The LAND Project Goes Global

by Louise Cartwright 

former LAND network coordinator at the Permaculture Association 

The success of the Learning and Demonstration Network (LAND) project in England has seen interest from other European countries in replicating the LAND model. Permakultur Danmark is the first European country to proactively adopt the LAND concept and as such has received a year’s revenue funding from the Danish Ministry of Environment through the Puljen for Grønne Ildsjæle project. The intention is to create a fomalised permaculture network made up of ‘LAND Centres’ and ‘LAND Starters’. This year the Network Coordinator Cathrine (Cat) Dolleris and the Permakultur Danmark Board of Trustees aim to launch the LAND network with 3 LAND Centres or Starters, an online map of permaculture projects, an active group visit scheme as well as host a variety of events and gatherings across Denmark. Cat currently works part-time and the Danish Permaculture Association consists of several committed volunteers. As the Network Coordinator for the LAND project during the initial phase I was contacted by the Permaculture Association to help launch the LAND project in Denmark, I literally jumped at the chance to see the LAND project go global!

Weather Extremes and Smallholding Resilience

by Adrian Patch

Permaculture Association member

Like many smallholders, I had been waiting for the seemingly non-stop chain of winter storms to end, and have welcomed the last couple of warm and rainless weeks that have allowed the land to finally dry out and become workable. This last fortnight has been a time to play catch-up with tasks such as vegetable bed preparation and planting of trees and soft-fruit. The wettest winter since records began, though, is just one of several periods of extreme weather that we have suffered over recent years; the big-freeze and snow, drought, rain, last spring's long spell of cold easterly winds, more rain, storms, more rain – all have had a significant impact for those working on the land.

My Diploma Journey

by Claire Wise

Permaculture Association member and Permaculture Diploma holder

The beginning of my permaculture diploma journey!

Tomorrow is a big day for me! On Saturday  the 15th March 2014 at Ourganics, I deliver a presentation of my work, before celebrating with friends, peer group members and my tutor on completion of my Diploma in Applied Permaculture.

When I began the diploma I imagined that my designs would be predominantly land based, as that was how I understood permaculture. As part of my diploma, I designed gardens for my friends and family. I love to be outside and have a passion both for growing things and for nature. However, using the permaculture principles and ethics throughout my pathway, I realised that permaculture's applications are far greater than that!  During the two years, I learned how to apply permaculture to fulfil my own needs and those of precious family and friends, guided by my improved observational skills.

Discovering the Healing Potential of Permaculture

by Wenderlynn Bagnall
Permaculture Association member and Permaculture Ambassador

Spreading the word of permaculture as a Permaculture Ambassador is rewarding, as I know that it represents something that a lot of people don’t know about. Perhaps these people would benefit from having permaculture in their lives?

As an individual, telling others about permaculture is not only rewarding, but  also helps me to see that it has indeed been the key ingredient missing from my life. Coming from a background where just about every cultural and social issue existed, I realised if it had been part of my upbringing, I perhaps would have done things differently and achieved more. However it wasn’t and I realise now how important it has become in my everyday life. It has an influence on a range of aspects in my life, from the people I meet and the clothes I buy to how I deal with personal issues I encounter.

Julie's March blog post

by Julie Stobbart

Permaculture Diploma holder and member of the Permaculture Association

In my last blog post I talked about my gravel front garden and my plans for the space. I have spent a month arguing with myself about my plans for this garden. The only thing that is certain is that I want to grow salad leaves and greens. My original design for the space incorporated a bit of a Pagan colour scheme, with the east being used for white and pale colours, the south containing oranges and reds, the west blues and purples and the north greens and blacks. My main decision has been how much of the garden to put to cut flower production and how much to salads and greens. I have spent hours considering the pros and cons of annuals versus perennials, and trying to figure out whether to remove the gravel or use pots. I also need to consider the allotment that I hope to have in a year or two, and how these two spaces can work together.

Business member spotlight: Encounters

EncountersArts is a Permaculture Association business member and specialises in designing participatory arts projects amd interventions that inspire creativity, dialogue & exchange between people of all ages and cultures. Running for ten years, Encounters has been using the transformational power of the arts to work creatively with thousands of people in arts, environmental, community, education, reconciliation, rehabilitation, and regeneration contexts.

Permaculture and Tagore

by Chris Marsh
Permaculture Ambassador and Permaculture Association member

Permaculture is growing. Education and research are expanding. Interesting demo sites are becoming available to visitors. Permaculture ‘dots on the map’ are multiplying.¹ All this is good news. What was a lifestyle choice for a few, based on a set of ethics, principles and techniques, is starting to look like a movement. Some people may be drawn to permaculture as a political movement.² Others would prefer an anti-political understanding of permaculture,³ which still offers the prospect of widespread world change. The Bengali poet and polymath, Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) offers such a model.