Permaculture

Wednesday 18 August

The permaculture convergence - last call!


What are you doing 3rd - 5th September?
Would you like to come to a weekend event about permaculture practice?
300 people are coming to the permaculture convergence and we'd love you to join us.

Its three days of permaculture practicals, workshops and films, networking, sharing info, and passing on knowledge.

The next convergence is not for another two years, so now's the time to go for it if you're interested in permaculture or have some permaculture experience to share. It's one of the ways people can and are making a difference - transforming homes, gardens, farms, schools, community projects, businesses, allotments and woodlands, in cities and in the countryside.

You can see the programme (and book your place!) at www.permaculture.org.uk/convergence2010

Please forward this to your networks as well - the permaculture convergence is a really enjoyable and productive event for everyone interested in fair and sustainable ways of living.

Earth Care - People Care - Fair Shares

You can camp or book a bed. Kids welcome. 50 acre accessible site which can be reached by public transport out of London - Lambourne End outdoor centre. Pay between £180 - £60 (you choose) for three days camping, programme, and all meals.

If you've already booked your place, please encourage someone you know to come to the convergence too!
As usual we've sold almost 300 places, but most people have chosen to pay at the lower end of the sliding scale this year. This means that although the event will break even, there'll be less money from the convergence to support the work of the Permaculture Association in the year ahead. So it would be great if more people come along and have a great time with you at the convergence!

The venue, Lambourne End, can easily cope with more of us, so please tell your networks about it.

Permaculture Association
0845 458 1805
www.permaculture.org.uk

10/10 Campaign

As a learner Ecowarrier, I am often driven to extreme measures such as this morning getting up, putting a non-Orla Kiely windcheater on (nightshirt underneath) and going out to remove weeds and a particularly fat slug from one of my favourite plants, boy do I hate those creatures! They get fat on my rocket. Well, salt is fast becoming my weapon of choice.

Anyway I am now back in the warm and have just checked through my emails to uncover an ambitious project to unite every sector of society behind one simple idea, cutting our emissions by 10% in 2010.

Everybody can get involved from individuals to schools to businesses. I will certainly be passing this on to the head of my kids' school.

If anyone would like to get involved the weblink is http://www.1010global.org/uk/people. Sign up today and you can be sent regular tips on how you or your organisation can get greener.

The Seeds, they are a growing!

I have over the last week been planting out my little seedlings for the first time. The weather has been good, plenty of sun and a bit of rain. Who could ask for more?

My rocket is beginning to grow in my pots and so far, so good, the slugs have kept their distance. My basil is beginning to come alive and parsley is spreading.

My biggest pride and joy, the tomatoes and now out and potted and I have managed to find room for a few more blueberry bushes to help pollinate my existing one and I have purchased a lucky dip fruit bush which came in as a plum tree, yummy. It makes the garden sound huge but container gardening is all we really have room for. Builders nowadays do not leave room for the old vegetable patch now do they?

However, I have one big job that I really need to crack on with this week and that is putting up my cheap Argos greenhouse. It sounded great when I pushed the button for order. Money all done over the Internet so no stress there until I get my bill but now I have to actually figure out how to get the thing up and face the mutterings of the other half, 'hat do we want one of those for!' Well the weather is so bright and sunny that I should be out there now, shouldn't I? Alack, it is so much easier just to sit and right about it.

Permaculture Works

I have taken the first steps to becoming my own person, growing a garden of Eden that will provide the family with a bounty of food at no financial cost but at severe manual work to myself.

I have joined the Permaculture Association and what is Permaculture you may ask. Well I am afraid the easiest way to tell you about it is by using their own website to explain. 'The word 'permaculture' comes from 'permanent agriculture' and 'permanent culture' - it is about living lightly on the planet, and making sure that we can sustain human activities for many generations to come, in harmony with nature. Permanence is not about everything staying the same. Its about stability, about deepening soils and cleaner water, thriving communities in self-reliant regions, biodiverse agriculture and social justice, peace and abundance.'

In a few months' time, I am hoping that my garden will resemble a truly wonderful oasis of colour, greenery and above all edible items. I have blueberries and herbs, with white currant bushes ready to produce in just over a years' time. Now the hard work begins, the digging,

I hate digging. I use the correct poise of holding the fork with one foot on the top and hands ready for action. However, the ground certainly does not move when my hands do. If anything my feet are more likely to move and I am more likely to fall back on the behind. I will keep trying though and look forward to a bit more rain to loosen that ground a bit more for me.

I need inspiration, inclination and a bit of oomph to get me going. I have a week off work and hope and will invite my neighbours to get involved in our own little bit of common ground in our close to use the real meaning of Permaculture.

Further information on Permaculture can be found at www.permaculture.org.uk.