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Issue 128 | Summer 2016 Free works poster £1.50 • free to members inside Rain design Convergence Wild

Follow us on www.permaculture.org.uk Permaculture Works | Issue 128 Summer 2016 Permaculture Association | News

Contents Letter from the Coordinator Newsletter Andy Goldring, Coordinator / CEO Network news 4–6 e: [email protected] t: 0113 230 7658 Association news 7-8 Research update 9-10 I found the EU referendum deeply frustrating. A deal was done before the public debate even happened and then we Education 11 were asked to vote on a hugely complex issue with a pre- Permaculture diploma 12 determined answer of ‘yes’ or ‘no’. “Our vision is an abundant world Individual member spotlight 14 How different it would have been if permaculture designers Group member spotlight 15 in which we care for the earth, had been asked to develop a participatory approach to each other and future generations, Design feature 16–17 resolving our place in Europe – one that helped us to whilst living within nature’s limits.” Scotland 18 develop positive solutions that would meet the needs of our families and neighbourhoods, Board of Trustees: James Piers Taylor (chair) Wales 19 people in the UK, Europe and the wider world, future generations and the earth itself. Philip Blandford (treasurer), Viv Chamberlin- International 20–21 ...hang on, that is what we’re doing! It may not be focussed on a referendum, but the Kidd, Kim Glick, Sandy James, Graham Wood. Children in permaculture 22 dynamic permaculture network is reaching out and connecting with many other groups The Permaculture Association would like to Members listing 23 and networks in order to co-design a positive future – in over 125 countries! We’ve gone thank: enCircle, Chris Penrose, James Pullein, Ilaria beyond yes/no, I’m right/you’re wrong, and are instead working to bring about positive (PIRN intern), all our new members and renewers, Permaculture explained 24 Permaculture Ambassadors, and working group change that works for people and planet. People win and lose debates, but with good members. Poster design, everyone can win. Permaculture and climate change 1 Newsletter: Ryan Sandford-Blackburn, So I’m delighted to announce that with the support of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Richard Honey at dg3 design with thanks to all Courses and events 2 Trust, we will soon be able to support far more members – our network of over 300 contributors. Permaculture Ambassadors in particular – to engage the public, local groups and other We invite contributions from members. sustainability networks in co-designing our future. We will promote the permaculture It’s your material that gives life to these approach AND we will celebrate all the other great work too. Our simple principle will be pages, so please keep your articles and that every time we promote permaculture, we will also promote another positive group/ news coming. Please send contributions for the next issue by 23 August for publication Contact the Association solution/network because we really are ‘stronger together’.

works September 2016. Permaculture Association, London, WC1N 3XX After 40 years of testing permaculture, and with so many brilliant projects and inspiring

Small print: The views expressed within this t/f 0845 458 1805 examples (both in and out of permaculture), we know a sustainable future is possible. newsletter are not necessarily those of the e [email protected] Now we need to make sure more people know what is possible, and how to vote with their Permaculture Association. Opportunities and w www.permaculture.org.uk actions, for a culture of positive change. courses are listed for your information, so please check with the appropriate venue to verify any All email addresses are followed by: Andy Goldring permaculture.org.uk details. We don’t take responsibility for any courses P.S. I hope to see many of you at the Convergence this September, a brilliant opportunity listed herein. Andy Goldring: andyg@ to share our skills and do some collective planning. The Permaculture Association is a company Catherine Marsh: diploma@ (05908919) and a registered charity Chris Warburton-Brown: research@ (1116699 and SC041695) Dan Hurring: events@ Harriet Walsh: office@ Join the conversation Design dg3 Find a list of all websites Helen White: finance@ Printed on recycled paper by AKA, twitter: @permaculture_uk referenced in this issue at Leeds. Joe Atkinson: learn@ Permaculture ISSN 1474-2381 Lusi Alderslowe: children@ facebook: facebook.com/ s.coop/workssummer2016 Nicola Bell: membership@ permacultureassociation 2 Cover photo: Recent Diploma graduate Douglas Beal Naomi van der Velden: international@ 3 with his tutor Looby Macnamara . Learn more on page 12. Ryan Sandford-Blackburn: communicate@ Permaculture Association | News Permaculture Association | News

