Diversity of species (both plant and animal) is gaining awareness. Many countries, fearful that they will lose native plants, are collecting heirloom seeds in massive seed vaults. Seed saving classes are popular for home gardeners who wish to not only save money by harvesting seeds, but also protect the species. Diversity of plants and animals, as well as age and purpose, is an important principle for permaculture.

We all know that doing the same thing over and over again gets boring, so does looking at a mass of only one plant (monoculture farming). Humans generally prefer to look at a garden filled with multiple types of plants rather than just one. Plants and animals are also nourished by diversity making it crucial. If you kill off one type of animal or insect this will effect it’s predators as they will no longer have food. Also if we only eat one type of vegetable then we will lack nutrients.

Native Americans understood the importance of diversity when raising crops when they started planting their famous “three sisters” gardens. Corn, beans, and squash were all planted together in order to provide necessary functions for each plant. The corn, tall and rigid, became a “stake” for the beans. In return, the beans fixed nitrogen in the ground to nourish the corn and the squash. The squash kindly covered the ground providing a mulch effect and suppressing weeds.

Diversity encourages productiveness by interweaving supportive systems. Edge, the point of interaction between two elements, is also a hot bed of productiveness. Increasing edge will increase energy and diversity. 

A wonderful place to observe nature is on the edge of a forest and a field. Each one has its own microclimate and since it is the meeting space of diverse regions, it will be full of a diverse set of plants and animals as well as insects. A plant that cannot survive in lots of sun or all shade will thrive along an edge as it will get shade for part of the day and sun for the rest.