The second permaculture principle invites us to catch and store energy—from sunlight and rainwater to nutrients, seeds, and community effort. In permaculture design, the goal is to close loops so resources are held, reused, and shared, rather than lost or wasted.
Project Highlight: Festival Beach Food Forest
When Festival Beach Food Forest broke ground 10 years ago, it was little more than a field of bermuda grass with just a handful of trees. Through a careful, multi-year design process, they assessed slope and drainage and built berms and swales along the land’s natural contours to slow, spread, and store rainwater. Instead of rushing off into storm drains, water now soaks into the soil, nourishing trees, shrubs, and understory plants.
Over the past decade, this system, paired with practices like chop-and-drop mulching and thousands of volunteer hours, has transformed the site into a shady, resilient oasis near downtown Austin. In 2024, FBFF began their expansion from ¾ acre to over 3 acres, adding new berms and swales planted with evergreen sumac, yaupon holly, Mexican plum, mulberry, pomegranate, desert olive, and more.
By working with the flow of nature, FBFF shows how catching and storing energy can build thriving ecosystems that care for both land and people.
To learn more about building berms and swales to support water management, visit Santa Cruz Permaculture.
👉 Read the full blog series on our website to dive deeper into this principle, explore practical examples, and follow along as we unpack all 12 permaculture principles this year.