Returning to Africa Network news Welsh Permaculture practice Sector39, now based at the Dragons Co-op in Mid Wales, A tale of discovery from have have run their first full Permaculture OrganicLea Design Course in Uganda. People discover Organiclea's food growing They are working with the Wales-Uganda site in Northeast London for many reasons; charity Dolen Ffermio, who give training and Shafat Dhorat and his family are brilliant practical help in what is one of the poorest advocates for that spirit of finding us, working African nations, still recovering from decades alongside us and then making that experience of civil war. your own. His wife Salma encouraged us to Steve Jones aims to positively impact the lives of communities in East Africa carry out summer family planting activities, a Director Steve Jones first encountered healthy eating programme. Our communities permaculture many years ago when working stayed close – Organiclea supported Shafat in Zimbabwe, so he is pleased to be able to take it back; “With this course we aim to Scotswood Natural to take on an for young people at a Community Garden local mosque, growing organic food for local positively impact the lives of East Africans, not elders. only through teaching permaculture but also The garden team have just been on a very to provide the tools for Ugandan’s to move inspiring visit to Graham Bell’s In Spring this year, Shafat was awarded a towards becoming diploma students and and we have been working on improving our medal of excellence from the City and Guilds subsequently teachers able to convene and own, already very beautiful forest garden. We for his technical achievement with certificate their own courses.” have added some exciting new plants and the Organiclea and his wider contributions to removed some over enthusiastic geraniums. community with this craft. Shafat told the City and Guilds: "A learning experience can only be Top: OrganicLea student group separating garlic cloves Small is Ecological Our outdoor teaching area is currently truly enjoyed if the centre for learning is set up for planting The Ecological Land Co-operative (ELC) is a being re-roofed with cedar shingles so we Bottom: OrganicLea teaching salad rotation to help individuals grow as people. Hawkwood democratic social enterprise working to make are looking forward to having our outdoor Nursery is perfectly suited for this and I found land accessible for new entrants to small-scale classroom and seating area covered once that everyone involved at the centre were not Spring at EcoDIY ecological farming in England. They do this by again.

works only growing plants, but also growing people. Permaculture Land Centre helping overcome two key barriers to those We are looking forward to hosting the north

This is reflected by the words on the front Heavy work in the wood this year supplying wishing to live with the land: high land prices east permaculture gathering here in our entrance, 'Earth Care', 'People Care' and 'Fair chestnut for shingles at orchardbarn.org.uk. and planning consent. garden. Share'." As an experienced beekeeper I’m still smarting “We're excited about 18.5 acres of land in East Alongside a weekly volunteering programme, after losing twelve colonies to wasps last Sussex. And we're excited about it because we continue to support community summer. We are watching the remaining hives its our second tranche of land as we work to away from our main Hawkwood site and run anxiously as they are slow developing in this get new entrants into ecological farming. We accredited courses throughout the year at cold spring. think you should be too as although what we Hawkwood. This training work is supported We ate our first courgette and climbing do sounds simple, the work and challenges are by our partnership with the Permaculture French beans on 21 April thanks to the heat huge and the implications are broad.” Association. For more information about storage in our solar (see ecodiy. forthcoming courses and other opportunities org for construction), the new recycled see www.organiclea.org.uk. polycarbonate hotbed is supplying early Permaculture carrots. A lively group of women from an allotment came for a tour and tea, we learnt 4 5 about Mallow as a medicinal . Volunteers at Scotswood Natural Community Garden Permaculture Association | News Permaculture Association | News

Highbury Community CIC, Association news Birmingham Announcing new input and Events programme to take Within the orchard garden, we run child-led funding that will benefit permaculture into new areas outdoor learning sessions for families. Some children have taken up foraging in the garden Ambassadors network We are designing an exciting new events and at its edges. It’s perfect for learning plant The Permaculture Ambassadors project programme for 2017 onwards which will ID. They have created an Amazing Apothecary started in 2013. Being a Permaculture involve taking permaculture out into new – mashing up leaves in bowls, and lining Ambassador involves actively promoting areas and exploring interdisciplinary links them up on an old log. Now one lad dreams permaculture's story and sharing information between our movement and related subject of writing Medicine For Free as a sequel to on inspiring projects and practices. areas and professions. Mabey’s book (Food For Free)! An Amazing Apothecary at Highbury Orchard, We don’t have a lot of detail yet. However, Birmingham At the end of last year we worked on These young children have made it their preparing a project plan for the next phase we know that as part of the project we are business to learn a little about the healing and submitted a funding bid. We are pleased looking to build a Permaculture Association and culinary properties of plants – using and Farming news from the to confirm that Joseph Rowntree Charitable Events Team. The team will work with us valuing diversity. We’d be keen to hear from Diploma Gathering Trust have granted funding of £60,000 and to co-produce events through the year. If others who are introducing permaculture to The Permaculture Farmers and Growers we’re looking forward to working with them. you’re interested in being part of the team, please contact our Events Coordinator, Dan children. Network said its first official “hello world” What we aim to do in this new phase: at the Diploma Gathering. A collective of Hurring [email protected]. [email protected] 1. Training programme for Ambassadors farmers, growers and advocates, we aim to See page 13 for details on this year’s support, develop and promote good practice 2. A far-reaching publicity campaign convergence. Biodynamic Land Trust in commercial growing and self-reliant small 3. Support for local groups Huxhams Cross Farm holdings. 4. Build a self-supporting Ambassadors Simply increase the impact Working Wednesday's continue – see The Permaculture Association is supporting network of your contributions with www.apricotcentre.co.uk/huxhamscrossfarm the network’s current main project – our This new phase of work will start on 1 July Gift Aid for up to date information. With the weather own website. The site will be the home of 2016. Ryan Sandford-Blackburn will be If you are eligible but not registered for Gift better, join the work in the great outdoors and permaculture farming in Britain, a platform working 2 days a week to coordinate. works

