Ian Brown – Carpenter and Strawbale Builder Which permaculture principle do you have to remind yourself of the most? Design from pattern to details – nature is amazing, the shapes the forms from nature have been inspiring and informing construction craft and design for centuries. As modern building methods and details evolve it is important we honour…
More information ...News Blog ...
Solar power and woodland management
by Andy Reynolds I have been running our home for the last decade using wind and solar electricity. The experiences of building this system have been distilled into a book, now in its third edition. The new editions were necessary due to the changes in the technology and the availability of the components. I still…
More information ...At the Plot – March
Environmental activism disguised as music! It’s been a musical start to the year, behind the scenes at our Plot at Stanmer. At back end of January, we invited Unite the Beat along to one of our regular volunteer sessions. The team, made up of the dynamic musical couple, Emily and Malik, specialise in taking people…
More information ...Meet the Team – Pippa Johns
Which permaculture principle do you have to remind yourself of the most? Apply self regulation and accept feedback. I have just been ill for 3 months because I wasn’t responding to the feedback my body was giving me. Now I’m really trying to go slow and remember to rest. It’s a difficult thing for me…
More information ...Tree planting in Coldean
Lovely pictures from the recent tree- planting in Coldean. Well done every one what a great day! Here are some quotes, all from Coldean residents! ‘Looks amazing! Tim & Jack had a lovely time’- Emma ‘It was really interesting & now I feel really inspired. Thank you’ -Siobhan ‘I enjoyed it as everyone did, look…
More information ...Jonny Anstead – Green Architecture Day Speaker
Jonny Anstead Town Jonny began his career at Locum Consulting (later Colliers CRE), where he worked on regional tourism, regeneration and economic development strategies and city master planning projects. Joining Beyond Green in 2005, he was instrumental in the company’s transition from sustainability consultant to land developer and led the acquisition, funding and early stage planning phases…
More information ...William Hardie – Green Architecture Day Speaker
William Hardie Master Craftsman Studio Hardie, Amazing Sheds William Hardie is a passionate designer, maker, artist and craftsman renowned for his innovative problem-solving skills. He heads up a celebrated design company Studio Hardie, a team of committed designer makers that specialise in a diverse variety of unusual high profile projects in many disciplines including architecture,…
More information ...Keith Ellis – Green Architecture Day Speaker
Keith Ellis Moving Sounds Keith has been facilitating workshops and trainings since 2001 on community, environment, well-being and diversity. His work involves music, media, theatre, nature connection and mindfulness. He is a founding director of Movingsounds, a Community Interest Company that delivers creative workshops addressing social and environmental issues. He is a trainer in Cultural Emergence, creating healthy communities and…
More information ...Lex Titterington – Green Architecture Day Speaker
Lex Titterington Lex is a creative facilitator, movement and visual artist, permaculture designer and yoga teacher. Lex facilitates and designs workshops, courses and retreats throughout the UK and internationally. With 25 years of Professional practice in the arts Lex brings a unique flair to the art of creative facilitation. Lex’s work is based on connection…
More information ...Looby Macnamara – Green Architecture Day Speaker
Looby Macnamara Looby is author of People and Permaculture, 7 Ways to Think Differently and Strands of Infinity. People and Permaculture Is the first book globally to translate the use of permaculture principles and design for people based systems, widening the definition of permaculture and making it relevant and accessible to all. She is creator of the Design Web, a holistic design…
More information ...Rowland Keable – Green Architecture Day Speaker
Honorary Professor Rowland Keable, UNESCO Chair on Earthen Architecture Director Rammed Earth Consulting CIC and Earth Building UK and Ireland Project Officer Rowland has worked with rammed earth technology since 1985. This includes building as part of Passivhaus projects such as UK local authority classrooms where thermal and humidity loads are more of an issue…
More information ...Andrea Jones – Green Architecture Day Speaker
Andrea Jones Community Led Housing in Brighton & Hove Andrea will be talking about the new and exciting opportunities opening up for local groups to create their own affordable housing solutions in Brighton & Hove. She combines experience in community self-build, project management, business planning… Her recent PhD was about what makes it possible to…
