Permaculture as a term was coined in the mid-seventies to describe strategies for creating sustainable food growing methods. At Organiclea, there are many examples of permaculture food growing in practice. This includes companion planting - putting beneficial plants side-by-side, a compost loo, comfrey beds, a forest garden and a pond.

However, permaculture has gone beyond its roots to become a worldwide movement encompassing all aspects of how we as human beings can live harmoniously in relation to the each other and the earth and its finite resources. It seeks to create sustainable human habitats by following nature's patterns. This is a 'design system' looking at how elements are placed in relation to each other. The idea is how to maximise the efficiency of the elements for creating a self-sustaining, low input-high output, non-exploiting whole. Beyond the land and food growing, permaculture as an idea, brings solutions that are rooted in positive initiatives which increase economic independence and environmental quality.

At Organiclea, as well as considering permaculture on the growing site, we aim to apply the idea of permaculture and interconnecting elements to our work away from the site. This includes a community composting scheme that helps us generate compost for our growing, encouraging others to get involved in the food growing - with open days and the offer of training, working with a local community herbalist, who uses our crops and runs workshops about preventative health, pedaling our fresh produce to selling points by bicycle and working with community organisations to promote our produce to local families.

Organiclea is part of a growing network of London permaculturalists. This network offers courses in permaculture and day training sessions across London at a variety of project sites. For more information and course details see londonpermaculture.net and spiralseed.co.uk and naturewise.org.uk.

'History is littered with societies that over-exploit their resources, they are all now extinct. We are rapidly moving to the same situation. By designing rationally however, we can set up the systems we need for good living in such a way that they don't destroy or pollute. Permaculture is the most coherent system yet devised.' Steve Reed, permaculture designer and teacher.