We gave an example of an area in the midst of civil war as something that would drive this point much higher on the scale. Your entire design might revolve around the shifting situation culturally, economically, politically, socially and spiritually. It’s important to recognize when these invisible structure points become very hard to change.

Usually, these points are driven or influenced by climate (a number of recent wars have been at least in part, resource wars, from situations and infrastructure destruction created by climate change), and sometimes landform or other points on the scale. It’s more important to ensure you include and consider these aspects in your design process than to locate them exactly on this scale.

One example of this section that often comes up and could be a major factor in developing your site is legal zoning. It’s rarely impossible, but sometimes quite difficult to get legal zoning use for your property changed. That point could go higher on the scale of permanence if it impacts your design significantly. Changing zoning usually entails addressing political and social factors (getting neighbors to agree to it is an important factor).

Darren Doherty

Another notable designer who has added to the scale is Darren Doherty, who has designed thousands of sites and is one of the most accomplished developers of Yeoman’s tools in the world.

Climate (Human & Biospheric)
Geography (Geopolitical and Physical)
Water
Access
Forestry
Buildings
Fencing
Soils
PolyMarketing
Energy

For more information on Doherty’s version:

Regrarian’s Platform Regrarian’s eHandbook

Further Study

Checklist and other data about this scalehttps://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2016/04/scale-of-permanence/

2.6.13. Culture, Economics, Political, Social and Spiritual

You must be logged in to access this course