More information ...Athena Steen – Green Architecture Day Speaker
Athena Steen Canelo Project Educator, designer, builder for over 27 years of strawbale, adobe, and other natural buildings with artistic vision and sustainable design. Co-author of several books including, “The Straw Bale House”,”The Beauty of Strawbale Homes,” “Built by Hand,” and “Small Strawbale.” Co-director and founder of a small non-profit, The Canelo Project, dedicated to…
More information ...Eileen Sutherland – Green Architecture Day Speaker
Eileen Sutherland Director Straw Works and School of Natural Building Eileen is a partner in Straw Works and in the School of Natural Building. Her interest in construction started with her Dad. He ran a building company and celebrated the day of Eileen’s birth by putting the mixer on the plot where he was to build…
More information ...New project: Wildlife at Racehill Community Orchard
New project: Wildlife at Racehill Community Orchard -:- Racehill Community Orchard adjoins Whitehawk in East Brighton. Brighton Permaculture Trust manage the orchard working with Brighton & Hove Food Partnership. We also work closely with Brighton & Hove City Council whom manage the Whitehawk Hill Local Nature Reserve in which the orchard is located. The new project is all…
More information ...Meet the Team – Christine Wiltshire
This month we are joined by Christine Wiltshire. Thanks so much for sharing Christine. As ever we are incredibly proud of our humble, hirsute and hard-working team Christine Wiltshire, Introduction to Permaculture teacher and team co-ordinator. Which permaculture principle do you have to remind yourself of the most? ‘Integrate Rather than Segregate’ Particularly in relationships…
More information ...Green Architecture Day 2018 Speakers announcement
As always, we are arranging a diverse and interesting bouquet for attendees of Green Architecture Day. Recently announced speakers include: Athena Steen – Canelo Project Hailing from Arizona, Athena is world renowned and highly recommended for her work on low-impact dwellings. A talk not to be missed. Jonny Anstead – Town. Jonny has been involved…
More information ...Meet the Team – Stella Peyerl
Stella Peyerl, Courses and Events Manager Event co-ordinator – Green Architecture Day Green Roof Installer and Eco builder Which permaculture principle is always popping up in unlikely places? There’s no such thing as waste Such as? In my everyday life in the form of my building and gardening work. I’m a real fixer and will…
More information ...Apple Day 2017
Once again Apple Day this year was even bigger and better than the year before We are always overjoyed by the amount of support we get. From our incredible volunteers to the calibre of acts we get who brighten up the day, to the vendors and cooks that bring along their ethical and local produce…
More information ...Meet the team – Stephan
November 2017 Which permaculture principle do you have to remind yourself of the most? Applying self regulation and accepting feedback. Probably because I’m not very good at it. Its about, for example, being desciplined in time keeping, being strategic in applying ones energy and also in taking time out and making sure I have time with family, friends…
More information ...5 things you can do now
November 2017 Do you want to plant fruit trees this winter? Here’s 5 ways we can help: 1. Join us at the -:- Planning and planting a small orchard course this Saturday 2. Come along to the -:- Fruit tree planting workshop at Peacehaven Community Orchard this Sunday 3. Watch our video -:- How to plant a fruit trees really…
More information ...Land at stanmer organics available
November 2017 Stanmer Organics is a dynamic co-op of member projects who work in accordance with the Soil Association regulations. Plots of varying sizes will be available from Jan ’18 and conscientious, community-focused people with a keen interest in organic horticulture, sustainable living and working practices, nature connection and being part of a cooperative are invited…
More information ...Meet the Team – Fran Pickering
Fran Pickering – Pie maker and lover with fingers in a few of the pies Other jobs: In the Brighton Permaculture Trust management team, Stanmer group, including Plot- value adder to the -:- Scrumping Project and all round Peasant. Which permaculture principle do you have to remind yourself of the most? The permaculture principle I need to remind myself…
More information ...Meet the Team – Tracy Hind
Meet the team For our new monthly fixture we will have a regular ‘Meet the team’ where we nose about in your permaculture tutors and Permaculture Trust peoples brains and find out what makes them tick! Any suggestions on questions welcome! To kick us off this month we have the lovely Tracy Hind, Permaculture…
More information ...Salutations and thanks to the magical, wonderful, lovely Sarah
