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Thriving During the Pandemic - A Permaculture Approach

1/9/2020

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For many people the sudden arrival of the Coronavirus Pandemic has meant significant changes in how we live our lives. As the weeks pass it is becoming more evident that in the UK, as in many other places in the world that we will be living with some level of “lockdown” situation for many more months, possibly longer.
 
From my own observations and listening to the stories of others, there are many similarities and parallels about life respecting the lockdown rules and managing the impacts of the overwhelming loss related to the pandemic, and my experience of being mainly housebound while living with long term illness over the last few years.
 
In the early months of my diagnosis with late stage Lyme Disease I used aspects of permaculture design to create a life that, although very different from my life prior to becoming seriously unwell, I could continue to thrive in. I have now easily been able to adapt these ideas to both enhancing my own experience of lockdown and also supporting others around me to be able to adapt as well as possible.
 
Here I share some of those ideas.
 
●      I use The Design Web by Looby Macnamara from her book People and Permaculture (2012) to design the pattern of my days. I can really recommend spending some time on creating a template for this, which can then be used as the structure for each day to add detail to according to the different activities and priorities of each individual day.
 
●      I spend time on a regular basis acknowledging the loss, grief and various emotional states associated with this, relating to how Covid 19 is impacting on our lives. Also how this can compound other loss in my life too. Gently accepting and reminding myself about the fact that fast changing sways of emotion are in fact grief and connecting with others about this can mean that the emotions don’t become overwhelming as often.
 
●      Connection and integration with other people, (while physically distancing, but demonstrating social solidarity!) to support each other through the Pandemic, but just as importantly to focus and talk about other meaningful topics again to avoid being emotionally overwhelmed, is also a valuable tool.
 
●      I use reflection a lot - a mini reflection at the end of each day, a more detailed one at the end of each week and then an in-depth time of reflection at each Earth festival. It really helps to have these periods of reflection with other people who know me well too, a bit like “life supervision”. Referring back to the daily pattern template above during the reflective time means that I can creatively make changes as needed on a regular basis. Regular reflection helps me to value my achievements however small, even on the most difficult days. Being able to identify potential for new projects or positive habits enables more flow and growth in my life too.
 
●      Creating a journaling tool to record ideas, gratitude and event memories is a really positive strategy. The fast changing pace of the changes involved with the Coronavirus situation and the media responses, means that it can be difficult to focus on aspects of life not related to the crisis and this in turn can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed and potential burnout. Using the permaculture principle of catch and store energy, in making a physical space to record actions and thoughts really helps to focus on solutions and regenerative ways forward.
 
●      I use the permaculture tool of Zoning to help to connect with the things in life which give me meaning, even though the ways I can do this are often very different from before. This means that I can decide on an activity based on any limitations that the effects of the Coronavirus lockdown are having on my life at any particular time. For example – one of my main projects on the go is the design and creation of a new edible garden. Zone 0 activity related to it is to have dedicated thinking/daydreaming/mind mapping time, Zone 1 to listen to a podcast or audiobook about edible gardening, Zone 2  to read a book or watch a video about edible gardening, Zone 3 to chat to a friend or on a forum about gardening, Zone 4 to actually spend some time on practical gardening activities and Zone 5 to visit other edible gardens/allotments in my local community.
 
●      Over recent years there has been many studies demonstrating about how beneficial nature connection is to our physical, emotional and spiritual health. I designed ways in which I could connect with nature when my health was at its most difficult and I spent many months in bed. One of the most effective ways I maintained this essential part of my life was to create a space in my bedroom to display objects and other representations of patterns in nature. I wrote in more depth about this in this here . Although now, through significant improvements in my health, I have the privilege of being able to spend time in my garden and enjoy daily walks in my local park, I realise that not everyone has access to this either geographically and/or because of needing to self-isolate or shield because of Covid 19. Having an inside space dedicated to connection with nature, continues to be a constant vital aspect to my holistic wellbeing.
 
●      Growing food is also something that gives me and many other permaculture practitioners really significant meaning in life  – I’m really lucky to have the space and health to be able grow food in my garden now and as the Coronavirus lockdown commenced in March I started a design for my edible garden. Throughout the difficult times of my illness I was able to grow food on windowsills in the house – sprouted seeds and pulses, herbs and chilli plants – and I still do as these ways of growing give me fresh home grown food each day of the year which is hugely impactful to my holistic wellbeing.
 
●      I timetable a regular space in each day to intentionally “pause” and take a break from whatever else is going on in the day. For me this means 10-15 minutes of grounding, through awareness of my senses and purposefully connecting to Earth – I also found this tool really useful to use at any time that feels overwhelming too.  This short time away from whatever else is happening in my day nearly always enables me to regain a healthy sense of control and is helpful when changes are happening quickly, such has been the case with the Coronavirus crisis.
 
These are some of the life tools, inspired by permaculture, I have been using and adapting over the past few years to stay as holistically healthy as possible. I hope that you have found some inspiration here in my ideas for your own self-care in these times of Covid 19.


