What are Multifunctions in Permaculture?

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Elements can play various roles within a system, and this utility can be explained through two types of functions: forced and permitted. To illustrate, forced function would be over-fertilizing an orchard to produce an over-sized yield, ultimately leading to over-worked trees and an unhealthy system. Contrastingly, permitted functions are when elements are encouraged to produce within their natural limits and proclivities. Back in the orchard, a chicken tractor moves chickens so that they scratch, fertilize, and control pests. Once they’ve performed these tasks, the mobile pen is relocated. Now, we have one animal performing multiple tasks intrinsic to them, all the while providing the orchard with what it needs to naturally thrive.