Programme of The Permaculture Scotland Gathering 2019

Speakers

Holly Gilliband  ↑

Holly, a 14 year old environmentalist, naturalist and leading activist in Scotland's #FridaysForFuture youth movement is also an Ambassador for @ScotlandTBP.   

Workshop Leaders  ↑

Lusi Alderslowe  ↑

Lusi Alderslowe is a stalwart of the permaculture scene and a recognised expert in the field of children in permaculture.  Lusi is coordinator of the Children in Permaculture project for the Permaculture Association (Britain) and Gatehouse School. Lusi has been engaging children in permaculture in formal, non-formal and informal settings around Scotland for 12 years. She is an international Permaculture Educator, Forest School Leader and Human Ecologist.

In Lusi's workshop entitled Engaging Children in Permaculture you will find out how to engage children in permaculture. We will be looking at different ways that you can involve children in making decisions that are best for Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share. Discuss how to have a child-led approach which can empower children.

Come away with some practical activities which you can do with children whether the children you interact with are at home, in a community garden or school. 

Tansy Torkington  ↑

Tansy is a previous speaker at Permaculture Scotlands 2018 Gathering and this year presents a workshop called Climate Conversations an introductory session supporting us to look at climate change and what it means to us. 

Patrick Dunne and Katie Smith  ↑

Patrick Dunne and Katie Smith are based in Edinburgh, and are active members of the Extinction Rebellion movement. They are also staging the show 1 Point 5 Degrees at the Edinburgh Free Fringe this year.

Patrick and Katie will speak directly to The Gathering's tagline Practical Responses to Climate Change by bringing a workshop entitled Extinction Rebellion and other actions in which they host a discussion with Members of Extinction Rebellion and permaculturists to discuss their experience of the current climate rebellion and activism in Edinburgh and the UK.

James Chapman ↑

As one of Scotlands busiest permaculture teachers James Chapman's a keen promoter of living and working towards a sustainable and regenerative future and works through NonStuff Industries.  James is bringing two workshops to The Gathering...

• James will be presenting the Simplest Design Process which is an elegant way to design any permaculture project. 
  
   
• James will also be presenting a new opportunity and future for the permaculture diploma called The Regional and local diploma system.

Alistair MacKinnon  ↑

The continuing lessons in setting up a community-based permaculture growing site.

This workshop entitled A Piece Of Land Surrounded By Legislation will cover the Community Empowerment Act, Asset Transfer, The Scottish Land Fund, 1,000 Huts Campaign and the long process of acquiring land in a rural community to create a Permaculture growing site. 

Stephanie Gooding  ↑

Stephanie Gooding ​​is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist bringing the inspiration of nature together with psychology.  

What is Ecopsychology?  Stephanie Gooding presents Footprints, an Ecopsychology Foundations workshop and hopes to go into some experiential mindfulness practice or creative work.

Naomi van der Velden  ↑

Naomi van der Velden is a plant ecologist with an interest in spatial and temporal patterns of plant community development. She is especially inspired by food-producing plant communities such as mixed-veg polycultures and forest gardens.  This Gathering Naomi presents two workshops from the GROW Observatory.  

 

• Practical workshop: An opportunity to learn about and try out some simple but effective tests and observations to better understand your growing soils. This workshop is called Getting your hands dirty [Practical]: citizen soil science.
  
  
  
  We will introduce some of the principles of soil science and describe how we've used and investigated techniques in the GROW Observatory to balance scientific rigour and practical usability.  Participants will be given the opportunity to get their hands dirty testing out the best techniques for quick soil assessments.  We'll discuss how the findings can be used to improve soils and food growing.  don't miss our other workshop to explore other tools and resources for soils, regenerative growing, local planting dates and more.
  
   
• Second workshop: The value of collective research on soils, crops, permaculture and climate change: Getting your hands dirty: The GROW Observatory
  
  
  
  From soil-sensing communities to finding the best local planting times, this  ambitious EU citizen's observatory project connects growers with scientists specialising in satellites, in soils, and in agroecology to improve our collective knowledge.  Lots of free resources and tools have been created - find out how you can benefit.  Don't miss our other hands-on practical workshop to explore soils!
  
   

Paul Masser  ↑

Paul Masser presents a workshop entitled Radical Self-Education at the Permaculture Community Classroom.  How can local Permaculture/Transition groups provide a supportive network for people at all stages of learning, from initial curiosity through the PDC and beyond, and reach out to the wider community? 

