Let us help with property design so you can realize your dreams

We have had the privilege of working very closely with both new and established homesteaders to help them with property design for self-sufficiency, abundance and resiliency. We specialize in utilizing permaculture principles to create a unified and cohesive system that works synergistically to create a homestead that improves each year while decreasing inputs. We strive to help people become more self-sufficient by setting up simple and shock resistant systems.

Why do we use permaculture as our methodology?

A little about the property design process

The first aspect of property design is working with you to find out your vision for the property. Once we assess that we help you to design goals based on that vision. This is extremely important in property design. Even if your vision morphs over time it’s a great place to start.

Assessment of skills and goals

Before we can help you design your property we must analyze some very important points. We do this by assessing both the land and yourself and family. What skills do you and your family possess? How much actual time will be spent on the property? What are your goals for the property? Are you trying to derive income from the property? What resources do you have available?

In addition to assessing people, we assess the land. We will look at macro and micro climate, soil, topography, solar and wind analysis and much more!

The property design takes shape

After a thorough analysis we come up with a conceptual design that begins to bring order to chaos! A coherent whole where all the elements of the property work together begins to take shape.

Here are just a few of the principles we apply when designing your property:

Function stacking…

  or multiple elements provide the same function and each element provides multiple functions.

Essentially this means that you want to think through each element of your property and have it serve as many uses as possible and you also want backups to your main capabilities. For example, you want the capability of being able to cook. You can do that on your gas stove, a rocket stove, your wood cook stove or even over an open flame. That’s an example of multiple elements providing the same function. In this case cooking. Also, if take one of those elements, say the wood cook stove we can see that it provides many functions: cooking , heating, dehydrating, hot water etc…

Develop an integrated and synergistic property design

This means that you should consider each element of the property and how it interacts with the other elements of the property. Specifically, how can each element contribute and benefit one another? What elements need to stay away from one another? Having this mindset really helps with placement of elements and naturally leads to viewing elements differently. For example, we run poultry through our food forest. Why? The poultry benefit from being provided nutrient dense food from plantings, a plethora of bugs to eat and wonderful place to be poultry! The food forest benefits from weed suppression, bug control and nutrient drop. We benefit from entertainment,  reduced feed costs, less manual labor, nutrient dense eggs and meat. This is property design in action!

Make the least change for the greatest effect

We start by finding these points in your design where we can get the most bang for your buck! It doesn’t mean you only visit these points. You may really, really want a particular element in your property design that may not fit this definition but that’s ok, it’s your property.

The previous principles are just a few that we apply to property design.

Our design goal is to make your property highly productive and self-sufficient

If you have bought and are working your property and realize its just not set up the best; if you need some help restructuring and reworking it but feel stuck, please contact us. We will help you improve in the areas you can while coming up with creative ideas to utilize existing orchards, out-buildings, and fenced pastures in a more productive and easy system.

We enjoy helping other homesteaders create abundant and lower-maintenance homesteads.

What other property design clients have to say

“As I approach my 1st year anniversary homesteading and am witnessing daily not only the fruits of my labor but a fulfillment of the intelligent analysis and planning report you prepared at the onset of this endeavor. I would be remiss not to acknowledge the tremendous value, insight, focus and practical know-how you brought to bear on my property through your consulting services.

From your ( and Monica’s) informative, honest, entertaining and “real” podcasts to the no-nonsense, exceedingly practical, friendly homestead workshops, you and your family are truly a “one-stop” shop for all things homesteading. You folks clearly walk the talk as evidenced by your beautifully functional homestead! Your true to form and functional homesteading lifestyle combined with your integrity, work ethic, business expertise and superb analytical skills made the decision to hire you one of the wisest things I’ve done this far! Thank you very much!”

-Tony “Counting Coup Homestead”

“Sean and Monica Mitzel consulted for us last fall when we bought our property and I can say that it helped us immensely! They came and checked out our property, took pictures, talked to us about our goals and expectations as well as other things. After a few days, we did a phone consultation alongside a power point presentation on what was recommended. We have followed through with as much as we have been able to so far and it has been very useful information. I HIGHLY recommend their services!”
-Jeff & Kristie Doty

Self-Sufficient Homestead Property Design Consultant North Idaho

Contact us now