An edited version of this article also appears in Permaculture Magazine Autumn 2020 (No. 105) - If you have the financial means I can strongly recommend subscribing to this wonderful quarterly publication. As well as the magazine, Permaculture Magazine website has masses of free permaculture related content plus a wonderful YouTube channel  
 ​
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Grief Colouring-In Page

13/5/2020

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There is a lot of grief in our communities right now. Grief related to so many aspects of the Covid 19 crisis. Grief related to our damaged Earth. Grief relating to people close to us who are dying and who we can't be alongside. Anticipatory grief. Actual grief. Complex grief.

I made this colouring-in page about the web-like pattern and aspects of grief that often form in our lives. Please feel free to print off and colour in/doodle on. 

Click here for a PDF version to print from. 

If you want to read more about different types of grief and practical, creative ways of living with so much loss then I can recommend the blog at What's Your Grief as a good place to start.

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Think Like a Tree by Sarah Spencer

4/12/2019

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Book Review 

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​Having followed the journey of Sarah Spencer’s course, workshops and training about using principles from nature, tress specifically, to navigate and thrive in our lives, I was really excited when I found out that she was also writing a book about the same topic. And I’ve not been disappointed. Think Like a Tree, the book, is a beautiful and incredibly informative tool for us all.
 
The 42 short chapters are brimming with examples of trees  from many parts of Earth, alongside every day case studies and ideas of how the nature principles taught to us by the presence of trees, can positively impact on our lives as individuals and within our communities. Each chapter covering one principle, are divided into 6 Groups – Observation, Purpose, Surroundings, Connection, Resilience, Future. There is a lot of information for each principle, as well as some really thought provoking exercises to undertake.  I really enjoyed reading about 1 principle each evening and I can recommend this approach in order to take time to absorb and reflect on the details presented.
 
Sarah’s work with Think Like a Tree has been very much linked to her life through living as well as possible with Chronic Illness. This theme is evident throughout  the book and means that Think Like a Tree could be particularly useful to others in similar situations.
 
Sarah claims that “Nature holds the secret to your happiness, health and wellbeing  - Think Like a Tree guides you to discover your own personal route to happiness, health, success and fulfilment – whatever your circumstances” – and I agree that this part ecology, part sociology, part history and part self coaching tool lends itself to being a useful and meaningful book for a diverse audience.
 
Think Like a Tree can be bought directly from Sarah at
https://www.thinklikeatree.co.uk/product/think-like-a-tree-book/

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Accessing Permaculture - Course and Event Information and Marketing

20/11/2019

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Some guidelines for Permaculture event information and marketing, for improving access to Permaculture for people with chronic illness and/or disability, and people who are neurodivergent. 

​This post is also available as a PDF here 

Earlier this year I published an article on my blog - Accessing Permaculture for people with chronic illness and/or disability - positives, challenges and suggestions for a more inclusive permaculture. 
 
In this short post I share some suggestions, from the linked post, of information to include in general Permaculture Course and Event descriptions and marketing.  This in turn will then help more people with chronic illness and/or disability and neurodivergent people to access and then utilise Permaculture Design
 
This list isn’t meant to be prescriptive and it isn’t exhaustive. It’s been compiled from the stories, voices and ideas of people who responded  to my request for information, for my initial article linked above.
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  • Course or Event culture -  includes the welcome and celebration of diversity
  • Encouragement to contact the Course or Event facilitator about individual needs
  • Accessibility of car parking - the distance of the carpark from venue
  • Accessibility of/to public transport
  • Accessibility for people using wheelchairs, other mobility aids  and people who don’t use aids but have limited mobility (distance, terrane)
  • Availability of resting places (spaces to lie down)
  • Accessible toilets/changing spaces
  • Availability of quiet spaces
  • Reduced rates for people on benefits and low incomes
  • Reduced rates or free places for personal assistants/Carers
  • Access for support/service animals
  • Diversity of activities
  • Shared information includes a format to take away from the Course or Event 
  • Availability of sign language interpreter/other support
 
Please feel free to use this information in your own work or to contact me with any feedback, ideas or questions. For discussion about some of the issues identified, join the Permaculture, Chronic Illness, Neurodiversity and Disability Facebook Group 
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Accessing Permaculture - A Directory

30/5/2019

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I'm starting to put together a directory of permaculture projects in the UK,  (demonstration sites, courses, events, other permaculture services), where issues of access for people with chronic illnesses, disabilities and/or neurodiversity, are included as part of the project design. 

Does your permaculture demonstration site , course, event or other permaculture service, actively encourage the participation and connection of people with chronic illness, disabilities and/or neurodiversity? If so and you would like to feature in this developing online resource, please email me katie@ktshepherdpermaculture.com and I will send you a short questionnaire to complete.

For more information about accessing permaculture for people with chronic illness and disabilities  click here 

For a list of top tips about how to improve access to permaculture for people with chronic illness and disabilities  click here 

To connect with discussions about these topics and more, feel free to  join the Facebook Group Permaculture, Chronic Illness, Neurodiversity and Disability 


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Lyme Disease Awareness in Permaculture

21/4/2019

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Lyme disease awareness packs available from Lyme Disease UK (link below)
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. It's usually easier to treat if it's diagnosed early. Not all ticks carry Lyme disease, but the numbers of those who do, are thought to be rising, in a response to Climate Change.

Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia, a spirochete bacteria. It’s the most common tick-borne disease in the northern hemisphere and there are multiple strains of the bacteria. Lyme disease is endemic in many parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in woodland or heath-land areas but disease carrying ticks can also be found in cities and gardens. 

Lyme disease not treated immediately, or not treated according to 2018 NICE (NHS) guidelines, can result in long term severely disabling illness, which is nearly always much more difficult and sometimes impossible to fully treat. 

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Last year I was diagnosed with long term complications from Lyme disease - these are the main symptoms I experienced at the time I was diagnosed. Thankfully, many of these are improving although I continue to be very disabled at present.
Comprehensive information about Lyme disease prevention, detection and treatment can be found on the Lyme Disease UK website. 

Given that most permaculture demonstration sites and events are based at least partially outdoors, it's essential that folk facilitating and attending these  projects and events are aware about preventing tick bites, and then being able to identify early signs of possible Lyme Disease infection, alongside accessing prompt medical intervention. 

Lyme Disease UK produce an excellent (free) awareness pack which includes both posters to display and  leaflets and "essential info" cards designed to be given away for individual use. I urge anyone organising and facilitating outdoor permaculture events to send off for these packs to generate increased awareness of  Lyme disease for people attending their projects and events. 

You can send off for a Lyme disease awareness pack via the link below 

Lyme Disease UK Awareness Packs

I will be posting more about Lyme Disease from my social media spaces throughout Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May . Feel free to connect with me on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . You can also sign up to my newsletter for monthly updates about my creative permaculture projects, plus links to inspiring work from other women in permaculture.
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Accessing Permaculture for people with chronic illness and/or disability - top tips

4/4/2019

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Top tips for permaculture events/courses facilitators and permaculture demonstration sites ​
PictureKt Shepherd Illustrations

In February of this year I published an article on my blog - Accessing Permaculture for people with chronic illness and/or disability - positives, challenges and suggestions for a more inclusive permaculture. In this post I share the "top tips" for permaculture events/courses facilitators and permaculture demonstration sites, arising  from the article. 

​(These top tips are also available as a PDF here)
  • Include as much information as possible (in the course/event marketing and in the event joining information) about physical access issues, the availability of quiet resting spaces and the ability to support additional learning needs. 
  • Ask about specific needs as part of the event joining information. Be honest and realistic about whether these needs can be met.
  • Consider having lower cost or free places for Carers of people with CI/D. (Chronic Illness and/or Disability)
  • Invite a person with CI/D to speak or lead a session/workshop at events and on courses about accessing permaculture for people with CI/D.
  • Include people with CI/D as part of the design team when creating permaculture information sharing, event, courses or new designs for demonstration sites.
  • Consider whether learning materials/event/course/volunteering options could be broken down into smaller sections. Is it be possible to charge for each section separately? (This would avoid a person with a CI/D needing to pay a full price for only attending a fraction of the event.)
  • Design Permaculture Design Courses (PDC) as modular courses (either online or face to face) so that people can attend and pay for one module at a time.
  • Choose venues and activities for your events that are accessible for people who have reduced mobility and who need for spaces to rest.
  • Ensure provision of quiet spaces to rest at events/courses/demonstration sites, including space to lie down.
  • Design new demonstration sites (and redesign existing sites) so that they include accessibility for people with CI/D as a core function.
  • Create a “buddy” system in your local permaculture network and/or events – with the aim of providing extra support for people with CI/D, thereby improving inclusivity.
  • Create a culture of care and empowerment at your event/course/demonstration site. Ensure awareness of permission and encouragement for people to take time out for self-care whenever they need to.
  • Provide “hidden illness/disability” badges/lanyards at events, together with information about what these mean and how others could help.
  • Use diverse teaching/learning materials – including take-away/digital handouts detailing the main points covered and explaining any terminology and acronyms.
  • Design short, diverse teaching/information-sharing/workshop sessions with regular breaks.
  • Provide information and engage in awareness-raising relating to health risks that may result from attending permaculture events and demonstration sites. Some examples of these are tick-borne illnesses (Lyme disease and others); leptospirosis (Weil’s disease) from urine of infected animals, most commonly from rats; injuries and their associated sepsis risk; sunburn/heatstroke.
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Accessing Permaculture for people with chronic illness and/or disability

11/2/2019

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 - positives, challenges and suggestions for a more inclusive permaculture


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Use and Value Diversity - illustration by me

(This blog post is also available as a PDF here )

(Mainly UK-focused, though many aspects applicable to other countries too.)


Since becoming very unwell and disabled nearly two years ago, I have learnt very quickly about what it means to be a person with disabilities attempting to navigate everyday life – and within that life, being unable to access many of the things I had previously taken for granted. Given that permaculture knowledge, experience, events and demonstration sites were previously a big part of my life, I have become increasingly aware of how difficult it would be for me to now access many of these things; in some cases it would be impossible. If I can’t participate in these events that are so important in my life, I wondered how many other people are also struggling to engage and connect with permaculture because of chronic illness and/or disability. 

