Invitation to Farm Stakeholders
Subject: Invitation to Contribute to Phase 2 of the Mandala Garden Permaculture Design
Dear Team member @ Treflach Farm
I hope this message finds you well. As you know, in 2021, we embarked on an exciting journey to establish the Mandala Garden—a permaculture demonstration and training hub within the farm. Thanks to your valuable input and support, Phase 1 was a great success, creating a thriving space for education, community engagement, and sustainable horticulture.
Now, we’re entering Phase 2, and we’d love to invite you to contribute once again to the design process. From June 30th to July 5th, we’ll be hosting a 5-day permaculture design workshop with three facilitators, including myself, my colleague Gerald from Uganda (bringing valuable East African perspectives), and Keir, a dedicated volunteer ready to deepen his involvement.
Why your input matters:
Your insights as a key stakeholder will help shape the next evolution of the Mandala Garden.
We’ll be refining the garden design, allocating funds from our successful fundraising campaign, and planning new additions:
A low-impact roundhouse (for education and gatherings)
A rainwater catchment system
A polytunnel (extending growing capacity)
Your perspective will ensure the project aligns with the farm’s broader goals—education, inclusivity, and deepening community relationships.
How you can participate:
We’d love to schedule a short consultation with you during the workshop (in person or virtually) to hear your thoughts on:
How the Mandala Garden can best serve the farm and community.
Any lessons from Phase 1 we should carry forward.
Ideas for partnerships, events, or outreach.
Please let me know a time that works for you—we’re keen to make this a collaborative and inclusive process, just like last time.
With gratitude,
Steven Jones
Lead Permaculture Teacher & Designer
s39permaculture@gmail.com
0771-981-8959
Workshop Outline for Gerald & Keir
Permaculture Design Workshop – 5-Day Intensive
Location: Treflach Farm, Mandala Garden
Dates: June 30th - July 5th
Facilitators: Steve Jones, Gerald Jagwe, Chris Dixon
Objectives:
Refine the Mandala Garden’s detailed design, incorporating lessons from Phase 1.
Allocate the budget (from successful fundraising) to key infrastructure:
Roundhouse (low-impact communal space)
Rainwater catchment system
Polytunnel
Strengthen the garden’s role as an education & community hub—linking with the farm, yoga/meditation studio (led by Ceri), and hospitality areas.
Develop a social media narrative to document progress and engage supporters.
Develop the outline of a rolling courses program in practical permaculture design, based at Treflach Farm, and partner projeects.
Daily Structure (Overview):
Day 1 – Site Assessment & Visioning
Tour of Mandala Garden (successes/challenges from Phase 1).
Permaculture principles review + stakeholder input integration.
Exercise: Mapping zones, sectors, and resources.
Day 2 – Design Priorities & Budget Allocation
Group discussion: Ranking projects (roundhouse, water systems, polytunnel).
Exercise: Drafting cost-benefit analyses for each element.
Day 3 – Technical Design Sessions
Rainwater harvesting design (calculations, placement).
Roundhouse planning (materials, positioning, multifunctional use).
Polytunnel siting (microclimates, accessibility).
Day 4 – Social Permaculture & Outreach
How the garden connects with Ceri’s yoga/meditation studio, farm events, and community.
Exercise: Storyboarding the social media narrative (photo/video plans).
Day 5 – Implementation Plan & Next Steps
Finalizing design drawings/mockups.
Assigning roles/timelines for construction.
Celebratory closing circle!
Your Roles:
Gerald: Share East African permaculture techniques (e.g., water management, community training models). Help link the project to global permaculture networks.
Keir: Dive deep into the full PDC process—this is your chance to take ownership of design elements and build facilitation skills.
Outcome: By the end, we’ll have a clear, actionable plan for Phase 2, ready to share with stakeholders and supporters.
Let’s make this impactful!
Steve Jones, June 2025
AI-generated, for s39permaculture
Share this post