See below for a taster of the Off Grid 2017 Programme
CakeyGirl (Loud Set)
Friday 11th, 2:40- 3:20 pm
Accapella loopisms.
Danny Emerson
Saturday 12th, 6-7 pm
Serene singer/songwriter
David Osbiston Solo
Thursday 10th, 2:40 -3:40 pm
David Osbiston is a renowned and accomplished guitarist who creates fabulously varied and evocative soundscapes. Sponsored by Godin Guitars, David has had his music featured on Radio 3’s Late Junction and has performed at venues as diverse as The Royal Festival Hall, The Barbican and The Eden Project.
David Osbiston & guests
Sunday 13th, 2:.40-3:40 pm
Hum
Saturday 12th, 4:50- 5:50 pm
I’m Hum and I LOVE music, I can’t help it, its drug, an aphrodisiac.
Soporific in its power, helps me stay awake and puts me to sleep.
It’s more powerful than the wind and more gentle than a babies sigh.
It’s my task, in this universe, to spread the knowledge of sound vibration as a force for good.
http://www.soundclick.com/
Johnny Fuller
Saturday 12th, 2:30-3:30 pm
Johnny is a Devon based band leader, singer and guitarist. This is a rare opportunity to catch Johnny performing solo with some gloriously raw, earthy blues.
Nick Hall
Saturday 12th, 3:40-4:40 pm
Nicky Scott
Jazz Set
Friday 11th, 5:05 -5:55 pm
Sunday 13th, 6-7 pm
Nicky is an accomplished jazz musician who will be enthralling us with some of his toe-tapping delights!
Phil Cudworth
Friday 11th, 6-7 pm
Singer/songwriter
Want to hear more from Susie Ro?
Harmony Singing Workshop
With Susie Ro
Acoustic Space
Sunday 3:30- 5pm
Susie is a dynamic workshop leader as well as a talented singer-songwriter, voice tutor and composer for choirs. She tours with her popular harmony singing workshops and Alchemy of Song and Sharing the Music courses internationally, working to integrate the joy of singing into many sectors of modern society. She is currently in the final stages of producing her debut album ‘Song of a Thousand Leaves’ and is looking forward to sharing it with everyone.
‘Over and over again I see the powerful way that singing in harmony dissolves barriers between people and creates a true feeling of unity that comes straight from the heart. We have learned to rely so much on our intellect to communicate and resolve problems – and yet i see that opening our voices and coming together in harmony can be an effective short cut to true human connection. Sometimes I imagine what it would be like if the whole world were singing together – Peace would surely find its way more easily – for how can there be war if we are singing, the two are like oil and water…
In the last few years I have also had the wonderful privilege to work with my amazing father, Nick Prater, co-leading day and weekend workshops across the UK. He was my greatest inspiration and I am proud to be continuing his work after his journey t the other realms on 24th Dec 2013
I lead singing workshops all over the country - these workshops are open to people of all singing abilities. I share songs from across the globe in full harmony, including my own compositions and arrangements. I have hand picked songs over years, and craft my workshops using deeply nourishing songs that have the ability to unlock your voice and open you heart, are easy to learn yet very powerful. Songs from Africa, from the Gospel and Spiritual traditions, songs of peace, freedom and joy in English and other languages. I often weave improvisations through the workshops, holding a relaxed space for people to really let their voices be free. ‘ ~ Susie Ro
We The Uncivilised Cinema Space
wetheuncivilised - Sun-powered Ecological Cinema and Community Hub - Join us as we explore a culture of connection and belonging and cultivate the possibility of positive social and environmental change.
- Ecological Cinema - Films selected to inspire, inform, empower and engage, including screening and Q&A with filmmakers of Award-Winning wetheuncivilised
, A Life Story “A stunning and sensitive journey into ecology, humanity and spirituality.”
Shorts & Talks- Inspiring Ecological and Social Justice Shorts Daily 12- 1 pm
Friday 11th ‘A Box of Tales - - Pulling back the lumpy carpet: our colonial and imperial past’ with storyteller Heather Jane
Join Heather Jane as she unearths the struggles of resistance in our colonial past. Followed by a discussion touching on the hypocrisies evident today in the attitudes and language used around migration.
Saturday 12th ‘A Box of Tales - The Witch Trials’ - with Heather Jane - 14+ yrs
Wander through Land and Time with Storyteller Heather Jane as she weaves together an experimental hoard of chewy facts, historical insights and anecdotes in her re-telling of past events still playing out in our society today. By opening the neurons and awakening the imagination, she invites us to ask what parallels can be drawn with the past, and how can story offer guidance to our lives now?