As I started thinking about this in more depth, I set up a Facebook group with the intention of connecting with other people in the permaculture community with chronic illness and/or disability. (CI/D). 

(Recently, after some discussion in the Facebook group, it was decided that it made sense to add “neurodiversity” to the name and themes of the group too. The topic of neurodiversity inclusion isn’t discussed in this article, as the decision to add neurodiversity to the subject content in the Facebook group was made once I had started writing this post up. Many of the issues mentioned here – though not all of them – will also be relevant to neurodivergent people)

If at this point you need more information about the definitions of chronic illness and disability then please see the links shared in "Designing Solutions",  further on in this article.  

In addition to setting up the group, I went on to openly ask some questions about accessing permaculture for people with CI/D in several UK focused Facebook groups about permaculture and also via a post on the Permaculture Association (Britain) online noticeboard. People were invited to respond to the following questions, either in public in the group or by emailing me. In total, 47 people (mainly from the UK) responded in one of these ways. The aim of this information-gathering was to access reflections on experiences; it was a place to start a conversation rather than to undertake a structured research project.

Here are the summaries and direct (anonymous) quotes of the responses to each question.

(This article is quite lengthy, as I wanted to be able to include the voices of as many people as possible.)

1) Do you identify as having a chronic illness and/or disability?

A diverse range of chronic illnesses and/or disabilities were included in the response to this question. These included physical illnesses, mental illnesses, learning disabilities (including dyslexia) and physical disabilities. Several people were keen to include neurodiversity as a disability too, as they pointed out that the education and benefits systems in the UK treat it as such. Many people also said that their illness and/or disability was a ‘hidden’ one, meaning that other people couldn’t immediately tell if the person with the chronic illness and/or disability had extra needs. A common theme evolved around many people feeling disabled by their environment, which frequently does not allow differently abled people to participate in life as they  need to or would like to. Anyone has the potential to have additional needs and people with chronic illness and/or disability should be accepted to self define this, and not judged by others in doing so. 

Some people who responded didn’t identify as having a CI/D, though they had witnessed the experiences of people with CI/D accessing permaculture events and demonstration sites.

2) Do you have examples of where accessing permaculture knowledge, demonstration sites and events have been adapted to the needs of someone with a chronic illness and/or disability? This might be your own needs, or someone else you have observed being supported well.

Several people mentioned great examples of how their needs relating to CI/D had been met at a variety of permaculture events and sites. These included:
  • Being asked about specific needs before the event;
  • A culture of being able to have rest/quiet time whenever needed;
  • Frequent breaks;
  • Short learning sessions;
  • Diverse styles of teaching/facilitation;
  • The option of completing a permaculture design course in small sections, over a period of months or years.

There were also a couple of examples of places that had easily accessible compost toilets.

Some statements made were:
  • “Kindness from the course facilitator meant a lot.”
  • “I have been able to choose a course based on my style of learning.”
  • “Fully accessible composting toilets both in the workshop space and in the accommodation.”
  • “Being disabled gives you opportunity for slow and thorough observation – from individual needs to the collective “hive”.
  • “I have been treated well at some events I have attended.”
  • “Pre-arranged parking near to our place (permaculture project) can be done.”
  • “Help from the teacher – time out space and the option of time out whenever needed.”

3) Have you, or anybody else you have witnessed, been unable to access permaculture knowledge and/or demonstration sites and/or events because of your chronic illness and/or disability?

Some statements that reflect general themes were:
  • “I have witnessed many events where access for some people is very restricted, if not impossible.”
  • “Intentional communities only want fit and healthy people, which excludes most people with CI/D.”
  • “Financial cost of having my needs met is too high to be able to attend events.”
  • “I’m unable to attend a whole event, but partial options [are] not always available.”
  • “I can only attend an event if I have a Carer with me – this makes things really expensive.”
  • “I feel many, if not all, permaculture events ignore groups of people who are differently abled.”
  • “I became chronically unwell while working at a permaculture site (from a tick bite) but have received virtually no support or help from that project since becoming unwell. I know other people who have also become unwell from being on permaculture sites.”
  • “Not able to socialise in busy spaces, often misunderstood as disinterest at events and courses.”
  • “It’s difficult to book or commit to anything in advance, in case I can’t go – there’s not always an option to attend at the last minute.”
  • “I would be able to go to half/one day of an event but this isn’t always possible, and the timetable of activities doesn’t always design well for this.”
  • “Many people with chronic illness and disability are financially very poor and this is currently deteriorating with ‘hostile environment’ politics. Many cannot afford to attend permaculture events.”

