Thank you for your interest in our homesteading course. The course is run from our family homestead here at our Community Permaculture Project in Devon.

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We’re artists who have been on a long journey of self discovery towards community and living lightly on the land. Along the way we have developed the skills to lead a lower impact, self sufficient and abundant existence and are blessed to be surrounded by experts and qualified teachers in many fields of off grid, self reliant, land based living. If you’re thinking of setting off on the homesteading journey then this is a great place to start.

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The first day of the course will be a general introduction to the skills to set up a homestead, a walk and talk through our plot and it’s systems as works in progress, and then a wider tour of the 42 acres of community Permaulture project of which we are a part...After many years of volunteering at eco projects, organic farms, off grid communities and holistic living around the world we’ll share the story of our own journey, ‘London to Landmatters’ and information to support your personal enquiry into homesteading.

On the second day we have a series of modules for you to choose from.

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Here’s what we currently have on offer...Simply choose the two modules that most interest you and we’ll schedule the sessions to support you to gain the most out of your time with us here on the land.

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Food

– Glorious Food…

Producing food on a small plot of poor soil. We look at the challenges, how to create basic beds – raised beds, no dig beds and ‘lazy’ beds. We’ll take a look at plant guilds, companion planting, and planting for biodiversity. Also covered will be polytunnels – siting them, and growing tips.

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Energy

– Power Up for Wind Down…

The practicalities of using solar or wind to generate energy in our climate, an overview of how to set up these systems, store the energy, useful ways to deal with surplus, monitoring use and generation. We also look at a variety of wood stoves and heating systems.

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Water

– A magical resource we cannot live without...

this module looks at how to collect water from a roof or well, how to store it effectively, to move it to where it is needed, and how best to filter or treat it to render it safe for consumption. We’ll look at the issues surrounding cleaning water, and the various ways that you can set up an effective water system using low cost materials.

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Waste

– Not Want Not !

This session looks at some common types of compost toilet, how to build them, their effectiveness, and what to do with the waste. We explore the complete waste cycle, through to using safely composted material on trees or crops. Dealing with grey water from sinks, baths and showers is also covered – how to create a basic grey water treatment system, and the maintenance and pitfalls involved. Finally we look at household composting systems, how to build them effectively, and to turn your food waste into valuable garden compost.

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Buildings

– Home is where the Hearth is...

Here we look at the possibilities for low cost off grid structures, from benders to cabins and barns using everything from pallets to commercially available materials, recycled and salvaged wood and windows, natural materials and finishes. We’ll look at simple barn structures, a straw bale house, cob and cordwood, how to build a bender, and round house construction. We have examples of all these structures on the land.

 

Chickens

– Feathered Friends

The A-Z of holistic poultry husbandry. Rotation systems, kind housing and land management techniques where poultry play a part.

 

Natural Horsemanship

– Medicine Horse...

Drop deep into nature, this land and yourself whilst journeying with our two wild Dartmoor ponies. Explore your unique relationship to earth and all of it’s species through the eye of the horse...an introduction to horse psychology, behaviour and healing potential.

 

Ponies and Permaculture

– Designing holistic systems….

Permaculture design for the benefit humans, horses and the land they inhabit...

Learn about conservation grazing, holistic equine grazing systems, including track systems and supporting biodiversity in grassland management plus rainwater collection, trough systems and planting field boundaries or hedgerows for horse medicine.

 

Blacksmithing

– Into the Fire with Izzi Bard...

Our smithy contains two charcoal burning forges and one high power gas forge, numerous tools, two French anvils, a bench vice, hammers, grips, rasps, basically everything you need to make and maintain tools for self reliance. Join Izzi Bard our resident Blacksmith to make a simple hook to take home...Izzi has learned his Blacksmithing skills whilst growing up being home educated, travelling all over the U.K and many parts of the world...He can share simple details of how to create a simple pit forge for home use.

 

Permaculture and Homesteading

How to utilise permaculture principles and design to make the right decisions for your own Homestead plot.

 

Stock fencing

A hands on? module showing how and where to put up stock fences to keep animals in and deer out ( if you need to)

 

Herbs and Healing

– Plant Power

Learn about the wonder of planting, growing, harvesting and preparing herbs for your own medicine and wellbeing - physical, emotional and metaphysical...explore and experience beautiful herb spiral that has been established here by Mihaela Repina in the Labyrinth Healing Garden

 

 

Wild food foraging

– Wild You

A beautiful walk and talk through the meadows and woodlands, learn to spot the edible foods that grow naturally all around us. Learn to harvest fairly and safely, and hear about simple and beautiful ways to incorporate delicious and densely nutritious wild foods into your daily life.

 

How to make a Living from Life on the land

Making a living from living the land requires a different way of looking at earning a living. Seasonal in approach and having benefits other than purely financial ! Think connection to nature, abundance, self reliance and wellbeing. From traditional crafts to offering experiences in nature...this session offers an insight into the range of possibilities for turning your particular interest in living on the land into a possible income..with tips and tricks on how to keep the wolf from the door along the way.

 

 

Yoga

– A foundation practice...

Yoga is a way of life and can support us in infinite ways...in our bodies and minds and in everything we do....This module is an introduction to how simple yogic principles and practices can be absorbed to guide and support us in all we encounter, be it physical, emotional, existential.

 

 

Meditation – Back to Earth and Onwards

learn a simple, transformational meditation technique that you can use at any time to return to earth, replenish, recharge and reconnect to your own unique coordinates and journey.

 

The Five Tibetans

– A simple yoga sequence for Everyday

Developed many years ago by the Tibetan monks as a daily exercise...this sequence is gentle enough to be suitable for anyone, maintains flexbility of the spine, keeps the heart and muscles strong and can be done, once mastered, in 10 minutes…!

 

 

So those are the modules... Simply choose the two that most interest you and we will call on the expertise around us to give you a great hands on experience with those that actually live it….

 

The two day course costs £300 per person for the two days ( minimum two people) and includes all food…Day 1 - Breakfast, lunch and dinner Day 2 -Breakfast and Lunch.

 

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The choice of accommodation ranges from bringing your own tent which is

included in the price or hiring a yurt ( if available ) from £55 per night.

There are wonderful accomodation options locally at a range of different budgets.

 

Due to Covid we’re unable to offer this course until the end of August…

 

Day 1…

 

Day ! – Intro to Homesteading with Simeon and Miranda.

Day 2 - 2 modules per participant, hosted by either ourselves or exerts living the dream !

 

Love and light…

 

Simeon and Miranda

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