This workshop will share the experience of the Permaculture Community Classroom (fb), a community group based in Edinburgh holding regular meetings, organising trips to places of permacultural interest and collaborating on permaculture design projects in our local community. We see it as a classroom where everyone is both teacher and student. We are still working out what this means in practice, and invite you to bring your ideas and experiences of studying permaculture and working in groups to the discussion.

 

Rehema White  ↑

Rehema is a previous speaker at Permaculture Scotlands 2018 Gathering and this year presents two workshops called Find your friends! - developing a stakeholder engagement strategy and intriguingly A permaculture strategy for golf? 

• Find your friends! - developing a stakeholder engagement strategy.  Many of us work in small or larger institutions or organisations. These days, we achieve more by working in partnership with others. Communication is vital – what should we be saying and how can we refine our communication for different groups? Where should we put our efforts? In this workshop we will look at who your friends might be, how to map individuals and organisations across scales and topics and how to develop a plan for meaningful communication. We will have some group discussion and you can take away some tools to help you plan in the future.
  
   
• A permaculture strategy for golf? We have been working with the golf sector to enhance sustainability in environmental and social arenas. In particular, we are exploring opportunities for socio-technological innovation. But not all innovation has to be high tech. What would it look like to apply permaculture design principles and practices to golf courses? Results from this workshop will be fed back to the main golf governing organisations. Our findings may also be relevant for your local parks, school grounds and sports grounds. 
  
  
  
   

Jayson Byles  ↑

In an interesting workshop entitled Seaweed and Climate Jayson Byles from East Neuk Seaweed explores our relationship with the sea, wild food and how we interact with the world around us have a profound interconnection. 

Is wild harvesting sustainable and how do we protect seaweed from a permaculture perspective ? 

Cesaria Kassner  ↑

Cesaria Kassner will be presenting a fascinating workshop called Bird language - discover a world of information and beauty. 

This workshop about bird language introduces you to a world that’s all around us, but that can easily go unnoticed.

At Rubha Phoil birds are abundant and they make us to listen attentively. Take the chance and do the same and you will be able to figure out a lot more about you and the ecosystem around you.

Tigger MacGregor  ↑

Tigger MacGregor is presenting two workshops at The Gathering...

• In Touch for Resilience you will learn how neuroscience is giving new insight into the power of Touch and its role in a happy and healthy planet. This workshop comprises information about Touch as well as an introduction to how you can use Touch to build your own resilience.
  
   
• In Labyrinths and how to use them you will get a practical introduction to labyrinths and how they can be used as part of investigating seemingly intractable problems and as a meditative tool for wellbeing. The workshop will also include collectively creating and walking a labyrinth. 
  
   

Eilidh Grant  ↑

With a workshop entitled Highland Hustle, Eilidh Grant will be bringing you a Scottish Dance based Aerobic Workout, fantastic music, great fun, with different intensity options - suitable for all abilities.  (no previous dance experience necessary)

Donald Murdie  ↑

Donald Murdie's workshop is entitled Crofting and Organic Growing in Skye.  Robson & Murdie Skye Local Produce (fb) grow a range of vegetables, herbs and soft fruits on their croft in the North West of Skye.  All their produce is grown free from pesticides and artificial fertilizers and they are members of Scottish Crofting Produce. 

The workshop will provide an overview of crofting as it is today, and how it got here.  How crofting is relevant to a gathering of permaculturists.  The challenges and opportunities of growing fresh produce on a croft.  Getting started; finding a croft; support available.  The role of the Scottish Crofting Federation. Questions and general discussion.

Friday's Events  ↑

We plan to start the gathering off with a traditional knees up...

Ceilidh on Friday Evening - Friday 28th June, 7pm - 11pm, Village Hall   ↑

There will be a ceilidh with a local Skye band on Friday evening set to get yours knees up and your hands clapping.

 

The Northenders are a local group of four young musicians who - having met through school - developed a shared love for Scottish traditional music and decided to combine each of their distinctive sounds, to create a dynamic and lively ceilidh band. You can see them on Facebook here and hear their music here: The Northenders

 

Entry fee: included in the weekend ticket price or £5.00/£10.00 at the door (for those without the festival ticket).

 

Saturday's programme  ↑

We will be presenting you with a wealth of information, opportunities to learn and a great way to gather and make new friends.