PERMACULTURE DESIGN METHODOLoGY IN BUSINESS DESIGN
What permaculture design method to use here? I want something to reflect the starting from scratch start up and the journey. CEAP gathers lots of information. SADIMET and OBREDIMET could work but I want a process to follow that is a bit more about process.
- I thought of Dragon Dreaming as it describes project management and getting a long list of things done in a friendly simple group process. I had experience with this once and it stuck with me as being something to retry and a helpful way to be systematic and design the process. I accept that what I come up with will only be my take on Dragon Dreaming so please excuse that.
- I thought of Dragon Dreaming as it describes project management and getting a long list of things done in a friendly simple group process. I had experience with this once and it stuck with me as being something to retry and a helpful way to be systematic and design the process. I accept that what I come up with will only be my take on Dragon Dreaming so please excuse that.
MY TAKE ON DRAGON DREAMING MeTHODOLOGY
A web search about Dragon Dreaming to find out more:
http://www.dragondreaming.org/dragondreaming/what-is-it-exactly/dragon-dreamingthe-dragon-dreaming-process/
Reading the above website, I'm finding the the process a bit wacky with letting your dreams and intuition start a project..........But I love it as this is what Herbaculture has felt like to me. It's helping with progresssing on from those dreams I have had and need help to push forward.
(my comments in italics and much of the following text in the rest of this section is taken from the above website)
Dragon Dreaming offers methods for the realisation of creative, collaborative and sustainable projects and organisations, built upon three principles:
Ethics above not so far removed from Permaculture Ethics of People Care, Fair Share and Earth Care?
4 STAGES: - not so different to OBRDIMET or SADIMET?
1) THE DREAMING - How do we make dreams come true?
2) THE PLANNING - People do not "plan to fail" just "fail to plan".
3) THE DOING - the work! careful not to burnout.....
4) THE CELEBRATING - This is built upon gratitude and thankfulness, acknowledgement and recognition. It is celebration that connects the doing of a project back to the original dreaming.
Consider now the statistics. In our conventional world of win-lose competitive enterprises, of every 1000 dreams, only 100 become plans, only 10 plans work according to plan, and only 1 survives longer than three years. People know this…. they know in the conventional business as usual world, dreams do not come true, and so….. so they give up their dreams. Aboriginal people in Australia say that when you lose your dreaming you have lost part of your soul. And the symptoms of soul loss are all around us – apathy, fatalism, powerlessness, living only from day to day, addictive behaviours, seeking happiness through consumerism, easy frustration, blaming the victim in others or oneself, rising levels of depression.
Dragon Dreamers know we need this fourth step.
I can see the links with Permaculture and the Transition Movement in this attitude and I like it.
http://www.dragondreaming.org/dragondreaming/what-is-it-exactly/dragon-dreamingthe-dragon-dreaming-process/
Reading the above website, I'm finding the the process a bit wacky with letting your dreams and intuition start a project..........But I love it as this is what Herbaculture has felt like to me. It's helping with progresssing on from those dreams I have had and need help to push forward.
(my comments in italics and much of the following text in the rest of this section is taken from the above website)
Dragon Dreaming offers methods for the realisation of creative, collaborative and sustainable projects and organisations, built upon three principles:
- personal growth – commitment to your own healing and empowerment
- community building – strengthening the communities of which you are a part
- service to the Earth – enhancing the wellbeing and flourishing of all life
Ethics above not so far removed from Permaculture Ethics of People Care, Fair Share and Earth Care?
4 STAGES: - not so different to OBRDIMET or SADIMET?
1) THE DREAMING - How do we make dreams come true?
2) THE PLANNING - People do not "plan to fail" just "fail to plan".
3) THE DOING - the work! careful not to burnout.....
4) THE CELEBRATING - This is built upon gratitude and thankfulness, acknowledgement and recognition. It is celebration that connects the doing of a project back to the original dreaming.
Consider now the statistics. In our conventional world of win-lose competitive enterprises, of every 1000 dreams, only 100 become plans, only 10 plans work according to plan, and only 1 survives longer than three years. People know this…. they know in the conventional business as usual world, dreams do not come true, and so….. so they give up their dreams. Aboriginal people in Australia say that when you lose your dreaming you have lost part of your soul. And the symptoms of soul loss are all around us – apathy, fatalism, powerlessness, living only from day to day, addictive behaviours, seeking happiness through consumerism, easy frustration, blaming the victim in others or oneself, rising levels of depression.
