Archive for category forest gardens

Greening the Desert II – Permaculture in Jordan

Aug 3

Posted by Steven Jones in forest gardening, forest gardens, good teaching resources, organic growing, permaculture | 1 Comment

Permaculture techniques and ideas are taking root in the most water deprived country in the world.

Greening the Desert II: Greening the Middle East from Craig Mackintosh on Vimeo.

A great many people were inspired by the original Greening the Desert video, that looked at the potentials of applying permaculture design principles in one of the most challenging environments you can find.

Hyper arid, eroded, super hot and below sea level with saline soils as a result of irrigation with brackish water. Even under these harsh conditions the benefits and potentials of the system were there for all to see. The original project wasn’t properly maintained once the funding ran out and hasn’t reached its full potential, it has however survived well in the face of neglect and as a result a great many people in Jordan have in turn been inspired by the potentials of Permaculture.

This long awaited video goes back to the original site and follows the amazing developments which have happend since.

Forest Gardening in Mexico and Wales

Mar 8

Posted by Steven Jones in Uncategorized, forest gardening, forest gardens, organic growing, permaculture, sustainability | 1 Comment

Dragon fruit

Really interesting story on the Worldwatch site on forest gardens in Mexico.

Basically it seems agromonists tried to introduce Dragon fruit as a cash crop in a Mayan part of Mexico some 15 years ago, but as soon as funding dried up for concrete posts and trellises required by their system the specialists left. The point is that the tradtional farmers adapted the growing technique to fit into their forest garden practices. Using living trellises of trees of their other crops to support the vine. So now the agromonists are back studying the traditional systems so they can learn from the farmers.

It is a real insight into how good ideas might take root in our post oil future. It is proof that these Mayan villages and their ancient agricultural arts are not just vestiges of a lost way of life; they are crucial models that could teach us “moderns” how to farm in ways that work with, not in spite of, our surrounding ecosystems.

So the link to Wales of course is that we running a short day introduction to forest gardening at Ynyslas on Saturday next. forest gardenins is a productive low maintenance system that can be adapted to suit any climate conditions on the planet. Many of the ideas have evolved from the tropics, Robert Hart famously adapted his forest garden idea from observations made in Kerala, in tropical India. Obviously with much less light and solar energy there is a need to adapt the system to fit our temperate climate, so the whoel area of temperate forest gardening is a very interesting area to be investigating. there are literally 1000′s of plants that love the forest edge situation, and careful use of light and spacing create fantastic opportunities for productive edible landscaping.

Build your own wind turbine

Feb 18

Posted by Steven Jones in courses, evolution, forest gardens, permaculture, renewable energy, sustainability | 1 Comment

Windpower workshop, Feb 2010

The Sector39 crew are working away this year putting together what we are calling ours ‘Skills for Sustainability Programme.‘ The idea is to offer crash courses, tasters, introduction, skill-sharing and networking events in key areas like local food, energy, bees, fruit trees etc. whatever we need to equip ourselves to relocalise at least some of our food and energy production.

We have had a lot of success with our 2 week permaculture courses and we are busy thinking how to break some of that into smaller chunks, to make it accessible to a broader range of people. Focussing on the skills, practical stuff and areas where there is the most common interest and seems to make a lot of sense as a starting place.

So organic growing – especially veg. is one starting point and we have a one day and 20 week – (Thursday afternoons) course a coming up. The 20 week one is externally funded, so don’t be shy about getting a place on it, it is potentially free.

And the other big one we are trying out for the first time is the Build your own wind turbine course, Its 3 days at the Workhouse last weekend of this month with V3power, a bunch of guys from Nottingham who run these courses all over the place. We are really keen to get some people on this one, so please get in touch if you are interested, find out how to part pay in Dolydd’s or time dollars

These 1,2 and three days courses are lively and informative and also of course create a platform for people to share their knowledge and experience and come together to celebrate creativity and ingenuity.

Get in touch with us to find out more – but here are the details of the 3 day wind turbine course

Introduction to building a Wind Turbine

Friday 26th February to Sunday 28th February 2010

The Workhouse, Llanfyllin, Powys, SY22 5LE

This weekend course covers all the practical elements of building a wind turbine and gives an overview of all the technical aspects needed to create a wind based renewable energy system. We hope to build a working 1.2m wind turbine over course of the weekend.

Over the weekend, participants will get hands on experience in metal work including welding a turbine mounting, carving wooden blades and building the electrical generator.

