Permaculture is design protocols for decision making and problem-solving based on the patterns of nature

Stephen Andrews - My Background

 

For many years I’ve had a fascination with ethnobotany, the stories that have evolved around plants, and how certain plants have had major cultural impacts on different societies leaves me mesmerized and constantly wanting to learn more. Plants have played a pivotal role in my life; they are the teachers guiding me through all of life's ups and downs.

In my mid-twenties I had a health crisis, this went on for many years. Conventional medicine was unable to provide the support my body needed to heal. My healing journey brought Tibetan medicine into my life, here I learned about the traditional uses of plants from the Himalayas. South American plants called me next. This time I travelled into the Amazon basin to experience the traditional healing ceremonies of the powerful jungle plants. Whilst in South America I went high into the Andes to work with healing plants that grow in that region. All this time I was learning about our relationships with plants. Throughout this period, I was also growing a wide variety of plants along with foraging local medicinal plants at home in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

The years passed and my healing journey continued, it was when Ayurvedic medicine presented itself to me at a time when I was going through a difficult phase with my health. This was when things clicked into place.

At this time, I had been reading books on permaculture for a few years. I was growing a small amount of food in my garden using biodynamic methods. Then came along a book on Ayurvedic medicine that changed my life, after reading the book I made an appointment with an Ayurvedic doctor. Several months later my health was the best it had been in years and continues to be so.

Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health, learning about it at the same time as learning about permaculture was as if I was learning about the same subject using different languages to achieve the same outcome.

Not one to miss an opportunity to visit the plants I travelled to India to experience the plants that helped give me my health back growing in their native soils. Ayurveda completed my triad. I had been practising Yoga for many years followed by permaculture then Ayurveda. All three of these can be used as design protocols for decision-making and problem-solving based on the patterns of nature.

 

Permaculture

 

2014 I completed the Permaculture Design Certificate, I opted for the two-week intensive course. The PDC was originally developed by Bill Mollison the co-founder of permaculture to teach the principles and foundations of sustainable design consisting of 72 hours of learning. I then completed Patrick Whitefield’s Land Course, consisting of four modules, ecology, organic horticulture, sustainable forestry, and soil. 2016 I started a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design and completed it in November 2022. For the diploma, you need to produce a portfolio of ten designs that will demonstrate how you have developed into a proficient permaculture designer.

During the Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design, I bought a house in Richmond which has become the focus of many of my portfolio designs. These designs can be viewed here.

Designing food systems is my main focus with an emphasis on health. I have two small gardens on either side of the house. Both gardens are very different in design whilst at the same time containing many of the same elements creating a balance between the two gardens that provide my requirements throughout the year.

 

Richmond Permaculture Network

 

Throughout the year I spend a lot of time in my gardens. Not just working, I like to read so I made sure I added into each garden design different places that I can put my deck chair to read depending on the time of year and the location of the sun. My back garden has a public footpath at the end of it so I get to engage in conversation with quite a few passers-by who show interest in what’s going on in my garden. Most, if not all people I chat with have not heard of the word permaculture never mind what it means so I’m able to show them how and why I have designed my garden the ways I have.

The idea of creating a local permaculture network is to carry on the conversations I have in my garden. The people I get to speak with all have many stories to share. Having a common interest through plants, gardening, creating sustainable systems, or through what books people are reading create communities of like-minded people.

My goal here is to bring people together to talk, to share their own stories. Whilst helping people to get a better understanding of what permaculture design is. The internet is full of permaculture websites and videos, there are hundreds of permaculture books on sale now so the opportunities to learn on your own about permaculture are endless. At the same time, to be able to meet with people who have a common interest and to engage in conversation with them in person is something of greater value than can be had online or in a book.

Probably now more than ever we need to find communities of friends who share the same values and help each other. This is what Richmond Permaculture Network is about.

 

Keep on growing

Stephen Andrews

Permaculture

"Consciously designed landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fibre and energy for provision of local needs." - David Holmgren