Hello
Welcome to our second quarterly mailing, with news about what we've recently been up to, plus some of what we have planned for the year ahead. We hope to meet you somewhere along the way...
Wishing you a fine midwinter solstice!
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The autumn yielded plenty from the garden, plus a plethora of new ideas, and the first chance to properly share some of them with others. In October, Looby Macnamara and I taught our
first course together about the use of systems thinking and pattern application in the areas of both land-based and social design. It proved to be an exciting collaboration that we have plans to repeat next autumn. Last month I attended the National Diploma gathering in Conwy, North Wales. It was a great event with plenty of networking and I also had a chance to give a talk about resilient design which was recorded - but more about that a little further
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Latest Blog - Taking stock
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We've become so used to devouring large quantities of food at this time of year that it's hard to connect with the idea of seasonal shortage - but that's what the midwinter solstice essentially announces. These end-of-year feasts, until fairly recently, celebrated the return of the sun - the lengthening
of the day and the shortening of shadows. After this date, the darkest night is over, but the depth of winter is still to come. From this point our ancestors faced a time when there was little food available outside, a period when they had to rely heavily on their stores. These days we give over most of the responsibility for that to the supermarkets - a convenient arrangement, but ultimately a risky one... |
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Talk at the UK Permaculture Diploma Gathering |
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It's important in permaculture design to map out stocks and flows to create resilient designs. At the permaculture diploma gathering I gave a talk on mapping out flows and stocks. Click the picture to watch the video, you may want to make some time, its 47 minutes long! |
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Permaculture Principle of the Season - Obtain a yield
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Midwinter is a vulnerable time, leaving us heavily reliant on our stores. Depending on the supermarkets to store that food for us is very convenient, but also a bit risky as a long term strategy. It's good to have something still to eat in the garden and some goodies in the larder as well - carbohydrates should be high on your list. Our ancestors were good at
preserving food, but some foods are easier to keep than others. These Yacon tubers (all are from just two plants in our garden) keep well just loose in a bucket in a cool place, and provide a fresh crunchy addition to winter salads. If there's a plant I'd recommend you add to your list for the year ahead, this would be it.
Oh, and Japanese wineberries too of course!
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I'll be spending most of the next three months at home finishing off my new book. Ideas have been coming thick and fast - my task is to turn it all into a smooth, logical flow. Now, there's a challenge! Hopefully, the next time you hear from me I'll have finished the first draft. If you'd like to get a glimpse of what some of the book will be about, make sure you have a look at the talk I did recently at the national Diploma gathering. What has also been emerging is a set of cards to help in designing these functional flows. So, they'll probably
be not too far behind the book. Wish me luck!
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Here's a selection of those coming up in 2018.
Ourganics Spring Permaculture Design Course |
27th Jan - 13th May 2018
(six weekends) If you are looking to make significant positive changes in your life, then the permaculture design course will almost certainly help you. This practical course provides you with a broad introduction to the applications of permaculture in a number of different situations,
from food production to community structures, and alternative currencies to eco-housing. The course will guide you in creating a design for yourself that helps you consolidate all of the learning into your own home, life and community.
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Observation and Mapping Course (New) |
19th - 22nd March 2018 This training has been developed to assist participants in the early stages of any design
process - the observation and survey of a site. While a few days is limited time to fully observe a site, much can still be learned by being present on a piece of land, examining and trying out different observation and mapping tools, and by sharing experience. Hence this training takes participants through hands-on, land-based design activities on a real site, bringing permaculture theory to life.
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Design Your Permaculture Livelihood |
31st March - 1st April 2018 Discovering permaculture can be the catalyst for many of us to start considering how we might make that transition to the more positive-impact lifestyle we aspire to. You may at first consider your acquired skill-set to be redundant in your new future, but permaculture can be applied
to most things. This course is suitable for anyone regardless of their permaculture experience. It is being led by two people who have developed successful permaculture-related businesses.
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Heathercombe Permaculture Design Course |
7th - 21st April 2018
If you are looking to make significant positive changes in your life, then the permaculture design course will almost certainly help you. This practical course provides you with a broad introduction to the applications of
permaculture in a number of different situations, from food production to community structures, and alternative currencies to eco-housing. The course culminates in the main design activity that helps to consolidate all of the learning and empower you to take permaculture back into your home, life and community.
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9th - 19th June 2018 We know permaculture has answers, so if you've ever wanted to inspire others but haven't had the confidence this course is for you. This course is suitable for all abilities: both apprentice and experienced teachers and also for those who have just completed their Permaculture Design course (PDC). During the course we will be
focusing on the tools and techniques for teaching and facilitating permaculture learning and the practicalities of convening and running courses.
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An Introduction to Permaculture (4 days) |
28th Sept - 1st Oct 2018 This course covers the key principles of Permaculture design theory and how we can apply them in redesigning our homes and gardens to be both more sustainable and abundant. Permaculture is about working with nature to make a better world for us all. It offers us an approach that helps us to identify the best tools and techniques for each of our own unique circumstances. You'll learn about
green building, energy efficiency, permaculture design, soil, water conservation, forest gardens and much more.
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Sark Permaculture Design Course |
1st -14th September With a practical design element this course will empower you to use permaculture design and integrate it into your
home and community. It brings the possiblity of significant and positive life changes. Course participants will be awarded the internationally recognised British Permaculture Association Certificate in Permaculture Design
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