I’m taking the Alternative Kitchen Garden Seed Swap on the road again on Sunday, to the London Permaculture Festival – so do come and say hello if you’re stopping by! This is the final programme of events:
Kennedy Hall (ground floor):
Info stalls, books and everyone else from 11am till 5-6pm
Winter salad plants of sale & growing info with OrganicLea
Southern Solar- manufacturers & installers of Solar Panels
Hackney Marshes User Group
Campaign against Climate Change
Women's Environmental Network
Biodiversity of London book stall
John-Paul Flintoff's Recycling table
Seed Swap – don't forget to bring some seeds!
Natural Beekeeping Trust
Permanent Publications & Permaculture Magazine book stall
Veggie Power – waste oil to bio diesel
Permaculture Association & LAND project
Sustainable Haringey
Transition Towns Tooting, Finsbury Park & Camden
Greenpeace
Shiatsu
Project Dirt's interactive map of London groups and events
What is Permaculture? Picture exhibition
Permaculture is more than just the design of our garden. It helps you design the flow of different energy forms = people, nutrients, sun, water, money and much more into sustainable cycles.
The exhibition seeks to celebrate the energy behind the people who practise sustainable land design and to encourage you to consider this path in life as a valid one generously awaiting you should you be drawn to it.
Video Training for Social Change
VisionOntv has created easy templates for rapid-turnaround citizen video news reports. These reports can be made by absolute beginners, or by people with skills but little time. Come to the workshop to learn how to make fast-turnaround video news reports.
Please bring the items of portable recording equipment you have – video camera, stills camera, mobile phone, laptop computer and connectors; we will use them during the workshop.
Permaculture Question Time at 2pm
Panel: Andy Goldring (CEO- Permaculture Association), Nicole Freris (Naturewise), Tomas Remiarz (Chair- Permaculture Association), Maddy Harland (Editor- Permaculture Magazine) & Graham Burnett (Spiralseed).
Sew Your Own with John-Paul Flintoff journalist for The Times and author.
Music
There'll be space for impromptu music on the day- so bring your instruments and join in.
Karma Free – 1pm- A full band sound from just vocals and bass in conjunction with 2 loop stations.
Citizen Helene – 7pm – Beautiful, light and amusing songs from a wonderful voice and guitar.
Northern Celts – 8pm – Magical Celtic Dance Music with caller.
Bar opens at 5pm :)
Trefusis Hall (lower ground floor):
Transition Town London Meeting 11am – 1pm
An informal networking event for those interested in meeting up and sharing experiences of Transition Town groups in London.
Connecting Conversations 1pm – 6pm
Weaving a stronger London network by talking together about what really matters.
Dark Mountain Project 6.20pm – Start
Hosting 'Things that grow in the dark'- reading from their new book and inviting conversation on the shadow side of the environmental movement.
Storrow (lower ground floor):
11:30 – Let's Hear It From the Bees
The 'crisis of the bees' as a challenge to humanity. Our estrangement from nature is reflected in our damaged relationship to bees. The bees are telling us that we must change to ensure our common future. Can we open ourselves to the teachings of the colony? Heidi Herrmann from the Natural Beekeeping Trust (60mins)
12:40 – Permaculture- Inspiration around the World
Travel from Scotland to Copenhagen, East Germany to Japan, Australia to Africa without spending any carbon! Enjoy stories and pictures from permaculture communities, both urban and rural. Maddy Harland, Editor of Permaculture Magazine (60mins)
13:50 – Towards Diversity
Addressing Race, Gender and Difference in our Permaculture Communities. Places limited to 20
Nicole David & Pilar Lopez. (90mins)
15:30 – The Meadow Orchard
This new community-led permaculture project in Crouch End North London is a 1.5acre beautiful open grassland habitat that has been left untouched for several years – the project aims to set up a community garden and forest garden on part of the site as well as protect and enhance the meadow and woodland habitat of the rest of the site. We are working with local community groups, schools and the NHS to create a project that promotes health and wellbeing.
Kate Allardyce (40mins)
16:20 – Reclaim the Fields: moving towards a community food growers network.
A European movement of young people is emerging- RTF is about networking, lobbying and direct action in order to unite growers and the land, everywhere. Sean Hearn, Becca Temple & Claire Joy from Organiclea will lead a presentation of the movement in this part of the world. (60mins)
17:30 – The Work That Reconnects taster
This is a process devised by eco-philosopher and activist Joanna Macy which offers participants an opportunity to explore and address our feelings around the major changes underway for our planet at the moment, based on the belief that the sharing, expression and acknowledgement of such emotions can free us up to more playfully and effectively play our role in these challenging times. Cath Sunderland & Debbie Warreners. (90mins)
18:45 – Leytonstone Environmental Poets
Original poetry like you've never heard it before. After their show there'll be an open spot for anyone to come and share poems.
Film Room (first floor):
11:20 – The Elephant in the Room
“Permaculture, and the sustainability movement as a whole, has always been based on the idea that we can avoid ecological disaster and create a sustainable society. That has been its aim. If this is no longer possible, what is our aim? Does the new situation require significant changes in the practice of permaculture?â€
Video link-up with celebrated Permaculture author, teacher & designer Patrick Whitefield talking about his recent controversial article 'The Elephant in the Room'.
Chaired by Claire White. (60mins)
12:30 – Permaculture Polyculture Research project
“Polycultures” is about growing things together – a central concept within permaculture land use. The worshop will introduce examples of polycultures on different scales, introduce the Permaculture Association’s member research project in this field and allow time for questions and discusion. Tomas Remiraz. (60mins)
13:40 – An Edible Forest Garden
The presentation will describe the structure, benefits and features of a temperate forest garden and give an account of the first five years of the Forest Garden in Homerton Road, Hackney, with types of planting and species, and illustrated with photographs. David Rees. (30mins)
14:30 – Watercourse Regeneration
A talk about new technologies for water regeneration and cycling in city landscapes, how they are being developed in cities around the world; the technologies that may find a place in the future but are not yet being used on a big scale; and the role of local water in city environments and the importance of starting to use local living water, rather than sourcing all our water through the big water companies. Marilyn Collins. (30mins)
15:30 – London Orchard Project
The London Orchard Project has been running for eighteen months. Come and hear about our successes (and challenges!) in creating successful urban orchards on a shoestring budget.
Rowena Ganguli. (30mins)
16:15- Reels of Resilience
Short archive films from the 30s & 40s covering relevant Permaculture themes including food security and community. What lessons can we learn from the past? James Taylor. (60mins)
17:20 – Under One Sun: Community Garden
Film about a community garden in Harringey. (20mins)
18:00 – Beyond the Tipping Point
A new film exploring how we imagine the future in the face of impending environmental crisis and how this affects the way we respond. (30mins)
18:40 – The Power of Community; How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
A documentary about societal changes in Cuba response to the sudden lack of oil in the 1990s (60mins)
19:50 – Ward’s Corner Film
Documentary on the local activism surrounding this proposed development in Tottenham. (60mins)
Dome (outside):
11:30 – Introduction to Permaculture
What is this ‘Permaculture’ stuff about? There’s a whole festival to celebrate it, but what is it? This is a brief taster of permaculture so you can enjoy the rest of the festival with that extra bit of info. Hedvig Murray (20m/then outside)
12:00 – NonViolent Communication: a very brief introduction NVC helps us understand what takes place when communication becomes difficult and gives us practical support in how to respond constructively. While we often respond to difficulties in relationship by blaming or judging, NVC encourages us to look for the essential needs behind our communication so that we can respond to ourselves and others with empathy. It is through responding with compassion that we can find win-win solutions in which everybody's needs get met. Cath Burke and Millie Baker (90mins)
13:40 – Towards Inclusivity
This workshop addresses the challenge we face to ensure our movement reflects the diverse make up of our neighbourhoods. Transition Finsbury Park is taking part in the Transition Network’s Bringing Diversity Pilot Project. We will share some of what we’ve learnt (10 min presentation) and then have an open discussion to help move our planning towards the more proactive, practical steps we can all take. Jo Homan (30mins)
14:20 – Guerrilla Gardening
Gardening without boundaries delivered from the heart by the unique Chris Tomlinson (30m/then outside)
15:00 – Introduction to Permaculture
What is this ‘Permaculture’ stuff about? There’s a whole festival to celebrate it, but what is it? This is a brief taster of permaculture so you can enjoy the rest of the festival with that extra bit of info. Hedvig Murray (20m/then outside)
15:30 – Permaculture Diploma Talk
What is the Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design and how does
it work? Whether you have completed a Permaculture Design Course and are
now considering following the Diploma route to develop your permaculture
practice and studies, want to know about the latest developments with
the Diploma or just want to know what it's all about, this workshop will
provide you with the answers you’ve been looking for! Graham Burnett (40m)
16:20 – Medicinal Herb Walk
A herbal talk and walk, to find and explain the uses of plants that grow around us in streets, gardens, parks and verges. Christopher Hedley. (20m/then outside)
Garden
Children's Events
11.00 – Mr Potato Head: Potato printing with natural dyes (All welcome especially under 5's) with Nathalie (40mins)
12noon -Jack & the Bean Stalk: How do plants grow?
Storytelling followed by a treasure hunt with permaculture inspired clues and magic bean planting in pots made from recycled materials. (All welcome especially 5-12 year olds) with Rosie (60mins)
2pm- Poi Dancing, balancing & juggling training. Parents are invited to explore cutting edge research into child-developmental psychology and its applications into the teaching of play, dance and sport. (Appropriate for teenagers and adults and children’s class will be aimed at children under 14s) with Charlie.
3pm-Ugly Bug ball: Come on lets crawl!- singing the song and learning about our common garden friends with a mini beast hunt and bug costume making competition, face painting and fashion show.(All welcome) with Rosie & Cecilia (60mins)
6pm-Sweet dreams- Zzzz. Preparing to journey to the land of nod! Lantern and dream catcher making with recycled materials. (All welcome). with Nathalie and Lucy (40mins)
Seed Mandala
We will be creating a Mandala space with natural products that all come from, as well as take us back to, nature. Practise awareness of the self and environment and attempt to harmonize your hand, head and heart through this beautiful yogic practise in an attempt to encourage the more intuitive practice of permaculture.
Also outside
Dr Bike
Camden Cyclists (the local branch of the London Cycling Campaign) will have a Dr Bike stall, providing safety checks, advice and minor repairs and adjustments. We will also have information on topics such as cycle storage, quieter routes, our campaigning activities and other issues of local interest.
plus: Locally sourced food from Happy Kitchen & bread from Ben E5 and the first 25 entrants to get a copy of Graham Burnett's Earthwritings