improve your health while helping the farm from which to connect with each other, pool Aid with us, we are losing out on £6 of your project. our wisdom and show the world what we’re membership contribution. This extra money comes to us from Government. We can claim The Huxhams Cross Share Offer is still open doing. How you can an additional 25p for every £1 you give in with funds coming in to support this work Until the site is ready, the easiest way to get involved membership and donations. It won’t cost you and make it happen. Be part of funding this connect is to join the facebook group. You can read details of the project at any extra. innovative, locally-connected, health-giving Come along to get tapped into news and www.permaculture.org.uk/ farm project – let's make it happen: barn, opportunities, meet others and shape the The declaration form to complete is at ambassador. access, training room, space for processing future of this network! www.facebook.com/ http://s.coop/pagiftaid produce, wellbeing centre, sustainable groups/1779991288896989 There will be a gathering of Please send to electricity and heating project and more. Permaculture Ambassadors at the Helen, [email protected] Alternatively, email Together we can make the change. convergence in Ilkley, this September. Thank you for your support. [email protected] to receive You can sign up to receive Ambassador occasional network development updates. Permaculture alerts and opportunities by updating your member preferences 6 www.permaculture.org.uk/user 7 Permaculture Association | News Permaculture Association | Research

Research update by Chris Warburton-Brown

Bensham Manor School in Thornton Heath is home to a very special permaculture garden. Trustees visit an Welcome to new staff extraordinary, members transformative school Since the last issue of Permaculture Works we The latest trustee meeting was held at have recruited a further two staff members, Bensham Manor School where permaculture within the roles of Paramaethu Cymru is making a difference for many kids, especially Network Coordinator and ScotLAND Project those with special needs. Outreach Worker. We hope you will get to Research Diploma Enterprise discussion work with and meet them soon. Alongside the usual meeting agenda and It has been another really busy quarter for the extent and nature of permaculture inspired items, which included a look at measuring At the time of writing the posts had not yet Research team. We are slowly getting used enterprise and business in the UK. social yields, was a visit to a magical garden, been recruited to. works to the big shift that happened in our work complete with Rocket Seeds From Space We have now interviewed 19 permaculture around the time of the conference last year. (really)! Frankly, discussions about budgets entrepreneurs from across the UK. Last Opportunities galore for the Our focus is more and more on international and trustee nominations took second place to month Chris presented the initial findings taking! work, serving a global permaculture a giant rabbit and student sown seeds from at the Diploma Gathering in Bristol and got community of maybe 3 million! In many ways the international space-station. A huge thanks There are lots of opportunities to engage with some great feedback and suggestions for next we are now the world's leading permaculture to the school, and Cindy Stott, mastermind the Association. Volunteering (short and long steps. Over the summer we will be creating research coordinating organisation. of this wonderful garden for providing such a term) at the office in Kirkstall, Leeds, getting resources for those who would like to start great meeting venue. involved in working groups, taking on a project a permaculture business. There will be a full from home, becoming a trustee, suggesting an day workshop and an online Permaculture If you would like to find out more about Exploring the nature of eco-entrepreneurial initiative. Entrepreneurs Guide. joining the board – accountancy skills permaculture inspired particularly sought – or your group could Over the years, we have nurtured lots enterprise of people to take ideas forward and be offer a future meeting venue, please contact The Association is working with Kingston Membership of the Permaculture

Permaculture successful. If you have an idea for a project or Andy Goldring. University on a project called KEEP International Research Network is free and want to get involved and help with delivering (Knowledge Exchange for Enterprise in open to anyone. Join on the new website the Association’s mission, please get in touch 8 Permaculture). The project is exploring the pirn.permaculture.org.uk 9 with the relevant staff member. Permaculture Association | Research Permaculture Association | Education