The attitudes of other people

Many people have health conditions where their symptoms are variable. Some found that the lack of understanding about this meant that they felt uncomfortable and judged if they couldn’t join in with an activity when the previous day they had been able to. Some examples given were:
  • “Some days I am relatively well, other days I am pretty much bedbound.”
  • “My fluctuating symptoms and need for rest were not understood by the course facilitator or others attending the course.”
  • “I often feel vulnerable or a nuisance for asking for help.”
  • “The attitude of others can be a major obstacle.”
  • “There is little to no support or real understanding for people with chronic health conditions in the permaculture community.”
  • “We live in a selfish individualist and ableist society and I have found that to also be true with much of the permaculture community and environmentalist movements in general.”
  • “I wanted to focus on disability and permaculture for my Diploma (In Applied Permaculture Design) but was unable to find a tutor to support me doing this, so gave up.”
  • “I feel like people like myself are going to be forever excluded because our society, including the permaculture community, only seem to value people who can undertake physical labour and put in lots of hours.”
  • “I tried to write articles (about tick bite disease risks) for different permaculture resources but was turned down. The permaculture community plays down the risks.”

Physical space
  • “At many events, toilets are really difficult for me to access on a good day and would have been impossible on a bad day.”
  • “No truly accessible toilets.”
  • “Most permaculture events I have been to have been difficult for me to access due to uneven ground.”
  • “Many demonstration sites are on uneven ground and some distance from car parking, meaning they are very difficult to access for people with CIAD who can walk, and impossible for people with CIAD who use a wheelchair to mobilise or need to sit down to rest frequently.”
  • “I couldn’t safely access the loos or the showers.”
  • “The actual event was a long way from the nearest accessible parking.”
  • “Seating is often an issue – not being able to lean against a wall or sit on the ground, for example.”
  • “Often permaculture events are held on sites with very uneven surfaces and distance from parking. Can be difficult for even the most mild forms of mobility issues.”
  • “Disability loos are often just for people who need to use wheelchairs – many of us with mobility/access issues don’t need to use a wheelchair.”
  • “Sleeping arrangements at residential events – camping, bunk beds, dorms – are often obstacles.”
  • “Stairs without railings.”
  • “Location of toilet (upstairs).”
  • “There would need to be a wheelchair access path to all areas and I would need a private room for me to be able to attend.”

Event activities
  • “The activities at the event required participants to have a good level of strength and prolonged energy. I couldn’t join in with them.”
  • “I couldn’t attend one weekend of the course as it involved camping, which I can’t do.”
  • “The pace and general busy atmosphere at many permaculture events can mean that I don’t always give my chronic illness the attention it needs. This can result in adverse effects to my health.”
  • “Long teaching sessions mean I can’t focus well enough.”
  • “Similar styles of learning/lots of information for each session [are] difficult/overwhelming.”

4) What changes could be made in order for you, or other people with chronic illness and/or disability, to be able to further access permaculture knowledge and/or demonstration sites and/or events?

General themes

One very common theme emerging from the reflections people shared with me is that permaculture should be about designing systems that showcase inclusivity.
  • “New design in making the next generation of permaculture demonstration sites and events more accessible.”
  • “Work on improving current sites and events.”
  • “Explore funding options for improving access.”
  • “The Facebook Group Permaculture, Chronic Illness, Neurodiversity and Disability” as a ‘hub’ for designing.”
  • “Flagship designs for accessibility of events, knowledge and courses.”
  • “Developing an ‘inclusion worker’ post at the Permaculture Association.”
  • “Build in greater awareness about CI/D into permaculture design courses (PDCs).”
  • “I’m creating designs to increase accessibility within permaculture projects. My local permaculture community has been really supportive with feedback about my designs.”
  • “More realistic assessments and education of the health risks (tick-borne illness and other diseases associated with soil and being outdoors) at permaculture sites, events and in educational materials.”
  • “More understanding in general about chronic illness and disability in the permaculture community.”
  • “Practical help with lifts to events, home and garden adaptions and other ways of implementing permaculture design.”
  • “If something doesn’t exist, create your own design/project!”
  • “Individualised support according to needs.”
  • “Being able to arrive early and leave late at events – to manage energy levels.”
  • “Free events places for carers.”
  • “We are building a permaculture demonstration site and are very much focused on accessible design as I am disabled.”
  • “A culture of a safe, relaxed space.”
  • “Low cost and sliding scale prices.”
  • “We all have different diverse needs, any designs to improve inclusion of people with CIAD needs to take into account our different needs.”
  • “Providing somewhere quiet for people with chronic illnesses to rest.”
  • “Can people with chronic illnesses/disability volunteer for smaller amounts of time?”
  • “Can they attend only a small part of a larger event., i.e. say a 2-day or 5-day series of workshops or conference?”
  • “Can people pay less … and only attend part of the programme?”
  • “Noise levels – noise can be exhausting to deal with … so these might need to be managed … and have a quiet room so people can take breaks.”
  • “The starting point of any event, course etc, should be inclusion. If you aren’t including the needs of people with chronic illness and disabilities (and the same with race and gender, etc), then you are actively excluding them – it’s a choice.”
  • “More options/ways of doing PDC over as much time as needed – modular – this is happening with at least one permaculture teacher.”
  • “Having a ‘buddy’ system” (events and geographically locally).”
  • “Would like to see events being run by disabled and poorly people.”
  • “It’s really important that the intersection between differing abilities and indigenous people is also respected, as much permaculture knowledge is based on indigenous people’s cultures and this needs to be central in our design work.”

