Action Learning Pathway; My potential jouney for the next two years
Action Learning Pathway
Synopsis
This is a basic outline of some of the projects I may undertake during the next two years of my diploma in applied permaculture and a potential time-line.
Also listed in the action learning pathway (ALP) are some of the skills I've already developed to greater or lesser degrees (see skill-flex map) and some of my interests.
In this project synopsis I will attempt to describe what some of the projects listed in my ALP might entail.
There is a very great chance that some of these projects will be substituted for more relevant ones over the next two years. The first three projects I'm already committed too but as for the rest it will be interesting to see which materialise.
Projects:
Biogas production has been an interest of mine for some time.
In 2010 I visited a dairy farm in India that produced biogas from there cow manure. They'd use the gas to boil their milk to produce ice-cream which they sold in their local ice cream parlour. The exudate (the manure slurry from which the gas has already been harvested) was then fed into shallow concrete troughs where it was rapidly consumed by thousands of worms to produce vermicompost which they then used to fertilise their meadows (they also sold excess vermicompost, of which there was alot).
The farm struck me as a great example of a closed system and increased my interest in biogas production further.
In the summuer of 2011 I attended a biogas seminar at CAT in Wales and learned many more specific details about small scale biogas production.
In early 2012 Myself and an American friend built a biogas digestion and collection system at The Panya Project.
In this project I intend to re-create the model we built at panya but iron out certain technical details we experienced and create a connected toilet system for direct transfer of humanure. There's definite potential for holding a course to instruct iterested persons in this project too.
Project 6: This project will be focusing on the design and implementation of a two week workshop focusing on organic gardening (perhaps a little on biodynamics), community living and social permaculture.
I will be teaching this course at the Panya Project Korat hopefully with my friend, facilitation and social permaculture expert Om (Sunisa Jamwiset).
Project 7: This project will be focusing on natural building, Probably as a workshop. Perhaps with wattle and cob as the main focus but with many different techniques discussed and tested.
I will be doing this project at Panya Korat.
Projects 8, 9 & 10: Are currently under construction (in my mind) and will be posted in due coarse.
Synopsis
This is a basic outline of some of the projects I may undertake during the next two years of my diploma in applied permaculture and a potential time-line.
Also listed in the action learning pathway (ALP) are some of the skills I've already developed to greater or lesser degrees (see skill-flex map) and some of my interests.
In this project synopsis I will attempt to describe what some of the projects listed in my ALP might entail.
There is a very great chance that some of these projects will be substituted for more relevant ones over the next two years. The first three projects I'm already committed too but as for the rest it will be interesting to see which materialise.
Projects:
- Project 1 is based around creating my action learning pathway; mapping out the next two years of my life, detailing ten potential action learning projects that I may be involved with and creating a possible time-frame for these projects.
- A life review essay which is designed to help me reflect back through my life and determine what has brought me to where I am today, what past experiences have shaped and molded me and which events have had a major impact on my life and why.
Creation of a skillflex map to outline my skills including the level of skill I feel I have attained in each area and skills I wish to develop.
I'm undertaking this project at The Panya Project, northern Thailand. I have been working on the project mainly alone but have had the advantage of bouncing ideas around with fellow diploma student Matt Prosser, who also resides at the Panya project. I have also received help, support and feedback from my diploma tutor Richard Perkins and fellow diploma peer Peter Hill.
- Project 2 is detailing how I designed and ran a 16 day Introduction to Permaculture and natural building course.
The course involved the construction of a 3000-litre ferrocement drinking water tank, and a "rocket style" composting toilet.
We spent time in the classroom every second day covering the theory of permaculture ethics and principles, compost and composting toilets, natural building, food forests, zoning, and social permaculture.
The course was designed for people with an interest in permaculture who would like to know more as well as PDC (permaculture design course) graduates who wish to develop more practical skills/experience.
- Goals:
- For course participants to leave feeling inspired, confident and empowered with a good knowledge of the ethics and principles of permaculture as well as gaining a range of practical skills.
- To improve and develop my teaching skills and my ability to design and facillitate courses and workshops.
- To integrate a well balanced program of theory and practical into a cohesive and enjoyable package.
- To construct a drinking water tank and compost toilet which we feel are very much needed at our community and project.
- To make an income from the course in order to support my needs to travel to Europe this winter to visit my daughter and family.
This course was held at The Panya project from the 3rd - 19th October. It was run by me (Ben Murray) and Matt Prosser. There were six course participants from USA, Guam, China and New Zealand and we received support (cooking lunch) from the panya community members.
- Project 3 is about designing and implementing the panya contour garden beds. It is an ongoing project which I started in June 2011.
I have received help and support in implementing the design and with some design elements from a number of course participants (during two permaculture in practice courses here at Panya in June/July).
Goals:
- To create a productive and aesthetically pleasing garden design based on no till organic gardening methods.
- To provide a practical example of how to best use space (water, access, structures) and resources effectively. In a garden environment.
- To maximise the potential for catching and storing energy (water) in the system and nullifying overland flow by creating a zero run-off garden
- To build soil, prevent nutrient loss, and prevent silting (by erosion) of low lying creek at the edge of our property.
- To allow soil organisms and macrofauna to proliferate in the soil (by not getting washed away in the heavy monsoon rains) and so facilitate soil building/cation exchange and vertical penetration capacities within the soil.
- To integrate a combination of raised, sunken and ground level beds into the garden to help improve resilience. Due to tropical climate and weather patterns ie. Monsoon rains (flooding likely), dry season (droughts likely).
- Project 4: is going to be focusing on the design and implementation of a new vegetable garden in Korat, Thailand (a new permaculture farm project that I'll be working at from January 2011 – January 2012). The goals for this new garden will be similair to those stated in project 3 but with perhaps more of a commercial / market gardening element to them.
At this time I can't mention any potential specific design elements as I'm yet to see and evaluate the site.
It's likely that I'll be working on the implementation of the design with a group of interns. It's also quite probable that I'll run an organic gardening workshop to attempt to integrate my need for growth and extra experience in the realm of teaching/facillitating courses and also to help implement the design of the garden. - To create a productive and aesthetically pleasing garden design based on no till organic gardening methods.
Biogas production has been an interest of mine for some time.
In 2010 I visited a dairy farm in India that produced biogas from there cow manure. They'd use the gas to boil their milk to produce ice-cream which they sold in their local ice cream parlour. The exudate (the manure slurry from which the gas has already been harvested) was then fed into shallow concrete troughs where it was rapidly consumed by thousands of worms to produce vermicompost which they then used to fertilise their meadows (they also sold excess vermicompost, of which there was alot).
The farm struck me as a great example of a closed system and increased my interest in biogas production further.
In the summuer of 2011 I attended a biogas seminar at CAT in Wales and learned many more specific details about small scale biogas production.
In early 2012 Myself and an American friend built a biogas digestion and collection system at The Panya Project.
In this project I intend to re-create the model we built at panya but iron out certain technical details we experienced and create a connected toilet system for direct transfer of humanure. There's definite potential for holding a course to instruct iterested persons in this project too.
Project 6: This project will be focusing on the design and implementation of a two week workshop focusing on organic gardening (perhaps a little on biodynamics), community living and social permaculture.
I will be teaching this course at the Panya Project Korat hopefully with my friend, facilitation and social permaculture expert Om (Sunisa Jamwiset).
Project 7: This project will be focusing on natural building, Probably as a workshop. Perhaps with wattle and cob as the main focus but with many different techniques discussed and tested.
I will be doing this project at Panya Korat.
Projects 8, 9 & 10: Are currently under construction (in my mind) and will be posted in due coarse.