City Farm - Exeter

Permaculture Project

Want to live on the land - grow or hunt your own food in co-operation with others on a common journey towards a brighter future?

All food, shelter, energy and some expenses offered in a collaborative enterprise to germinate seeds that will flourish with the love and care of like minds.

A warm invite to participate in the founding of an oasis in the acrid uncultured desert that is material consumerism. The seeds of the Biophilia Project are being planted on the Goffin Lands - 96 acres of meadow and woodland on hills overlooking Beacon Heath, Exeter City.

A stepping stone and shelter from the dystopian modern world offered possibly this autumn - more likely in Spring 2016, initially on three monthly cycles.

July 2015. Mains water, one bore hole yet to be tested, two barns ordered. Kilometre of tracks laid - hardstanding rolled. Ready to go.

The Biophilia Project: a thought for the future  ......

To build a liberating legacy for enlightening tomorrow's children

An alignment of self with nature on an odyessey of discovery inspired by permaculturist Patrick Whitefield's words:

'Permaculture is not about dogma. It's not about knowing the right answers, but asking the right questions, the answers to which, will be different for each person and each place."

Want to know more?

My name is John Yates. I'm the custodian of Goffin Land's. My plan is to form a trust and maybe a charity to carry me and fellow travellers forward on this odyssey I've launched into. It's early days. I've introduced myself to the land and started the learning process and am trying to ask the right questions as Patrick Whitefield advised.

Germination of the seeds that are being sown will be require passion and commitment to nurture them on to their cycle of life. Passion and commitment for a better world expressed through reflective inquiry into nature, which of course we are part, is as essential as "application". Is it "I think therefore I am" or "I do therefore I am" - as the result of my labour, individually and collectively?

At present barns are ready to be built. Both will have electric power, PV and water. One, a Douglas Fir framed, 20 x 10 metres cherry clad barn, will have toilets, showers, small "agricultural" canteen. It will be well insulated and have a wood burning fire.

I can promise the early days will be an adventure. I have not yet got accommodation sorted out - not for myself or others. "Others" at present are a number of "Goffin Watchers" plus a handfull of locals looking to find the best way to climb onboard.

For this Think Grow Eat post, the first stage is to test response from this invite posted by Cari. Then an evaluation of the next step which I hope would be a gathering.

For more info read the Biophilia blog site. This will become a wordpress site as soon as I have time.
http://biophiliaproject.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/the-biophilia-project-alignment-of-self.html

I'm very happy for you to phone - e-mail is to me a barrier to the level of communication I seek - so please do phone if possible, 01363 866414 if not jwhy17 a*t yahoo d*t co d*t uk

This is as much a quest to discover a more synergistic and mutually enriching way to build human relationships as it is about our relationship with the soil. Another Partrick Whitefield quote:

"Every eco-system is composed of a vast web of beneficial relationships. This web of relationships is the fundamental principle which enables natural ecosystems to be highly productive without the destructive inputs of corporate chemicals. This natural web of relationships is also the central idea of permaculture. It can be applied to both food production and a wide range of other human activities."

The late and great Patrick Whitefield 1949 - 2015 [Redacted] 

Four Leaf Clover

From a symbolic point of view, there is an ancient legend that gives a spiritual meaning to the four-leaf clover.

According to this mystical story, the four-leaf clover was a plant that grew in abundance in Paradise where Adam and Eve lived. After being banished from Eden, Eve took a small clover with 4 petals, to help her reveal before her eyes, invisible demons, evil beings that otherwise she was not able to see.

This clover gave her protection and a blessing when facing the terrors of the world. Later in Celtic myth it was given the symbolism  of nature and a  blessing of love and prosperity.

A note from the author, the custodian of Goffin Lands:
The 21st Century has an abundance of terror and some spiritual enlightenment could give us a helping hand. I’ve yet to discover a four leaf clover.  However the intention is to keep questioning how I can nurture the potential that exists with the Goffin Lands for some of the ancient myths to have Earthly reality.

In the spirit of hope for a brighter future   ...  John Yates

The ancient myths - each clover leaf symbolizes some special meaning

* The first is for hope:

Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.

* The second is for faith:

With out confidence and trust in our journey there is no hope.

