Research

Research is one of the five key areas of the Association's work. All aspects of the Association's research share two key aims; building a strong evidence base for permaculture and improving permaculture practice.

Our aim is to fulfil these aims through six objectives:

  • Engaging more people in permaculture research
  • Enabling more people to get access to permaculture research
  • Engaging more students and research interns
  • Building an international research network
  • Increasing links with universities, other academic institutions and policy makers
  • Securing funds for long-term reserach goals

 

In April 2012 the Association appointed its first Research Coordinator, Chris Warburton Brown. Alongside Chris, the research team currently comprises two volunteer interns; Barney Thompson works on our ten-year Forest Garden Research Project and Cat Richards is completing the International Research Survey.

 

The research team is supported by the Research Advisory Board, 18 experts from academia and other fields who advise on the activities being undertaken and set the key direction of the Association's research through the Research Strategy.

A key part of the research the Association does is the involvement of its members. Opportunities for members to get involved are advertised here and through the e-bulletin. Get in touch if you have an idea for a research project, or research findings you think would be of interest to the permaculture community: Research@permaculture.org.uk

Suggested actions:

  • Contact the Association about getting involved in the Research Advisory Board
  • Download the research strategy (see link below)
  • Tell us about your research work

 

Permaculture Research - Digest

We have a research digest portal that provides short summaries of newly published permaculture-related research.

Click on this banner below to enter the portal...

 

Mixed vegetable polycultures results

Mixed veg can mean so much more than a quick-fix packet from the freezer.  For 50 people around the UK last year, it took on a new meaning – a new way of growing vegetables all mixed up together.  

To read the full report, click here

application/msword iconAssociation Research Strategy 2010-2015
The action research cycle mirrors the design cycle
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Lush Cosmetics Fund Permaculture Research Project

Submitted by chriswb on 17 June 2013 - 3:50pm

Thanks to the generosity of Lush Cosmetics, the Association is delighted to announce a new research programme, the International Soil and Biodiversity Testing Project. The aim of the pogramme is to identify and develop a number of simple tests which can be used by researchers and practitioners throughout the world to measure biodiversity, soil quality, water quality and cropping. We will create a simple, comparable, scientifically valid, monitoring toolkit that can measure and document key indicators of success for permaculture projects across the world. Many of these tests already exist. We will be popularising them within the permaculture network and identifying tools for use in a range of climates.

We hope to trial the tests in at least twenty countries, building on the interest shown in our International Research Survey. Once tested, they will be officially launched as a package on our website at the end of 2014, freely available to all. Part of the project is the development of an on-line tool where those using the tests can up-load their data, creating the first internationally comparable database of permaculture data. Ultimately the project's aim is to accelerate learning within the permaculture network, so we can make our best contribution towards a low carbon, biodiverse and equitable future.

Work on the programme begins now and it will end at Christmas 2014. In its early stages, it will rely heavily on Association members in the UK to help with trialling the various tests before we begin the international element at the end of this year. Please help out if you can by trialling some of the tests for us in your own growing space. Look out for on-going updates in Permaculture Works , the E-bullettin and on this website.

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Research Into Planning System Changes Completed

Submitted by Joe Atkinson on 14 September 2011 - 1:49pm

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: 
application/pdf iconthesis_final.pdf
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Polyculture Progress Report - August 2010

Submitted by debbiej on 15 September 2010 - 2:11pm

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

Attachments: 
application/pdf iconPolyculture_research_-_progress_report_10-05.pdf
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Polycultures - Questionnaire

Submitted by debbiej on 28 June 2010 - 3:21pm

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

Attachments: 
application/msword iconPolycultures_Questionnaire_10-02_DRAFT.doc
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