Small and Slow Solutions.’ I currently live in the suburbs with limited space, so I’m wondering how this principle applies to my situation. How can I implement it effectively in a small backyard garden without feeling overwhelmed or like I’m not making enough progress? I tend to want to get results quickly, so doing things slowly feels counterintuitive. Any ideas or tips?” Thanks, William, Auckland, New Zealand.

Understanding the Principle: “Use Small and Slow Solutions”

William, permaculture is all about working with nature rather than against it. And that’s where “Use Small and Slow Solutions” fits right in. This principle encourages you to build your garden, house, or even your lifestyle in a way that is gradual and manageable. It’s all about appreciating the small steps and tiny victories that lead to a resilient and sustainable system over time. When we move too fast, we miss the cues nature’s giving us, and we risk creating systems that are fragile instead of robust.

Think of it like baking bread. You don’t want to rush the sourdough starter process; it needs time to ferment and develop flavor. Same goes for your garden. By embracing small and slow solutions, you’re allowing each element of your ecosystem the time it needs to grow strong, making the whole system healthier in the long run.

Why “Small and Slow” Sounds Counterintuitive (But Works Wonders)

I get it. You want results—who doesn’t? It’s tempting to go all out and transform your backyard into an Eden overnight. But here’s the thing: fast results often don’t stick around. You might end up with a garden that looks great initially but fails to thrive because the foundational work wasn’t done. Think of the “Tortoise and the Hare” fable. Slow and steady may not seem glamorous, but it wins in the end every time.

Start Small: Simple Projects That Pack a Punch

William, starting small doesn’t mean you’re being unambitious. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. By starting with small projects, you can test ideas, see what works, and adjust as necessary. Here are a few manageable projects you can start with in your backyard:

• Create a Herb Spiral: This is a vertical garden structure that can be built in an afternoon. It allows you to grow many different herbs in a small space, and you’ll experience firsthand how microclimates work. Plus, nothing beats freshly chopped chives on a baked potato, right?
• Compost Bin: A small compost bin is easy to manage and has a massive impact over time. You’re reusing kitchen scraps and yard waste to create rich soil for your garden. It’s like nature’s own recycling system—small effort, big payback.
• Layered Mulching: Known as “sheet mulching” or “lasagna gardening,” this is a small step with huge soil-building benefits. Lay down cardboard on weedy areas, then top it with layers of organic materials like straw, leaves, and compost. Over time, this will break down and enrich the soil, all while suppressing weeds. It’s one of the laziest yet most effective projects out there.
• Rain Barrels: Harvesting rainwater is a simple project that can profoundly impact your garden’s resilience. Install one barrel and notice how much water you save. As you get comfortable, you can add more barrels or even connect them to drip irrigation for a slow, steady hydration of your plants.

Patience Pays Off: The Beauty of Observing Before Acting

Sometimes the best solution is to sit back and observe. Yup, that’s part of the principle too—all about getting to know your space before you dive in with big changes. Spend a season just watching how sunlight moves across your yard, how rainwater accumulates in low spots, and where the wind comes from. Maybe even keep a garden journal to jot down these observations.

It’s like you’re learning the language of your garden. Once you understand how your space works, you’ll make more informed, less risky decisions about where to plant, how to conserve water, or which pests to look out for. You’ll also find you have fewer do-overs because you got it right the first time.

Scaling Your System Gradually: The Key to Avoiding Burnout

One of the hidden benefits of embracing small and slow solutions is avoiding burnout. Permaculture is meant to be sustainable for you too, William! It’s easy to get excited and want to do all the things at once, but taking on too much can make the whole process feel overwhelming. Break everything into manageable chunks.

For example, rather than planting your entire backyard in one go, try doing just one or two beds this season. Focus on building rich, healthy soil and learning how to care for those plants. Next season, expand into another area using what you learned from the first. You’ll find that this method not only keeps your workload manageable, but it also leads to a more resilient and productive garden over the long haul.

The Power of Iteration: Refining Your Approach Over Time

In permaculture, there’s a lot of value in doing something, then stepping back to see how it worked. Did that raised bed hold up as well as you thought? Did you water your plants too much or not enough? The principle of small and slow solutions naturally lends itself to this iterative process, where you make gradual adjustments based on real-world feedback.

Instead of ripping out a whole vegetable patch because it didn’t produce as much as you expected, maybe tweak your watering schedule or try a different companion plant next season. This slow, steady refinement might sound tedious, but it actually makes your garden more resilient and abundant over time.

