A Short Autobiography

After growing up in a Russian-speaking family, I completed a Russian degree at Manchester University in 1973.

Moving to Bristol, I trained as a cabinet maker and had a key role in the establishment of Bristol Craft Centre – co-operatively run community workshops - housing some twenty-five maker/designer businesses at its peak. During this time connections developed with the Dartington Trust and in 1983 I went on to work for their furniture and joinery manufacturing company in Devon.

Here in 1989 came the start of 20-plus years [so far] work in permaculture design and teaching. I completed my Permaculture Design Course in 1990. In the same year I took on the role of co-ordinator for the Permaculture Association [Britain].

In 1994 my partner Patsy Garrard and I launched the Permaculture Education Project. A significant part of the work has been the development and delivery of permaculture training and permaculture teacher training programme that has been delivered in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belarus and Moldova, as well as in England. The aim of the programme is to promote the establishment of local permaculture networks and teaching teams.

In parallel with the activities of the Permaculture Education Project, I have worked for some sixteen years with the Workers’ Educational Association [WEA - the largest provider of adult education in Britain]. This work included the development of innovative training programmes for tutors and community focused projects.

Most recently I was one of the land-use and development managers at a residential education centre in West Dorset and currently work as an adviser for the Local Food Fund of the UK Big Lottery.

I continue to teach locally, nationally and internationally by invitation.