Attitudes
  • “Build in greater awareness about CI/D into permaculture design courses (PDCs).”
  • “I make sure that the course facilitator knows about my different needs – and have never had any problem.”
  • “A greater understanding that mobility assistance isn’t just about creating ramps etc.”
  • “Having ‘hidden disability’ badges (similar to airport systems).”
  • “Events and courses can be organised to allow time and space for everyone, as well as a culture vocalised that its fine for anyone to take a comfort break at any time – whether that’s to lie down, be quiet, get some water, take medications or otherwise.”

Physical space
  • “Having regular places and opportunities to sit down.”
  • “Quiet spaces to rest – opportunities to lie down as well as sitting.”
  • “Quiet spaces at meal times.”
  • “Toilet hoist equipment for folk unable to stand at all would mean opportunities for longer involvement at an event or courses.”
  • “RADAR key – for accessible loo.”
  • “Prior information about access issues at venues would give reassurance and greater opportunity to participate.”
  • “Greater understanding of the need for cleanliness (re compromised immune systems) and for folk who need to keep aids/medical equipment clean.”
  • “Accessible sites are so much easier to maintain.”
  • “There are examples of LAND centres that are accessible, but not many people visit. Could they be advertised more?”

Activities
  • “Flexible time scheduling.”
  • “Diverse learning opportunities and teaching styles.”
  • “Short sessions with repetition.”
  • “Frequent short breaks.”
  • “Handouts in digital and paper format – including a new vocabulary and acronyms list.”
  • “Using common sense language.”
  • “Activities with varying choices of levels of intensity, and prior knowledge about these.”

Designing solutions 

Although every person with CI/D is an individual with unique experiences and needs, there are some common symptoms, issues and requirements for many folk. The following easily accessible resources are some favourites of mine, and can help you to understand more about these. 

The Mighty – online community of support and awareness raising about disability, disease and mental health.

Stickman Communications – communicating about disability with style and humour 

Chronic Illness Inclusion Project 


Permaculture, Chronic Illness, Neurodiversity and Disability Facebook group

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Wheelchair Accessible Tree Bogs at Whistlewood Common - Photos by Anne Bramley (note - suitable uprights are still to be added to the handrails of the ramp)

Suggestions to improve access to permaculture knowledge, events and demonstration sites in general in the permaculture community/movement

(These suggestions are also available as a PDF here ) 
  • Consideration of a staff member with an ‘inclusivity’ role in the Permaculture Association.
  • A commitment to designing for improved access for people with CI/D in permaculture in general.
  • Creation of a directory of (and promotion of) events/courses/demonstration sites that aim to meet the needs of many people with CI/D.
  • Encouragement for further articles, learning materials and designs relating to accessing permaculture for people with CI/D.
  • Information about access and support issues for people with CI/D built into the PDC as standard.
  • Creation of a culture of accessibility in new and existing intentional communities.
  • A PDC and other permaculture events and demonstration sites specifically designed for and focused on the needs of people with CI/D (as flagship/gold standard examples).
  • Permaculture, Chronic Illness, Neurodiversity and Diversity Facebook group as a “hub” for discussion, ways forward and new designs.
  • Acknowledgement and action (in terms of information provision and awareness-raising) in relation to risks of health problems that may result from attending permaculture events and demonstration sites. Some examples of these are: tick-borne illnesses (Lyme disease and others); leptospirosis (Weil’s disease) from urine of infected animals, most commonly from rats; injuries and their associated sepsis risk; sunburn/heatstroke.​

Top tips for permaculture events/courses facilitators and permaculture demonstration sites 

(These top tips are also available as a PDF here)
  • Include as much information as possible (in the course/event marketing and in the event joining information) about physical access issues, the availability of quiet resting spaces and the ability to support additional learning needs. 
  • Ask about specific needs as part of the event joining information. Be honest and realistic about whether these needs can be met.
  • Consider having lower cost or free places for Carers of people with CI/D.
  • Invite a person with CI/D to speak or lead a session/workshop at events and on courses about accessing permaculture for people with CI/D.
  • Include people with CI/D as part of the design team when creating permaculture information sharing, event, courses or new designs for demonstration sites.
  • Consider whether learning materials/event/course/volunteering options could be broken down into smaller sections. Is it be possible to charge for each section separately? (This would avoid a person with a CI/D needing to pay a full price for only attending a fraction of the event.)
  • Design Permaculture Design Courses (PDC) as modular courses (either online or face to face) so that people can attend and pay for one module at a time.
  • Choose venues and activities for your events that are accessible for people who have reduced mobility and who need for spaces to rest.
  • Ensure provision of quiet spaces to rest at events/courses/demonstration sites, including space to lie down.
  • Design new demonstration sites (and redesign existing sites) so that they include accessibility for people with CI/D as a core function.
  • Create a “buddy” system in your local permaculture network and/or events – with the aim of providing extra support for people with CI/D, thereby improving inclusivity.
  • Create a culture of care and empowerment at your event/course/demonstration site. Ensure awareness of permission and encouragement for people to take time out for self-care whenever they need to.
  • Provide “hidden illness/disability” badges/lanyards at events, together with information about what these mean and how others could help.
  • Use diverse teaching/learning materials – including take-away/digital handouts detailing the main points covered and explaining any terminology and acronyms.
  • Design short, diverse teaching/information-sharing/workshop sessions with regular breaks.
  • Provide information and engage in awareness-raising relating to health risks that may result from attending permaculture events and demonstration sites. Some examples of these are tick-borne illnesses (Lyme disease and others); leptospirosis (Weil’s disease) from urine of infected animals, most commonly from rats; injuries and their associated sepsis risk; sunburn/heatstroke.