* The third is for love:

A flower doesn’t blossom without sunshine and humans will not bloom without love.

* The fourth is for luck:

Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.

Gray's Barn 

How Another World is Possible

Saturday 13th - The Circle Yurt in Serendipity 

Open Dialogue - 

Ten till five - between herb teas and a lunch break

A participatory gathering of open minds to consider just 

How another world is possible

And what might it look like?

Time

Min

Presentations / topics

Expect

10 00	5	Intro to day: In a world of accelerating change and complexity another world is not just possible it is metamorphosing around us now. Why is political dialogue worthwhile to create the changes we desire?	Short presentations followed by small group conversations then plenary feed backs Q&A's and some linking input by presenters and guest practitioners
10 05	15	Presenters introduce themselves and their topics / linking factors VFP: War & peace Caroline: Soil & Soul Julian: LVT / Property Green Pty: Banking / Money
10 20	15	Co creation - What world do we want to see? Small table conversation -	Small group dialogue - plenary feed back
10 35	40	Permaculture: Creating Positive Change Caroline Aitkin:  Patrick Whitefield Associates www.patrickwhitefield.co.uk www.permacultureplate.blogspot.com Defining Permaculture, a way of thinking. Recognising our nature, Interactive dialogue - Global culture. Points of intervention	15 mins presentation / small group dialogue / plenary / Q&A / linking input
11 15	15	Tea break	Herb tea
11 30	40	An Equitable Taxing System Land Value Tax Julian Pratt: Stewardship Economy http://www.stewardship.ac/ Outlining Henry George's  "One Tax"  equitable simplification of citizen contribution to society related to the 21st Century.  Facilitated interactive dialogue	15 mins presentation / small group dialogue / plenary / Q&A / linking input
12 10	40	Green Party: Intro to the radical policies on banking and money creation. Interactive dialogue	15 mins presentation / small group dialogue / plenary / Q&A /  linking input

Lunch till 2 o/c

14 00	40	Caroline Aitkin: Where to start the change.  Community, Compassion, Communication Start with ourselves in co-operation with others -	15 mins presentation / small group dialogue / plenary / linking input
14 40	40	Julian Pratt: Land ownership forms, Stewardship, Universal Income relation to a property / Land Value Tax	15 mins presentation / small group dialogue / plenary / linking input
15 20	15	Tea break	Herb tea
15 35	40	Green Party: Intro to the radical policies on banking and money creation. Fiat currency / interest charges Interactive dialogue	15 mins presentation / small group dialogue / plenary / linking input
16 15	45	Linking issues, ideas, What effect  might this day have on our behaviour?  What wisdom can we gather from our congregation?	Feed back from as many as possible. Closing comment from the presenters

Web Front Page

The Biophilia Project

A thought for the future - to cultivate a liberating legacy for the enlightenment of tomorrow's children.

Based on Goffin Land, Exeter, 96 acres of meadows and woodland on hills above the city  - an oasis from the steel and concrete stress of the modern built environment. 

Dedicated To opening doors onto the wisdom and ingenuity of our species and to relaying these creative practices via therapeutic, learning and play opportunities to community, fellow travellers and those is need of a helping hand.

An odyssey to align ourselves with nature - people, other animals, and our eco system

 seeking evaluative conscious applications of our cognitive potential in light of our knowledge of the unique individual

“a beautiful site consisting of ancient woodland and long established pasture with views out to the Exe estuary. It really felt like we were in the middle of nowhere and when we occasionally came over the brow of a hill to catch a glimpse of the city it always came as a surprise”

Caroline Aitkin,

 (Colleague of the great but sadly late, Patrick Whitefield)

Mindfulness

An odyssey of the mind to align ourselves with nature

Critical thinking
A journey to explore evaluative conscious applications of our cognitive potential in light of our knowledge of the unique individual

Wellbeing
Physical and mental health and fitness - good fresh chemical free food, exercise for mind and body - play - joy - enlightenment and self enrichment

Exploring
Spiritual connection - social / cultural significance meaning and identity

Appropriate science and technology

Rejuvenating learning zone

Opportunity for young and seniors to learn better how to think rather than what to think -

  to open doors onto the wisdom in crowds