Sunday 13th ‘A Box of Tales - The Dispossessed’ - a performance by Heather Jane
Join Storyteller and witch-badger-wild-woman-in-training Heather Jane, as she weaves together tales of poaching and 18th century criminality, in her re-telling of the story of the dispossession of people from the land in Britain, and confronts the modern-day fall out from these events
wetheuncivilised - A Life Story
Thursday 10th, 8 pm onwards
Join filmmakers Lily and Pete Sequoia in a screening of their award-winning documentary. Follow their intimate journey to find belonging and meaning amidst a culture of alienation and environmental destruction. Featuring interviews with grass root activists and leading voices from the UK ecological movement, including Polly Higgins, Bruce Parry and Patrick Whitefield. A tale of both deep grief and inspired hope. A sharing and discussion will be facilitated after the film.
Tales of Resistance - The Battle of Newbury Bypass
Friday 11th, 8 pm onwards
The story of the 1996 battle to stop the building of the Newbury Bypass, told from the activist’s point of view. Created from hundreds of hours of footage, as well as contemporary interviews, it has been distilled into an evocative and historic film. A defining account that shines a light on the people whose actions ultimately blocked a government road building programme.
www.newburybypassfilm.info
Night Moves
Friday after screening of ‘Tales of Resistance- battle of the newbury bypass’
Two Oregon environmentalists (Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning) and a former Marine (Peter Sarsgaard) hatch a plan to blow up a hydroelectric dam.
Buzz Tour + Q & A with Eve Carnell
Saturday 12th, 8 pm onwards
wetheuncivilised - A Life Story
Saturday after screening of ‘Buzz Tour’
Join filmmakers Lily and Pete Sequoia in a screening of their award-winning documentary. Follow their intimate journey to find belonging and meaning amidst a culture of alienation and environmental destruction. Featuring interviews with grass root activists and leading voices from the UK ecological movement, including Polly Higgins, Bruce Parry and Patrick Whitefield. A tale of both deep grief and inspired hope. A sharing and discussion will be facilitated after the film.
Inhabit: A Permaculture Perspective
Sunday 13th, 8 pm onwards
Inhabit explores the many environmental issues facing us today and examines solutions that are being applied using the ecological design process called ‘Permaculture’, a design lens that uses the principles found in ecosystems to help shift our impact from destructive to regenerative. Focused mostly on the Northeastern and Midwestern regions of the United States, Inhabit provides an intimate look at permaculture peoples and practices ranging from rural, suburban, and urban landscapes.
Planetary
Sunday after screening of ‘Inhabit: A Permaculture Perspective’
We are in the midst of a global crisis of perspective. We have forgotten the undeniable truth that everything is connected. PLANETARY is a provocative and breathtaking wakeup call, a cross continental, cinematic journey, that explores our cosmic origins and our future as a species. PLANETARY is a poetic and humbling reminder that it’s time to shift our perspective. PLANETARY asks us to rethink who we really are, to reconsider our relationship with ourselves, each other and the world around us - to remember that: we are PLANETARY.
Ben Giddey~ Hollow Bone Energy Healing
“When you let the day to day mundane world slip away, when you let go the masks of personality and allow yourself to drop deeper, deeper into yourself, what do you find there?
That is where we begin.
My approach is first and foremost, client centred. I know from my own experience, that the deepest healing comes from one’s own experience. Your own awareness is the greatest healer. So, I guide my clients in the process of their healing journey at their own pace, as we heal your wounds and strengthen your heart, that you may be “a light unto yourself”. Noone else can tell you your truth. Healing is a path to self knowledge and self empowerment.
In one to one healing sessions, I use a range of approaches and methods, responding to what is needed in the moment.”
www.healingtotnes.co.uk
Esme, Imogen and Marianna
Touch Talk Massage
Step inside our geodome, your holistic healing sanctuary.
We invite you to experience a multi sensory restoration of body and mind tailored to you & your present moment.
Weaving holistic & remedial massage with energy work, we offer 1 hour treatments using oils infused with homegrown herbs. Afterwards, sip a rejuvenating herbal tea and allow a chocolate to melt in your mouth as you relax in front of the warm woodburner.
In the evenings join us for facilitated workshops exploring touch, the politics of healing & trauma.
We are committed to creating an accessible, inclusive and safe space for all those who enter.
We are body positive, trauma sensitive, trans, queer & non binary friendly.
www.touchtalkmassage.com
Charie Miller and Gemma Denning
Pink Lotus Healing Yurt
The Healing Lotus Yurt
This beautiful yurt and mobile clinic creates a professional, comfortable, clean, deluxe space for festival goers to relax, distress and revitalise. The Healing Lotus yurt is a truly magical and wonderful space to experience being pampered with in.
The treatments offered are:
Aromatherapy
Indian Head Massage
Raindrop Therapy
Acupressure
Deep tension relief massage
Vita flex foot massage ( like reflexology)
Acupuncture
Chinese Medicine
Energy Healing
Hot Stone Massage
Zoe Collins
Mind Body Remembering
Body Mind Remembering is a retreat space in which you can explore your needs and deepen your connection with yourself through Massage and Bodywork. Treatments in Shiatsu, Massage, Aromatherapy and Reflexology are available. They are an opportunity to take time out for yourself, replenish your soul and nourish your body.
Zoe is a bodywork therapist and workshop facilitator, holding the space with over 6 years of experience. She is deeply inspired by the Chinese 5 elements, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water which are woven into her treatments. She is passionate about sharing bodywork at Off Grid to allow people to deepen their connection to their body and mind and how they relate to the elements around us.
I have experience working with:
Aches and Pains
Stress and Anxiety
Fatigue
Chronic Health Conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Parkinson’s
Fertility
Menstruation
Support in processing life changes
Treatments are 1 hour or 30 mins long and need to be booked and paid for in advance.
Shiatsu is a treatment that is given fully clothed (loose, comfortable clothes are best)
You are welcome to come to the space to have a look at the treatments on offer and have a chat.
3D Printing Workshop with Off Grid Built printer
With the ZIG ZAG collective
See Zig Zag program at the festival for times and dates
Abrazo House: an ecological learning centre in northern Spain
With Robert Alcock & Almudena Garrido
Friday 11th, 3:30 - 5 pm
A journey through local economic developments
With The REconomy Centre
Friday 11th, 9:30 am- 12:30 noon
A practical guide for running an engine on waste vegetable oil
With Duncan Goodlad
Thursday 10th 1:30 pm, Saturday 12th 1:30 pm
Activism and Alcohol – a Recipe for Fun, or Disaster?
With Nathalie Griffin and Tim Beasley
Saturday 12th, 1:30- 3 pm
www.counsellingforsocialchange.org.uk
‘Activist’ Burnout: what is it and what can we do about it?
With Nathalie Griffin and Tim Beasley
www.counsellingforsocialchange.org.uk
The Agroecological Land Trust : A Co-housing solution
for low-impact land-based communities
With Joanna Dornan, Landworkers Alliance
Archery for Kids and Families
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
www.sylvanadventures.org
Archery for Adults and Teens
TRACKWAYS ANCIENT CRAFT VILLAGE
For times and date see Trackways Program during the festival
Art and Social Action
With Anairda
Sunday 13th, 11am- 12:30pm
Authentic Consent
With Richard Loizou
Saturday 12th, 3:30- 5 pm
Barn Stage
A brilliant line up of bands and DJ’s acts!
See A to Z for full line up!
Basket Making and Rope and Twine Making
With Kate and Allen Burrows of Westcountry Willows
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
Happiness Economics and Whole Systems Transformation: Change from the Inside Out
With Felipe Viveros from GNH Centre of Bhutan
Sunday 13th 2- 3 pm
Being A Permaculture Ambassador
With Wenderlynn Bagnall
Sunday 13th, time tbc
northdevonpermaculture.com
Biophilia Project Another World Cafe sessions
With John Yates
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:30 am- 12:30 noon
Biophilia Project: Another World Cafe – exploring communication – small table conversations
Blacksmithing
With Dean Agget
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
‘I have been working as a professional smith for the best part of 30 years and my family have been smiths since 1550, I travel to shows and fairs to demonstrate the tools and techniques of hand forging in a traditional way that uses only hand power to produce a wide variety of items, in wrought iron, steel, copper, and stainless steel, and will run workshops in coppersmithing at the event if you would like as well as the demonstrations, at home I live off grid on the zero miles project’ ~ Dean Agget
‘Building Materials Walk’
With Tammi Dallaston from the Centre for Alternative Technology
Meet at OFF GRID COLLEGE
Friday 11th and Saturday 12th 1:30 - 3 pm
Bunting Making
www.sylvanadventures.org
For times see Wildwoods Program during the festival
Buzz Tour film and Q & A
with Eve Carnell
Saturday 12th, 8 pm onwards
www.buzztour.org.uk
Camp Fire Cook Out Competition
Friday and Saturday
Twice a day, 11 am and 3 pm
We bring you our very own version of Masterchef! Families, friends and lone chefs all welcome!
The Cannabis Revolution
With Guy Coxall
Friday 11th, 5- 6 pm
www.molytor.co.uk
Circus Skills Workshops
With the Salamander Collective
Drop in sessions daily
Charles Dowding’s ‘No Dig Approach’
With Stephanie Hafferty
Saturday 12th, 1:30 - 3 pm
https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/
Commons Concerns: Our Rights and The Charter of the Forest
With Myc Riggulsford
Saturday 12th, 3:30- 4: 30 pm
Cinema
The World’s Smallest Solar Cinema – Just for kids!
Crossbows
For times see Wildwoods Program during the festival
www.sylvanadventures.org
Compost Clinics- for your bespoke compost problems!
