By Stephanie Garvin

I had the pleasure of undertaking a permaculture design course as part
of the three year training programme in November 2009.  In true
Sadhana Forest style we were encouraged to share this knowledge as far
as possible.

Permaculture is a unique approach to the practice of sustainable
farming, gardening and living, by designing habitats and settlements
that serve the needs of humans without degrading the natural
environment and using minimum resources and energy.

As the garden coordinator I was aware there was a huge interest in how
we do things and why.  Volunteers were very curious to know more about
permaculture methods and techniques.  Permaculture was the word on
everyone’s lips.

To try to satisfy this curiosity and to encourage the spread of
permaculture and healthy gardening techniques I decided to offer
weekly permaculture workshops on Friday afternoons. The small group of
volunteers that attended the first week quickly grew to a large crowd
with around twenty five people in peak season. I was amazed at how
much interest there was.

The workshops started with an introduction and definition of what
permaculture is and progressed to cover topics such as ethics and
principles, zoning, elevation planning, healthy soil, design
strategies and water management.

The workshops were a mix of theory and practice, with more of an
emphasis on theory.  We would look at practical examples in the garden
related to the particular topic.  During one session where we learned
about healthy soil, volunteers could be found face down in the dirt,
smelling, feeling and even tasting the soil.

Discussion is encouraged in each session and helps us to learn from
each other.  Every volunteer brings along suggestions and different
experiences as well as different questions.  We try to cover all kinds
of climates and situations and not just information that is relevant
to Sadhana Forest or South India.

The volunteers were bursting with enthusiasm after each workshop and
often volunteered for garden work after getting a taste of what
permaculture was all about.  This work gives them an opportunity to
put into practice what they have learned and to learn more about the
practical elements of permaculture design.  It also helps to provide
keen volunteers for the daily garden work who understand more about
how we do things here.

Personally I have gained a huge amount through offering these
workshops.  It gives me an opportunity to research topics in more
detail while putting together the materials for each workshop and
allows me to identify gaps in my own knowledge and experience.

I hope to continue to offer these workshops throughout my time at
Sadhana Forest and continue to learn and grow from the knowledge,
experience and enthusiasm each new participant brings.