In our design process, we have to choose the best solution that fits the client requirements. Some of these requirements refer to limiting factors. A limiting factor could be seen as a constraint that our solution has to sastity.
For example, a limiting factor could be the temperature range along the year. If we choose plants that don't tolerate hard frosts, the system couln't evolve well. Therefore, many limiting factors are related to plants or animals requirements. Probably the designer will identify quite well these kind of factors during the design phase in that a good bibliography could help him to achieve this.
However, there could be another hidden limiting factors in our design or among client requirements. We had not identified them because we always deem some situations as stable situations.
I'm writting about this subject now because I've got an injury in my foot, so my garden receives less atention now. For me, this is a limiting factor which I didn't pay attention. We allways think we will never be ill!
When a limiting factor appears a risk appears too, so we have to re-design our solution to avoid this risk. In my case, I have decided to back down our efforts to maintain the garden, so I will re-design all my garden choosing more perennial plants. The system is continuosly evolving.
Bill Mollison coined the term Permaculture, which stands for Permanent-Agriculture .... perennial plants agriculture ?