With Nicky Scott
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
http://nicky927.wixsite.com/mysite
Facebook pages – Growing Devon Schools
Devon community Resource Network
DCCN
Community Charters
With Isabel Carlisle
Saturday 12th, 2- 3 pm
ContaKids Workshops
With Ruth Janssen and Marco Mazza
Two workshops daily
www.contakids.co.uk
Cultural Emergence – how to create a healthy culture
With wetheuncivilized
Daily 10:30 -11:30 am
Den Building
For times see Wildwoods Program during the festival
www.sylvanadventures.org
DIY Solar Panels Workshops
With Ian Westmoreland from ‘Demand Energy Equality’
Ongoing DIY solar panel and battery pack workshops.
http://www.demandenergyequality.org
Ecological Cinema
With wetheuncivilised
Daily 8 pm onwards
See Film A to Z for full line up
Elderly Care Forum- Re-imagining Elderly care for the 21st Century
With Nik Hiscock
Sunday 13th, 1:30 - 3 pm
Elemental Experiences
With Martin Scase
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
A four day workshop taking attendees through the full experience of clay potting – from refining the clay to preparing a pit kiln and firing the pots.
Everyday Touch Discussion
Located in Touch Talk Massage Geodome
See touch talk massage dome for date 6-8pm
https://www.touchtalkmassage.com/
Exeter Pounds Stall
Our onsite local currency! Find out more EXETER POUND AT OF GRID
Drop in over the weekend to find out more
www.exeterpound.org.uk
Sandhya Dave
Family Shiatsu, sustaining the whole
Friday 10th, 3:30 - 5 pm
Time to breathe in…all are invited to come and learn some simple Shiatsu body work techniques that are safe and effective to use within the family set up. Shiatsu is a clothes on energy (ki) body work therapy rooted in the principles of ancient Chinese medicine and developed in Japan. It views us as an inter-connected whole being, vital, ever changing, constantly moving and adapting system, just like a family! We will look at the 5 elements, have a go at meditating both moving and sitting and learn some Shiatsu which we will have as a skill to use within the family forever….! Bring your ma, pa, babies, grandpa, great great grandma and teenagers! Please bring a blanket and cushion and wear lose comfortable clothing. I look forward to meeting you, Sandhya.
“Sandhya Dave is a shape shifting mischievous goddess who likes to play! She is also a body psychotherapist in practice for 18 years. Her background training is in Shiatsu and Gestalt psychotherapy. As well as private practice where she works with babies, children and adults, she works on two mental health wards, offers workshops in communities and is now taking Shiatsu into schools. She also co-ordinates and trains on a programme from the Global Centre, called Cultural Champions which takes cultural diversity and tackling racism work into schools and the community. She has worked as a focaliser for Trees For life in Scotland, planted trees in the foothills of the Himalayas with Vriksha Mitra Saklaniji (friend of the trees) and been part of a core group that set up Moor Trees in Devon looking to reforest parts of Dartmoor and have to date planted 60,000 trees. She has recently co set up Devon Earth and Faith Network and organised three conference days looking at faith and sustainability in action. Her ancestral roots are Indian having grown up with the ecological religion of Hinduism and discovering of this for herself in its truest essence. Sandhya has a meditation practice, loves dancing, funynesss and eating! She is passionate about her part in offering to help create a more harmonious planet through needs met ease of being, for all beings.”
www.culturalchampions.org.uk
Felting Workshops
with Ali Richards
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
Fire Performances
With the Salamander Collective
Fire Lighting with a Bow Drill
TRACKWAYS ANCIENT CRAFT VILLAGE
For times and date see Trackways Program during the festival
Fire Lighting with Flint and Steel
For times see Wildwoods Program during the festival
www.sylvanadventures.org
Five tips and tricks to improve your storytelling!
With Chris Holland
Friday 11th, 3:30- 5 pm
Found sound round blessing of place. Similar to the first found sound but this time with a more conscious attitude of gratitude, and facing outwards.” Chris Holland
Fiddle Workshops
With Paddy’s Whiskers
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
Flint Knapping
TRACKWAYS ANCIENT CRAFT VILLAGE
For times and date see Trackways Program during the festival
Food Not Bombs – the rise of the vegetable army!
With Jude Hutchen
Friday 11th, 1:30- 3 pm
Join a light hearted family friendly workshop making vegetable sculptures of real or fantasy designed bombs, missiles, drones, planes, helicopters, submarines (whatever you can imagine) whilst chatting more about the value of welfare over warfare.