Dragon Dreamers know we need this fourth step.
I can see the links with Permaculture and the Transition Movement in this attitude and I like it.
THE DREAMING
http://www.dragondreaming.org/dragondreaming/what-is-it-exactly/dreaming/
(italics now showing explanatory quotes from the website)
“What would this project have to be like that afterward you can say, you could not have spent your time in any better way?“
Personal
I forfill my dreams.
Herbaculture takes off
right livelihood for me and others.
I haven't wasted my time
Community
mutual support encouraged
health improvements to people and communities
community gardens started or better used.
Service to the Earth
looking after ourselves as a part of the earth
Gardens and green spaces cared for
Plants as medicines
(italics now showing explanatory quotes from the website)
“What would this project have to be like that afterward you can say, you could not have spent your time in any better way?“
Personal
I forfill my dreams.
Herbaculture takes off
right livelihood for me and others.
I haven't wasted my time
Community
mutual support encouraged
health improvements to people and communities
community gardens started or better used.
Service to the Earth
looking after ourselves as a part of the earth
Gardens and green spaces cared for
Plants as medicines
THE PLANNING
http://www.dragondreaming.org/dragondreaming/what-is-it-exactly/planning/
“What things need to happen to enable 100% of our collective Dream to come true”
The ideas generated are then grouped and sorted through a normative group process that finishes with the writing of between 6-8 objectives for the project. A straw poll is then conducted in answer to the Generative Question
“Which objective, if given attention to first, will facilititate the achievement of the other objectives and make 100% of our Dream come true”
1) clarity of what Herbaculture is trying to do.
2) retain ethics and principles
3) space for other aspects of life to continue to flourish
4) find people to share the dream with
5) business admin leading to being operations.
6) Herbaculture :
8) experience 'Herbaculture in action'. evaluation, promoting, celebrating and expanding.
The central tool for the Planning stage (and later the Doing stage) is the strategy of the Karabirrdt. The word comes from the Noongar Aborigines of Western Australia and means spiderweb. A Karabirrdt is a literally a “board game”, a project plan, a guide, and a map of the territory all at once. It helps to playfully and intuitively take care of all tasks and to budget them. The Karabirrdt is also the gateway from theory to practice.
“What things need to happen to enable 100% of our collective Dream to come true”
- clarity of what Herbaculture is trying to do.
- business admin leading to being operational.
- space for other aspect of life to continue and flourish.
- find people to share the dream with.
- experience 'Herbaculture in action'. evaluation, promoting and expanding.
- Retain ethics and principles at the heart of everything.
- growing herbs
- making remedies and the 'art' of herbal meidcine
- online presence to a wider audience
- garden design for healthy communities
- Learning about our health in small group
The ideas generated are then grouped and sorted through a normative group process that finishes with the writing of between 6-8 objectives for the project. A straw poll is then conducted in answer to the Generative Question
“Which objective, if given attention to first, will facilititate the achievement of the other objectives and make 100% of our Dream come true”
1) clarity of what Herbaculture is trying to do.
2) retain ethics and principles
3) space for other aspects of life to continue to flourish
4) find people to share the dream with
5) business admin leading to being operations.
6) Herbaculture :
- a) growing herbs
- b) making remedies and the 'art' of herbal meidcine
- c) learning about our health in small groups
- d) online presence to a wider audience
- e) garden design for healthy communities
8) experience 'Herbaculture in action'. evaluation, promoting, celebrating and expanding.
The central tool for the Planning stage (and later the Doing stage) is the strategy of the Karabirrdt. The word comes from the Noongar Aborigines of Western Australia and means spiderweb. A Karabirrdt is a literally a “board game”, a project plan, a guide, and a map of the territory all at once. It helps to playfully and intuitively take care of all tasks and to budget them. The Karabirrdt is also the gateway from theory to practice.
PLANNING/ DOING WEB - KARABIRRDT
THE DOING
http://www.dragondreaming.org/dragondreaming/what-is-it-exactly/doing/
The Karabirrdt also helps to cross the threshold to the doing stage. It helps to stay focused during the whole process of the implementation: who has started which task, and which task has already been completed?
