The Permaculture Association's 21st birthday celebrations culminated this September at a double bill learning, networking and partying event in Oxfordshire. The five day NetTogether was designed to celebrate the coming-of-age of permaculture in Britain, by reaching out to the wider environmental and social movements, whilst celebrating achievements and planning for the future.

It was almost as if the gods were smiling on us; after weeks of the notoriously grey English summer we were suddenly blessed with five days of glorious sunshine just when we needed it. The marquees and barn filled up with stalls and exhibitions, delicious smells wafted out of the vegan caf, the sauna started steaming, the international team of teachers arrived and over 200 people joined us to, well, to find out, what exactly is this permaculture thing all about?

What is Permaculture?

'Permaculture' is a contraction of 'permanent agriculture' or 'permanent culture'; permanent meaning sustainable. The term was invented by two Australian ecologists to describe the new agricultural system they were developing in response to the incredibly destructive farming and forestry practices they saw going on all around them. This agricultural system quickly evolved as it became apparent that it is impossible to design sustainable farms without considering sustainable water supplies, housing, economy, education and the whole of human society. Thus, permaculture was born as a holistic design philosophy using natural systems to consciously create sustainable human settlements.

If that all sounds a bit wordy, try: 'applied common sense'. It's difficult to define because permaculture is at the same time very simple and very complex. Permaculture is built on a clear ethical basis of 'earth care' and 'people care'. Permaculture values both ancient indigenous knowledge and the latest advances of modern science, and gives us a clear design process within which to integrate everything from solar panels to community supported agriculture and car share schemes. Permaculture provides a kitbag of principles, models and tools but also insists that everything we do must be grounded in the local reality of here and now.

These are the basics of permaculture we learnt and taught and shared during the first three days of the NetTogether Design School. Delegates from all over the country, representing organisations as diverse as inner-city allotments, the Black Environment Network and a children's theatre company, started to discuss how they could work together to apply permaculture in their lives, their work and their communities. They attended workshops on sustainable construction and community empowerment, watched slide shows of permaculture in Nepal, got their hands in the soil with practical gardening sessions and took time out to soak up the sunshine.

Sharing Experiences

As the weekend approached, the atmosphere really started to buzz, and we launched in to the NetTogether Convergence21. Campfires blazed and the bar overflowed with laughter and stories as permaculture people from far and wide met friends old and new. The kids area was a hive of activity, listeners sat in enthralled silence at the feet of Satish Kumar, sauna-goers quietly steamed and myriad conversations whirled through raw food, companion planting, housing co-ops, the future of farming, homeopathy and home education. Early morning tai chi classes took place as the mist was rising off the land, after-lunch dozers could be found in hammocks and under handkerchiefs, and the nights were filled with music, dance and probably just a little bit of madness.

By Sunday evening, I was exhausted (breakfast for 200 hundred people? Er, right, no problem!) but also strangely energised. It was an intense and exhausting time, but also incredibly inspiring to meet so many people actively engaged in creating a better world. So many people looking realistically at where we are, and saying "Okay, we can make it better than this, and we can make it fun!"

If you're feeling just a little curious, or even envious, don't worry - it's not too late. We might be crazy enough to do the whole thing again next year. In the meantime, you can find permaculture books, magazines and videos, join a local permaculture group, visit a local project, or go on a potentially life changing permaculture course. For loads more information and links visit www.permaculture.org.uk or call the Permaculture Association on 0845 4581805.