Permaculture International Emerging plans and a big Research Network news proposal Education We are delighted that Lush Cosmetics has A lot of my time is invested in developing It’s an exciting time in Education. We’ve New Register provides agreed to fund PIRN for another year, to April future plans and funding proposals. I am retained small surpluses from previous funded 2017. This enables us to keep expanding the currently developing a really big proposal greater clarity and projects and are now in a position to invest transparency network, which now has over 700 members in around action on climate change. Plans it in the education community. We want to 60 countries. continue to evolve for the Permaculture develop the relationships between teachers, From 1 July, teachers and learners will benefit We are currently building six PIRN sub Research journal, we now hope to launch the Education Working Group, the office and, from greater clarity and transparency groups, on: livelihoods, energy-in-versus- in early 2017. The Association has also led of course, learners. We want to make our about who is qualified to issue Association energy-out, food forests, education spaces, a funding bid to research the impact of education activities more sustainable. Here’s Permaculture Design Course certificates. evidencing permaculture, and permaculture's permaculture on smallholder farmers in how you can get involved. The new Certifying Teachers’ Register policy point of difference. In March we launched Nepal. Who knows where these plans may will list those teachers with the required the PIRN website, pirn.permaculture. take us? Keep an eye on Permaculture Works qualifications and experience. and in the monthly e-bulletin to find out. Shape the future of the org.uk, and over the next few months will education network together If you teach permaculture and want to issue be adding lots of content submitted by the Association’s certificates, read the policy PIRN members. We also have a very active Let us know about your If teaching permaculture is, or will be, part of (under the education, teaching section on the Facebook group www.facebook.com/ research your livelihood and you want to help shape website) and contact Joe to discuss how to InternationalPermacultureResearch. Ilaria the future of the education network, come to If you are working on any kind of research, join the register. Noio, our intern from Naples, Italy, is doing a the teachers’ meeting. It will be the day before whether for your job, as part of a degree, fabulous job supporting and developing PIRN. the convergence in Ilkley this September. towards your permaculture diploma, or simply We’ll be exploring the systems and structures Educators Community to satisfy your own curiosity, don't forget to that will enable us to spread permaculture Survey let us know about it! New interns to focus on more effectively and create more sustainable, Do you carry out any kind of permaculture [email protected] extending the reach of our ethical livelihoods in the process. education activities, from running tours and work See www.permaculture.org.uk/education/ volunteer days at your LAND centre to being Two interns will be joining us for the summer teaching, or call or email Joe for booking a diploma teacher? If so, we want to explore months from Bradford University Department details. how the Association can support you more,

works of Peace Studies, Jenny Mundy and Matt deliver greater value, and help to build a Vinson. They will be delivering a social media thriving community. We’re exploring a new campaign promoting the Association's membership type and want your views and research resources. Look out for posts ideas on what it might look like. throughout August and please share items where you can. Rhiannon Leach, another Bradford student, Want to learn about permaculture? will be coming for the 2016–17 academic year Check the education section of the as Knowledge Management intern, creating website, www.permaculture.org.uk/ new resources and developing the Knowledge education and keep an eye out for an Base. email about it. No permaculture courses near you? Why ermaculture not organise one? Get in touch and we can

P provide an organiser’s guide and connect Right: Mrs Usha Gurung of Shanti Group, Salkharka village you with a teacher to lead the course. 10 with a package of grafted fruit sedlings from her nursery, Email [email protected] 11 ready for distribution

Permaculture Association | Diploma Permaculture Permaculture diploma Convergence 2016 2–4 September Nell Bank Centre, Ilkley, West Yorkshire Celebrate our brilliant community in a beautiful rural location at a unique event made for you, by you Diploma Gathering group 2016 Workshops with Diploma Gathering 2016 Share your designs Geoff and Nadia Lawton 22 workshops over two days, a Diploma We are always looking to gather and share + An amazing range accreditation event, inspiring design shares, stories about the Diploma. We can work with tutorials, catching up with old friends and you to compose an article or blog post, and of UK-based

making new ones… It can only be the Diploma publish and disseminate through our channels. permaculture designers and Gathering! Whether you’re just about to sign up, PLUS teachers Geoff Lawton This year’s event took place at the St currently an Apprentice or completed your © Ingrid Pullen Photography Werburghs Centre in Bristol at the end of Diploma some time ago Cath would love to April and as usual attracted a diverse crowd of hear from you. It’s an opportunity to share Apprentices, Tutors and Diploma holders as your learning, get feedback, and generate well as PDC graduates thinking about signing interest around a topic. Join the Permaculture Association for a weekend of: up for their Diploma journey. People came from different corners of the country and ACTIVE LEARNING works Huge congratulations to Douglas Beal SKILL-SHARING SESSIONS for his accreditation. Douglas shared his designs, including building restoration in his PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS community in France. AND DEMOS The next Diploma Gathering is scheduled for MEETING LEADING February 2017 (details to be confirmed) and Camping & PERMACULTURE TEACHERS is open to all with an interest in the Diploma dormitory accom- modation GOOD LOCAL FOOD in Applied Permaculture Design. Keep an eye Acres of woodland and Pippa Chapman, one of many MUSIC AND OUTDOOR on the website and your email inbox in the members offering a workshop grounds to explore ACTIVITIES coming weeks as details are announced. Organic & local food Family-friendly NETWORKING WITH If you’re interested in finding out more PERMACULTURE PRACTITIONERS about the Diploma in Applied Permaculture Permaculture Design, please see www.permaculture.org.uk/diploma Limited tickets on sale now. For booking details and full 12 Or you can drop Cath a line, diploma@ Douglas Beal receiving his accreditation at the Diploma gathering 2016 information, please visit: permaculture.org.uk/convergence-2016 Permaculture Association | Members Permaculture Association | Members

Individual member spotlight Group member spotlight Cruising down Carraig Dúlra Carraig Dúlra, a permaculture education and the river research project, created by Mike and Suzie Discovering the joys Cahn 10 years ago is a social enterprise. Suzie teaches many courses on and off site in school of permaculture in and community gardens, and together with a middle age local group they run a vegetable box scheme called OOOOBY. by David Godkin Their 3.8 acre smallholding in Wicklow, has It was the makeshift straw been designed and developed in collaboration bale chicken house and the with many volunteers, students and tutors and vegetable beds edged with now contains: Suzie empty wine bottles that really • 1.5 acre native woodland participated held my attention, as my Italian in Irish • 0.5 acre food forest and apple orchard host enthused about the wonders television’s of ‘Permacultura’. All around us the • different types of organic annual Supergarden corridors of well-tended on gardens: 2015, creating neighbouring farms contrasted with the > the circle garden weeds that were threatening to engulf his a permaculture carrots. I had the distinct feeling that something > a labyrinth insectary designed urban garden. David with Klaudia van Gool learning about She says her favourite tweet when the show was definitely being lost in translation. > a traditional how not to get stung bynettles aired was “Perma What?” as it reminded Fast forward ten years and the feeling was very In the 1990s I spent a couple of years working in > an allotment sized garden her that there are many people still to share different: I was starting to ‘get it’, so much so Egypt with refugees. So, as this was an exercise > large greenhouse with perennial permaculture with. that when I saw an advert for the Permaculture in retrospection, I chose The Nile to depict my and annual beds

works Design Certificate course, hosted by Newquay The 2016 Carraig Dúlra permaculture

journey. Look at a map and you will see how this , I didn’t hesitate to • a mixed material (round poles, cob, design certificate course is taking great life-force of a river resembles a mighty apply. Various websites and a few YouTube straw bale), naturally built round barn bookings at www.dulra.org/courses/pdc plant as it blossoms into the myriad tributaries documentaries had led to a subscription to with a reciprocal roof of the Delta before finally merging with the sea. Permaculture Magazine. I was hooked. I wanted Being of a somewhat fanciful disposition, I like • a washhouse/sauna cabin to get my hands dirty. “Creating a resilient, integrated, holistic, to picture myself paddling through these alluvial • pond and systems permaculture design was important from On the first day our tutor, Klaudia, asked each of plains in a coracle of my own making. • indoor kitchen, clad with forestry waste the start of the project. I learn constantly us to present a River of Life showing how we had That for me is permaculture; not just one of the timbers, and up-cycled dumped kitchen as we implement and change the design. come to engage with Permaculture. As a former eleven definitions modestly listed in our course counters and cabinets This informs my teaching and design TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) notes, but a burgeoning of possibilities. And work with others locally and all over teacher I was expecting an ice-breaker along • outdoor cooking area: with cob oven, the bit that really gets my middle-aged heart Ireland. more earthy lines: “If I were a root vegetable I’d biogas generation, rocket stoves and beating? The fertility of it all, the prospect of be...” Overcoming an initial reluctance to a give BBQ It is great to network with like minded abundance. For, if deserts can be encouraged