This article and its suggestions have been designed to act as a starting point for further discussions and design work around access to permaculture for people with chronic illness and/or disability. Over the next few weeks, I will also be recording a spoken-voice version of the article content for my planned YouTube channel. I openly welcome feedback and /or suggestions for further blog posts/articles. Feel free to contact me by email or via my social media platforms.

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My 2019 Focus Word - Activist

11/1/2019

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Image by me!
One of the life tools I like to create at the start of a calendar year is choosing a focus word for that year. I create some art or craft work at the end of December or start of January, which goes on to become my daily reminder about my focus word and the energy behind it. It's a tool that has worked really well for me for several years now, no matter what is going on in my life at the time. My focus word for 2018 was "Creativity" - and when I chose this word in the January, I had no idea that the daily doodling I did, and shared on social media to help my emotional and cognitive wellbeing, would evolve into requests for Illustration work for prints, books and online courses by the start of 2019! While I'm sure this didn't just happen because of my chosen word, it certainly helped me to regularly connect with the intention behind it.   So this year I have chosen "Activist", Activism is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as, "the use of direct and noticeable action to achieve a result, usually a political or social one."  Throughout my life I have nearly always been involved in various types of activism about issues close to my heart and spirit. Over the past decade this has very much been connected to my development as a permaculture practitioner and educator. I'm hoping that choosing this word as my focus in the coming months, will enable me to design my new form of  activism, as part of my plan to continue to thrive while being unwell with Lyme Disease. 

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Image by Make Daisy Chains - link in text below

Over the last year I have been following the work of illustrator and online Mental Health Activist, Make Daisy Chains and also the Craftivism movement, especially the work of the Craftivism Collective  Both of these are part of  my inspiration for these first weeks of the year as I begin to design the early part of the journey, my focus word for 2019 will take. Im hoping to use the Wheel of the Year, Earth based festivals for times of reflection about my current permaculture projects, and how these are influenced by my new focus word. I plan to document the main topics of that reflective process, within future blog posts here. ​
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Seed Journal

23/11/2018

4 Comments

 

Using Permaculture To Create A New Planner & Reflection Tool 


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As part of my portfolio of designs for my Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design, one of my favourite design created was a Reflection and Planner Journal , (This link isnt accesible on a mobile phone). This tool totally changed the way that I achieved the goals and intentions I set in my life and work. I have used versions of this design ever since. I also know that several friends have also used their own versions of the tool as well, with really positive feedback.
 
One thing I found when I first became very unwell and unable to work, last year, was that my Reflection and Planner Journal no longer felt as useful. The large spaces to fill on the pages, plus some of the content,  was a constant reminder about how much my life had adversely changed through my illness. In addition the A4 size paper was becoming more and more difficult to physically manage to use as my movement, even when resting in bed, was very limited.
 
So I set about on a redesign! - I wanted one easily accessible place where I could record plans, ideas, reflections and resources ,using a variety of creative ways of documenting.
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A friend had introduced me to the concept of Bullet Journaling several months before and I’d been considering it as something that I could well adapt to suite my own needs. Many commercially produced 'Dot Journals' typically used in bullet journaling, are A5 size, which means much easier accessibility  in relation to my health needs.

The Design Web

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The Design Web from People and Permaculture by Looby Macnamara
​I’m a keen fan of Looby Macnamara’s 'Design Web'- the Design Process at the core of her book People and Permaculture, for anything related to using permaculture design as a way of improving our own lives. So it was an obvious choice for me to use the Design Web to guide the design of my new Planner & Reflection Tool. 

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#KtShepherdDoodles
First of all, I decided to name my new Planner and Reflection Tool a 'Seed Journal' – a space to vision and record ideas, observations and reflections, many of which could become actual projects and designs, if, or when the conditions were optimal for them to germinate and grow. I purchased an A5 Dot Journal to try for the first time. (There are many different brands of these journals available. Purchasing one from a stationary shop local to you if at all possible, rather than from big multinationals, will obviously keep more money in your local community. )

Here is a summary of how I have used, (and sometimes creatively adapted), various Anchor Points from the Design Web as a core part of my Seed Journal Tool.

