Introduction to permaculture design weekend in Cloughmills

Introduction to Permaculture Design Weekend Workshop

When: 2nd & 3rd August

Where: Incredible Edible Cloughmills Comunity Garden,

Cloughmills, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim.

Cost: Public/Voluntary/Large Community organisations - £100 per person [inc lunch & refreshments]

Small community/individual - £50 per person [inc lunch & refreshments]

Contact: Patrick Frew

Email: frewpatrick@gmail.com

Tel: 07786527732

All are welcome to this workshop which will double as a 2 day 'Introduction to Permaculture' course as well as a participative planning session with & for the Incredible Edible Cloughmills team.

Permaculture is a way of gardening & a way of living based on nature’s model of a 'web of life' in which strength & resilience come from the many beneficial relationships between the plants & animals in a particular ecosystem.  With an awareness of this model we can learn to grow our food (& other things!) in harmony with nature, we can 'work with nature rather than against'.  We can maximise productivity & minimize work!

It's a lovely bountiful time of year to be in the garden, lush growth, midsummer harvest, spirits high, & sun hopefully shining!  We will spend the weekend in Cloughmills learning how to use the permaculture ethics, principles & design patterns in & around the Incredible Edible community garden.

In the process we will collaboratively build on the existing design of the site & get creative around ideas & possibilities to enhance the site in future.

Topics we'll explore will include:

• Observation skills, listening to the landscape - natural patterns, micro-climates, & how to work with rather than against them
• Efficient garden design & layout -small spaces, least effort, maximum production
• Perrenial planting possibilities- Vegetables, Herbs & Fruits
• Annual yields -vegetables, fruits, kitchen gardening techniques
• Forest gardens-exploring the site's forest garden
• Other essentials-integrating water, nutrients, compost, wildlife, people, leisure, access

Using the site, we will learn though observation, exploration, hands on, designing, playing, listening & reflecting. We will use the 'Transition Towns' learning approach of 'Head, Heart & Hands'

Tutor: Hannah Mole – www.hannahmole.com

Hannah currently lives & works at her family's Organic farm in County Roscommon where she uses a permaculture approach to the home, kitchen garden & the wider land management.

She has been sharing Permaculture design skills with groups across Ireland over the past 4 years.