Getting Hindsight

Are you wondering what advantage comes from a little bit of permaculture planning before you spend the rest of your life pottering about in your garden growing food? How does design increase the success of a garden? Join us in our upcoming tour, March 4th afternoon tea and discussions at Earth Keepers in Buxton. Not only will you meet permaculture teachers Judith and Paul Collins but also be engaged in discussions about effective permaculture design with April Sampson-Kelly. The group will explore what makes this property unique, and witness how this wise couple face the challenges of being self-reliant in …

Gentle Earthworks for Abundance

Go Easy There’s more than one way to shape the land and direct water to your gardens. Most people can’t afford machinery to shape the land and build abundance. So, they usually abandon hope of reshaping their site and work with what is there. Why bother shaping the landscape? We can shape the landscape to: collect surface water when it rains store water in shallow ponds provide water for birds, lizards, frogs encourage beneficial insects improve the soil water the plants prevent erosion and nutrient loss What are our no-dig options? We can use animals (pigs, chickens, guinea pigs) or …

Cooking and Heating With Fuel From Your Garden

For people interested in the art, science, health, economics and politics of cooking with fuel from the garden. Learn about different types of garden fuel and fuel-stove cooking techniques. Dine by a Hot Stove – Friday July 8th About the workshop Long before gas or electric stovetops and ovens fueled every household’s power-bill, cooking by a hot stove was commonplace. Re-discover the simple art of cooking with pleasure. Grow and manage your own fuel and enjoy the excuse to be toasty warm all winter. This workshop will show you how to manage valuable fuel plants of your garden or local …

Introduction To Permaculture One-Day Session Sunday 6th March

This will be a fun full day of ideas and practical solutions and then application with a mini-practice design. Learn the art of Permaculture design with designer, creator, artist and international permaculture teacher April Sampson-Kelly on her mature demonstration property: a food forest integrated within a buzzing community. We will start the Introductory Day at our permaculture site [Silk Farm], have lunch together, then pop over to a local site to put our new found skills to the test and do a permaculture concept draft plan for their site. Your chance to learn what Permaculture is about and how it …

Solar Cooking

What’s so hot about a solar cooker? You can make one yourself There’s no open flame so you can use this oven during a total fire ban but be mindful to watch that the reflection won’t start a fire. No fossil fuels are used nor air pollution generated. There are no running costs but you do need to be gentle with the glass. The meal is sealed in the pot so no nutrients escape. Slowly cooked food is also more nutrient dense. No stove heating up indoor spaces on a hot summer’s day. Ultra low-maintenance cooking: stirring rarely needed during …