Geodome Building Workshops
With the ZIG ZAG collective
Drop in session Friday and Saturday. See Zig Zag program at the festival for times
Haiku and Mindfulness
With Matti Spence
Saturday 12th, 5- 6 pm
https://stethelburgas.org/a-residency/
Harmony Singing Workshop
With Susie Ro
Sunday 13th 3:30 - 5 pm
www.susiero.co.uk
Hedgerow beer making
With the ZIG ZAG collective
See Zig Zag program at the festival for times and dates
Hedgespoken Storytelling Theatre
With Tom and Rima
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
Hide Tanning
TRACKWAYS ANCIENT CRAFT VILLAGE
For times and date see Trackways Program during the festival
The Hillyfield: Woodland Management & Restoration on Dartmoor
With Doug King Smith of The Hillyfield
Friday 11th, 2- 3 pm
Holistic & Mindfulness-Based Yoga
With Paula Kaminska
Saturday 12th, 9- 10:30 am
www.theyogi.co.uk
How farms can be a local hub for the community
With Martyn Bragg
Sunday 13th, 9- 10:30 am
https://www.shillingfordorganics.co.uk/shillingford-organics-farm-school
https://www.facebook.com/shillingfordorganicsfarmschool/
How to set up a Workers Cooperative
With Sara Godfrey (Hilltown Organics)
Friday 5- 6 pm
http://harvestfarmshop.wixsite.com/harvestfarmshop
Introduction to Mindful Self-Compassion
With Justin Haroun from the Centre for Resilience, University of Westminster
Saturday 12th, 11am- 12:30pm
Introduction to Nonviolent Communication
with Sophie Docker
Thursday 10th, 3:30- 5 pm
The Knitting Tent
With Lisa Tricoteuse from Storm in a Teacup
Drop in sessions all weekend
Laughter Yoga
Lee Ho Ba fa (water form)
TRACKWAYS ANCIENT CRAFT VILLAGE
For times and date see Trackways Program during the festival
Mass Ceilidh Dance Workshop
With Paddy’s Whiskers
Thursday 10th, 8:30 pm
Medicinal Forage Walk
with Clare Sheppey and Helen Kearney
Saturday 12th, 11am - 12:30 pm
Meet at OFF GRID COLLEGE
Meditation
With wetheuncivilised
Daily 8- 9 am
Open Meditation Space
Silent meditation - Unguided - ALL WELCOME
Micro-renewables
With Merlin Howse from Steward Community Woodland
Friday 11th, 1:30- 3 pm
www.stewardwood.org
Minibeast Safari
For times and date see Wildwoods Program during the festival
www.sylvanadventures.org
Moving from Within Workshop
Mushroom Log Inoculation Workshop
With the ZIG ZAG collective
See Zig Zag program at the festival for times and dates
Off Grid Kids
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
Off Grid Kids is an interactive and co-creative learning biotope, for wild and wonderful and slightly anarchic play.
One Planet Development (Wales)
and The Devon Agri-village project
With Bill Knight
Friday 11th, 3:30- 4: 30 pm
www.geo-ltd.com
Pedal Technology
With Nick Mercer
Saturday 12th 3:30- 5 pm
Permaculture for the body
With Lizzie Franklin and Dick Thompson
Friday 11th, 11 am - 12:30 pm
Blog: http://learnpermaculture.co.uk/blog/248-pc-your-body
http://learnpermaculture.com/
Plate Smash
Taking plates from the waste stream and using them for fun!
Planning Permission for Low Impact Development
With Charlotte (Landmatters Community)
Saturday 13th, 3:30- 4:30 pm
PyraPod Workshop
The Politics of Healing
Located in Touch Talk Massage Geodome
See touch talk massage dome for date 6-8pm
We acknowledge that our individual and collective well-being are deeply linked to our social environment. Most, if not all people, are oppressed in some way by the social structures that they find themselves in, so we will ask the following questions: have healing modalities been culturally appropriated, repressed and commodified – and who has access to healing and why?
www.touchtalkmassage.com
The Power of Networks
With Michael Thomas (Transition Network), Felipe Viveros (GNH Centre) & Dan Hurring (Permaculture Association), Hal Gilmore (REconomy)
Saturday 12th, 5- 6 pm
www.therules.org
The Prostitute State V Climate Action
With Donnachadh McCarthy
Friday 11th, 3:30- 5pm
Twitter @donnachadhmc
Facebook: Donnachadh McCarthy
www.3acorns.co.uk
Rainwater Harvesting
with Clive Dragon
Saturday 12th, 11 am – 12:30 pm
Rocket Stoves and Clean Burning Technologies
With Duncan Goodlad
Friday 11th 1:30 pm, Sunday 13th 1:30 pm
Round Wood Timber Framing
With Richard Bates
Saturday 12th, 9- 10:30 am
Scrap Musical Instrument Workshop
With the ZIG ZAG collective
See Zig Zag program at the festival for times and dates
Scrapmonkey Jewellery
With Rich Loizou
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
Shave Horses and Wood Carving
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
www.sylvanadventures.org
Shorts & Talks- Inspiring Ecological and Social Justice Shorts
With wetheuncivilised
Daily 12- 1 pm
See Film A to Z for full line up
Slackline For all!