The Dream Circle helps with the evaluation of a project: Which ideas and visions have we been able to realise? It is based on an answer to the Generative Question:
“What evidence would show us that we are completing our tasks, achieving our objectives and making 100% of our dreams come true?”
INCLUDE UPDATES HERE WHEN FURTHER DOWN THE LINE OF THE HERBACULTURE PROJECT....
By answering what is still needed to make our (collective) dream come true? Very often a project team realises that more than a hundred percent of their dream has come true, and often in ways that they could never have imagined.
The Karabirrdt also helps to cross the threshold to the doing stage. It helps to stay focused during the whole process of the implementation: who has started which task, and which task has already been completed?
The Dream Circle helps with the evaluation of a project: Which ideas and visions have we been able to realise? It is based on an answer to the Generative Question:
“What evidence would show us that we are completing our tasks, achieving our objectives and making 100% of our dreams come true?”
INCLUDE UPDATES HERE WHEN FURTHER DOWN THE LINE OF THE HERBACULTURE PROJECT....
By answering what is still needed to make our (collective) dream come true? Very often a project team realises that more than a hundred percent of their dream has come true, and often in ways that they could never have imagined.
THE CELEBRATING
As we come to realise our dreams, it is time for celebration. Yet we often forget to celebrate. We think that there isn’t enough time, that there isn’t enough money. But when we celebrate (and dream), we replenish our valuable creative energy. Those who always move from the doing directly to the next planning, will sooner or later burn out. We say 25% of every project needs to be celebration, and that we need to celebrate all the way through.
This is why Dragon Dreaming emphasises on celebration – the conscious appreciation of everything we have accomplished and what we have learned (from each other). It is based upon gratitude and thankfulness, recognition of what has happened, seeing what we have done. Celebration also stimulates a new awareness: What we have learned will lead to a new understanding of ourselves, the people around us and the world in general. And this can lead to new dreams…
Plan celebration in at all stages of the Karabirrd
e.g. No. 4 find people to share the dream with and invite them to celebrate with me.
e.g. No. 8 Reflections is well done with a glass in your hand.
This is why Dragon Dreaming emphasises on celebration – the conscious appreciation of everything we have accomplished and what we have learned (from each other). It is based upon gratitude and thankfulness, recognition of what has happened, seeing what we have done. Celebration also stimulates a new awareness: What we have learned will lead to a new understanding of ourselves, the people around us and the world in general. And this can lead to new dreams…
Plan celebration in at all stages of the Karabirrd
- into funding bids - resources and time to celebrate
- end of project goody bags?
- celebrating gives great promotional pictures. Celebrating gives time for evaluation and reflection and funders can be invited.
e.g. No. 4 find people to share the dream with and invite them to celebrate with me.
e.g. No. 8 Reflections is well done with a glass in your hand.
1. CLARIFYING HERBACULTURE
Much of my life ideas and designs relate to my herbaculture plans. I realise I am missing a clear vision of what I dream herbaculture can be for me and for my aspirations of a social herbaculture. There have always been clients, workshops, educating groups about herbal medicine and community engagement. Since starting the School for Social Entrepreneurship in Oct 2017 I am going to make a plans for me as a herbaculturalist and for herbaculture the social enterprise/ charity and meme.
Dano the Herbaculturalist:
Being a medical herbalist:
N.B. Insurance about remedies and herbal medicine need to clearly be outsourced to Dano the medical herbalist.
Herbaculture 'Community Interest Company'
N.B. By taking talks, walks and workshops into Herbaculture it simplifies the herbalist role and makes education and inspiration part of herbaculture. Basically anything not medical. So although plant growing could be seen as a personal thing I think it is best be clear that it comes under Herbaculture too.
Being a medical herbalist:
- consultations
- apprenticeships
- medicine making
- selling products.
N.B. Insurance about remedies and herbal medicine need to clearly be outsourced to Dano the medical herbalist.
Herbaculture 'Community Interest Company'
- short courses on wellbeing and herb growing.
- herb garden design and maintenance;
- plant love/ lore; talk and workshops;
- non Medicines sold online: links to other websites etc so no stock held.
