My new super-duper Action Learning Plan

I have spent part of the day building my Action Learning Plan for my Applied Permaculture Diploma.  It is going to be a living, breathing document that I amend, update, review on a regular.  It embodies the things I would like to do over the next years including actual projects but also skills I want to learn and things I would like to achieve.  Go and have a nosey at http://seven-strands.blogspot.co.uk/p/apd-project-plan.html. The Goals tab gives the best overview of the things I am trying to accomplish over this time.  As always comments very welcome as to what you think.

A day of building the first patio raised bed

Before the raised bed construction

Before construction

Before construction

The area has been cleared and construction begins

One down, three to go

Here's mine.  This was the first time I had used the compound  sliding mitre saw!!

Getting there

Nearly done

Flapjack - the Frizzle chicken wants to know what is going on

Viv - the espalier tree

And here's Silkie - the black/brown Silkie cross having a nosey

A successful day all round I think.  I did the clearing a few days back and we had enough wood to nearly finish the raised bed.  Think we are going to plant the plum tree in the main bit and I am going to try and train it along the wall.  The lemon and lime trees are going to stay in their pots but go at either end so they get the benefit of the heat from the walls on either side.  Then I will try and companion plant to help the plum with plants like horseradish (a pest confuser); tansy (good for all fruit trees); garlic (dynamic accumulators of sulphur, fluorine and manganese), nasturtiums (good nitrogen fixer) and maybe peas.  Will have to see what we can get hold of when we start planting.  A good day though and fun too!!

forgot - oops

Forgot to say that I am also not washing my hair to try and save on shampoo (the non-SLS stuff that I have been using for 10 years now is pricey and so hoping this will save some money) as part of number 4 or 5 (haven't decided where to put it) and my website and this blog is part of my learning new skills part of the diploma project.

Have a look at my growing website if you want!!
www.sevenstrands.co.uk

Overwhelming or fun?

Well I seem to have at least 5 projects on the go at the moment and I am getting a bit overwhelmed/excited.
1. planning stuff for the forest garden - we have the offer of raspberries; comfrey and strawberries from a friend we have just given 10 paving slabs to.  And my Dad is offering lots of things that we can take cuttings from in the winter
2. we have some wood for the raised beds and I have cleared the patio area and moved the BBQ for that (need to take some pictures)
3. have got some books to read about what to do about my health issues (migraines, low energy levels and weight loss) and food choices
4. I have set the date to start my "buying only second hand or fairtrade clothes" project that is going to last over at least 2 years - it starts on 1st September (and no that isn't because I am getting my wardrobe started but just because it is a nice date to start - I have already stopped buying new clothes and started shopping at charity shops!!)
5. we are going to stop shopping at Tesco anymore and just getting lembas orders; a weekly veg box and getting everything else from co-operative (1st choice) or lidl (which is ethically more sound than Tesco) - again this is starting on 1st September

Well writing this it seems more manageable then it does in my head and great to see things starting to happen.  I know number 4 and 5 weren't on my 1st diploma project mind-map so I need to re-evaluate that already.  Totally part of the design life-cycle so all good :-)

Added links to my website

Actually worked out how to add links to my website so that is great.  Had a mad house full of children today and now there is a major sleepover going on upstairs.  Means I actually got to watch a film with my husband.

Trying to sort out the design of my blog

How do I make this text bigger?

The website is slowly growing

Well I have moved my blog to blogger because it is easier to use I think.  We will see if I can link it to my website though