A 2-day Introduction to Permaculture at the Bay Trust, Kent

Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of May 2022 at The Bay Trust, The Pines Garden, Kent

Learn the basics of Permaculture Design on this two-day Introduction to Permaculture and get ready to try it out in your garden, your workplace and your life.

What will the Introduction to Permaculture course offer?

Set in the beautiful Pines Garden at the Bay Trust, this course introduces the basics of Permaculture and shows how this fascinating design methodology can profoundly change the way we look at the world and engage in it. The course gives participants an understanding of the diverse uses and applications of Permaculture Design and its immense potential of turning scarcity into abundance. Participants will walk away with:

… a clear understanding of what Permaculture is, its origins, the context under which it came about and its development;

… knowledge of its ethical framework, the basic ecological, attitudinal and some design principles;

… an overview of its applications in various fields, as a response to social, economic and environmental challenges and as a tool for personal transformation and social change;

… having tested the basic design methodology and various design tools such as zoning, sector analysis and input-output analysis;

… having visited a local project and engaged in some practical permaculture gardening activity;

… enthusiasm and inspiration, as well as some tools for continued learning and application.

"I found the Permaculture Principles we learned all relevant to my life. If I never touch a plant again, my life will still have been changed by this experience."

- Daniel, permaculture intro course participant

Venue

Set in Kent's iconic, White Cliffs country, The Pines Garden shows how an ornamental garden can transition from traditional methods of gardening to permaculture. Managed organically since 2002, emphasis is placed on sustainable cultivation, in a way that benefits both nature and people. It is the perfect place to explore permaculture and see its principles demonstrated in practice.

The Pines Calyx will be our study centre for the weekend. This remarkable eco-building was the first venue in Europe to be created using cradle-to-cradle design, in which waste materials are regarded as raw materials.

The Pines Garden is a peaceful place for contemplation and learning - ideal for taking one's first step into the world of permaculture design.

Tutors

The course will be delivered by Tish Vail and Rachel Rehling

Tish came across the word ‘permaculture’ shortly after finishing her degree in Interior Architecture & Design, however it wasn't until 10 years later that she started to investigate permaculture design in more depth. In the interim she spent her time travelling and working for a variety of London based design firms.

Having spent many years living in a yoga community, she realised this way of living had many parallels to that of permaculture with an intended ethical focus. This naturally created a holistic way of living which took into consideration the welfare of individuals, the community as a whole and its environment.

Permaculture has given Tish the opportunity to combine what she's learnt through her yoga studies with the knowledge and practical experience gained by working in the commercial design world.

Tish has a keen interest in the urban and social application of permaculture. She helps run Social Landscapes and has been involved in community cohesion events and leading local gardening sessions. Tish has spent time in Nepal learning about different natural building techniques as well as having spent two and half years as Lead Designer for Urban Growth CIC, working on community-led and urban greening projects in London. Tish has successfully completed a permaculture teacher training at Applewood Farm under the tutorship of Chris Evans and Looby Macnamara.

Tish believes permaculture is a simple methodology that is accessible to everyone. Nature has all the answers we just need to apply creative thinking - permaculture gives us a structure to do that.

Rachel is an environmental project manager with experience working in local government and NGOs. After participating in the PDC in 2017 she spent a year putting it into practice in Spain, helping to set up an ecosystem restoration project exploring how regenerative agriculture can benefit deforested, dryland areas.

She's enthusiastic about how permaculture can help us design not only more sustainable ways of living but to go beyond this to leave a positive trace.

Practicalities:

Getting there

The workshop venue The Bay Trust, The Pines Garden, Beach Road, St Margaret's Bay, Dover, CT15 6DZ

By car - from London take either the A2/M2 or M20 to Dover. Head for The Duke of York's roundabout (M20 - go through Dover, past the docks and up the Jubilee Way flyover and A2/M2 - take the second exit at the Whitfield roundabout). At the Duke of York's roundabout, take the exit signposted Deal and Walmer (A258) (M20 - 3rd exit/A2/M2 - 1st exit) and take the first major right hand turn (which is clearly signposted to St Margaret's Bay). Reach a t-junction and take a right hand turn. Drive through the village and down the cliff. The garden and tearooms are clearly sign posted. Free parking is available on site, but for a limited number of cars - so sharing is very much appreciated!

By bus you can catch the numbers 80, 80A or 80B from Deal (South Street) or Dover (Pencester Gardens). The bus stops at the top of the cliff (Bay Hill) and there's a short steep walk down the hill to The Pines Garden.

By train, nearest stations are Dover Priory and Martin Mill (Dover is easier to catch buses or taxis from as Martin Mill is a very rural station). You can walk the 2.5 miles from Martin Mill to The Pines garden in about 50 minutes.

Lunch

We suggest you either bring a packed lunch or buy food from The Pines Garden Tea Room, which aims to source local produce including from the organic gardens where possible.

Tea and refreshments will be provided.

Registration and pricing

For enquiries, please contact Tish: tish@sociallandscapes.co.uk

For registration, please choose your price, complete the form below and make your payment. We will then be in touch about a couple of weeks before the start of the course.

We have a number of price options available. The standard price is £125. If you can’t afford any of the options available, please contact tish@sociallandscapes.co.uk and explain your situation. We do not want to turn anyone away from these courses. If you contribute more you make the course accessible for those who can afford less and support our work in the community.

For the 2-day Introduction to Permaculture Course we suggest a contribution between £75 and £150. 

Please click here to see our Cancellation & Refund Policy.