Practical Permaculture Volunteer Long Weekend 2025
Volunteer with us & experience the Magic of Applewood
This volunteer long weekend gives us a chance to share our beautiful home with friends, previous visitors and people interested to see what we do, whilst getting important maintenance jobs done, which we need your help with.
Dates
1st - 4th May 2025
Cost
FREE
Facilitators
Looby Macnamara
Course Description
In the past we've made a compost toilet, raised beds, erected our yurt, fenced our orchards, and most importantly had a lot of fun! In the evenings we gathered around the fire, after a productive days work to sing songs, share stories and make merry with our home grown juice and cider! We also manage to fit in a tour of land and buildings and leave space for people to enjoy the peace and energy on our 20 acre smallholding.
We have limited places, so If you would like to come please contact Emma at applewoodcourses@yahoo.com .
This event will be family friendly.
Who can come?
Our volunteer week is open to anyone who would like to come and help us with our summer maintenance and improvement jobs on our land. You don't need to be highly skilled in practical jobs and we do want lots of enthusiasm and willingness to learn new skills. As well as some construction projects, we will also be gardening and making food to share, so there will be many ways to join in to accommodate all abilities.
Families
We are very happy for families to come along and take part in the work week. Both our children Teya and Shanti have always joined in when they can.
Accessibility
We want to make our events accessible for people with different mobility needs and this is currently quite challenging because of the steepness of many areas on the land. However we are willing to work with people to try and find solutions so please do get in contact to discuss options.
Appreciation from Past participants
Working here at Applewood, helping to create and maintain this land and space for learning and personal transformation, is both fun and fulfilling. Looby and Chris are such caring and grateful hosts, it's a real pleasure to help them.
Plenty of sunshine, laughter, fires, building, digging, new friends and copious amounts of fellowship, sharing and reconnecting. Thanks for another episode on my life's journey. Ali
Deeply grateful for this nourishing and re-inspiring time we would spend together. A truly wonderful week full of joy and laughter, support and creativity, connection and reconnection, fire and water, deep conversations and silly songs, remembering and en-visioning. My heart if full, Yasemin
Practical Information
Dates
1st - 4th may 2025
You can come for the whole time or just a couple of days.
Fees
There is no charge to come to the Volunteer Week.
Booking
For enquiries and booking please contact:
Email Emma
applewoodcourses@yahoo.com
or call 07786262864
Food & Accommodation
There is no charge for camping and there are limited spaces in dormitory accommodation if you’re not able to camp - please let us know your needs.
It is OK to attend for just some of the time if you can't make the whole 4 days.
Booking in advance is essential.
All the food will be vegetarian, with vegan and wheat free options. We will share the preparation of food and washing up between us all. We will be providing some basic ingredients for meals and we are happy to receive any surplus produce from your gardens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not found what you need to know?
Visit our FAQ page for more information or email Emma at applewoodcourses@yahoo.com
Facilitators & Venue
Chris lives at Applewood with his partner Looby and children Shanti and Teya. He has taught permaculture in the UK, Europe, Nepal, India, U.S.A. and Mexico. He is also a UK assessment level tutor for apprentices working towards their diploma in applied permaculture design with the Permaculture Association Britain.
Looby Macnamara is co-developer of the Cultural Emergence toolkit with Jon Young. She is an experienced permaculture teacher, author and designer. She is author of 4 books, Cultural Emergence, People and Permaculture and 7 Ways to Think Differently.
People and Permaculture is the first book to directly translate the principles and design methods of permaculture from land to people. Looby enjoys using creative teaching methods to create a fun and collaborative learning environment.
Applewood Permaculture Centre is a 20 acre smallholding, in Herefordshire, UK. Looby and Chris are lucky to have had this as their family home with their 2 daughters as well as a training centre since July 2016. There are various teaching spaces, from heated yurt and barn space to outdoor marquee and open air. There are many diverse habitats here, woodland, orchard, forest gardens, pasture, pool and kitchen gardens. Applewood is a tranquil sanctuary for wildlife and people alike. We are blessed with night times filled with owl hoots and immense starry skies that you’ll get to enjoy round an outside fire.
For regular updates and photos
see our facebook page
