Designing with nature: John Beckman shares his wisdom of building lightly on the Earth.

More than 7,000 generations of humans have lived on our planet, each one changing the natural world and impacting the environment in an effort to satisfy their needs and provide for their comfort and security. The magnitude of these impacts has steadily risen as technology and the sheer number of people occupying planet earth continue to grow. The notion that Mother Earth has plenty of space and resources for continued exponential growth is fast becoming an obvious misunderstanding by our species. It is our responsibility to change our living patterns and the demands we place on the earth's resources if the planet, and our species, are to survive into the future. We can reduce our environmental impacts and live lighter on the planet by some simple changes made at each level from the personal and neighborhood, to regional and as a nation by employing more sustainable systems in the way we structure our lives, our homes, and our communities.

"Gentle Touch Land Design" is a system that differs from traditional community development patterns in both emphasis and practice. Rather than employing short-term methods and thinking when dealing with land use changes, success is gauged by how well we work with nature throughout the process, rather than as an afterthought. Looking at each project through "nature's eyes" helps determine how objectives and uses can be accomplished through minimum disturbance and maximum integration into the living environment in a sustainable, and hopefully beneficial manner.

For example, before a new garden area is cleared, or a road or a home constructed, carefully examine parts of the project including requirements of use, water resources, existing vegetation, sun factors, erosion potential, visual impact, relationship to other areas, and many other factors. Search for methods and materials that will work harmoniously with the surroundings and the conditions specific to that site, striving to make the best use of the site's attributes, and working within that context. Special areas, streams, prime growing soils and intact natural communities call be evaluated to be designed around, reserved from development that would destroy their unique qualities that add to the site. If the land must be cleared for construction, remove useful plant and soil materials, install water catchments and silt retainers using on-site materials, carefully determine impact boundaries and access points, select materials and shapes that complement the overall site and unify the effort as co-creation, rather than domination. One must try to visualize how the site or project will react to changing conditions and uses, and how to make it meaningful over the long term, respectful of needs beyond our own immediate ones. This approach takes additional time, study, expense and commitment on the part of the individual or team pursuing the goal, all well worth the extra effort in creating a project that is a part of nature, rather than apart from it.

We can each do many small things in our daily lives to contribute to the greater effort of reducing the negative impacts human use has on planet Earth. Everyone should take a look around their own homes and properties and ask themselves "How can I make my home a little more sustainable and lighter on the planet, a little more integrated into the natural world?" We can all find ways to make a start, and with a little effort, one good start leads to another. When it comes to repairs around the home for example, select materials and equipment that have long operational life spans. Cheap plastic fixtures and furnishings will have to be quickly replaced, wasting energy and materials. Asphalt roof shingles will only last 10-20 years and add to landfills while metal roofs can last indefinitely. Insulated windows will more than pay for themselves over time in energy savings, as will high efficiency appliances and on-demand water heaters. Instead of a sprawling lawn, some of the yard to gardens and animal/insect/bird habitat, making your property nature's property as well. Look for "green" products and sustainably harvested lumber when purchasing these items for projects. We can all help steer the market with our purchasing power toward more environmentally friendly products and services.

[Text incomplete in original source.] animal/insect/bird habitat, making your property nature's property as well. Look for "green" products and sustainably harvested lumber when purchasing these items for projects. We can all help steer the market with our purchasing power toward more environmentally friendly products and services.

Promote biodiversity and encourage nature to occupy the spaces around you by planting gardens for food, herbs, shade trees and a wide variety of native species. Creating your own paradise can be simple working with a gentle touch. When we make the effort to include nature's logic and methods into our own, we discover that by having nature surround our homes, there is always a teacher nearby.

John Beckman is an organic farmer, builder and operations manager at Unahwi Ridge Community in Jackson County, NC, where Gentle Touch Land Design was originated. He can be contacted at www.unahwiridge.com