This document provides an introduction to P.A. Yeomans and the Keyline system of design, which is a method for sustainable land management. It discusses Yeomans' background and inventions, and outlines the 7 principles of the Keyline system with a focus on climate, land shape, and water management. The Keyline system aims to take advantage of climate, work with land contours, and use earthworks and controlled water distribution to regenerate degraded landscapes.

1. An Introduction to
The K EYLINE S YSTEM OF D ESIGN:
Harry Wykman,
P EACETREE P ERMACULTURE
PDC, P ICKERING B ROOK, 10th of March, 2012
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2. Yeomans and
Keyline
y Yeomans
y The Keyline Scale
of Permanence
y P7 — pattern to
detail
Keyline and Climate
Keyline and Land
Shape
P. A. Yeomans and the Keyline System of
Keyline and Water
Management:
Design
bringing water under
control
Resources
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3. Yeomans the Man
Yeomans and
Keyline
y Yeomans
y The Keyline Scale
of Permanence
y P7 — pattern to
detail
Keyline and Climate
Keyline and Land
Shape
Keyline and Water
Management:
bringing water under
control
Percival Alfred Yeomans
Resources
q self-taught mining engi-
neer / hydrologist
q inventor
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4. The Keyline Scale of the Relative
Permanence of Things Agricultural
Yeomans and
Keyline
y Yeomans
y The Keyline Scale
1. Climate
of Permanence
y P7 — pattern to
detail
2. Land Shape
Keyline and Climate
3. Water Supply
Keyline and Land
Shape
Keyline and Water
4. Farm Roads
Management:
bringing water under 5. Trees
control
Resources 6. Permanent Buildings
7. Subdivision Fences
8. Soil
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5. Principle 7: Design from patterns to detail
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6. Principle 7: Design from patterns to detail
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7. Principle 7: Design from patterns to detail
q Top down, but derived from Principle 1.
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8. Principle 7: Design from patterns to detail
q Top down, but derived from Principle 1.
q However, "the map is not the territory"
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10. Yeomans and
Keyline
Keyline and Climate
y Climate
Keyline and Land
Shape
Keyline and Water
Management:
bringing water under
control
Keyline and Climate
Resources
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11. Climate
Yeomans and
Keyline
"The purpose of Keyline tech-
niques and the keyline scale of
Keyline and Climate
y Climate permanence in relation to cli-
Keyline and Land mate is the take complete
Shape advantage of all weather
Keyline and Water
Management:
and climatic phases that
will enhance soil climate
bringing water under
control through maintenance in the soil
Resources
of improved relationships be-
tween the factors of moisture,
warmth, and air , and, by con-
trast, minimise to the full
the disadvantages of those
climatic elements that de-
stroy , namely, flood rains,
drought and fire."
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12. Yeomans and
Keyline
Keyline and Climate
Keyline and Land
Shape
y the primary land
unit
y main ridge
y primary valley
y primary ridges Keyline and Land Shape
y sink
y whole
Keyline and Water
Management:
bringing water under
control
Resources
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13. The Primary Land Unit
q Main Ridge
q Primary Valley
q Primary Ridges
q Catchment / Sink

14. The Primary Land Unit
q Main Ridge
q Primary Valley
q Primary Ridges
q Catchment / Sink

15. The Primary Land Unit
q Main Ridge
q Primary Valley
q Primary Ridges
q Catchment / Sink

16. The Primary Land Unit
q Main Ridge
q Primary Valley
q Primary Ridges
q Catchment / Sink

17. The Primary Land Unit
q Main Ridge
q Primary Valley
q Primary Ridges
q Catchment / Sink

18. The Primary Land Unit
q Main Ridge
q Primary Valley
q Primary Ridges
q Catchment / Sink
“The most significant aspect of
this analysis is that it involves
a pattern, a recognition that
smaller shapes are integrated
to form a larger whole, and that
this pattern might be repeated
several times on a single
medium-sized property.”

19. Yeomans and
Keyline
Keyline and Climate
Keyline and Land
Shape
Keyline and Water
Management:
Keyline and Water Management:
bringing water under
control
y The Keypoint and
the Keyline
y The Keyline Plow
bringing water under control
y Whirlwind, New
Mexico
y whirlwind —
before
y whirlwind —
before
y whirlwind —
before
y whirlwind —
before
y earthworks
Resources
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20. The Keypoint and the Keyline
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21. The Keyline Plow
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22. Whirlwind, New Mexico
rainfall: 150 - 175mm annual rainfall
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26. Before and After Keyline
Plough Intervention
Before
q deeply biologically degraded
q climatic forces destructive
/ degenerative
After
q the beginning of regenerative
processes
q water and sun move
from destructive to
constructive processes / forces

27. Earthworks - Storage for People / Stock
q controlled water distribution
q put water through its ’duties’
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29. Yeomans and
Keyline
Keyline and Climate
Keyline and Land
Shape
Keyline and Water
Management:
bringing water under
control Resources
Resources
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30. Credits
This document, authored by Harry Wykman is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia License.
q 35 Woolgar Way
L OCKRIDGE, 6054
q (08) 9377 1258
q harry@ptpc.com.au
q www.ptpc.com.au
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