Our charitable company runs over 40 courses and several events a year, often run from Earthship Brighton, or the Fruit Factory, in Stanmer village. all designed to support people to live more sustainable lifestyles.
We help to maintain 4 organic orchards at Stanmer. Our forest garden plot is now a nursery for edible perennials, a “Permaculture Land “site and practical area for our courses.
- The Fruit Factory at Stanmer processes juices etc. made from fruit collected from all over Sussex that would normally go to waste. plus our lovely organic apples. we also make jams,chutneys and cider for selling to the public.
- our group started at Stanmer in October 2006
- Number in our group.we have a management group of 6 plus many other dedicated volunteers.
- Number of volunteers at the permaculture plot: 12 regular including 4 co-ordinators
- Partnership organisations – Brighton and Hove Food Partnership, Low Carbon Trust, Brighton and Hove City Council. we are hoping to add circle of life rediscovery to the list. we also network with Old Tree Brewery, Infinity Foods wholesale co-operative, Real Junk Food project, The sustainability forum, Stanmer preservation society, Forest schools, Seedy Sunday, and other Stanmer Organics members.
- Achievements – :
- The National collection of ancient Sussex apple varieties in the”Home Farm Orchard” at Stanmer.
- 100+ small orchards planted across Sussex in schools, and community spaces. Over 700 courses run since establishment in 2000, training over 8,500 people.
- Annual events delivered in partnership, over the past 13 years: Green Architecture Day, Apple Day and Stanmer Organics Open day. We are delighted that Eco Open Houses is making a come back in 2020. Brighton Permaculture Trust, have also run eco clubs and projects in over 9 local schools, and continue in this extremely critical time, to try and get Permaculture designing on the national curriculum.
- Funding – various but most significantly was £300,000 from Lottery Local Food Fund and Big Tree Plant for orchard projects. we are currently part of the HLF funding for the newly established South Downs National Park.
For up to date news on our projects and for details of the courses and events we run please visit our main website:www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk