Bealtaine Cottage smallholding at the beginning, seven years ago.
Where the orchards, tunnel and veggie gardens are now.
An unpromising start…but permaculture can take root anywhere!
Making a start…about six years ago.
Paths and plants at the beginning. Almost 600 trees planted since then.
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Over the past few thousand years, humankind has regarded Nature as property. 
This concept is rooted in biblical text and has spawned generations who have regarded themselves as having dominion over the Earth. 
The feudal system was based on dominion and continues today as a land-grab mentality, based on the principles of ownership and extraction. 
Where we are at this point in time is the evolution of that concept, that biblical teaching, where we are now forced to try to manage degradation of the environment rather than prevent it. 
We blow the tops off mountains to extract minerals. 
Hundreds of chemicals are injected into the Earth to extract gas. 
The filth of Tar Sands is hailed as our energy saviour! 
Seed is wrenched from us to be “owned” by corporations like Monsanto. 
Presidents enact laws to protect these creatures of destruction from the very courts that are there to protect you! http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/We_Will_Not_Comply/?cCgoWbb
Nine days ago I drew my line in the sand, deciding to refuse to comply with laws that violate Mother Earth and the abundance she so generously bestows upon us. 
My own line in the sand has been confirmed this morning as the decision to refuse to comply with all laws that violate Mother Earth has been made. 
The days of fence sitting are over.
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Over 535 blogs from Bealtaine Cottage in the archives here.
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I love looking at before and after photos! You’ve made such amazing and beautiful improvements…and so much hard work has gone into it all. Ah, but it’s a good kinda hard work, eh?
I’m now at the point of continually harvesting plants and cutttings for compost and it’s hard keeping up with it all! I was looking at the before pics this morning and thought | had to post them…it is hard to believe somtimes…but that’s permaculture for you!
What an amazing transformation. Did you have a vision or plan or did it just happen naturally? Well done anyway on creating such a beautiful area from scratch xxx
Hi Fran, Sometimes I stand back and think the same, so I must take my hat off to Mother Nature, which is the essence of Permaculture…trust Nature to protect your investments…better than trustung the powers that be, haha!
Did I have a vision…yes, I looked at Nature and marvelled at the possibilities! Did I have a plan…I knew what I should do by walking the land day in, day out and observing, but also by starting near the cottage and planting to protect that environment, filtering the wind etc. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t have a woodland in your lifetime…5-7 years gives you a growing canopy and beyond!