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
www.sylvanadventures.org
Steward Community Woodland: The Way Forward
With members of Steward Community Woodland
Saturday 3:30- 5 pm
Stress Management Visualisation Techniques and Mindfulness
With Niki Portus
Friday 11th, 1:30- 3 pm
www.facebook.com/rethinkURlife/
Systems of Social Change: Building a Restorative World
With Restorative Frome & The Frome Foundation
Saturday 12th, 9:30 am- 12:30 noon
https://www.facebook.com/Fromefoundation
Talking Circles
With wetheuncivilised
Daily 9-10 am
Tanglewood Wild Crafts
With the Tanglewood Project
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
‘The Benefits of No Dig Growing
to Human Health and the Environment’
[An alternative to Charles Dowding’s approach]
With Martin and Sara Godfrey of Hilltown Organics
Sunday 13th, 11 am - 12:30 pm
http://harvestfarmshop.wixsite.com/harvestfarmshop
Trauma Workshop
Located in Touch Talk Massage Geodome
See touch talk massage dome for date 6-8pm
www.touchtalkmassage.com
Twilight Adventure
Saturday night
www.sylvanadventures.org
Understanding Off Grid Energy Systems
With Ian Westmoreland from ‘Demand Energy Equality’
Sunday 13th, 1:30 - 3 pm
http://www.demandenergyequality.org
Veterans For Peace talk and discussion
With Ben Yeger
Thursday 10th, 3:30- 5 pm
http://child-soldiers.org/dontenlistat16
Wild Food Foraging Walk
With Trudy Turrell
Meet at OFF GRID COLLEGE
Friday 11th and Sunday 13th, 11 am - 12:30 pm
“Why Women will Save the Planet” book review & open discussion
With Anairda
Saturday 12th, 1:30 - 3 pm
Wild Feast
TRACKWAYS ANCIENT CRAFT VILLAGE
Saturday Evening
What is Permaculture
Woodcraft Workshops
With Phil Cuddy
Drop in sessions throughout the weekend
Yoga
With Fran Allen
Friday 11th and Sunday 13th, 9 - 10:30 am
Zero Carbon Britain
With Paul Allen from the Centre for Alternative Technology
http://www.zerocarbonbritain.org/en/
Abrazo House: an ecological learning centre in northern Spain
With Robert Alcock & Almudena Garrido
Friday 11th 3:30 – 5 pm
Building Materials Walk
With Tammi Dallaston from the Centre for Alternative Technology
Friday and Saturday 12th 1:30 – 3 pm
The Benefits of No Dig Growing
to Human Health and the Environment’
[An alternative to Charles Dowding’s approach]
With Martin and Sara Godfrey of Hilltown Organics
Sunday 13th 11 am – 12:30 pm
Martin Godfrey, assisted by his partner Sara, with a slideshow demonstrate the benefits to health and the environment of their no-dig growing system. Martin and Sara have recently formed a worker’s co-op in their fruit and veg shop ‘Harvest Farm Shop’ in Okehampton, Devon, where they sell produce from small growers, including from their land.
Their talk includes the following elements:
- polyculture planting
- no hoeing
- the incredible diversity of insects and wildlife natural no dig supports
- keeping soil covered with mulch at all times
- crops completing lifecycles, building a seed bank in the soil of useful plants
- integrating useful weeds with cultivated plants
- seeing value in perennial weeds such as hogweed, docks, dandelion, nettle etc
- the incredibly tasty and unique salad that this system produces
http://harvestfarmshop.wixsite.com/harvestfarmshop
Charles Dowding’s ‘No Dig Approach’
With Stephanie Hafferty
Saturday 1:30 – 3 pm
Growing abundant food with no-dig methods, using mainly composted mulches.
This talk explains highly productive, bio intensive methods for growing food in market gardens and on a smaller scale, in domestic gardens and allotments, using techniques which have been developed by Charles Dowding and Stephanie Hafferty, co-authors of “No Dig Organic Home and Garden”.
Charles, widely considered to be a pioneer of no dig in the UK, has been growing commercially organically and no dig for more than 35 years in 4 different locations, from his first market garden of 8 acres in the 1980s to his present renowned amazingly productive 1/4 acre in Somerset which produced more than £25,000 worth of food last year. This offers incredible possibilities for food security in the UK and beyond. Stephanie grows as self sufficiently as possible in her home garden and allotment, and also works in community projects and creating kitchen gardens for restaurants and other clients.
No dig is a gentle process, working in balance with nature, protecting and preserving our precious soil. It is high yielding and saves time; you need less space to grow more food. Mulches of compost ensure less slugs and fewer weeds, very quick and easy to maintain with a hoe. Growing in a polyculture, grouping the same veg together for ease of management (protection of pests, harvesting) and intercropping ensures a wildlife rich biodiversity. Compost mulches give high yields and food for the whole season for plants and soil life, as nutrients in compost are not water soluble so stay available for second and third crops. This mulch also provides habitat for a wide range of wildlife and conserves water, reducing the need for watering. Wildlife is further supported and encouraged by leaving wild edges full of indigenous plants - no dig is extremely wildlife friendly!
In this presentation we will explore different ways of setting up this system, composting, growing under cover, useful tools, growing year round, crop protection, generating an income, annual and perennial edible plants including mixed annual/perennial ‘forest garden’ (our version of this), key seeds to save (if you don’t have much space!), storing and saving your harvest and a lot more!
