Permaculture is all about efficient use of space. For instance, a forest garden is a popular design - it involves creating spaces that use the vertical and horizontal elements. One plants trees, shrubs, and groundcovers all in one space.

Also, one plants densely (pack it in!) - no amount of ground is left open.  Another great example of this would be companion planting which involves not only pairing plants that help each other out, but also using plants to act as mulch. If plants are densely packed, then this not only uses up all the space but also leaves no space for undesirable plants to poke through.

When you stack and pack you need to assess your current microclimate (the environment in the space you are working with) as well as predict your future microclimate. If you decide to create a food forest out of a small field in the back acre, then you will have a new microclimate. As trees grow more shade is produced which affects what type of plants you can grow. As trees are removed, more sun reaches the ground. This also will change the temperature of the space. Microclimate changes will also attract new animals and will help with species diversity. Before stacking and packing, assess the existing climate situation and make note of what you wish to change. You can warm up a site by removing trees or cool it down by planting some. You can create wind breaks.  Adjusting your landscape will adjust the microclimate. This is why landscaping, land management, and gardening are never finished. You will always be adjusting, correcting, moving forward. It is smart to have a “back out” plan for any adjustments you make just incase a mess or an unfavorable outcome is created.

This design is an example of planting large trees to change the microclimate of a large gravel area. The trees will not only soften the architecture around the space as well as provide shade (thus a cooler microclimate). The existing hot/sunny microclimate is utilized as well by installing a vegetable garden. Also an arroyo is created in a drainage space to help direct water as well as provide ornamental rock/gravel to the large open space. Rock "benches" are placed in both the sunny area as well as the shady area to give users a choice.