- -My t shirt and clothing designs via shop.spreadshirt.co.uk/1148487
- blog style links to products and other ranges with links to commission on sales?
N.B. By taking talks, walks and workshops into Herbaculture it simplifies the herbalist role and makes education and inspiration part of herbaculture. Basically anything not medical. So although plant growing could be seen as a personal thing I think it is best be clear that it comes under Herbaculture too.
2. ETHICS AND PRINCIPLES AS GUIDE AND TO CHECK DESIGNING
- Ethics and Principles were included in the planning stage as important. But How this takes place is still up for discussion:
- Devise a checklist / tool to assess principle use e.g a checklist. Table below
- new ideas? Had the idea to redo this with regard to Business Admin once there. Ethic banking etc.
How did it go? The key points from the Table below are gardening skills as part of health awareness to link land and person, have no perceived financial barriers to taking part and make sure the health benefits are captured and stored to "shout" about the benefits of herbaculture.
I feel that this exercise didn't tell me anything new but I will repeat it again and aim to continually revisit it.
Ethics and Principles Table | |
File Size: | 706 kb |
File Type: |
3. Ensuring LIFE CONTINUES & AVOID BURNOUT
I am keen here to be aware of areas of my life that need to not be forgotten in the Herbaculture CIC plans.
Using the Triple 000 tool below to get a handle on the areas of my life. ZONE 0: Housing, Possessions, Livelihood ZONE 00: Food, Exercise, Kissability & Habits ZONE 000: Mental Life, Emotional Life and Mission/ Purpose. Bold reflects a correspondence with a separate 2 minute thought shower list of things to be aware of were: Personal Life: Sacred time with partner by keeping weekends free, Self Development and Exercise Social life: Visiting/ contacting family & making time to see Friends. Professional Life: Not losing sight of my personal business with patients and CPD. All in All I need to be aware of my health, my social/ emotional bonds and to ensure 'my thing' (being a herbalist) is a big part of my life. Nov 2017: So work in swimming, special time with partner, family and friends and try the online herbal medicine course that is being offered by my institute. Revisit this regularly to check all is well. |
Nov 2017: So work in swimming, special time with partner, family and friends and try the online herbal medicine course that is being offered by my institute.
REVIEW MONTHLY:
DECEMBER:
JANUARY:
REVIEW MONTHLY:
DECEMBER:
JANUARY:
4. Share the DREAM?
I included this as the dragon dreaming process has a lot to do with groups and their interaction saying "a dream stays a dream unless it is shared". I also am aware that a minimum of three people is needed for some forms of legal structure. On the Social Enterprise course I am doing there were some great examples of charity trustees being the biggest sources of free advice and guidance and why wouldn't I want that?
The nature of a social enterprise is it is social but having been in a co-operative I realise how much it could slow me down and dilute my vision having others with me who have other ideas. So far this had been my idea alone and I also want to make this my way of making an income but I owe it to myself to explore how I can share my dream.
Categories of people to share my dream with is crucial even if just for support:
Initial step is to collect as may people as I can and share where I am?
I have to explore my Mailchimp mailing list and point as many interactions with the above people to signing up. Explore updates on Facebook too but feel less excited by that and add a link on my email signature.
The nature of a social enterprise is it is social but having been in a co-operative I realise how much it could slow me down and dilute my vision having others with me who have other ideas. So far this had been my idea alone and I also want to make this my way of making an income but I owe it to myself to explore how I can share my dream.
Categories of people to share my dream with is crucial even if just for support:
- Other herbalists via facebook and NIMH.
- Community gardeners via Thrive and umbrella organisations.
- Community gardens/ locations in my area.
- Fellow facilitiators from First Question Co-op
- Advisory organisations like Community Action Suffolk, Eastern Enterprise Hub etc.
- Social prescribers
- Group Facilitators
- Health Professionals such as doctors and nurses and specialists.
- Community champions who make things happen in their areas.
- Partner organisations such as MIND, ActivLives etc.
- Individual supporters who need to be kept informed.
- Social Entrepreneur Peers on my course.
- Other Social Enterprises e.g. Greener Growth
- How will I get in contact with these people? At what stage in Herbaculture's development?
- Is there a right time?
- Will it change how I view the legal structure?
- Updates? Requests for Help?