Steph is an organic kitchen gardener, writer, teacher, chef, blogger and co-author of No Dig Organic Home and Garden with Charles Dowding. Based in Somerset Steph grows abundant vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs using no dig methods, almost self sufficiently in her smallish home garden and allotment. She works at Homeacres with Charles and runs a restaurant kitchen garden at an international art gallery. She writes about her work, potions, creations and her home gardening in her blog, NoDigHome. Her writing and photography has featured in many publications including Gardens Illustrated, Permaculture Magazine, Grow It (Now Kitchen Gardens Magazine) and Mark Boyle’s Moneyless Manifesto. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge of sustainable growing and cooking to feed families and communities.
Steph gives talks and workshops on various subjects including gardening and natural potion making across the country for gardening groups, WIs, Permaculture festivals, at River Cottage and other events. As part of this educational work, she has created pop up demonstration gardens for festivals and shows and was part of a team advising and participating in the transformed Horticultural Village at the Bath and West Show, to include more examples of edible gardens. Steph is currently working on a plant based recipe book.
https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/
How farms can be a local hub for the community
With Martyn Bragg
Sunday 13th 9 - 10:30 am
Martyn Bragg, founder of Shillingford Organics, will be talking about our model of how Farms can be a local hub for the community. We have started Farm School and Farm Community events in Shillingford Organics in March 2016, it all started with a conversation late January in the Purple sprouting broccoli field during our morning harvest, we were talking about how magical and rewarding it is to be able to see seeds growing into such an abundant, and beautiful crop and the question came up: ‘wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could share this knowledge with people, adults and children?’ And we went from there. Our vision is to transform the community from the ground up, equip our children with the skill of working the land, befriending nature, and enable the adults to be engaged in their local farm life, feel part of it, which will inevitably result in increasing local, fresh food consumption, i.e healthier families, stronger local economy, and happier Earth.
https://www.shillingfordorganics.co.uk/shillingford-organics-farm-school
https://www.facebook.com/shillingfordorganicsfarmschool/
Introduction to Nonviolent Communication
with Sophie Docker
Thursday 3:30 - 5 pm
Medicinal Forage Walk
with Clare Sheppey and Helen Kearney
Saturday 12th, 11am – 12:30 pm
Join us on a herb walk and learn to identify, harvest and use commonly found plants to treat everyday ailments.
Learn to make a healing balm using herbal infused oil and beeswax.
Helen Kearney and Clare Shippey are Devon based Herbalists. Helen lives and works at Elder Farm; a 5 acre off grid organic herb farm which is being established using permaculture principals. She has a degree in Herbal Medicine and is a member of the National Institute of Herbal Medicine. Clare trained for her degree at the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine and qualified in 2010. She has a regular clinic in Totnes.
They can be found running seasonal workshops together on many different aspects of herbal medicine. From botany to harvesting, home herbal medicine and remedy making. They are both tutors on the Betonica Herbal Apprenticeship.
Twitter: @elderfarm
www.facebook.com/elderfarmherbs
www.facebook.com/clareshippeyherbalist
www.clareshippeyherbalist.co.uk
Micro-renewables
With Merlin Howse from Steward Community Woodland
Friday 11th, 1:30- 3 pm
This session is aimed at those wishing to learn about DIY solutions to renewable energy, whether that is for environmental reasons, practical reasons, or preparing for a future where we can not rely on power from the grid.
An overview of micro-renewables for practical off-grid living:
* Energy acquisition – This involves the use of solar, micro-hydro, wind turbines and other technologies to harvest the renewable forms of energy around us.
* Energy conversion – Some forms of energy acquired will require conversion to be useful to their application. This might be by use of a generator for example.
* Energy storage – Ways in which you can store your power for later use
* Energy application – How best to make efficient use of your power. This will include energy efficiency, inverters for mains appliances and converting appliances to 12v.
Merlin Howse lives at Steward Community Woodland, a low impact, permaculture community in a 32 acre mixed woodland on the edge of Dartmoor.
“I have lived off-grid in the community since the project
started in 2000. Since being here we have explored various methods of
renewable energy use from as simple as a camp fire to keep warm at night
to micro-hydro and photovoltaic solar systems with charge controllers
and storage. I have always had a keen interest in electrics and so one
of my main roles in the community is maintaining our renewable energy
systems. During this time I have learned lots of new skills which I
love to share with others. I also run courses on the subject!” Merlin Howse
www.stewardwood.org
‘Off-grid’
With Sarah Houghton
Friday 11th, 9 - 10:30 am
Pedal Technology
With Nick Mercer
Saturday 12th, 3:30- 5 pm
As Campaign for Real Events, Nick Mercer operates small child sized pedal generators in schools, community events and home education sessions. The generators are made mostly from recycled items with things like cotton reels, vacuum cleaner belts and motors from printers clearly visible to emphasise ease of copying.
This year’s talk will concentrate on highly portable systems for amplifying mp3 music from phones aimed at teen projects.
Permaculture for the body
With Lizzie Franklin and Dick Thompson
Friday 12th, 11 am – 12:30 pm
In this modern world, our bodies are breaking down, much like our mismanaged ecosystems.
