review of relevant activities
This review is included for the benefit of Diploma Apprentices...
It wasn't until I joined Andy Goldring and Suzi High's Permaculture Design Course (PDC) in 2007 that I began to really see how Permaculture could help me to build a more abundant and sustainable future.
During my PDC, I began to work on an ethical livelihood project and ultimately set up my own business, 'Envy Home and Garden.' The business provided organic gardening and eco-cleaning services to clients in the Harrogate and Nidderdale areas and was a first vehicle with which to introduce Permaculture thinking to clients.
In 2008, due to personal circumstances, it was necessary to make lifestyle changes and in the spirit of 'the problem is the solution' and 'creatively use and respond to change' my husband and I followed the dream and headed to Central Portugal to lead a more natural and sustainable life.
The next four projects featured in my diploma portfolio took place in Central Portugal, at the farm that we were hoping to buy. The projects cover the rationale behind this choice, our plans for the land, water use and initial low impact shelter. These projects were partially implemented. Unfortunately, we were unable to complete the purchase for legal reasons and returned to the UK again in 2009.
Once again, in the spirit of 'the problem is the solution' and 'creatively use and respond to change' I reconnected with my original pathway and began re-designing my lifestyle and working on Permaculture design at home and for clients.
I have always felt driven to expand the awareness and influence of Permaculture to new people, working at the 'edge' of what is seen as the 'mainstream' to tap into this potential yield. I have tried to capture people's interest by creating Permaculture gardens that are beautiful in a traditional sense to provide that first stepping stone.
I have listed my diploma design projects below in chronological order:
1. Envy Home & Garden- (business design and management)
2. Portugal pattern level- (lifestyle)
3. Portugal 1, the land- (land design and site development)
4. Portugal 2, water (design and site development)
5. Portugal 3, shelter (basic architecture and site development)
6. Crambeck Edible Garden- (land design and site development)
7. The Woodland Garden- (design consultancy and site development)
8. The Herb Garden- (design consultancy and site development)
9. Tenuta Savorgnano- (design consultancy)
10.Sycamore House- (design consultancy and site development)
11.Education and Dissemination (personal development)
There were eleven designs due to the inclusion of a 'pattern level' design for our intentions in Portugal. I also included a pack relating to my involvement in community projects in my local area. This were not my own projects, but were included as evidence of community building within my overall lifestyle.
I have replicated the majority of my accreditation presentation below:
It wasn't until I joined Andy Goldring and Suzi High's Permaculture Design Course (PDC) in 2007 that I began to really see how Permaculture could help me to build a more abundant and sustainable future.
During my PDC, I began to work on an ethical livelihood project and ultimately set up my own business, 'Envy Home and Garden.' The business provided organic gardening and eco-cleaning services to clients in the Harrogate and Nidderdale areas and was a first vehicle with which to introduce Permaculture thinking to clients.
In 2008, due to personal circumstances, it was necessary to make lifestyle changes and in the spirit of 'the problem is the solution' and 'creatively use and respond to change' my husband and I followed the dream and headed to Central Portugal to lead a more natural and sustainable life.
The next four projects featured in my diploma portfolio took place in Central Portugal, at the farm that we were hoping to buy. The projects cover the rationale behind this choice, our plans for the land, water use and initial low impact shelter. These projects were partially implemented. Unfortunately, we were unable to complete the purchase for legal reasons and returned to the UK again in 2009.
Once again, in the spirit of 'the problem is the solution' and 'creatively use and respond to change' I reconnected with my original pathway and began re-designing my lifestyle and working on Permaculture design at home and for clients.
I have always felt driven to expand the awareness and influence of Permaculture to new people, working at the 'edge' of what is seen as the 'mainstream' to tap into this potential yield. I have tried to capture people's interest by creating Permaculture gardens that are beautiful in a traditional sense to provide that first stepping stone.
I have listed my diploma design projects below in chronological order:
1. Envy Home & Garden- (business design and management)
2. Portugal pattern level- (lifestyle)
3. Portugal 1, the land- (land design and site development)
4. Portugal 2, water (design and site development)
5. Portugal 3, shelter (basic architecture and site development)
6. Crambeck Edible Garden- (land design and site development)
7. The Woodland Garden- (design consultancy and site development)
8. The Herb Garden- (design consultancy and site development)
9. Tenuta Savorgnano- (design consultancy)
10.Sycamore House- (design consultancy and site development)
11.Education and Dissemination (personal development)
There were eleven designs due to the inclusion of a 'pattern level' design for our intentions in Portugal. I also included a pack relating to my involvement in community projects in my local area. This were not my own projects, but were included as evidence of community building within my overall lifestyle.
I have replicated the majority of my accreditation presentation below:
My diploma journey has seen me set up an ethical business, live in a yurt in the mountains of Central Portugal, take Permaculture design to traditional gardens in Yorkshire and a vegetarian B&B in Tuscany. I could never have imagined doing any of these things when I signed up for my PDC all those years ago. It was the richest experience of my life at the time, but the journey did not end there. My learning and experiences have continued in the years since my diploma accreditation and I am in the process of adding my post-diploma designs to this website. I have no intention of stopping and remain as excited as ever about using Permaculture design to shape an even more exciting and abundant future.