Initial step is to collect as may people as I can and share where I am?
I have to explore my Mailchimp mailing list and point as many interactions with the above people to signing up. Explore updates on Facebook too but feel less excited by that and add a link on my email signature.
Using my old mailing list of over 220 people I got teo immediate replies, one saying fab...... and another saying they could offer accountancy tailored to CIC and linked me up with a local CIC doing nature inspired garden designs - exciting.
Remember the celebration aspect of Dragon Dreaming.......
I can celebrate the launch of herbaculture CIC and milestones along the way.
Remember the celebration aspect of Dragon Dreaming.......
I can celebrate the launch of herbaculture CIC and milestones along the way.
- The diploma accreditation is a big one......AUSTRALIA HOLIDAY MY CELEBRATION.
- The sending off of my CIC forms. AUSTRALIA HOLIDAY MY CELEBRATION.
- SSE offer free hire of their spectacular room which could serve for all three.... ONCE SET UP! AN OFFICIAL LAUNCH.
5. BUSINESS ADMIN
This is the big sections and I will use the sub pages to help here.
7.1 A conventional Business Plan from The Princes Trust (23/1/18 completed it- first draft)
7.2 A Website and Digital Strategy including Marketing considering what websites I might need.
7.3 Policies and Procedures from Community Action Suffolk. (started on making them herbacultured)
7.4 Products and Services - working out what I will be selling. YUP
7.5. Background.....
This also feels like an analysis point in the designing:
I will be taking this to my Business Mentor from Lloyds Bank and working out what my next steps might be.
ANALYSIS OF WHERE NEXT:
DECISION: CIC limited by Guarantee
DECEMBER 8th:
Got CIC forms
investigating trademarking
bank options looked at, favouring Cooperative Banks Community Direct but need other signatories.
to do:
1) Business plan and send to mentor (25th met mentor and got feedback)
2) ask people to be fellow signatories and directors? (Asked two and waiting to hear back but applying by myself to start with)
2) trademarking check date of rescheduled meeting or half hour book with Alison. (when back)
1) apply for CIC status check with Louise and Kevin (hoping to do on 26th)
4) bank account (investigating changing name on Santander but might go with community coop one if not - but need other signatures)
4) Balens quote about insurance (they are dragging heels, await till incorporated - ongoing)
3) companies house submit CIC forms once checked. (26th Jan hopefully)
3) policies and procedures (started but not all done by any means)
4) second part of SSE funding. (Louise emailed and I sent is all to her)
UnLtd bid in. Jan 5th! submitted. Update got to final round and will pitch in London on 31st Jan.
7.1 A conventional Business Plan from The Princes Trust (23/1/18 completed it- first draft)
7.2 A Website and Digital Strategy including Marketing considering what websites I might need.
7.3 Policies and Procedures from Community Action Suffolk. (started on making them herbacultured)
7.4 Products and Services - working out what I will be selling. YUP
7.5. Background.....
This also feels like an analysis point in the designing:
I will be taking this to my Business Mentor from Lloyds Bank and working out what my next steps might be.
ANALYSIS OF WHERE NEXT:
DECISION: CIC limited by Guarantee
- based on more funding options as a not for profit. Which fits my ethos ideas better and does not stop me earning a living.
- Visioning who would benefit herbaculture.....
- herbalist, doctor, accountant, community reps, marketing folk, business minds.....
DECEMBER 8th:
Got CIC forms
investigating trademarking
bank options looked at, favouring Cooperative Banks Community Direct but need other signatories.
to do:
1) Business plan and send to mentor (25th met mentor and got feedback)
2) ask people to be fellow signatories and directors? (Asked two and waiting to hear back but applying by myself to start with)
2) trademarking check date of rescheduled meeting or half hour book with Alison. (when back)
1) apply for CIC status check with Louise and Kevin (hoping to do on 26th)
4) bank account (investigating changing name on Santander but might go with community coop one if not - but need other signatures)
4) Balens quote about insurance (they are dragging heels, await till incorporated - ongoing)
3) companies house submit CIC forms once checked. (26th Jan hopefully)
3) policies and procedures (started but not all done by any means)
4) second part of SSE funding. (Louise emailed and I sent is all to her)
UnLtd bid in. Jan 5th! submitted. Update got to final round and will pitch in London on 31st Jan.
