On a recent course that I was facilitating we were talking about David Holmgren’s Permaculture Principles. Having looked at the whole list I asked the group if they found any of the principles more difficult of challenging. “Produce no waste!” called out one of the participants. “I mean how is that even possible?” In the [...]
Permaculture Design is about looking to nature, and associated indigenous wisdom, to take inspiration and to create all manner of things that serve as regenerative solutions for ourselves, our communities and our planet. One of the simplest ways to do this is to look for patterns in the natural world, to think about the function [...]
In Robin Wall Kimmerer's magnificent book "Braiding Sweetgrass" she invites the reader to think about the fact that, in her view, "All flourishing is mutual." Or put simply, that when we fail to be mutual we cannot flourish. We are only as vibrant, healthy, and alive as the most vulnerable among us. She goes on [...]
At the heart of Permaculture sit three deceptively simple ethics: Earth care. People care. Fair share. I say deceptively simple because for many people their instinctive response when they first encounter them is: “Well what’s so radical about them?” On paper I guess maybe that is a fair reaction, but when you really start to [...]
Each month I meet online with a group of folk from near and far, some of whom I have met in real life but most who I haven't. We come together to talk about art, imagination and Permaculture. To think about how our creative practice may help shape our Permaculture practice, and vice versa. For [...]
I have been doing some research into the life of Joash Woodrow whose story I am using as inspiration to develop a new piece of writing. His story is an amazing and inspirational one. The tale of a promising young artist who withdrew himself from society. A man who became a recluse with little contact [...]
Most runs are hard the first time you do them but they get a little bit easier each time after that. Never give up on a run when you reach the bottom of a hill, no matter how bad you feel. Plough on, get to the top and then see how you feel - almost [...]
I love McSweeney's. Today I read "A Universal Invoice For A Manhattan Child's Birthday Party" by Justin Warner. Have a look. It really sums up what I like about them. It says it all really. They're original, they have a sense of humour, they aren't afraid to be off the wall, they aren't afraid to [...]
Communities are important. They're the glue that keep us together. They're the places we can go to be ourselves and to learn who ourself is. To make good work that means something, you need to find your community and be part of it. You need to sit down and talk to people about who they [...]
People like stories. They feel comfortable with them. It's a historical thing. Humans have been telling stories for pretty much as long as humans have existed. Stories tell us who we are and help us understand our place in the world. People forget facts but remember stories. Anyone can tell a story - it's part [...]
Liz Postlethwaite 