EVENTS: EASTERN PERMACULTURE GATHERING EPG13
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/EasternPermacultureGathering
EVENT Subpages:
5.1 TRIANGLE PLANNING FOR EVENTS- A new design planning tool I have used
5.2 Event Resources
5.3 Herb Bus Scrapbook
Short Summary:
In Dano's head inspiration came from Andy G's saying we need to celebrate 30 years of permaculture and the need for regional gatherings between the 2 yearly national convergences.
At the 2012 Convergence Dano and Debbie held this thought till the rest of the Gang took it up and together it happened. It felt really great to start with an idea and for it to lead to a fantastic outcome.
design Method: CEAP
Collecting information: This bit is the fun bit, venues, ideas, contacting people and a the 2012 convergence enough support was shown by others in the Eastern Region.
Evaluate: Evaluation took place several times during the process. Initially it was can we do it? With support from others a rather hopeful "Yes lets go for it happened". (During the event planning we learnt that personal relationships and burnout need to be taken into account to a design process. But after the event, we were so glad we had done it. A great venue and lots of new connections made. Some time later financially we turned a healthy surplus which was reinvested into future gatherings, IPC15 delegate support and a fair donation to the permaculture office for the admin help).
Apply principles: Without an established method to do this Debbie and I sat in her bus and mind mapped the Holmgren 12 principles in relation to our ideas.
Plan Implementation: This is the story that involved many people and ended up a magical weekend. It involved meetings, delegation and trust.
Evaluate: Evaluation took place several times during the process. Initially it was can we do it? With support from others a rather hopeful "Yes lets go for it happened". (During the event planning we learnt that personal relationships and burnout need to be taken into account to a design process. But after the event, we were so glad we had done it. A great venue and lots of new connections made. Some time later financially we turned a healthy surplus which was reinvested into future gatherings, IPC15 delegate support and a fair donation to the permaculture office for the admin help).
Apply principles: Without an established method to do this Debbie and I sat in her bus and mind mapped the Holmgren 12 principles in relation to our ideas.
Plan Implementation: This is the story that involved many people and ended up a magical weekend. It involved meetings, delegation and trust.
We certainly did it. We involved lots of locals and built a shared network of folk that now know each other better. We said " Hey Permaculture World, the East Anglians are cool and doing stuff". It felt like we gave back, I have been recipient of permaculture love for many years.
More DETAIL ON CEAP - THE DESIGN PROCESS
Collecting INformation
We knew people, a few places, many emails later and Debbie and Dano got it all together and were a good balance of opinions able to critique each other. Size of venue, cost to participant, and all sorts of different opinions were gathered from various sources primarily so it would be seen a shared decision process. What was our method for gathering it all up? I think a fair few face to face meetings initially was the start.
Dan and Debbie used feedback from conference and emails to come up with the 5 aims.
-CELEBRATE 30 YEARS OF PERMACULTURE
-PROMOTE PERMACULTURE
-LINKING PEOPLE IN THE REGION TOGETHER
-SUPPORT AND USE LOCAL TALENT
-PERMACULTURE UP THE VENUE
Dan and Debbie used feedback from conference and emails to come up with the 5 aims.
-CELEBRATE 30 YEARS OF PERMACULTURE
-PROMOTE PERMACULTURE
-LINKING PEOPLE IN THE REGION TOGETHER
-SUPPORT AND USE LOCAL TALENT
-PERMACULTURE UP THE VENUE
swoc_for_ea_converg.pdf | |
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how-to-run-a-regional-gathering-screen-res.pdf | |
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EVALUATE
Group mood and energy? Lets do it,it'll all come together? What are the costs to personal life for doing it and not doing it? The great unknown but because there was a core group that all had passion it was felt that even if we had burnout, Dano and Debbie at times had to step back it would continue. I think a CEAPE Design would be helpful as the evaluation afterwards is useful for future events. With the help of the PAB Leeds office taking money and bookings, insurance etc we had support. That was crucial. They also guaranteed 10 bookings with a national Trustee meeting that helped.
Leap of Faith........ Is there a Permaculture Term relevant here?
Akin to: "feel the fear and do it anyway!" and "build it and they will come"
I think a great plan was to find the AIMS of the event....why do it. This helped to make the decision that we had to do it. It also made it clear how to apply principles in the next stage of the design.
Promote Permaculture
Celebrate 30 years of Permaculture
Support and Use local Projects
Linking People Together
Permaculture Up the Venue
So had we collected enough information? ? ?