6. HErbaculture Nitty GRITTY
- a) growing herbs EXPLORE VENUES FOR NURSERY, FOR NOW MY ALLOTMENT.
- b) making remedies and the 'art' of herbal medicine NOW VIA DANO MEDICAL HERBALIST
- c) learning about our health in small groups DESIGN 8
- d) online presence to a wider audience WEBSITES AND DIGITAL STRATEGY - ONGOING
- e) garden design for healthy communities DESIGN 9
7. Education
APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING, HERBALIST CPD VIA DANO HERBALIST
Promotion of the Heartwood online HERBAL MEDICINE ONLINE course
HERBACULTURE COURSES / COMMUNITY HEALTH CLUBS
Promotion of the Heartwood online HERBAL MEDICINE ONLINE course
- I have at least 4 local people doing their apprenticeship and I have emailed them with plans to run workshops in Spring 2018.
- Heartwood are interesting in clinical supervision I could offer as well.
HERBACULTURE COURSES / COMMUNITY HEALTH CLUBS
- FOCUS on a first pilot for the Community Health Clubs, Events, Workshops, Talks, Herb Walks. Online booking, Course materials, Video tutorials
8. TWEaKING WITH EXPERIENCE
Include revisits to 2. Ethics & Principles, 3. Personal Life & 4. Sharing the Dream
November 2019 Update:
I am planning my diploma accreditation / celebration and intend for the people I wish to become directors to join me there. There would need to be a new process involving the new directors.
I have trademarked Herbaculture, got it up and running and it is waiting to morph, currently in chrysalis mode. I want to progress the garden design and the education side of things. Festivals like Latitude as our celebration time....
lets see...
www.herbaculture.org
November 2019 Update:
I am planning my diploma accreditation / celebration and intend for the people I wish to become directors to join me there. There would need to be a new process involving the new directors.
I have trademarked Herbaculture, got it up and running and it is waiting to morph, currently in chrysalis mode. I want to progress the garden design and the education side of things. Festivals like Latitude as our celebration time....
lets see...
www.herbaculture.org
EVALUATION:
HAS THE DESIGN DONE what it SET OUT TO DO?
Have the design solutions worked? Realised my goals for Business planning?
I really enjoyed using the dragon dreaming process. This helped me get over my blocks.
I have yet to celebrate but I will do that by going on holiday and entering the possibility of getting a dog....
Scope for diagrams from this design to accompany the text in my business plan.
From This Pattern to the Detail in the next designs.
8. Community Health Clubs
9. Herbaculture Design Consultancy
I really enjoyed using the dragon dreaming process. This helped me get over my blocks.
I have yet to celebrate but I will do that by going on holiday and entering the possibility of getting a dog....
Scope for diagrams from this design to accompany the text in my business plan.
From This Pattern to the Detail in the next designs.
8. Community Health Clubs
9. Herbaculture Design Consultancy
Where AM I AT IN TERMS OF PERMACULTURE DESIGN?
(REFLECTION)
How would I use these tools differently next time? I would try and learn a bit more about Dragon Dreaming... my only other experience was on one sheet of a4, coloured pens and 7 of us painting the signs for the International Permaculture Convergence in London. I think it's worth a try to get familiar with this method.
I found the structure of Dragon Dreaming very useful. Im not sure that it is that different to standard business planning but it seemed more fun especially with the flow chart...... and trying to follow it.
What tips can be learnt here: Spend time on the dreaming and the planning and then the doing takes care of itself.
Would I do it this way in the future? YES, I can see it could relate to Critical Pathway Analysis.
I really enjoyed breaking out of the established permaculture method for this as well as I need to have variety in my life. I am ready to use permaculture design in all sorts of ways.....
I found the structure of Dragon Dreaming very useful. Im not sure that it is that different to standard business planning but it seemed more fun especially with the flow chart...... and trying to follow it.
What tips can be learnt here: Spend time on the dreaming and the planning and then the doing takes care of itself.
Would I do it this way in the future? YES, I can see it could relate to Critical Pathway Analysis.
I really enjoyed breaking out of the established permaculture method for this as well as I need to have variety in my life. I am ready to use permaculture design in all sorts of ways.....