Student Feedback

Student Feedback

“The course provided a great balance between rural and urban permaculture, backed up with inspirational examples of permaculture in action. I’ve never been on a course where the instructors and participants were so enthusiastic and friendly!”

“The course lectures were varied, practical and inspiring. Along with this the site visits to various permaculture projects proved that the designs we came up with as part of our coursework could translate to the real world. Plus it was a laugh too, and met a lot of interesting people.”

"Deliciously nourishing. A life changing experience."

"The Permaculture Design Course was an inspiration from start to finish. Every week was jam packed with information on how to design to work with nature rather than against it, not just crops but buildings and even societies. Each week I came home with great handouts and a brain buzzing with what I'd learnt through the various talks and slideshows provided by Sarah, Laura and Mike Feingold. Trips to see permaculture in action put what I'd learnt in the classroom into reality, and various practical sessions showed me that doing stuff the permaculture way is easy if you have the right knowledge and the right people in your life, and they came with the course in the form of my fellow participants."

“The permaculture course was totally inspiring and life-affirming, hope in volatile times.
I would recommend at least a basic introduction to permaculture for everyone, not just those directly intending to practice traditionally associated gardering, land use etc. as the subject is so much wider! And specifically i would recommend Sarah’s vast knowledge and involving teaching methods, not least her bubbly personality”

"I loved being with people of like minds on the course, very positive feeling - i didn’t feel quite such a crank! It gave me more motivation to experiment with growing more of my own vegetables. I learnt a great deal about lots of amazing things like no dig beds and how other communities are living, plus it cemented my commitment to more sustainable living, and set me off again on that path."

"I learnt so much and it opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibility! Meeting so many exciting people was also very inspiring."

Feedback from Chesterfield Intro Spring 2008
Anyway, I was thinking of the changes I had made since the permaculture training - I thought you might be interested in just how much has changed since then…
I have only used my tumble drier about 5 times
I do all my washing at 30
We have joined the Chesterfield Cycle Campaign
I have joined the Timebank
I had never heard of Transition before then and now look how involved I am!
I cycle to work most days
I have got a cycle rack installed at work and another member of staff now cycles who didn’t before
I hardly ever shop in the supermarkets and when I do I try to make it the co-op
I joined the co-op membership scheme
I have had a letter in the local press
I have taken part in 2 Critical Mass cycle rides
I try not to use the oven for just 1 thing
I try to menu plan so as not to waste food, cook more seasonally (and I try harder to use up leftovers)
I have bought more 2nd hand clothes
I have mended my handbag instead of throwing it away and buying a new one!
We built an apple press and I have a freezer full of apple juice
I have helped in a straw bale build
I went to the Harvest Swap (and won the photo competition!)
We have been to Green Drinks
We have been to open mike poetry
I have been to 2 events about Cuba
I will be running a skill swap event - baking
I compost more and recycle more (put recycling boxes at work)
I sweep my kitchen floor rather than hoover it
I have made lots of friends
And most important of all I have got an allotment and its brilliant. This year we have grown and picked beans, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet corn, cabbages, chard.
I am also on the committee for the allotments.
Isn’t it a fab list - wouldn’t it be brilliant if everyone that Sarah trained did changes like this. Thing is I thought of myself as pretty green! Wow I didn’t know the half of it!!! I feel quite cheered up
Anne