this residential weekend workshop led by Tom Hodgkinson (founder/editor of The Idler and author of 'How To Be Free' and 'The Idle Parent') and Graham Burnett (author of 'Permaculture A Beginners Guide' and Trustee of the Permaculture Association (Britain)) will explore alternatives to the drudgery of the 'nine to five ethic', that is, doing boring work for somebody else at times of their choosing, in return for money to buy things that we don't really want or need.

Emphasis will be on applying the principles of permaculture (which isn't about herb spirals and no-dig gardening, but designing systems that work with nature to create abundance and healthy lives for all) and idling (which isn't about being lazy but instead creating your own existence and doing what you love to meet your needs) to overcoming the everyday barriers that come between us and our dreams. With a blend of talks, workshops, discussions, practical exercises and debates we will be looking at the ways in which we can all create our own 'right livlihoods'.

We don't promise to give you all the answers - but will do our best to make sure you are asking the right questions!

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

Provisional Timetable - subject to change

Friday – arrivals 6pm onwards

8ish - evening meal, chat, socialising, ukelele songs with Tom!!

SAT

Introductions/your stories

What is a job? Tom on the history of work from the Middle Ages to the present day. To demonstrate that jobs are not the only way of organizing work.

Graham on Permaculture ethics and principles in relation to 'right livlihood'

The Idler’s Guide to Thrift. The cost of working. Cutting back your outgoings. How to save on housing, motor car and travel, fuel, food, entertainment. Realize that you will not need the dubious comforts of the industrial system when you are no longer a slave within it.

Growing and making your own

Collective evening meal

Evening; social, fire, more songs with Tom!

SUNDAY

9am: Breakfast

What is money? skills audit, alternative economics

Practical strategies. How to make money. Timothy Ferris. The New Escapologist.

SADIM Permaculture design process applied to 9-5 'exit strategy???

More practical life skills

Led by Tom Hodgkinson & Graham Burnett (Dip Perm Des)

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....

For more information about the Dial House Centre for Dynamic Cultural Change visit; http://www.southern.com/southern/band/CRASS/dialhouse.html

Pictures from earlier Dial House events http://www.spiralseed.co.uk/course/coursepics.html

Reviews of Dial House courses and events  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 21 May 2010.

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Numbers wanting indoor accommodation (limited places- see below);

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