This course can either be considered as a 'stand alone' introduction to Permaculture ethics, principles and design, or else can be a lead-in to the more in depth full 72 hour Permaculture Design Course. The weekend is led by experienced permaculture teachers Graham Burnett (author and illustrator of 'Permaculture- a Beginners Guide', Trustee of the Permaculture Association (Britain) and holder of the Diploma in Permaculture Design), and Ron Bates, who has a extensive background in experiential learning and teaching, in particular working with young people with special needs.

This course has been put together in response to requests and feedback for a weekend workshop that has a greater emphasis on practical skills and projects, and will have a greater focus on 'kinesthetic' learning and practice. We will therefore work on a 'hands-on' group project that will embed the principles and ethics of permaculture design.

Dial House is a sixteenth century farm cottage nestling deep in the countryside in Essex, England, fringing Epping Forest. Since 1967 the place has been an 'open house', the base of operations for a number of cultural, artistic and political projects ranging from avant garde jazz events, the founding Free Festival movement (eg, Windsor and Stonehenge) and the anarcho-punk band Crass. After some years away from the public eye, residents Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher have decided that Dial House should become a 'centre for dynamic cultural change', including the hosting of permaculture events.

An area of the Dial House garden is being developed as a semi-autonomous venue for gatherings, and includes indoor and outdoor classroom spaces, camping area, kitchen and fire-pit and a compost toilet as well as a pond, and living willow seat. Planned future facilities, which we hope to develop as part of our forthcoming permaculture weekends, include creating an earth oven and an outdoor bath, as well as becomming independent of the power grid by installing solar panels.

Principally camping in the Dial House garden. There will be LIMITED accommodation in the main house at a cost of £7 per person per night. This will be on a first come, first serve basis

Timetable (subject to alteration)

Friday; Arrivals 6.00pm onwards, set up tents, get settled, meal, site tour, video; ‘Permaculture In Practice’

Saturday, 9.30 start;

Optional yoga

Opening circle; ground rules, what do you want from this weekend?

What is permaculture?

Ethics, principles, some context

(13.00; Lunch)

Practical projects

Evening- shared meal, optional  videos, chat/party/music?

Sunday; 9.30 start;

Optional yoga

Opening circle; Recap

Introducing the design process

Zones and Sectors; a practical design tool

(13.00; Lunch)

Design work

Feed back from design work

Practical project

Closing circle/next steps

17.00; Departures

Course tutors/leaders; Ron Bates & Graham Burnett (Dip Perm Des) + other guest tutors.

Things to bring; Food for lunch breaks and contribution to shared vegan/vegetarian meals (food preparation and cooking is a collective group activity and we ALWAYS conjure up a banquet!); weather appropriate clothes/footwear & change of clothing; towel; work gloves; torch; plenty of energy & enthusiasm; musical instruments & songs for Saturday evening social; anything we haven’t thought of....

Pictures from earlier courses http://www.spiralseed.co.uk/course/coursepics.html

Reviews of earlier courses http://www.spiralseed.co.uk/course/ziggy/

Any other questions or concerns contact 07535 344780, graham@spiralseed.co.uk or visit www.spiralseed.co.uk

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BOOKING SLIP; Please return to 35 Rayleigh Avenue, Westcliff On Sea, Essex SS0 7DS as soon as possible to ensure your place at this event (note 'early bird' discount below). The closing date for bookings is 16 June 2011.

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Numbers wanting indoor accommodation (limited places- see below); NO INDOOR PLACES LEFT

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