For most people, taking the permaculture design course is a major life event. It opens the door on a new way of looking at the world, a new way of being in the world. It affects you on so many levels that, however well you took notes, inevitably some of what you learnt passes you by. That s why Aranya wrote this book: so that people could go away from the design courses he teaches and have a reference to the design methods he s taught them. In effect it s a toolbox of permaculture design methods. So this book provides two useful functions. It s a useful primer to prepare you for the major life event that is a permaculture design course, giving you many insights into applying the design process. And if you ve already done the course, it will consolidate and reinforce the many design skills you ve learned, enabling you to put permaculture into practice on the ground. --Patrick Whitefield is an author, teacher and permaculture consultant.