We know more about the body now than ever before. But it’s taken for granted that as we get older, things start to shut down. It doesn’t have to be this way. With permaculture we have been given a way to interact with complex systems in a more beneficial way, and it all starts with our ability to observe.(and be aware)
The further our systems are out of balance, the better our observational skills need to be. The body is a system of systems, and these systems can work together, against each other or harmoniously. Right now, the odds are stacked against us. As a consequence, few of us are in great shape and we know it. But how to stop and reverse the spirals of erosion we are experiencing in this system of systems that we all inhabit?
In this talk we will discuss how to restore the balance of the ecosystem that is our body, particularly with respect to posture, digestive health & aches and pains.
Blog: http://learnpermaculture.co.uk/blog/248-pc-your-body
http://learnpermaculture.com/
Rainwater Harvesting
with Clive Dragon
Saturday 12th, 11 am - 12:30 pm
Rainwater harvesting can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be.
Most of the talk will be about observation of needs and solutions made as simply as possible.
From leaving a bucket outside for animals to drink from, through to harvesting for the new build home.
I wish to leave time for others to share their ideas and solutions and hope for questions I can’t yet answer.
How else do we learn but from each other? -Clive
Round Wood Timber Framing
With Richard Bates
Saturday 12th, 9- 10:30 am
Come and join Richard for an informal chat about round timber framing, his experience of working with coppicing and woodland crafts, and living off grid in the woods. We will look at why round timber framing is good, and suited to off grid homes, and inexperienced builders.
Take a look at jointing techniques, tools required. Richard will be demonstrating an example of butter part joint and showing some example of projects.
Understanding Off Grid Energy Systems
With Ian Westmoreland of Demand Energy Equality
Sunday 13th 1:30 – 3 pm
Off grid energy systems are no longer just for people living off the grid. With the growth of microgrids and home energy storage products, understanding how to combining renewable energy generation with battery storage is more relevant than ever.
This session will set you up for a dive into the world of off grid energy. You will learn the basics of using intermittent renewable energy generators, batteries and appliances in an off-grid system, whether it’s for a small solar panel on your garden shed or a utility-scale battery installation to back up a wind farm. You will also get a closer look at some of the typical components found in any off-grid system: charge controllers, inverters, energy monitors, and more.
Ian is a director of Demand Energy Equality, an organisation that runs grassroots, practical energy workshops to provide insight into basic energy concepts and challenges. The workshops provide hands-on access to renewable energy technologies, enabling participants to explore the future of energy and to understand the links between energy use, consumer society and climate change.
www.demandenergyequality.org
Wild Food Foraging Walk
With Trudy Turrell
Friday 11th and Sunday 13th 11 am – 12:30 pm
Come on a stroll around the site and find out how to eat, enjoy, prepare and preserve some of the amazing edible wild plants to be found in the woods, fields and hedgerows. After a stroll to gather some of nature’s wild bounty, we’ll cook and prepare some dishes to eat together. Salads, soups and herb teas could all be on the menu- plus I’ll be bringing a selection of seaweeds gathered from Devon’s wild coasts for you to taste and learn about- a true superfood that’s abundant, delicious and free!
There will also be a chance to find out how to preserve the wild food that you gather; from drying to making jams, cordials, vinegars and pickling, plus lots of tasty tips on cooking it too! Bring your children who will love spotting things to eat and try too!
“I have been gathering food from the wild since a teenager. Having studied some archaeology, I’m fascinated by how our ancestors would have gathered all they needed to eat from the land and sea and how we still can with some basic knowledge and skills.
Working in countryside conservation throughout South Devon for 20 years, I built on my knowledge of plants and habitats and shared them with hundreds of people through the guided walks and activities programme that I ran. I have hosted wild food suppers for 40, forages for classes of school children, foraging skillshares and best of all, shared my knowledge with my own children, who are to be seen chomping from the hedgerow as they stroll along! ( see my daughter at 4 , seaweed foraging!)
I’m particularly passionate about seashore plants- including all our wonderful superfood seaweeds- and about the many ways in which we can preserve and use nature’s bounty by preserving, drying and pickling.” - Trudy Turrel
What is Permaculture?
What is permaculture? You’ve probably heard of it, but do you know what it is? Oor how to use it? This informal presentation will give an overview of the very basics of Permaculture and is aimed at those who are curious to discover its meaning, it’s origins and it’s many and varied applications. It aims to dispel the myth that Permaculture is entirely about no dig/organic gardening!
This will be a colourful, and sometimes interactive, gallop through the Ethics and Principles, the planning and design tools, and their practical application to our everyday lives.
Marion lives on a one acre Permaculture Garden in North Devon where she keeps hens and bees and grows as much food as she can. She is currently in the process of creating a ‘People care Project’ on her woodland plot and will also be convening, with others, an ‘Introduction to Permaculture’ weekend on 16th / 17th September near to Barnstaple.
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