Seed Journal Overview

​Ideas & Actions

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Collaging images from The Earth Pathways Diary
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Project Pages ​- Examples of these in my Seed Journal are :- Design pages, (a space to document information relating to a specific design); Blog post ideas;  Lunar & Solar Cycles; Social media planning; Learning notes about a particular topic; Budgeting; Log of useful resources; Mindmap of project ideas for next year.

Pause 

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This Anchor Point for me is a reminder about how important creativity is in my life. And each week I try and engage in some artwork that is just for the sole purpose of taking a break, often I will listen to some relaxing meditation music at the same time, and then I glue the creative piece into my Seed Journal. 

Each Month

Patterns 

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​I use this Anchor Point  to focus on recording daily activities that are important to me, and symptoms of my illness. It’s a really useful way to look at the patterns and connections between them, then making changes for the next month as suggestions and solutions emerge.

Vision

I  find spending time on indepth visioning for the month ahead, a creative and inspiring way to design beyond the edges of my comfort zone, as well as considering aspects of my life and work that may of had very little attention recently. I use a mix of Mother Peace Tarot Cards, various decks of Oracle cards, Gaia Craft Permaculture Principle Cards and Group Works Cards.

Goals &/or Intentions 

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Early stages of goal & intention setting for October of this year
Actually not an Anchor  Point in the Design Web, but nearly always part of a permaculture design. I like to use the SMART acronym for goal setting . This link is a great one for expanding on the typical: -  Specific; Measurable;  Achievable; Measurable; Time bound. The monthly overview in this image above is collaged from the wonderful Earth Pathways Diary 

Ideas & Actions 

I have a page each month where I can literally write down ideas as they come into my head. Then at the start of each week I consider how they might fit into the days ahead, or possible connections with project pages in my Seed Journal

Reflection

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At the end of each month I spend dedicated time on reflecting how the month has gone, and link to my goals and patterns for the month. I like using Roses, Buds and Thorns reflection tool here, but it's also a great opportunity to try out some of the others too, for example PMI (Pluses Minuses, Interesting) or SWOC (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Constraints).

Weekly & Daily  Journal 

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The Layout

​The small spaces in this layout work really well for me. Enough room to document, without too much space to feel overwhelmed about filling it! It takes me about 10 minutes to draw this out each week. It can be a good opportunity for thinking about intentions for the week ahead. 

Themes 

Not officially part of the Design Web, but an additional section I use to capture the general overview of the week, for example, significant moon phases, festivals, celebrations or other important times.

Permaculture Principles 

​As part of my ongoing learning and growing as a permaculture practitioner I like to focus on a particular Permaculture Principle each week, and spend time throughout the week reflecting on how this principle can be used in the different areas of my own life, community (online and face to face), and globally. It can be a useful focus for me when I am not well enough to engage in much physical activity, (I have called this my  ‘structured daydreaming’ tool, a redefinition of 'not feeling well enough to do anything'). Sometimes I journal about my thoughts relating to principles, especially if it seems like it would be a good reflection to ‘capture’ for future projects. And on other occasions, I choose a permaculture principle I know is going to be a useful one for specific plans for the week. At other times I use the wonderful Gaia Craft Permaculture Principle Cards to inspire me.

Momentum/Motivation 

I use this space to document a particular quote, poem, song lyrics or anything else that resonates with me at this time. Reminding myself about it each day really helps to ingrain its meaning and connection for me in my life.

Ideas & Actions 

I use these Anchor Points together. This space is for ideas for action throughout the day, plus a log of other actions that occurred without plan, throughout the day. 

Integrate 

People I want/need to connect with during that day. And then at the end of the day, additional people who I connected with. 

Vision

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Whispers of Healing Oracle Cards by Angela Hartfield & Josephine Wall
I really like using tarot and oracle cards as part of my daily routine, to inspire and perhaps encourage thinking and reflecting outside of my comfort zone. I briefly record these reflections here. 

Reflect 

​I use the Roses Thorns and Buds reflection tool to do a mini-reflection for each day.

Projects 

Not an  Anchor Point in the Design Web – but I find it useful to have a separate section to be clear about which permaculture projects I am focusing on each day/week.

Appreciation 

​Space for daily gratitude.

Some Thoughts To End With 

So, this was a brief exploration through, how my new  Seed Journal Tool, guided by the a people focused permaculture design process, the Design Web, works incredibly well for me. Implementing this design has been a really useful reminder of how ecological principles and the  Permaculture Ethics of People Care, Fairshares and Earth Care, can be used in healing, resilience building and regeneration of ourselves. I've been using my Seed Journal,  including, overtime, several useful changes, for 9 months now. Its emerged into a really positive core aspect of how I am adapting my life to several major life events, in particular the onset of chronic illness,  over the last two years.  Rather than a prescriptive ‘how to’, this blog is very much about sharing ideas that may inspire you, and could well be adapted for your own life.


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 In case you missed the link earlier on in this post, you can buy People and Permaculture by Looby Macnamara, featuring masses more information about using the Design Web for people focused Permaculture Design, from the Permaculture Market.
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