Who knows, but Debbie and I continued with this CEAP methodology to then show the rest of the eastern Permaculture Gathering team..... Collecting them was easy as lots of people were up for it and we had a watertight case to inspire them.
A shared feeling was "up for it" alongside "what are we getting ourselves into here".
2015 Update: A West Norfolk Eastern Permaculture Gathering took place in April 2015, as planned. In fact the organising group were all too tired after the 2013 event to think of organising an event but Ben and Lee done us proud by filling the gap. I wonder how they feel afterwards but well done them and they did use some of the resources on drop box that were helpful.
Leap of Faith........ Is there a Permaculture Term relevant here?
Akin to: "feel the fear and do it anyway!" and "build it and they will come"
I think a great plan was to find the AIMS of the event....why do it. This helped to make the decision that we had to do it. It also made it clear how to apply principles in the next stage of the design.
Promote Permaculture
Celebrate 30 years of Permaculture
Support and Use local Projects
Linking People Together
Permaculture Up the Venue
So had we collected enough information? ? ?
Who knows, but Debbie and I continued with this CEAP methodology to then show the rest of the eastern Permaculture Gathering team..... Collecting them was easy as lots of people were up for it and we had a watertight case to inspire them.
A shared feeling was "up for it" alongside "what are we getting ourselves into here".
2015 Update: A West Norfolk Eastern Permaculture Gathering took place in April 2015, as planned. In fact the organising group were all too tired after the 2013 event to think of organising an event but Ben and Lee done us proud by filling the gap. I wonder how they feel afterwards but well done them and they did use some of the resources on drop box that were helpful.
APPLYING PRINCIPLES
Applying principles with coloured pencils was great fun and we realised that it would take a while for each of our 5 aims. This was a much more systematic design checklist than used in DESIGN 4.
In the above diagram:
- we made sure to look for those involved in the earlier years of Permaculture in East Anglia and this led us to the Albion Fairs - a festival scene that was very influential in getting folk together in the 70s and 80s.
- having symmetry with the PAB by having a celebration (and cake) and linking with the trustees who had a meeting at the same time - designed to integrate.
- Ideas that could form a pattern and lead to details down the organising way.
In the above diagram:
- we made sure to look for those involved in the earlier years of Permaculture in East Anglia and this led us to the Albion Fairs - a festival scene that was very influential in getting folk together in the 70s and 80s.
- having symmetry with the PAB by having a celebration (and cake) and linking with the trustees who had a meeting at the same time - designed to integrate.
- Ideas that could form a pattern and lead to details down the organising way.
PLAN ImPlementation
Below are the flower petal aims that we asked everyone to consider. Other Implementation tips we learnt:
P.s. many people helped which was vital- if not more burn out would have been experienced.
- The core Group used Pow Wow phone conferneces to communicate after a few initial face to face meeting proved costly with time , money and getting everyone together. I even joined a conference call shilst in bath - long day, tired, hungry and perhaps not up for an hour chat- half way through Marina asked - is someone in the bath? Me I peeped embarrassed.
- lots of work to contact workshop leaders and check risk assessments done to ensure we could use PAB insurance.
- Finances and booking via PAB a god send but needed planning.
- Decisions on venue a bit bossy from Dano- this is a good venue, I live nearby, unless someone has a better idea lets do it here....bit bossy. It was good though.
- Decision on keeping to aims: Food provision use local or trusted folk, we had to go with people that responded in timely manner.
- We involved a large network, used facebook to promote, we did Permaculture up the venue.
- Loads of other jobs like entertainment, managing room bookings, reception, kids area and putting up marquee etc. Anyhow it worked.
Getting to the delegation of roles led to a massive blossoming of documents as people took responsibility for their areas of the event. Design by delegation.
See below for some of those:
I worked on the mindmap myself and with others on the proposal to the PA but the others were not my work.
mind map for EPC13 | |
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EVALUATION OF THE DESIGN
DID IT WORK?
The event was a huge success and maybe it is best to look at the AIMS petal to evaluate it.
Promote Permaculture: We promoted permaculture to many people from the area. Wholefood eaters, conservation lovers, volunteers and hippies and of course several permaculturalists were able to bring partners, friends and family to help to share their love of sustainable design.
Celebrate 30 years of Permaculture: We had a big cake and it felt amazing to have all the trustees of the permaculture association in East Anglia.
Support and Use local Projects: Unfortunately we were unable to have confidence in local caterers but otherwise we used local people for all the workshops and it was a great localising event.
