Permaculture in Gatehouse School, Scotland
John Riley and Lusi Alderslowe
John Riley and Lusi Alderslowe have been engaging children in permaculture in their school for the last six years – working with children, creating a dynamic outdoor learning space and training teachers. This workshop will show some of the additions they have made to the school grounds such as a peace garden, nursery garden, composting area (with wormery), food forest, polytunnel, outdoor classroom and much more. They will describe the relationship of Children in Permaculture to the national curriculum, what they have done, challenges, solutions and next steps.
RELATION TO PERMACULTURE: They will describe how permaculture has been implemented across the school, and how the three ethics of Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share enables every child to be included.
John has been the headteacher of Gatehouse and Twynholm Primary Schools in rural Scotland for the last six years. He has been teaching for 28 years and loves the job as every day is different. A key partner in the Children in Permaculture project, the school have hosted several training courses and transformed their grounds.
Lusi is a permaculture educator, designer and coordinator. She has been working with Gatehouse School as a parent, designer, gardener and educator since 2012 when they redesigned the entrance to the school and planted fruit trees with companion plants.
Creating a School Garden in School Na Beranku, Czech Republic
Jana Neumajerová
Jana and children from school Na Beránku will introduce nature garden with permaculture elements which they are continually continually next to the school. They are enthusiastic to work and learn outside of classroom and will share why they are enjoying it so much. Association Montessory cesta (Montessory way) was established to ensure and support the happening of this kind of activities and connect it with other organizations.
RELATION TO PERMACULTURE: The curriculum of Montessory school leads children to learn how to plan and work outside. Garden is used not just for learning, resting and building, but the use is for various activities – the yield of their work is used for school cooking, garden is connected with other areas of curriculum. There are many members of community around school connected with this, including parents. Garden helps to integrate others in the life of the school.
Community Garden Kuchyňka
Táňa Niklová Kynclová and Petr Dolenský
Community Garden Kuchyňka (The kitchenette) is located on the grounds of a former garden colony with an area of almost one hectare. Here you can find vegetable beds, grapevines, fruit trees and bushes, apiary, sheep and wilds. On the garden cooperate two organizations. Association Kuchyňka, http://kzkuchynka.cz is responsible for the cultivation of vegetables and fruits for its members on the principles of community-supported and eco-friendly agriculture. NGO Asociace místních potravinových iniciativ (Association of Local Food Initiatives) operates Kuchyňka Kindergarten http: /skolkakuchynka.cz/ and organizes educational programs for schools. An integral part of Kuchyňka’s space is its social and recreational function and the effort to integrate people with various living conditions.
RELATION TO PERMACULTURE: socially and ecologically responsible farming and food production, enlightenment and education of children in the subject of sustainable agriculture
Táňa Niklová Kynclová is working at Kuchyňka Kindergarten like a guide. It was not really her original plan though. She was working like a graphic designer for years. Now she is really enjoying her new role, it makes sense for her and she feels satisfied of it. She likes to explore outer and inner worlds with kids and also work with a shovel.
Petr Dolenský is working in the NNO organization Association of Local Food Initiative, as a pedagogue and manager of projects Kuchyňka Kindergarten and educational programs for schools. One of the tractors and member of Kuchyňka Community Garden Kuchyňka. Leisure time spends with his family, with beekeeping and sports.
The Children in Permaculture resources and how to use them
Lusi Alderslowe and Lara Kastelic
The Children in Permaculture project have created some fantastic resources for educators to use: the Children in Permaculture Curriculum, the Survey of Resources for Engaging Children in Permaculture, eight case studies from partner organisations, short films, an online platform, a guideline to creating a Children in Permaculture training course, and of course the book “’Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share in Education: The Children in Permaculture Manual”. These resources will be presented to participants and outline how can they use them to the greatest effect.
RELATION TO PERMACULTURE: The resources were created with the intention of enabling adults to engage children in permaculture, thus they detail the ethics, principles, and design tools in different formats in user-friendly styles.
Lusi is coordinator of the Children in Permaculture project for the Permaculture Association (Britain) and has taken a lead role in creating the resources in English. Lusi has been engaging children in permaculture in formal, non-formal and informal settings around Scotland since 2005. She is an international Permaculture Educator, Forest School Leader and Human Ecologist.
Lara is coordinator of the Children in Permaculture project for Permaculture Association of Slovenia and was involved in the creation of resources throughout the project. Lara is working with children in non-formal setting since 10 years, engaging them in activities that connect creative and environmental content. She has a degree in biology and a big passion for bringing to groups social tools and methods.