Design is the heart and soul of planning. It requires conscious decision, a recognition of the gaps in our knowledge, and repeated attempts to evaluate the consequences of our actions.

Agricultural Innovations uses as its primary design tools computer assisted drafting (CAD), geographic information systems (GIS), and the concepts and principles of permaculture. Our designs emphasize conscious placement of system elements, efficiency, and common sense. We design systems that are open, self-regulating and dynamic, capable of change and growth over time.

Layouts, drawings, and maps are the informational products of design. Prototypes, field trials, and demonstration farms are the concrete results of design and are usually developed and tested during a pilot project.

The importance of design is best summarized in the words of Buckminster Fuller: “Design science produces so much performance per unit of resource invested as to take care of all human needs.”