What grows around comes around

This post very nearly didn’t happen. I’ve got two kids, work three days a week, am co-writing and publishing a book, participating in a personal development seminar, swimming three times a week (because it makes me feel fantastic) and setting up a steering group for Transition Cam & Dursley.

Why oh why did I sign up to be a social reporter? I always do this. Take on too much and find myself running round like a headless chicken. Time poverty is big in my world.

Then I was late putting my name on the writing rota and ended up with permaculture. Another subject I know jack all about. But do you know what? It’s been perfect.

I first came across permaculture in the early nineties when I was living in Bristol. Montpelier to be more precise. I lived just up the road from 10-12 Picton Street (an ethical business hub) and spent some days volunteering for the Community Recycling Network. On other days I processed and packed orders stuffed with books, Trees for Life calendars and diaries, and Friends of the Earth reports for a company called Worldly Goods on the ground floor.

Some of the books they distributed were about something called permaculture. I packed so many copies of Bill Mollison’s Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual that its cover is now emblazoned in my memory and will remain there 'til I’m nothing more than mulch in the ground myself.

But that’s about as near as I ever got to actual permaculture. I can remember flicking through the book a few times. But it just looked like a Haynes Manual for jungle-style gardening to me. At the time I was more interested in where that weekend’s free party would be. Happy daze.

Skip to the present day.

If I’m honest the thought of gardening scares me stiff. Composting is the closest I usually get to it. Letting dead things rot is easy. Nurturing life, watering it and feeding it, that's a bit of a toughie. Feeding myself. No problem. But I have enough trouble keeping my own water levels up, any plant life doesn’t stand a chance. Now I could read all sorts into this. But I won't. I've just never learnt how to garden. And I'm sure there are plenty more like me out there in Transition world and beyond who feel too foolish to admit it.  

But don't feel foolish, there is a plus side. As far as gardening is concerned we're still pretty much blank canvasses. I did have a go at growing some tomatoes this year. I can’t say I was very 'good' at it. I just threw them in the ground and up they came. But it's a start. Yes, it was a bit chaotic in that particular border for messrs mint, thyme and marjoram. Alas, the final two were wiped out by the spreading tomato plants - apparently I need to cut them back next year, or do I? But it was an amazing feeling eating something I’d planted.

Obviously I can't take the credit for growing them, they did that all by themselves. But the knock on effect of all this was my first batch of tomato chutney. I can take the credit for that. I don't think I've ever felt more satisfied than when I cracked open that jar and made a cheese and chutney sandwich. It tasted sublime. 

Anyway I digress. I have to say I was utterly delighted to read Jo Homan’s post this week. Hearing all about Finsbury Park’s Edible Landscapes, with talk of gardeners struggling to get their heads around the simplicity of permaculture and just leaving stuff to grow, was music to my ears. And as for spending the first year mulching. That sounds terrific.

I thought permaculture was some kind of heavily involved, hybrid gardening practice that requires a degree in horticulture to understand. But to hear of this no digging, no backbreaking (maybe I read it wrong) and no rocket science approach has really fired me up. 

I feel really, really excited and inspired about permaculture. And Bill Mollison crops up in pretty much every other post this week, so mine will be no exception – and credit where credit’s due he’s been gently nudging his way into my psyche for the past 20 years. Well Bill. You’re in. I’ve decided to get myself a copy of your Introduction to Permaculture.

Oh, hang on a minute. I’ve opened Amazon in another browser and it’s a bit out of my price range. The book looks out of print. The only copies on offer cost between £65 and £90. If only I’d known that when I was working at Worldly Goods. I was sitting on a goldmine. Anyway back to the task in hand. When in doubt try YouTube. There's some great films on there about Bill Mollison and permaculture. I've put the first of the series here. It's makes powerful viewing. 

This week I spent the last couple of days scouring the local area in search of a friendly permaculture sage for the purpose of this post. Nothing. Not one single person. Well there was one person who did a course once. But he’s too busy to meet up (it's a common Transition theme I'm starting to learn). So guess what, I might just book myself onto one of these permaculture courses myself. Now all I need is some spare time to do it. 

In the meantime, back to YouTube...

Picture from Bill Mollison's Permaculture: A Designer's Manual; My son Lewis models that special first batch of tomato chutney.