The Living Lightly Learning Ecosystem brings together books, audio, courses, community, and mentorship to support thoughtful, place-based learning. Each element can stand alone, while also connecting with others for those who wish to explore more deeply.

Learning here is not rushed or linear. It is designed to be returned to, reflected on, and adapted to real life — supporting both personal practice and, for some, a longer pathway into permaculture design.

This is where all our discussions take place, where you'll find our courses and how you access mentorship.

Audio 

Thoughtful, practical reflections on living lightly —
grounded in permaculture thinking, lived experience, and real constraints.

These books and resources are designed to support slower, more considered ways of thinking and acting — whether you live on the land, in a town, or somewhere in between.

They are not manuals or quick fixes.
They are invitations to observe more closely, think more clearly, and make choices that fit your context.

Available as downloadable resources via the Payhip store.

A gentle place to begin:
The Small Shifts Guide and Wheel are available as a free download for anyone wishing to explore small, meaningful changes.

Visit the digital library Click here 

Much of my work now takes place online, supported by a learning and community platform. This allows people to learn together, wherever they are, without needing to travel — and allows me to teach in a way that is sustainable and human-scaled.

There are several ways to take part, depending on what you need at this stage.

You are welcome to move between them over time.

🌱 The Community (Free)

A shared learning space

The free community is open to anyone interested in:

living more lightly on and off the land

permaculture thinking beyond techniques

observation, reflection and ethical design

What’s included:

Access to community discussions

Shared reflections, questions and ideas

Occasional prompts or posts from me

Announcements about courses, events and mentoring

This space is designed as a commons — a place to listen, learn, and take part at your own pace.

I read most discussions, but I don’t respond to every question.

This helps keep the space healthy for everyone, including me.

📘 Courses (One-off payments)

Structured learning, in your own time

Alongside the community, I offer paid courses that explore specific themes in more depth.

Courses are designed to help you:

understand permaculture as a way of thinking

apply principles to your own life or place

build confidence in observation and decision-making

Courses typically include:

Pre-recorded lessons

Reflection prompts or worksheets

A dedicated discussion space

Occasionally, a live or recorded group session

Courses are paid for once, with no ongoing commitment.

They suit people who like clear structure but don’t need regular personal input.

🌿 Mentorship (Monthly options)

Guided reflection and accompaniment

Some people learn best with conversation, reflection and feedback.

For this reason, I also offer a small number of mentorship places, available by monthly subscription.

Mentorship is not about being given answers.

It’s about learning how to see more clearly and make decisions that fit your own context.

Because this work involves time and attention, places are limited.

Group Mentorship

For people who want perspective rather than personalised design work.

This option centres on shared learning and discussion.

Includes:

One monthly group call (approx. 90 minutes)

Themes or questions set in advance

Access to call recordings

A dedicated mentorship discussion space

This works well if you:

are thinking things through rather than acting urgently

value listening to others’ questions as much as your own

want regular contact without high intensity

Small-Group or One-to-One Mentorship

(Available in limited numbers)

For people actively working on a specific project, place or transition, I offer a smaller number of higher-attention mentorship options.

These may include:

Small-group sessions (4–6 people)

Or individual monthly sessions

These options are offered selectively, depending on my capacity and current commitments.

If this feels relevant, you’re welcome to enquire.

A note on boundaries

All mentoring and guidance takes place within scheduled sessions.

I don’t offer open-ended messaging or on-demand support.

This helps ensure that:

the work remains thoughtful rather than reactive

expectations stay clear

the community is sustainable over time

How to begin

Most people start in one of three ways:

by joining the free community

by reading one of my books

by taking a course

From there, you can decide whether mentorship feels useful for you.

There is no requirement to “move up” — and no judgement if you move back down again.

Living lightly is not a destination or an identity.

It’s an ongoing practice of attention, care and responsibility.

These learning spaces exist to support that practice — gently, and in good company.

Mentored learning with optional certification

Alongside stand-alone books and courses, I offer a year-long permaculture practice pathway for those who wish to work more deeply with design — supported over time. The pathway is rooted in the wider Living Lightly Worldwide learning community, where shared discussion, reflection, and long-term relationships support individual learning journeys.
This is not a fast or intensive programme.
It is a paced learning relationship, allowing understanding to develop through observation, reflection, and lived experience.
Learners move gradually through six interconnected courses, building strong foundations before design work begins. For those who choose the mentored pathway, learning is supported through feedback, reflection, and a real-world design project, with optional certification available. Living Lightly Worldwide follows a decentralised teaching tradition rooted in the original intent of permaculture as a grassroots learning movement.
The emphasis throughout is on depth rather than speed, understanding rather than output, and responsibility rather than performance.
A small mentored cohort will begin in April.
Please contact us using the form to express interest. We'll then start a dialogue to see if this would be a good fit for you.