Salutations and thanks to the magical, wonderful, lovely Sarah A huge perma-thank you to Sarah for all her dedication, hard work and enthusiasm at The Brighton Permaculture Trust Plot over the last year and a half. Anyone who worked with Sarah will know what energy, insight and humour she brings. She has been…
More information ...The Brighton Permaculture Trust story
From a Permaculture Design Course to a successful community organisation by Chloe Anthony, our Permaculture Design Course lead tutor, writes about our history following a conversation with Bryn Thomas, co-founder and CEO “Permaculture comes from green movement and holistic thinking, joined up thinking. It’s absolutely fantastic that environmental concerns have become more mainstream, but they…
More information ...Permaculture People
14 JANUARY 2017. We both studied at Sussex Uni (having attended at different times). And we both shared a passion for food and justice. But we weren’t to meet until a climate change demo in London via a mutual friend. Lauren, with her good friend (who is now doing a PhD on workers rights and…
More information ...Permaculture in craft-making
04 NOVEMBER 2016. by -:- Christine Wiltshire, a tutor on our -:- Introduction to permaculture course After completing my -:- Permaculture design course in 2011, I could see the real benefits of applying this design system to my life. Using a design structure can get you out of many bad habits! The most impactful things that…
More information ...Apple Day Brighton 2016 a success
04 NOVEMBER 2016. A big thank you to everyone who came to our annual harvest celebration on Sunday 2nd October 2016. The event was extremely well attended, and we were blessed yet again with wonderful weather. Our small but dedicated team put a lot of time and energy into planning and running the event, and…
More information ...We’re planting fruit trees, please join us!
27 OCTOBER 2016. by -:- Bryn Thomas The late -:- Bill Mollison, co-originator of permaculture, espoused the planting of useful trees in public spaces (and private gardens). At Brighton Permaculture Trust, we couldn’t agree more. We have supported communities and schools across Sussex to plant thousands of useful trees. In fact, our near obsession with …
More information ...Bill Mollison, 1928 – 2016
26 SEPTEMBER 2016. -:- Bryn Thomas writes: I was fortunate enough to meet Bill Mollison, the co-originator of the of term permaculture, in the early 1990s. A larger-than-life character, he believed passionately that we need to take responsibility for ourselves and the world around us. He was deliberately provocative, was often humorous, and never shied away from being controversial.…
More information ...Apple Day Brighton is nearly here
25 SEPTEMBER 2016. by -:- Dan Lake, Apple Day Brighton event organiser -:- Anyone passing the -:- Fruit Factory in Stanmer Village at the weekend recently will have seen that the scrumping team are gearing up for Apple Day Brighton, which is on Sunday 2nd October 2016 from 11am to 5pm. With the juicer duly sluiced and…
More information ...Two orchards in search of schools
25 SEPTEMBER 2016. by -:- Anne-Marie Bur Brighton Permaculture Trust is looking for two schools in Sussex who would like to have a school orchard. For £400, they can be provided with orchard design advice, unusual Sussex apple variety trees, all the planting materials, a guided planting day for pupils, orchard activity sessions e.g. apple…
More information ...Why is Brighton Permaculture Trust so into apples and orchards?
25 SEPTEMBER 2016. by -:- Bryn Thomas You may have noticed that we are very focused on apples and orchards here at Brighton Permaculture Trust. But why this pomological obsession? Is it an obscure fruity fetish? Or is there a good reason? The simple truth is that growing fruit trees, especially in a traditional way,…
More information ...The Fruit Forecast for Apple Day 2016
17 AUGUST 2016. by -:- Bryn Thomas As the summer progresses, we at Brighton Permaculture Trust always watch anxiously to see how the fruit crop is developing. Will there be plenty of fruit for Apple Day Brighton? Will there be enough for -:- our scrumping project to make juice, cider and preserves? I am constantly struck by how…
More information ...Celebrating 35 Earthship courses
05 AUGUST 2016. Wow, what an achievement! In partnership with Low Carbon Trust, we have delivered a whopping 35 -:- Earthship building coursessince we began running them back in June 2009. Earthship courses always have a great buzz about them. They’re held at -:- Earthship Brighton in Stanmer Park, and they attract a variety of people from all…
More information ...How to heat your home with wood fuel
05 AUGUST 2016. At last the weather has warmed up! But autumn isn’t far around the corner, and we’ve begun to think about how best to stay warm and cosy this winter. Don’t dread the shorter days and longer nights. Think sustainability and the comforting glow of fire light. If you want to improve the way…
More information ...What does permaculture mean to you?