Linking People Together: There were very many connections made between people but for me personally the links made between the core group was particularly impressive. We were tired though and I did fall out with one person. We were better for having taken the leap of faith.
Permaculture Up the Venue: Ringsfield enjoyed the event, it's staff learnt about permaculture and as they run on strong ethical principles they fitted well the permaculture ethics and principles.
Would we do it again? It was felt that others needed to take the batton on. They did in 2015. We started the ball rolling.
We were too tired to think about getting feedback from participants or even to meet again and debrief.
Sorry It would be a good addition to the design process.
POST EPG13:
We were all pretty tired and happy. A few broken friendships but in the main an amazing amount of new friends and resultant outcomes that people have spoken about in the past few years. Financially we raised £700 for International Delegates to IPC15 and £700 to the Permaculture Association and £500 for a future Eastern Gathering. After the Eastern Permaculture Gathering 2015, that said they didn't need any money, we still had that money so it was decided after a few emails to split it between 11 organisers £45.45 each. We all had big travel expenses etc that were never reimbursed. This drew a line under the EPC13.
The event was a huge success and maybe it is best to look at the AIMS petal to evaluate it.
Promote Permaculture: We promoted permaculture to many people from the area. Wholefood eaters, conservation lovers, volunteers and hippies and of course several permaculturalists were able to bring partners, friends and family to help to share their love of sustainable design.
Celebrate 30 years of Permaculture: We had a big cake and it felt amazing to have all the trustees of the permaculture association in East Anglia.
Support and Use local Projects: Unfortunately we were unable to have confidence in local caterers but otherwise we used local people for all the workshops and it was a great localising event.
Linking People Together: There were very many connections made between people but for me personally the links made between the core group was particularly impressive. We were tired though and I did fall out with one person. We were better for having taken the leap of faith.
Permaculture Up the Venue: Ringsfield enjoyed the event, it's staff learnt about permaculture and as they run on strong ethical principles they fitted well the permaculture ethics and principles.
Would we do it again? It was felt that others needed to take the batton on. They did in 2015. We started the ball rolling.
We were too tired to think about getting feedback from participants or even to meet again and debrief.
Sorry It would be a good addition to the design process.
POST EPG13:
We were all pretty tired and happy. A few broken friendships but in the main an amazing amount of new friends and resultant outcomes that people have spoken about in the past few years. Financially we raised £700 for International Delegates to IPC15 and £700 to the Permaculture Association and £500 for a future Eastern Gathering. After the Eastern Permaculture Gathering 2015, that said they didn't need any money, we still had that money so it was decided after a few emails to split it between 11 organisers £45.45 each. We all had big travel expenses etc that were never reimbursed. This drew a line under the EPC13.
danoepc13_remainder_sept15_.pdf | |
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EVALUATION on the CEAP DESIGN METHOD
I really liked this Design Methodology as it is simple and vague enough to fit everything into a category whilst still having a major difference to OBREDIMET AND SADIMET in the applying of permaculture ethics and principles.
It provided a good framework and the event was a success.
Collect information is pretty similar to Survey. or OBR but easier and let me be creative.
Evaluate like Analyse
Apply Principles is the really innovative bit of this design. I love it.
Plan implementation may be lacking in detail. That was something to be aware of. We certainly designed up to the doing stage and then it had built up enough momentum and people to ensure the EPG13 was going to happen.
Maybe good to have further Evaluation AFTERWARDS although I remember we were knackered and needed a break from each other.
It provided a good framework and the event was a success.
Collect information is pretty similar to Survey. or OBR but easier and let me be creative.
Evaluate like Analyse
Apply Principles is the really innovative bit of this design. I love it.
Plan implementation may be lacking in detail. That was something to be aware of. We certainly designed up to the doing stage and then it had built up enough momentum and people to ensure the EPG13 was going to happen.
Maybe good to have further Evaluation AFTERWARDS although I remember we were knackered and needed a break from each other.
REFLECTIONS ON MY LEARNINGS A PERMaCULTURE DESIGNER
So I really enjoyed the CEAP design methodology.
CEAP in this design allowed ideas to be loosely categorised which was helpful, especially when designing an event with other people. I like the petal design for everyone to make sure how to keep the 5 aims in mind with their role.
I do think there needs to be a better way to glean the points from APPLYING PRINCIPLES which is perhaps a bit vague. Also the Plan Implementation could easily (I'm lazy) be left at the plan stage rather than taking it forward.
