Days 12 and 13 - Design project

After nearly 2 weeks of information overload it was time to put some of the information into our first design. We were split up into groups of 5, and had all of day 12 to work on the plans for our sites. Our group had a good mix of people, and we seemed to get into the 'zone' fairly quickly and came up with a phased plan for our urban site in Seymour. As well as the presentation we put together a folio of drawings (done by the drawers in the group - I can't draw a straight line even with a ruler!!) for our client.

Group work has never been one of my favourite things, but the process seemed to go reasonably smoothly - and it was a really good exercise to bounce ideas off other people, and to try and incorporate everything we've learned about the principle in a practical way.

Day 13 was presentation day, where each group presented their designs to our 'clients' and the rest of the class. It was fascinating to see the different directions each group took - even though two groups had the same client. Some really creative ideas, and even a mini practical water demonstration using green cordial (nice one Dan!).

By the end of the day it was time to relax and chill out - everyone was glad it was over! Time for pre-dinner drinks in the sunshine, another fab dinner, and then the end of course quiz night. Highlight of the quiz night was the various caption competitions using photos taken on the course. Some very creative responses!!

Day 4 - Permaculture principles

Impossible in the short time availabel to cover everything we did today, but to give you an idea, here's the 12 permaculture principles David went through today, and the parable he used to describe / illustrate them. If you want more detail see www.holmgren.com.au

1. Observe and interact - beauty is in the eye of the beholder
2. Catch and store energy (my new excuse for eating cake!!) - make hay while the sun shines
3. Obtain a yeild - you can't work on an empty stomach
4. Apply self-regulation and accept feedback - the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children unto the seventh generation
5. Use and value renewable resources and services - let nature take it's course
6. Produce no waste - waste not, want not & a stitch in time saves nine
7. Design from patterns to details - can't see the forest for the trees
8. Integrate rather than segregate - many hands make light work
9. Use small and slow solutions - the bigger they are the harder they fall / slow and steady wins the race
10. Use and value diversity - don't put all your eggs in one basket
11. Use edges and value the marginal - don't think you are on the right track just because it is a well-beaten path
12. Creatively use and respond to change - vision is not seeing things as they are, but as they will be

Lots of food for though over the 6 hours of lessons today - and now there is a Q&A session with David so it's time to go again.

This course is SERIOUSLY full on - the only unstructured free time is when we're asleep!!!