Permaculture a group of strangers my potted autobiography, people, and I hope to learn from others to bloom, then why not people? Despite, or the River of Life introduction turned out to and build the capacity of permaculture perhaps because of the thumping in my chest, I be a great deal more thought-provoking. Why projects I am involved in here in Ireland 14 can’t resist the urge to quicken my stroke. 15 permaculture, why now? and share ours in return.” Permaculture Association | Design Permaculture Association | Design

and since only certain parts of our north- facing garden get sunshine, in the morning and late afternoon, it is in one of these areas. The internal pipe emerges from the opposite side of the box from the water butt input. A rill made from old roof tiles takes the reducing outflow into a ground-level planted area of the garden, the final element of the chain. This is where most sunshine falls and close to the risk in towns, one path where it is most visible. By Claire Hunt All the planting has been chosen to tolerate and Ryan Haines house at a time The garden flourishing some time after implementation wet and dry periods as well as partial shade and is perennial. risk in Worthing due the urban nature of A domestic rain garden potentially embodies the area”. With the increasing incidence Tweaks every permaculture principle. Here are some of sudden heavy rainfall due to climate instances: We tweaked the design after observing that change, rain gardens can help mitigate water was running off the main bed on to the • Use and value renewable resources – every flood risk, as they do in many other parts path after a particularly heavy downpour. We stage of the rain chain is an opportunity to of the world with extreme weather. dug in a soak-away to direct the rill outflow put the captured water to use. • Apply self-regulation and accept feedback – towards the elder . Since then there has • Integrate functions and elements so taking action about things within your own been no run-off to the street, whatever the that a system has several functions and control to address an observed problem. weather, and the garden is self-sustaining, lush more than one element supporting each The rain chain – from one element to the and blooming. function – The rain chain in our small next See more photos of this design plus extra garden has four elements, all capturing The first element of most rain chains is a resources at blog.permaculture.org.uk water but some also performing other Claire with the four elements of the rain chain: water butt, water butt, storing water for use in the garden planter, rill and planting bed functions. Other elements like the bike The house and garden are open during during low rainfall and overflowing when full shelter sedum roof and gravel paths Transition Town Worthing’s Eco Open Houses We live in a street of Victorian terraced into the next element. Our neighbour was works weekend 24–25 September, which is focusing

support these functions too. houses in Worthing, where the modern curse happy for us to divert their downpipe to our on rainwater capture and combating flood risk. of paving-over front gardens for off-road • Obtain a yield – from the planting, useful or water butt, so we collect rain from half of our parking means that very little rainwater is edible to humans or wildlife, and beautiful roof and half of theirs. This determined the getting the chance to soak into the ground. and stimulating to the senses. placement of the water butt. In addition, the down-pipes at the front of • Use and value diversity – through creating The water butt overflows into a storm-water every alternate house gush straight out into different habitats and plant diversity. planter, the second element in the chain. the road. At times of heavy rain this is quite a • Use edges and value the marginal – This captures and stores water in the soil, torrent. especially in larger systems that include and has a perforated drainage pipe running As part of Claire’s Diploma in 2011 we decided ponds, but in any case because spaces the length of the planter that exits at the to build a rain garden, thereby applying the which can be alternately very wet or very bottom and allows excess water to leave once first permaculture principle of Observe and dry are marginal for other uses. the soil is saturated. There are drainage and interact. The concept of a rain garden is to • Creatively use and respond to change filtration layers of gravel and , with the Permaculture create a rain chain with as many opportunities – For example, West Sussex Flood Risk main volume being a mix of top soil, garden as possible to catch, store and use rainwater, Management Strategy says, “Surface and sand. The planter is placed close 16 preventing it from becoming run-off. water contributes significantly to the flood to the water butt to minimise piping needed 17

The main planting bed in full bloom Permaculture Association | Wales Permaculture Association | News

Scotland Wales scotland.permaculture.org.uk wales.permaculture.org.uk Paramaethu SCOTLAND CYMRU • WALES

Permaculture Scotland International A new start in Wales has a new website! Permaculture Day By the time you read this, we should have Check it out at: Forty people attended International appointed a new Network Coordinator scotland.permaculture.org.uk Permaculture Day at Garden Cottage on for Paramaethu Cymru. They will be working one day a week to You can catch up on the latest news and 1 May. Graham Bell reported: “A great day make our network visible on the opportunities, find course and events, and was had by all, despite it being a mite parky. website, to support local groups, read about all the fantastic projects to be Good food, garden was looking great and all to draw new people in and to found in Scotland. the visitors got on well. It would be great to see a much stronger concerted effort for work with the coordinating We hope to develop the interactive nature of Permaculture Day nationally next year!” group to make a plan for the the site, enabling you to link up with others future. Keep an eye on the “I just took it all in and am amazed by the in your area, join a local group, list your own website to find out more and amount of living energy everywhere.” projects or events, and much more. see how you can work with them – Ewan Moug Right now we need people to help us keep the to make a difference. website up to date, if you think you can help An inspired group of people gathered for please contact us at two days at Garden Cottage for the 2016 Cenedlaethau’r dyfodol [email protected] Permaculture Scotland Gathering. The EU referendum was debated, sourdough made, – caring for future Coldstream explored, the forest garden generations toured... so much was packed into the event, In April, Wales passed the Well-being of Future it was excellent! Thank you to all those that Generations Act – Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r