A Long-Term Vision: How Small Steps Lead to Big Change

It might seem like your efforts are too small to make a difference, William, but they add up in a big way. Permaculture isn’t just about gardening; it’s about creating sustainable systems in all areas of life. What you learn from small gardening projects can be applied to other parts of your home and even your lifestyle. If you approach everything with the mindset of “small and slow solutions,” you’ll start to see opportunities for improvement everywhere.

For example, the habit of conserving water by using a rain barrel could lead you to find other ways to reduce your household’s water usage. Or the knowledge you gain from observing your garden might inspire you to make similar observations about how much energy your household is using or how waste is being managed. The idea is that these small, slow changes create a ripple effect, building a more sustainable future one step at a time.

Small, Slow Solutions For Urban Gardens

For those of us gardening in smaller urban spaces, the principle of “small and slow solutions” is particularly relevant. Durable systems that withstand the test of time are especially valuable when space and resources are limited. Here’s how you can embrace this principle if you’re gardening in a small urban environment.

Vertical Gardening

If you’re short on horizontal space, look up! Vertical gardening is a perfect example of a small but impactful solution for urban environments. By growing upward with trellises, wall-mounted planters, or tiered gardens, you utilize every inch of your limited space. Plus, vertical gardens can serve as insulation for walls, reducing heating and cooling costs—another win for sustainability!

Container Gardening

Containers allow you to start small, literally. You can experiment with different plants, soils, and locations without dramatically changing your garden’s landscape. If one container doesn’t do well, you can easily move it to a different spot or try a new plant next season without committing to a big change in your yard.

Microclimates

You might have only a small shaded balcony or a sun-drenched patio, but within that small space, there are microclimates—mini environments that can be tailored for certain plants. “Small and slow solutions” means taking the time to understand these nuances and plant accordingly. For instance, place heat-loving plants against a south-facing wall, or use shade for delicate greens.

Water Recycling

Consider setting up a small greywater system in your urban garden. This could be as simple as using leftover water from rinsing veggies to water your plants. It’s a small step that has a big impact over time, especially since water is often a limited resource in urban settings.

Dealing with Challenges: When Slow Feels Too Slow

Let’s be real, William—sometimes it feels like nothing’s happening fast enough. You might plant a tree, and for the first couple of years, it just sits there teasing you with its lack of growth. That’s natural! Long-term changes can feel frustratingly slow.

One way to stay motivated is by celebrating the small wins. Did you finally see the first bloom on your tomato plant? Grab a cup of coffee and celebrate that small but significant success. The more you notice the small victories, the easier it becomes to appreciate the larger journey.

How to Measure Progress in a Slow and Small System

You might not see immediate results, and that can be discouraging. But measurable progress is still happening, even if it’s not as obvious. Here’s how to tune into that:

• Soil Health: Over time, you should notice your soil becoming richer and more capable of retaining water. This leads to healthier plants and less need for watering and fertilizers. Conduct an annual soil test to track changes.
• Plant Resilience: Plants that have been slowly introduced to your environment should be more resilient, facing fewer pest and disease issues. Keep a watchful eye over a couple of growing seasons and compare the results to your first year.
• Water Conservation: Measure water usage before and after setting up small water-saving systems like rain barrels or using greywater. The decrease in your water bill is a tangible measure of progress.
• Biodiversity: Notice the different pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects that visit your garden as it matures. A healthy ecosystem is the ultimate sign of permaculture success.

Growing Alongside Your Garden

Another wonderful thing about embracing “small and slow solutions” is that it gives you time to grow along with your garden. As your garden evolves, you do too. What’s amazing is that you’ll discover new things not only about gardening but also about yourself. Maybe you’ll get better at observing details, or perhaps you’ll learn to be more patient (a skill that translates nicely to other life areas too).

The slow pace of progress becomes less a chore and more a reward when viewed through the lens of personal growth. It’s about enjoying the journey and not just yearning for the destination. After all, gardening is as much about nourishing ourselves as it is about nourishing the plants in our care.

Final Thoughts…

William, I hope this helps you see the power in “small and slow solutions.” It’s all about aligning yourself with nature’s pace rather than racing ahead of it. Your backyard might be small, but by starting with manageable projects and taking the time to observe and learn, you’ll develop a vibrant, resilient garden that reflects the care and thought you’ve put into it. Thanks for sending in your question, and don’t be afraid to take it one small step at a time. Your garden—and your future self—will thank you.