What went well?
Witnessing diploma accreditations
I went to several diploma accreditation presentations - including Katie Shepherd and Joe Atkinson, who have their entire portfolios online. They were all so very different, but I was moved by them all, especially by the sense that some people had been on a life changing journey through the course of their diplomas. I loved the variety in the presentations, and in the projects themselves, and thought a lot about my own diploma accreditation event (although that's a few years off yet!)
Our own workshop
A fellow diploma apprentice and I ran a workshop about our collaborative research project (which I wrote about here). This was planned for us to give feedback to representatives from the Permaculture Association and the Diploma Working Group, and also for us to get feedback on our findings from the wider permaculture community, and to share our collaborative working process. There were about ten people at our workshop, and while we forgot to record it, we do have a few photos from the day that we can use in our own portfolios.
I spent a lot of time reflecting on my own diploma journey, and life in general. This included taking ideas from other people's diplomas, such as trying Bob Mehew's poly income tool, and Katie Shepherd's umbrella designs (containing many smaller designs), and documenting changes through photographs (and writing small blog posts about them, rather than saving everything up for long waffly ones...). I've planned a few new designs, which may or may not make it into my portfolio.
Peer support and meeting new friends
As well as talking to many lovely people from all around the world, there were also some more structured meetings - including a 'pop up' diploma peer support group (which led to me forming a new mini guild with another apprentice who lives nearby), and a regional networking session, which led to plans to for a Yorkshire Permaculture Network.
Getting involved in the wider network
I was wary of signing up to anything longer term while at the convergence - I know my own patterns of enthusiasm and burnout only too well. But there was one opportunity I couldn't miss - being on the editorial board of the newly-forming international permaculture research journal. For me, this is a beautiful example of one element meeting many functions - contributing to the wider permaculture network, promoting good quality permaculture research to strengthen our claims, and also experience that will be useful in my wider career too. I'm very excited about this!
Resting (and sleeping arrangements)
Six days away from work and the chaos and to-do lists of home was an ideal time for me to get some decent rest and sleep. I made a bed in the car (more comfortable than it sounds) and retreated there whenever I needed to rest or be alone for a while. It's strangely exhausting spending an entire week talking mostly to people you've never met before. Our site was also the beautiful Gilwell Park, home of the Scouting movement, and spent plenty of time just ambling through the woods and noticing the start of autumn.
So many new people
I was quite overwhelmed on the first day or two at the sheer number of new people, and not seeing hardly any familiar faces. I think if I hadn't been running a workshop myself on the Tuesday afternoon, I may well have sneaked off early. I'm not too shy, but I found it hard to be constantly having new conversations, and sitting next to a new person each meal time. I turned this to an advantage though by using Looby Macnamara's design web to do a mini design on what I wanted to get from the convergence - noting that I was feeling like I 'should' meet as many new people as possible, 'should' find someone to practice my German with, 'should' go to exactly the right sessions. Once I acknowledged this, and created a vision for a week of rest and reflection, watching accreditations, eating well, and being outdoors, my expectations changed, and I was able to build in time for rest, and not push myself to talk to someone at all available opportunities. I even gave myself permission to miss some sessions!
First aid arrangements
I went to the loo at 4 o'clock one morning, and, running to try and get out of the cold more quickly, I tripped and fell onto a gravel path, grazing both hands, my elbow and leg. I patched myself up as best I could, and in the morning went in search of someone to help me pick out the rest of the mud and gravel and clean and dress it all properly. The woman in the first aid and info station wasn't a first aider, and after rummaging through an assortment of first aid boxes, couldn't find a suitable dressing, and could only give me an antiseptic wipe and directions to the medicinal herbalist, who might have some hot water. Someone at the medicinal herbalist tent informed me they were having their breakfast, and the herbalist was with someone, but I could come back later (I did, and they were still busy). I'm sure if I had a more serious injury it would have been dealt with properly, but I felt unable to find the help I needed, and ended up rather upset. Quite pathetic over a few small cuts, but I was in a lot of pain, and ended up coming home a day early.
Lack of access to tea
I feel daft putting this in, but a nice cup of tea is very important to me! We had tea with breakfast, and could buy tea from the cafe until 6.30pm, but sometimes the water wasn't quite hot enough, or the tea in the cafe was a little too stewed, or the milk was a tiny bit on the turn after being out in the sun. I missed having a place to just make myself a cuppa at whatever time of day or night, exactly how I wanted it. Sometimes the small things are what makes the difference (or maybe I just need to get over my caffeine addiction).
I enjoyed myself a lot more once I made a plan for what I wanted to get from the week, so I'd do that again for future events. I think I'd also limit myself to three or four days at most - six was just too long for me. And I'd take my own tea making facilities!
Write up our research design
We plan to write a report for the Permaculture Association and Diploma Working Group, and I also need to write up my own version of the design for my portfolio. I've committed to talking about this at my November tutorial, and plan to have asked my co-designer to peer review it before this. Best get writing!
Diploma peer support
I met someone else doing the diploma who lives quite close to me, and we've agreed to both email each other about our progress, and meet to share some of our design work and how things are going. I'll email and arrange to do this soon, while I still have the momentum.
Other designs
After time to reflect, and seeing other people's designs, I'm feeling a little less stuck with some of my own. Time to revisit my garden and soap designs I think, and make a plan for finishing them soon.
Blogging
I enjoy writing in this space, and have promised myself I will pop in regularly to share photographs and a few small thoughts, without waiting until I have an epic post ready. Watch this space...