works 'Permaculture Scotland Gathering participants in a

made it. Dyfodol – which requires public bodies to plan sourdough bread making workshop © Gavin Murray ahead in collaboration with business. charities Dod ynghyd yn Sir Benfro and the public, and to involve stakeholders in National gathering their discussions. Whether this is just a piece 24–26 June, 2016 of paper or a huge opportunity is up to all of us to decide. What could permaculture We’re about to hold our latest national contribute? You tell us! gathering at Lammas Eco-Village as guests of the Southwest Wales Permaculture Network. It promises to be an exciting weekend, shaping plans for Wales and meeting our new Follow Welsh news at Network Coordinator. We will share wales.permaculture.org.uk outcomes and photos with you in the Permaculture Get in touch with us at next issue of Permaculture Works and [email protected]. online in the meantime. 18 Newid dy fyd gyda ni. 19 Permaculture Association | International d •J Permaculture Association | International rl oin o i w n g

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a Permaculture Association in Permaculture is changing the world http://socialinnovation.ca/constellationmodel Britain does – we are truly for an overview of this approach. This model lucky to have a national seems appropriate both to the innovative organisation helping us to work we wish to achieve, and to the unique, connect with others, share dispersed nature of the non-hierarchical, our knowledge and discover autonomous ‘network’ we work within. Constellations (groups of common interest), exciting opportunities to are supported by a stewardship group, and practice and understand work within a wider ecosystem. permaculture. Many Everyone is welcome to be part of this global countries don’t have an collaboration with a local focus. If you’d like organisation dedicated to to know more or if you feel inspired to join a supporting them." particular theme, you can: Email Naomi on: This complex information provided a clearer [email protected] picture of our wider capacity and the One thing I have personally come to realise opportunities and challenges for collaboration is the amazing job that the Permaculture The map above shows countries where permaculture is being used. and development. Association in Britain does – we are truly lucky countries we have found strategic organisations or projects The main needs are: to have a national organisation helping us to countries we'd love to know about. connect with others, share our knowledge and 1 Build communities and develop networks discover exciting opportunities to practice If you know of a permaculture organisation or project here, please let us know using: around common thematic and geographic and understand permaculture. Many countries http://s.coop/permaorganisations areas of interest. don’t have an organisation dedicated to works

2 Improve access to key knowledge. Ensure supporting them. The Next Big Steps we’ve • Delivered a co-ordinated series that knowledge is robust (through Naomi van der Velden taken of workshops across 5 days of the research), and reaches those who International Permaculture Convergence. The first stage of this project draws to a close would benefit (through education and Read more at: This engaged over 500 participants in translation). http://international.permaculture.org.uk in July 2016. What have we achieved and strategic conversations and planning. learned? 3 Embed resilience and sustainability; To get involved in the Next Big Step see • Supported thematic groups to emerge, support organisations and networks in http://international.permaculture.org.uk We sought to identify the key needs and skills develop, and commit to action by the areas like fundraising, enterprise, building or email of practitioners and organisations, and have: Naomi [email protected] International Permaculture Convergence capacity, and inspiring leadership. 2017, including in Education, Research, • Identified over 260 permaculture 4 Change the world (beyond our own Enterprise, Climate Change, and Strategy. organisations and projects in over 125 boundaries); be able to Influence policy countries (around 70% of all countries)! • Inspired regional networks, such as Latin and decision-makers, and advocate Permaculture • Conducted 3 worldwide surveys, engaging America and North America, to follow our permaculture more widely. 56 strategic organisations and 447 methods and engage their communities 20 practitioners, from 33 countries. in similar activities and designs to enhance 21 collaboration. Permaculture Association | Children in Permaculture Permaculture Association | Members