We will also explore some of the theoretical aspects of building and installing a turbine, such as blade design, sighting your turbine and appropriate systems for storage and usage of the power you generate.

The course is suitable for complete beginners who haven’t used a tool since school, and for people with plenty of practical and technical knowledge looking to supplement what they already know.

We are very excited to be able to run a course in conjunction with the vibrant Workhouse project. The Workhouse is a centre for arts and environmental education set in the stunning Cain Valley mid Wales. The Workhouse is already home to the highly acclaimed Workhouse festival and is developing an exciting range of music, theatre, and arts events and a broad spectrum of educational and training courses including permaculture design, green crafts and music technology.

For more information about the venue please visit: www.llanfyllinworkhouse.org

The course costs £200 including food. Accomodation will include limited spaces inside the workhouse and camping in the grounds; there are also a number of local B&Bs for those that would prefer. It’s sure to be a lovely weekend, getting to know all the different participants at a beautiful rural location. A discount is also available for people who are unwaged. Please ask.

To book on to the course, please email info@v3power.co.uk and you can check out our website www.v3power.co.uk to see more about who we are and what we do. There is more info here at S39

Gardening days

Jan 27

Posted by Steven Jones in courses, forest gardens, organic growing, permaculture, sustainability | No Comments

All this talk of permaculture design, must not overlook the fact that we have two straight gardening course days in the pipeline. Firstly an introduction to Organic Veg growing, with Emma Maxwell at the Workhouse.. an informative and timely day to get you going on the veg growing for the coming year. Emma must be one of the most knowledgible people on veg growing in Powys.

I am also working with Mat from the Ynyalas Community Supported Agriculture project to offer an introduction day to forest gardening. Inspired by Robert Hart – who started a global movement from his half acre back garden in Wenlock Shropshire, who was intern inspired by farming system he saw in India. Constructed edible landscapes made from perennial plants. It’s the secret to low maintenance, low input yet productive landscapes. Forest gardening is also an insight into permaculture design and an excellent example of the potentials of working in creative partnerhsip with nature. Contact us to book or for more info. Terms and conditions are available here

Permaculture Design Course

Jan 10

Posted by Steven Jones in Uncategorized, courses, energy, forest gardens, permaculture, sustainability | No Comments

permaculture at the workhouse

We are proud to announce our forthcoming PDC at the Workhouse in May 15 – 29th.
There is a maximum of 24 places available, secured by a deposit of £150.
More details at Sector39/pdc.htm

Pictured right is the May group from the 2009 course at the Workhouse with Chris Evans, Looby MacNamarra and Steven Jones.

The course for 2010 will be led by Steve Jones, supported by Amanda Dean, Mark Burnett and Chris Dixon, with sessions from Chris Evans, Looby MacNamarra and other guest facilitators.
The course itself is a mixture of field visits to several groud breaking projects, practicals, demonstrations as well as presentation sessions and workshops.

As a taster, here is part one of co-originator of permaculture Bill Mollison talking about in the documentary “In Grave Danger of Falling Food”. The other parts are posted on my clips page

Ecological Land Co-operative

Dec 14

Posted by Steven Jones in forest gardens, organic growing, permaculture | No Comments

Thanks to Ian Watt for this link, looks really interesting… Ecological Land Co-op. Looks like a great starting point for anyone interesting in growing and working with others… great resources area as well, pointers for people wanting to start their own groups.

Up and coming courses and events

Jul 7

Posted by Steven Jones in Green events, courses, forest gardens, permaculture | No Comments

Hi there, thanks for visitng the blog.. up and coming courses and events are listed below… its all a bit busy here at the Workhouse with the festival looming this weekend. We are really excited to be teaming up with Llandrindod Transition Towns group to be offering an introduction to permaculture weekendand are planning to run anotehr full PDC here at the Workhouse in October.

Permaculture courses and events:
Llanfyllin Workhouse Green-Fayre.
August 28/ 29/ 30 bank holiday weekend with
camping and practical workshops and
demonstrations, a giant children’s arts project,
talks, Ceilidh, Folk and Breton music and
dancing.. local produce and more!
Weekend Family Camping £40/ £20 individal
includes entry to workshops and performances

Yurt Making.
Learn how to make your own
traditional low impact dwelling, make and keep
your own weel September 18th, 19th, 20th. £180

Introduction to Permaculture; in association with
Llandrindod Transition Towns group. In
Llandrindod Wells 12-13th September
Permaculture Design Course;
Full 2-Week intensive October 3rd – 17th, at the
Workhouse,ar. £440 per person, includes food and
camping accommodation