permaculture

70 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops

Field activity : Creating a scaled map with elements

Method : Marking out land then drawing a scaled version on a map

Tools : String, sticks, paper, pens

Objective : Participants learn to document scaled maps and map elements

In order to accurately plan projects, including estimating the location of elements in a

design, the amount of materials needed, expenses, and integration of different systems,

it is best if you have an accurate, scaled map to work from.

This exercise will help participants to plan ideas and their locations and then transfer that

information accurately onto paper or 3-dimensional maps.

Depending on the size of the area to be mapped and the complexity of the design

elements, this exercise can either be done with the entire group or the participants can

be split into separate work groups to work on different areas of the design.

Step 1

• Identify and document the boundaries, scale, and center point of the map.


• Choose a piece of land to be mapped and mark the boundaries.


• Within the boundaries you have made, mark a rectangle (or 2 if the land is oddly
  shaped) using stakes and string.


• Make sure the corners of the rectangles are right angles using the “right angle”
  method explained in the previous exercise.


• Create an “x” by tying string from corner to corner across the rectangle(s).


• Measure the area using personal paces or another method described in the
  previous exercise.


• Ask the participants to draw the map boundaries, the rectangle(s), and the
  center point to scale on paper or on the ground. Choose a simple scale, such as
  1cm = 1 pace. Note: you can adjust this calculation to match the area you are
  mapping and the size of the paper you are working on.

Step 2

• Identify and document the location and size of existing elements on the map.


• Identify existing elements already on the land, such as trees, buildings, etc.

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