Children in Permaculture Members

'We will no longer include printed listings of group and business members, there are so many of them that we struggle to fit them on these pages! We are moving the directory online and hope this will make it more widely accessible. Do you know a business using permaculture or a local group that could benefit? Please tell them about Permaculture Association membership. Group membership for £40 a year Business membership for £80 a year also includes all the benefits of individual includes: membership plus: • Member feature in Permaculture Works • Group member feature in Permaculture and opportunity to share stories and Works and opportunity to share stories news through our online channels. and news through our online channels. • Diploma – Up to three members of your • Up to five extra print copies of the business can apply to do the Diploma newsletter. in Applied Permaculture Design under Group on the outdoor classrooms course in May • Access funding from Trusts and your Business membership. Publication of the survey of of Fleet, Scotland to Ljutomer, Slovenia, Charities that only give grants to • Partnerships – we actively encourage resources educators from around Europe have learnt registered charities via Project Support. and seek partnerships with Business from their wealth of experience. Participants • Listing in the directory. members, welcoming opportunities for We are delighted to announce that the learned about engaging children in learning joint working on mutually beneficial Children in Permaculture’s first piece of outdoors and training teachers and parents projects. research has been published! Please go to our You can see a directory of all group and in essential skills. These skills range from business members at www.permaculture.org. • Help with your enquiries. We can guide website to download it: managing behaviour in the outdoors, to uk/directory. This directory is evolving. By you to a wide range of resources, www.childreninpermaculture.com explaining the benefits of school gardens to listing online we save paper and space in this recommend places to visit, advise on newsletter, and money in print costs and staff An impressive 316 resources were reviewed other teachers and parents. admin time. training opportunities, books to read, by our team, 20 of which are explicitly about and provide broad technical assistance. works permaculture with children. This survey Outdoor classrooms training recommends 31 resources such as books, films and websites which can help you to course sold out! Business membership is supporting engage children in permaculture, whether you When we realised that Carolyn Nuttall and the work of Eyebright Ecology are a parent, teacher, scout leader, classroom Janet Millington were definitely coming to in Staffordshire, who undertake assistant, or permaculturist working with Europe, we decided to put on a few two day wildlife surveys to support planning children in other ways. edge events. The one in Scotland was planned applications. for a school in a small town (population "Our interest in permaculture as an integral 1,000), in a rural area. We were absolutely part of our personal lives has logically Supporting the teaching of delighted to learn that there are lots of people progressed to a desire to apply permaculture the next generation out there who are really keen to learn more principles to our business. This journey of Carolyn Nuttall and Janet Millington, about engaging children in permaculture. redesigning our business to become more authors of the book Outdoor Classrooms: A We will definitely put on more courses, with Permaculture sustainable and ethical wherever possible is Handbook For School Gardens conducted a local trainers who have learnt from these ongoing, our observations inform practical teaching tour of Europe in May and June this international experts. 22 changes." 23 year. From London to Helsinki, and Gatehouse Eyebright Ecology in Staffordshire Permaculture Association | Permaculture Explained Use edges and value the marginal

Top: fungi at Comrie Croft. Bottom: on a foraging walk Wild plants and our interactions Jo Barker trained as a landscape architect but started foraging quite seriously about 20 years ago, originally because it was hard to access organic food. Every plant, and every animal as well is useful. We as humans fit into feed on decaying woody material on the the ecosystem. forest floor, transcending the underground There are around 20,000 edible plants in and floor layers. Fungi gain organic carbon the world, about 5,000 in our climate. When and utilise it in their maintenance, growth we eat wild food we are accessing micro and reproduction; they absorb, transport, nutrients and minerals that aren’t in cultivated transform and store organic carbon and food. Hawthorn, that grows so well in our minerals – an essential ecosystem function. hedgerows, is a valuable plant with medicinal These are three easy ways to meet lots of our and edible benefits. All the seaweeds around dietary needs, without taking up lots of extra

works our shore are edible, apart from one. land and resources: nuts, seaweed, fungi.

There’s loads of food anyway, we just need to Ffyona Campbell, author of the Hunter- learn to utilise it. It seems no coincidence that Gatherer way, suggests, "We are only ever almost every living plant and animal is edible happy, truly happy, when we are hunter or useful when we know how. We should gatherers and we can be hunter gatherers value these resources that sit at the margins right now." She recommends learning foraging of modern culture. See food and medicine skills from someone in the know, then sharing everywhere you go, in the form of plants. that knowledge with others. There is a ‘Let medicine be thy food and let food be thy correlation between increase in urbanisation medicine’ – Hippocrates. and increase in clinical depression. By taking Edge can be seen as the intersection of two one person who could really benefit from it on environments, and is where energy and a foraging walk, we can interact with nature, and be happier and healthier as a result.

Permaculture materials accumulate or are transformed. Different types of mycelium exist in certain Jo Barker's talk Ancient food future food, from 24 habitats and fruit under the right conditions the international permaculture conference: – this fruit is fungi, or mushrooms. Fungi http://s.coop/jobarkerforage