A practical workbook to apply permaculture to any project from start to finish, this is a step-by-step guide for integrating places and people, buildings and ecosystems. The Permaculture Design Companion is a tried and tested process to creating a coherent, relevant and engaging design. Based on over 20 years of experience, this design guide has been used to teach over 1000 people. Many have gone on to establish thriving permaculture smallholdings, build their own natural homes and ethical businesses, and create productive urban food gardens. It is a thorough and effective design tool, suitable for absolute beginners and advanced practice. The process can be used for small to large projects, in urban spaces or the countryside – whatever your situation. This unique resource combines analysis, creativity and inner work. It will inspire you to design with nature, bring clarity and organisation to your ideas, and provide the momentum and support to make your designs become reality.
Jasmine Dale's permaculture journey began at Crystal Waters ecovillage in 1999, where she discovered the power of creative learning and practical solutions for the challenges of our times. Motivated by living simply and respect for nature, she and her husband Simon later built a natural home deep in the heart of a Welsh woodland, which became an internet phenomenon known as the 'hobbit house', inspiring millions of people.
In 2009, Jasmine co-founded the Lammas ecovillage with 9 other families. Starting from bare fields, her experience is now rooted in many years of transforming degraded land into a biodiverse, edible landscape and living within a One Planet footprint. She has taught permaculture design and practical skills to regenerate land and create ecologically sound homes through grassroots solutions for over a decade to people and groups from all walks of life (www.beingsomewhere.net). Her practical workbook, the Permaculture Design Companion, is the harvest of all those interactions and years establishing an off-grid, resilient smallholding.
Jasmine lives in West Wales, where the wild coast and ancient landscape permeates everyday life. She is deeply inspired by the intelligence of plants and ecosystems and their enthusiasm to thrive in relationship with human care and attention.
"A delightful companion, a supportive friend and a guiding hand to take along on the journey of designing one's special place. I love the activities and exercises for visioning, designing and planning and the friendly and encouraging nature of the book. This is a very valuable and unique contribution to permaculture."
– Robin Clayfield, Permaculture Pioneer, Educator and Author
"The Permaculture Design Companion is a beautiful thing. A fun, practical workbook and a capable and insightful guide on our journey to create regenerative spaces. While her touch is light, author and permaculture teacher Jasmine Dale's commitment is strong, gleaned from over 10 years of living on the land, designing and building ecological homes and gardens."
– Helen Iles, film-maker and writer, Resurgence Magazine
"The Permaculture Design Companion by Jasmine Dale is a fascinating blend of workbook, journal, curriculum, and textbook. More than a book, it is a journey through the permaculture design process. The writing style is personal and engaging, with the author in the role of guide and companion. This book solves a fundamental problem that exists in the permaculture field. There is dense intellectual content on permaculture design, with its detailed systems modelled from natural patterns. Then there is an evolution of individual perception needed to transform theories into action. This book walks the reader through the experiential practices needed to build the bridge between the intellectual theories of permaculture and the personal evolution needed to put those theories into practice. Get this book and take the journey!"
– Andrew Millison, Oregon State University