Research

This is one of our charitable objectives, and a newly convened research working group has given our previously modest  research activities a big boost. A research strategy has been developed in consultation with members and this has highlighted priority areas.

Research into applications and fundamental aspects of permaculture has great potential to improve the permaculture practice of Association members, other permaculturists and their allies. Well-documented research can also help to raise the profile and standing of permaculture in civil society. As the prime networking body for active permaculture designers and practitioners in the UK, the Association is in the best position to systematically monitor and review progress of permaculture on a UK-wide scale. By providing an interface with academic research, our own research efforts will also enable us to feed into policy-forming scientific debates, and improve access to relevant academic research for non-academics.

The ultimate purpose of our research is to give people tools to improve their lives and surroundings. Our efforts will reflect this, with an emphasis on research into applications of permaculture and their effectiveness. We will also explore ways of making permaculture education and training as attractive as possible and of the highest quality, giving people the necessary skills to design and implement solutions that address real needs in their personal lives and communities.

Suggested actions:

  • Contact the Association about getting involved in the research working group
  • Download the research strategy (see link below)
  • Tell us about your research work
  • Join the research yahoo e-group

 

The action research cycle mirrors the design cycle

Research Into Planning System Changes Completed

Permaculture Association staff member Joe Atkinson has completed his thesis for an Architecture MSc at the Centre for Alternative Technology. The research title is:

"Assessing the Implications of Planning Policy Proposals for Low Impact Developments in Rural England & Wales."

It is particularly timely as it comes as the Government's National Planning Framework consultation is open.

The study considers the views of professional bodies, planning consultants and expert witnesses in past planning cases. It goes on to review 25 previous Low Impact Developments' planning cases.

The report concludes that it is likely to become much more difficult to obtain planning permission for Low Impact Developments in rural England. It recommends that interested parties put significant effort into making representations to national and local government consultations, and that emergent projects should engage positively & proactively with local communities from the outset.

If you're interested in planning issues, hope to build a low impact development, or are planning any other form of development or change of use that may require planning permission, it is well worth reading.

Attachments: 

Polyculture Progress Report - August 2010

Our first members research programme is focussed on polycultures. Growing things together, rather than separating them, is a central concept for permaculture, and many of us are experimenting with it in one form or another. Through this programme we hope to learn more about who is doing what at the moment, what successes and problems have occurred and what training and information is needed to make us all better polyculture growers. You can help by filling in our initial online survey on http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KKVHCM3 .

The first stage of our survey and three meetings in Leeds, Bristol and London identified a baseline and priorities for our research into polycultures. You can read the resulting progress report - see attachment below.

As a result of our discussions, we have decided to develop the following three programmes:

- Vegetable polyculture trials
- Forest Garden Phase 1 survey
- Mapping polycultures by zones (1 to 5) and geographical location.

If you are interested in or can help with any of these, please contact us on research@permaculture.org.uk

Polycultures - Questionnaire

First draft of the Polyculture Questionnaire (Research working group).

Join the research yahoo e-group

You can subscribe to the permaculture research mailing list at yahoogroups.

The group can be found at tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/permaresearchuk/ 

To subscribe:

email permaresearchuk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To post a message:

email permaresearchuk@yahoogroups.com