We loveJans blog!
Posted:5 December 2010
Jan M. is one of an enthusiastic group of women who regularly (every Friday!) gather to drink coffee, chat about the week’s events – and to work in the beautiful garden at The Garden House!
What better way to learn about horticulture and track each season’s living timetable. For some that learning is then taken into their own garden or allotment, for others, with perhaps just window-boxes or patio spaces, it’s a wonderful opportunity to work physically, getting stuck in to whatever the garden needs doing that week.
From sowing seeds, harvesting spring-sown vegetables, digging in manure, pruning the rose arches, propagating hardwood cuttings, training raspberry bushes – to laying slab patios and creating mosaic features and pathways – there’s never a dull moment!
Jan’s blog http://omaoilreanail.blogspot.com/ tracks her reflections following retirement late 2009, what she calls “the first year of the rest of my life”…
We love her observations on life and new experiences– and she talks of working in The Garden House – her “retirement project no.4”!
Jan is also a passionate believer in permaculture – an ethos that combines three key aspects:
1. an ethical framework
2. understandings of how nature works, and
3. a design approach
This unique combination is then used to support the creation of sustainable, agriculturally productive, non-polluting and healthy settlements. In many places this means adapting our existing settlements. In other cases it can mean starting from scratch. Both offer interesting challenges and opportunities.
The word permaculture comes from permanent agriculture and permanent culture it is about living lightly on the planet, and making sure that we can sustain human activities for many generations to come, in harmony with nature. Permanence is not about everything staying the same. Its about stability, about deepening soils and cleaner water, thriving communities in self-reliant regions, biodiverse agriculture and social justice, peace and abundance.
One thing is for sure – it’s a fascinating subject, with many aspects, and it’s still evolving. NB this info taken from The Permaculture Assoc. website www.permaculture.org.uk
At The Garden House we so love energy and adventure – and Jan’s blog is all about both!