05 AUGUST 2016. Permaculture tutor -:- Chloe Anthony writes: At the start of our -:- Introduction to Permaculture and -:- Permaculture Design Course, we ask what permaculture means to you. We love to hear how you have come across permaculture as well as your personal hopes and dreams. Often, the decision to do a permaculture course comes at a…
More information ...How does a forest garden work?
29 JUNE 2016. Instructor on our Forest gardening course, Bryn Thomas, talks about the idea behind a forest garden: Co-originator of Permaculture, Bill Mollison, was once asked if permaculture [growing] really worked, to which he replied, “Do plants grow?” Of course, this answer was meant to be slightly facetious, because we all know that plants…
More information ...Why aren’t fruit trees planted from seed?
29 JUNE 2016. Fruit trees cannot be grown as the same variety from seed, so they are propagated by grafting the fruit variety onto a young tree called a rootstock. Chip-budding is a commonly used technique which fits a section of young wood containing a bud onto a rootstock. While the chip bud grows to form the…
More information ...Hot new course
25 MAY 2016. We are pleased to be offering a brand new one-day course on -:- how to heat with wood fuel on Sunday 18th September 2016 in Stanmer Park, Brighton. It will be a great intro to anyone interested in wood fuel, whether for the purpose of heating your home or as a hot water…
More information ...Stanmer Scrumpy hits Brighton
25 MAY 2016. Exciting news – we’ve brewed some cider and will be selling it at Stanmer this weekend! We’ll be in Stanmer Village from 11am to 5pm on Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th, and Bank Holiday Monday 30th May 2016. When we started the -:- scrumping project, we wanted to use fruit that would normally…
More information ...Earthship pizza oven on the way
10 MAY 2016. Our partners at Low Carbon Trust have been busy this month at -:- Earthship Brighton. Power has been restored with new batteries and solar panel. All very exciting! Even more exciting for foodies, perhaps, is that participants on our -:- Building with cob course will be building an outdoor pizza oven on the site. During…
More information ...Blossom tour this Sunday
10 MAY 2016. At last, a date for our annual blossom tour! It’s this coming Sunday, 15th May 2016, at 2pm. Home Farm Orchard is a beautiful place any time of year, even in winter, but to see it in bloom is a real treat. The apple blossom is a little late this year due…
More information ...Stanmer Organics Open Day
10 MAY 2016. Stanmer Organics Open Day is Saturday 21st May 2016 from 11am to 6pm. Join us and other projects from the Stanmer Organics Co-op for Spring Open Day. -:- Stephan and some of our team will be at our -:- plot for the event giving tours and organising games for kids. There will be food and drink available…
More information ...An audience at Buggingham Palace
10 MAY 2016. We’ve been working with HKD Transition Town group over the past 3 years designing and planting an orchard in Ditchling. -:- Stephan Gehrels did a return visit to the orchard recently to help build a bug hotel… Only this was more than your average bug hotel! It was nicknamed Buggingham Palace due to its sheer size…
More information ...Free permaculture info evening
10 MAY 2016. We’re holding a free permaculture info evening on Thursday 26th May 2016 from 7 to 9pm. Permaculture design is at the heart of all we do, and we love teaching people all about it. We run five to six -:- Introduction to permaculture courses every year, as well as one or two -:-…
More information ...Volunteers help with Hertford Junior School forest garden
31 MARCH 2016. Eight years ago, -:- Stephen Gehrels led on designing and implementing a school grounds permaculture design at Hertford Junior School in Hollingdean, Brighton. The design included a forest garden, shelter belts, edible plantings, a wildlife pond and outdoor learning areas. This fantastic example of permaculture design in action has been used as venue…
More information ...Orchard City? Orchard County? We keep planting!
16 MARCH 2016. As a team, we sometimes joke that if we keep up our efforts Brighton will become an orchard city! This year we have planted 152 trees in 11 locations across Brighton & Hove as well as East and West Sussex. Our -:- Sussex apple National Collection has also grown. Yet we have only scratched the surface…
More information ...Lodsworth Larder
14 MARCH 2016. Lodsworth Larder: Winner of 9 architectural and social enterprise awards An extract from Woodsman: Living in a wood in the 21st century by -:- Ben Law This shop is constructed from materials sourced primarily from a derelict coppice in the parish, which enabled an ancient woodland to be restored, such that in the…
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