Living Tao
Natural Presence

About Avalon Permaculture Gardens

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Avalon Permaculture Gardens i five acre permaculture smallholding with wonderful views across the vale of Avalon. We have been developing the site since October 1998 as a personal growth centre where we hold a range of courses and individual sessions that give support or making real an healthy changes in life, relationship and in the world. Its is a response to the ecological crisis facing us, a place to show that we can live lightly on the Earth, in harmony with her. We aim to show that this is more than just possible - indeed a rich and full life results from being a conscious, positive contributor to our ecosystem.

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Bill Mollison, the founder of Permaculture said "for the sake of he earth itself I evolved a philosophy close to Taoism from my experiences with natural systems, a philosophy of working with rather than against nature." He defined Permaculture as: “The conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural eco systems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter and other materiel and non material needs in a sustainable way.”

 

Following the natural principles of Taoism and permaculture here at Avalon Permaculture Gardens we have tuned what was an over- grazed hose paddock into a diverse and productive feast of naturally growing gardens, orchards, meadows and trees -a rich and natural biodiversity. We grow a wide variety of organic fruit, herbs and vegetables all in ways that support wildlife. Here we live simply, close to the earth with a low carbon footprint, producing our own energy from sun and wind, growing much of our own food. Here we have built our own shelter from natural materials. The gardens now provide a haven away form the busyness of modern life - a place to reconnect with nature and with yourself in a simple and direct way.