I am becoming more confident with designing now and I am realising I want to know more about what design is......I can see lifelong learning here.
5 DESIGNS - HALFWAY REFLECTION
I feel I am getting somewhere now with three design methods that are similar but have little variations.......
I realise I need creative and simple approached to suit my personality.
The first two OBREDIMET designs are boring lists.
The TRIPLE 000 and Ozone Plugging is a bit weird but a personal solution.
SADIMET is better that OBREDIMET in my view but perhaps calling it SADIM would keep it simple.
I think OBREIMET AND SADIM(ET) are most useful for a linear approach to say land based drawing of base maps.
CEAP may well have worked better for the LAND HOLDING decision making.
I feel happier having a selection of design methodologies or at least having a go at them. I wonder now what other methods there are in and outside of the permaculture world. I have seen examples written and spoken about that people have developed and I hope to explore them and create my own.
A key learning is that the observation/ survey/ collecting information stage can be long and revisited, I often need to get my hands dirty and clearing weeds off a derelict allotment gives time to imagine and vision a piece of land. You can find important information, at Old Hall I changed the shape of the culinary bed beds as there were 4 old concrete windmill footings a few cm under the soil.
CEAP in this design allowed ideas to be loosely categorised which was helpful, especially when designing an event with other people. I like the petal design for everyone to make sure how to keep the 5 aims in mind with their role.
I do think there needs to be a better way to glean the points from APPLYING PRINCIPLES which is perhaps a bit vague. Also the Plan Implementation could easily (I'm lazy) be left at the plan stage rather than taking it forward.
I am becoming more confident with designing now and I am realising I want to know more about what design is......I can see lifelong learning here.
- I love using the Triangle planning tool to get lots of ideas on one page and follow them through to have agot all the resources I need with me packed. A good Collecting Information Tool.
- The Herb Bus is included here as I thought it would be in itself a design. It relates to events and it was integral to the IPC15 for me. It also relates to designs that involve others as I do not own the bus but can see lots of used and potential for it.
5 DESIGNS - HALFWAY REFLECTION
I feel I am getting somewhere now with three design methods that are similar but have little variations.......
I realise I need creative and simple approached to suit my personality.
The first two OBREDIMET designs are boring lists.
The TRIPLE 000 and Ozone Plugging is a bit weird but a personal solution.
SADIMET is better that OBREDIMET in my view but perhaps calling it SADIM would keep it simple.
I think OBREIMET AND SADIM(ET) are most useful for a linear approach to say land based drawing of base maps.
CEAP may well have worked better for the LAND HOLDING decision making.
I feel happier having a selection of design methodologies or at least having a go at them. I wonder now what other methods there are in and outside of the permaculture world. I have seen examples written and spoken about that people have developed and I hope to explore them and create my own.
A key learning is that the observation/ survey/ collecting information stage can be long and revisited, I often need to get my hands dirty and clearing weeds off a derelict allotment gives time to imagine and vision a piece of land. You can find important information, at Old Hall I changed the shape of the culinary bed beds as there were 4 old concrete windmill footings a few cm under the soil.
Ethics and Principles
Well This is a crucial part of this methodology and I can't help thinking it was created intentionally to make sure the principles were included to answer the question "What makes Permaculture design any different to other forms of design".
People Care could have been a bigger element in this and the EPG13 event had lots of input from people and was about a gathering of people. I would like to see intentional designs to stop burnout and would suggest incorporating open sharing of how we feel, encouraging asking for help and planned or subsequent use of any surplus to value financially the work undertaken. I suppose this all links well with fair shares.
Principles wise looking at Molison and Holmgren:
I will certainly be considering ethics and principles in the design stage to ensure they are a major part of my future designs.
People Care could have been a bigger element in this and the EPG13 event had lots of input from people and was about a gathering of people. I would like to see intentional designs to stop burnout and would suggest incorporating open sharing of how we feel, encouraging asking for help and planned or subsequent use of any surplus to value financially the work undertaken. I suppose this all links well with fair shares.
Principles wise looking at Molison and Holmgren:
- Use and Value Diversity & Integrate rather than seggregate: the 10 or so people that made it all happen.
- Patterns to Details: from big ideas to an actual event with delegated roles that had many smaller decisions. All undertaken within a pattern of 5 aims.
- The yield of a system in theoretically unlimited : An event such as the EPG13 had so many more outcomes that anyone could write down.
I will certainly be considering ethics and principles in the design stage to ensure they are a major part of my future designs.