Plants For A Future

1
Plants For A Future

• Past, Present and Future
• Presentation on 17 October 2009
• at Permaculture Association (Britain) AGM

2
Past Ken Fern, PFAF Founderhis Aims and
Achievements

• Research
• Desk research on range of edible plants 20,000
  known species, gt 5,000 can be grown outdoors in
  Britain
• Established a major forest garden project on
  his 28 acre experimental site in Cornwall
• Design and creation of woodlands, and other
  models of natural systems such as bog gardens,
  ponds and meadows, that contain a diversity of
  edible plants
• Determining how productive these could be in
  Britain
• Around 2000 mainly perennial species planted
• Now 7000 species in the PFAF database
• 1997 book
• Describes/ categorises a selection of (mainly)
  perennials
• Dedicated to Robert Hart, forest garden pioneer

3
PFAF and permaculture

• Mission statement from Permaculture Plot entry
  for PFAF/ The Field in 1996
• The community aims to become self sufficient in
  food fuel, etc as well as showing others that
  these can be derived from the plant world without
  recourse to animal exploitation or
  environmentally damaging methods. We feel that
  human survival depends on this and on the use of
  a wide variety of plant species, especially where
  there is a threat of rapid climatic change.
  Perennial plants are emphasised, because once
  these become established they require minimal
  disturbance to the soil, minimal environmental
  impact and minimal work.

4
The Field, Penpol, Cornwall28 acre
experimental site

• Purchased 1989 as bare, degraded agricultural
  land
• Initially conceived as a permaculture experiment
• Focus on discovering new food plants,
  particularly robust perennials
• Vegan organic principles were adopted
• Intense activity during 1990s around 2000
  species planted 12 acres of woodland
• Windbreaks planted early on to create local
  microclimates and build soil

5
The Field

• Sections identified suitable for particular uses
  and/or being tended by specific Land Club members
• Knowledge gained contributed to PFAF book and
  plants database
• Some members of PFAF community diverted to
  ecovillage project in N Devon from 1997
• Now too few workers involved to maintain as
  demonstration site, and hard to attract new
  people

6
Past North Devon site at Blagdon Cross

• Aim the establishment of a major plant research
  and visitors' centre based around the practice of
  permaculture and useful plants
• Money raised in loans to buy 84 acre (35 ha) site
  in 1997
• Some planning permission came with the site
• Design included café, shop, woodland garden,
  small urban gardens, special needs garden, native
  areas, workshops, experimental area, nursery
• Grant funding obtained for infrastructure work
  and planting 20,000 trees

7
How Blagdon ended

• The planning permission saga
• Site came with planning permission for 28 holiday
  chalets 4 acres (1.7 ha) of lakes
• Permission obtained for 5 poly-tunnels
• PFAF applied for planning permission to allow
  people to live on site, car park and camping
  pitches, rejected in1998, resubmitted in July 99
  rejected, appeal, then Public Inquiry in May
  2000, appeal upheld
• End result temporary planning permission for 2
  mobile homes (one to act as a visitors centre
  and one for accommodation for the workers), 5
  camping pitches, a hard core area for visitors
  and workers parking plus access route, and a lake
• Not for an eco-village!
• Money!
• Although enough money was raised to buy the site,
  there was not enough to employ people to manage
  the site
• Voluntary support was enthusiastic and energetic,
  much work was carried out, exciting activities
  took place
• Control was lost and people fell out, support
  fell away
• By 2005, no significant activity and needed to
  repay loans, necessary to sell land
• 2008 Blagdon sold, became nature reserve, loans
  repaid, leaving the charity with some capital
  (but no regular or substantial income)

8
Present what PFAF is doing now

• Research and Survey of The Field
• Redevelopment of Website and Database
• Running the Charity

9
PFAF Charity

• The Charitys Objects (as set up by previous
  trustees) are to advance the education of the
  public by the promotion of all aspects of
  ecologically sustainable vegan-organic
  horticulture and agriculture with an emphasis on
  tree, shrub and other perennial species and the
  undertaking of research into such horticulture
  and agriculture, and dissemination of the results
  of such research. (emphasis added)
• Current trustees Paul Harding, Jennifer Lauruol,
  Chris Marsh, Ed Sears, George Sobol, Wendy Stayte
• only one of us is vegan

