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- Permaculture Design
- What is Permaculture?
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- Output 1 Making room for new beginnings; creating conscious space for good design>
- Output 2 Beginning the Design Process; Observing and interacting>
- Output 3 Stacking functions>
- Our current living space; Alex`s house and garden>
- Pete`s house; Turning a monster into an ally!
- Integrating permaculture design into my work place>
- Forest gardening at Margam Park...
- Raising Seth - supporting my son`s journey>
- Extracts from learning journal
- Process reflection
- Appendix
- Appendix ll. Tutor & Peer review
- Output 4 Small and slow solutions>
- Our current living space; Alex`s house and garden>
- Pete`s house; turning a monster into an ally!
- Integrating Permaculture design into my work place
- Forest gardening at Margam Park
- Raising Seth; Supporting our son`s journey.
- Getting to grips with technology!
- Extracts from learning Journal
- Process reflection
- Output 5, Accept and respond to feedback>
- Output 6
- Output 7
- Output 8
- Output 9
- Output 10
- Completed Designs>
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Tutor and peer review
Review of my 2nd output by my tutor, Richard Perkins;
Project Report 2
PeteR Hill
Feedback from tutor richard Perkins 23/12/2011
Presentation & Organization of Output Packet
Editing, shape, size
Fantastic outlay of your next few PRs Peter, a very comprehensive, clear and useful way of dealing with the diverse elements going on for you right now. Very nice links to connect the various parts together, this is most helpful. Submitted on time, thanks for that.
PRs seem comprehensive and considered, appropriate size and detail, nice.
Reports flow well and well organized.
Mix of media, genres and styles
A pleasing mix of nice visual, photos and narrative. Little video updates, intros, etc may be nice concise ways to update progress and really help get a feel for different sites and their potential/ progress.
A nice style of presentation throughout the website that is attractive, clear and very informative.
Management of Output Packet Creation
Submitted on time and whilst each PR is obviously not complete at this point, a lot of progress has been made on many interweaving elements that will be reported on over time. An impressive start to that process, and one that seems to be going very well.
I can see that the website may change as PRs feel completed and become their own pages, but a quick rework seems straight forward and I think overall this is a very efficient way to roll out a lot of complex elements in a very manageable way.
Design Skills
Articulation of Approach
Nice use of organizing frameworks and clarity around design principles you feel inspired by, informative use of your learning process.
Project
I think you mentioned draft designs for the FF and garden design. This is juicy design work worth putting more time into for detail and function, which will naturally develop over time. Maps should have scales and Northings to the top, clearly labeled. The scale is important as you can get down to detail of plantings and calculate plant numbers, etc. This is the advantage of using digital mapping software (on a broadacre) as you can very effectively determine areas, fencing, tree rows and stocking densities without messing around. For your sakes a pen and papers totally adequate, but there is a level of detail that could still be worked too. Blow outs with detailed patch planting mosaics, etc, can be a useful way to really illustrate your planning.
Critical Evaluation & Thinking
Nice use of references to books you are finding useful and links to websites. Nice. A learning Journal may be useful to document some of your inner growth and un/learnings. I imagine more will develop in this aspect as you report back at later dates….
Action learning skills (for Project and Output)
Concrete Experience (Awareness in action)
A very nice way to bring your values and ethics into areas of your life that may be considered “mundane”- a great example of problem= solution! The details of creating alternative habitat before disturbing and old pond and practicing restraint when working with others with different values (glyphosphates) demonstrate a good awareness in how you are approaching your work, as is the general attitude in your PRs.
Reflective Observation (Appraisal of action outcomes)
We can revisit this over time
Active Experimentation (Use of piloting and trials)
May be interesting to create trials for yourself and others benefit. For example, applying dolomite neat on one patch, composted dolomite on another and a BioFert application with dolomite sprayed to another. It seems rock dusts are best assimilated by plants after composting or AD processing.
Another design point, are swales appropriate and necessary here? Could the same effect be created through mulched contour strip plantings?
A pond is usually linked to diversion drains which are compacted ditches with 1:200- 1 :400 slope and some consideration given to overspill. A swale may not receive enough surface run off to be useful here? More and more I would encourage caution over machinery!! Which Im sure you support!
Outcomes
Benefits to Field (Project)
A great demonstration of breaking down complex tasks and creating benefits from problems. Very useful. A useful strategy for producing PRs which I think others may find very useful too.
Growth of Skillflexes (Professional)
Project management, research, leadership and mentoring all seem high on your list in working life, would be nice to hear more on that from yourself, maybe 3Ps would be good after each PR…
Internal Growth & Development (Personal)
LJ extracts may be useful here, or little video reflections over time.
Contributes to knowledge commons
Scope for very interesting and well rounded mixed projects, lets revisit over time.
Another impressive PR(s!) Im grateful for your commitment and engagement with getting a very high standard of work out on time, an inspiration to others too. A very nice website building which will obviously serve you very well in this process and beyond. Thanks for sharing.
Review of my peer, Bethany Warren;
Bethany for Pete, Project 2
Presentation & Organization of Output Packet
Editing, shape, size
Is the main body direct and clear of unnecessary technical clutter?
Yes, it was such a pleasure to read such a clear and useful introduction to begin with, as it can be hard to communicate what you’re doing so that everyone understands.
Is the project report easy to navigate?
Considering that you are layering designs in this output and in the next this could all be very complex, but you guide the reader through really well, a journey through the projects.
Is the project report of appropriate size? Too much, too little?
You’ve put so much work into this it’s great, so much thought and so many projects all interweaving! A great amount considering the task you’ve set yourself.
Does the report flow well?
Really well, such a clear start and finish point for your output and an emphasis on the fact that these projects will continue in output. The reader is carried through nicely, with good links within the projects to the others. Great introduction and evaluation to each section.
Mix of media, genres and styles
What do you think about choices regarding media, genre and style to enhance and support the meaning and the message of the project report?
(Media mix = (for example) video, slide presentation, written report, animations etc. Genres = story, documentary report, game, talk show etc. Styles = fonts, images, colour, graphical look and feel etc.)
Very clear and appropriate images and drawings to show before and after views, and designs. I would like to see more pictures though!! Some things you just mentioned in text but I’m really interested to see, more views of your garden for example!
Management of Output Packet Creation
Was the project report submitted on time with sufficient time allowed for peer review? Do you consider the project report complete with 3 P’s, learning journal extracts and personal process review, appendices, etc?
All good, you’ve completed this so well considering that many of the projects are mid-flow, it’s very well rounded up, how is the next project going to show the continuation I wonder?
Design Skills
Articulation of Approach
Is it clear what design approaches/organizing frameworks and processes were considered for the design of the project?
Yes, and I really like your different approaches for each project for example your workplace design looks more into the ethics, I like these changes it keeps it fresh to read.
Project
Has your peer evidenced good use of design skills to influence the quality of their project and their action learning pathway?
Definitely, it is clear that design thinking and methodology is on your mind a lot and there is much determination in your goals backed up by theory
Critical Evaluation & Thinking
Any evidence of attempts to validate original thinking and has your peer provided some third-party evidence to support your conclusions? Links, references, etc? Yes a nice amount of mentions throughout, I like the depth of information in the appendix especially, an extra bonus for the reader.
Action learning skills (for Project and Output)
Concrete Experience (Awareness in action)
Does the report indicate balance between action and thought – does your peer seem to be able to get to action and act?
Very much so. So much action in here, but you can see there is really good consideration behind all action because you explain the conscious reasoning behind each change or creation. I can’t wait to see more processes and documentation.
Reflective Observation (Appraisal of action outcomes)
Does your peer create the time, space for good quality reflection? Do the learning journal extracts seem useful?
I can see excerpts from your journey so far and it brings up the moments that are important to you, which lets the reader understand the emotions and motivation (ethics, family etc) behind your project which is great, would love to see more.
Active Experimentation (Use of piloting and trials)
Does the report show readiness and inventiveness around designing and operating pilots and trials (rapid prototypes)? Is your peer “having a go” or in need of less planning and more doing?
No, there is a great amount of doing here for sure!
Outcomes
Benefits to Field (Project)
Describe the 'value' of this work to the world.
You have described clearly not only the reasoning of your designing but also gone into depth about how you did things such as the pond. It’s such an accessible learning tool and so applicable to the millions of people with houses and gardens not being used to their full productivity. It would be lovely to see this reaching lots of people, with great presentation like this I think you’re really helping your thought process and project but also creating a great resource there to pull out or from to use to offer to others at any point, be it hand-outs, a news letter or just directing more people to your site.
Growth of Skillflexes (Professional)
Can you reflect back professional skills you can see evolving?
On the first output I was really impressed by your amazing accomplishment on the technical side of things, considering you seemed a bit worried about that, it was really full and professional!
You seem to be embodying the principals really nicely, and communicating them really well.
Internal Growth & Development (Personal)
Any personal insights and gains you can reflect back to your peer? Any clear (un)learning?
The economy you set up with Cean is really inspiring it’s the perfect answer to the situation really, but many people would only think of this problem in terms of money. This began quite a bit discussion with Daniel and I about alternative economy and how some people have physical things to offer (such as your house) we seem to have quite abstract things at the moment, such as our art training…it’s an interesting thought about how to use this in economy. And maybe we need more solid things…? Hmm something to think about!
It’s also encouraging to see the way you are managing so many projects at the same time, I’ll take a leaf out of your book for sure!
Contributes to knowledge commons
Was there any movement towards disseminating the projects learnings? (eg, workshops, online tutorials, etc) Are their clear links available to the public/ peer group?
The way you’ve put images of the books you’ve used is nice, I like the visual approach, as it’s really accessible to the reader.
Really inspiring stuff, I look forward to seeing the progression of all these projects, and how they help each other too.
Thank you for sharing and caring for each other’s growth, development and fulfillment. It is the desire and commitment to be of benefit that allows us to be of use!
My review of Bethany`s 2nd Output;
Peer Review of Bethany Warren`s Project report ll by Peter Hill
Presentation & Organization of Output Packet
Editing, shape, size
Is the main body direct and clear of unnecessary technical clutter?
Yes, the information is presented in a way that pulls in the reader and is a pleasure to read through.
Is the project report easy to navigate?
Very much so, totally fool proof.
Is the project report of appropriate size? Too much, too little?
In my opinion the project report is of a comfortable and realistic size to navigate. There is also plentiful information to support the main body of the report should the reader wish to investigate further and follow Bethany`s bread crumb trail.
Does the report flow well?
Beautifully and naturally.
Mix of media, genres and styles
What do you think about choices regarding media, genre and style to enhance and support the meaning and the message of the project report?
(Media mix = (for example) video, slide presentation, written report, animations etc. Genres = story, documentary report, game, talk show etc. Styles = fonts, images, colour, graphical look and feel etc.)
Fantastic use of and showcasing of hand written notes throughout, a solid demonstration of the design process in action and evolving. I particularly enjoyed the story telling style, honesty and reflection throughout the entire project report.
The recap of permaculture principles and ethics is a good strong, reinforcing element at this stage in Bethany`s (or anyone else`s) diploma, and was strengthened by engaging art work. Fantastic cartoons and sketches throughout that support and illustrate the text. I love the tree bursting through the office desk! Bethany has provided plentiful and interesting avenues to explore throughout the structure of this project report without distracting from the main message.
I struggle slightly with the white text on a black background, but that may well just be my eyes which are not so well adjusted for lengthy computer screen viewing. Overall, Bethany`s work is wonderful! Inspiring, encouraging and reassuring.
Management of Output Packet Creation
Was the project report submitted on time with sufficient time allowed for peer review? Do you consider the project report complete with 3 P’s, learning journal extracts and personal process review, appendices, etc?
A resounding yes!
Design Skills
Articulation of Approach
Is it clear what design approaches/organizing frameworks and processes were considered for the design of the project?
Very clearly and comprehensively demonstrated, impossible to miss!
Project
Has your peer evidenced good use of design skills to influence the quality of their project and their action learning pathway?
Consistently.
Critical Evaluation & Thinking
Any evidence of attempts to validate original thinking and has your peer provided some third-party evidence to support your conclusions? Links, references, etc?
Bethany`s project report is supported throughout it`s entirety with references and relevant links and at strategic points of the output that do not distract from the natural flow of the PR.
Action learning skills (for Project and Output)
Concrete Experience (Awareness in action)
Does the report indicate balance between action and thought – does your peer seem to be able to get to action and act?
Bethany clearly does take action and is very creative (I loved the demonstration and celebration of her creativeness in the Appendix) whilst at the same time spending a healthy amount of reflective time in honest thought and consideration of her design process. Evidence of time spent outdoors amongst the natural environment for inspiration, very good to see.
Reflective Observation (Appraisal of action outcomes)
Does your peer create the time, space for good quality reflection? Do the learning journal extracts seem useful?
Yes indeed. The reader is left with no doubt that Bethany creates space and time for good design thinking and reflection. The learning journal extracts are thorough, concise, explanatory and inspirational.
Active Experimentation (Use of piloting and trials)
Does the report show readiness and inventiveness around designing and operating pilots and trials (rapid prototypes)? Is your peer “having a go” or in need of less planning and more doing?
Absolutely. Clear evidence throughout of Bethany`s willingness to have a go, and tackle perceived barriers. At this early stage in the diploma, I feel that it is totally acceptable to spend considerable time in productive and creative reflection. Bethany clearly does so, and is not afraid to face her fears and barriers. I related entirely to Bethany`s perception of relationships with money, conditioned behaviours potentially being the prime barrier to progression and positive change, and the need for unlearning. Facing our demons with a smile, together!
Outcomes
Benefits to Field (Project)
Describe the 'value' of this work to the world.
Bethany is potentially facilitating the planting of many “seeds” in the minds of all that read her work. Her open and honest reflection is invaluable and a wonderful example to others globally. I look forward with excitement to seeing more of Bethany`s work evolve.
Growth of Skillflexes (Professional)
Can you reflect back professional skills you can see evolving?
Bethany is growing in so many ways that it is difficult for me to pinpoint specific areas. She is clearly rapidly developing in so many diverse subject areas that she could blossom in many very soon.
Internal Growth & Development (Personal)
Any personal insights and gains you can reflect back to your peer? Any clear (un)learning?
Bethany, you are growing all around! It`s all happening at once and although it can at times feel overwhelming, it`s all good positive stuff! I empathise fully with your perceived barriers, they are just the same as mine. Looking forward to supporting each other further.
Contributes to knowledge commons
Was there any movement towards disseminating the projects learnings? (eg, workshops, online tutorials, etc) Are their clear links available to the public/ peer group?
Clearly highlighted and referred to throughout. Good linkage throughout.
Fantastic stuff Bethany! Onwards!
Thank you for sharing and caring for each other’s growth, development and fulfillment. It is the desire and commitment to be of benefit that allows us to be of use!
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