10
Vegan Organics

• from PFAF website
• Vegan organic horticulture is a method of
  growing plants without the use of chemical
  fertilizers, sprays etc and without using any
  animal products (except those obtained from
  humans). It is a system of caring for the soil in
  a sustainable way to ensure it retains its
  fertility for future generations. It is a method
  of growing plants that works in harmony with
  nature, encouraging a wide diversity of plant and
  animal life to share the land with us.
• Also available on website, full information on
• vegan organics principles and methods
• conservation gardening wildlife friendly
  gardening
• the ethics of veganism why plants? what is wrong
  with using animals?
• animal abuse in today's society
• links to other vegan groups, in particular the
  Vegan Organic Network

11
The Field, Survey and Research Aims

• In 2008 PFAF trustees decided to commission
  research into what could be learned from The
  Field
• Three research strands
• an ecological survey of what is there now, to
  record the legacy from the experiment
• to seek information from PFAF participants on
  what was done, and their views on what has been
  learnt and
• to reach conclusions on the wider relevance of
  PFAF principles and practice.

12
Particular issues of research interest

• To what extent was the original plan adhered to?
• Can the food plants we rely on grow successfully
  alongside valuable indigenous, wild plants?
• Do valuable perennials need intensive weeding and
  tending to survive?
• How important/ successful are windbreaks and
  hedges on this windswept site?
• Can a short list of favourite plants be
  derived, for which there is evidence of
  viability?

13
Scoping Study

• Surveying was a significant challenge as many
  areas overgrown with brambles and other natural
  regeneration.
• Because the introduced plants are almost all
  perennials, the management of the site, its
  natural ecological successions and wildlife, all
  impact on their long-term survival and
  usefulness.
• So started with a Scoping Study, led by
  environmental scientist/ tree expert.
• Scoping Study took 4 months, completed January
  2009.
• Identified available documentary evidence, which
  PFAF participants could help with each aspect of
  the work.
• Determined the survey methods to be used for each
  area of the site and a project plan and budget
  for the main study.

14
Main Research Project

• Led by qualified botanist / medicinal plants
  expert. Budget 15,000.
• For ecological survey in some areas the land
  divided into transects marked by numbered posts
  plotted on a site map, with pointer to the next
  post in sequence. The species in each transect
  is then identified and recorded.
• In the orchards and forest garden area, trees and
  smaller plants have been tagged and are then
  located by the surveyor in relation to reference
  points aligned to the National Grid, marked with
  pegs and canes .
• Elsewhere individual specimens are only recorded
  for originally planted or otherwise important
  species on Ken Ferns list of 200 Favourite
  Plants, together with the percentage coverage of
  naturally regenerated species.
• Surveying in native woodland focuses on the
  general condition in different seasons, extent of
  damage and its causes, and the availability of
  edible or useful berries, flowers, nuts and
  leaves.
• There has also been a survey of the birds
  breeding on or visiting the site and an
  invertebrates survey is planned.

15
Survey of the birdsbreeding on or visiting the
site

• Dunnock, Robin, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Garden
  Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Common
  Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit,
  Magpie, Jay, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch,
  Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch,
  Yellowhammer

16
Methods and indicative findings

• Marking out, tagging and mapping will enable
  ongoing monitoring and future research - might
  help to ensure a sustainable future for The Field
  as plant research/ education resource
• Windbreaks and separate compartments improve
  landscape appearance, produce microclimates and
  improve plant health.
• People often mention the sense of peace they get
  from the enclosing and sheltering effect of the
  windbreaks and hedges.
• Have also contributed to greatly increased
  fertility, demonstrated by lushness of the
  vegetation on previously barren field, despite no
  fertiliser and little compost input.
• The different compartments also allow a varied
  mosaic of habitats, both for human and wildlife
  use.
• The bird survey and presence of deer and other
  mammals, previously absent from the site, attest
  to its growing ecological health, however
  problematic that may be for plant survival and
  yields.
• The survey report is due by the end of 2009. The
  team will then complete interviews with PFAF
  participants, and develop their overall findings
  and conclusions.

17
Redevelopment of Website Database

• Technical redevelopment to improve
  maintainability due January 2010
• Contractors will update and improve the content
  of the database and website by sourcing and
  presenting new information and by encouraging and
  examining/moderating input from contributors,
  both expert and occasional website users
• Contracted database manager, himself a plants
  expert, will source and add additional
  information to enhance the database content
• Plus manage a discussion forum
• and maintain the database and website as needed

18
Discussion

• How might PFAF contribute to the permaculture
  movement and the promotion of sustainable land
  use in Britain?
• How might PFAF use the experience and final
  report from the Research and Survey of The Field?
• Are there other sites and projects we could share
  experience and know-how with?
• What involvement might PAB have in the new,
  improved website database?
• Is vegan-organics its ethics and/or methods, a
  useful approach?
• Etc.