I trained in information management and later in electronic art, working across charities, the NHS, and public libraries. Through this work I learned how to find information, assess evidence, identify gaps in research, and design ways for people to access what they needed in practice, not only in theory.
I became skilled at questioning where information came from, who funded it, what counted as evidence, and what was missing altogether. I learned to work carefully with both quantitative and qualitative data, and to translate complexity into forms that people could actually use. This training taught me rigour and critical thinking, and it shaped how I approached problems across different sectors.
Across all of these roles, one thing remained constant. My work was always about people. Even when I was working online or with systems and databases, the focus was on how information moved between people, how stories were told, and whether someone could find what they were looking for at the moment they needed it.
The way I worked relied heavily on seeing patterns and connections. I was good at noticing how things linked together and at making those links visible to others. This ability was often recognised and valued. It was the reason I was recruited into a knowledge management role in the NHS. At the same time, this way of thinking tended to sit at the edges of formal systems. I was often told that I thought too big or that I built in too many connections.
Permaculture did not introduce a new way of thinking so much as give language to one I already had. Its principles articulated values that had been present throughout my work and life. They named something I had been doing intuitively, which was seeing systems as interconnected, working from pattern to detail, and paying attention to relationships rather than isolated parts.
It also gave me a way to communicate this more clearly to others. It helped explain that I was not trying to learn or do everything, but that I was interested in recognising how things are linked and why those links matter. Having shared language made collaboration easier and reduced the need to constantly justify or translate my way of working.
The ethics of permaculture resonated deeply. Fairness has always mattered to me, including a fair share of resources for people and for other creatures, across all scales of life. Permaculture grounded that instinct by holding together care for people and care for the planet as conditions that depend on one another.
Finding this language was validating. It gave me confidence, a sense of relief, and a new direction to explore. It allowed me to trust my way of seeing, rather than continually editing it to fit narrower frameworks or expectations.
This way of thinking informs how we approach learning, facilitation, and community at A Wild Life.
Explore Permaculture in Practice
If this reflection resonates, you may be interested in deepening your understanding of permaculture through lived learning. The 2026 Coed Hills Permaculture Design Course offers an immersive introduction to permaculture as a way of thinking, designing and living, grounded in land, community and real-world practice.
→ The 2026 Coed Hill Permaculture Design Course
Alternatively, if you are curious but not ready for a full course, you’re welcome to get in touch about running an introduction to permaculture for your group, organisation or community.
Resources to explore
Aranya (2022) How to design your livelihood with permaculture. Permaculture. Available at: https://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/how-to-design-your-livelihood-with-permaculture/ (Accessed 6 January 2026).
Hemenway, T. (2009) Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture. 2nd edn: Chelsea Green Publishing.
Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway is widely regarded as a foundational introduction to permaculture design at the household scale. A review on My Edible Habitat describes the book as “a beautiful introduction to permaculture,” praising its accessibility and its ability to translate ecological principles into practical, hopeful action for everyday gardeners (Cory, 2022).
Permaculture Association (2025) What is permaculture? [YouTube playlist]. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwkM-DQpNOOddtpdHj7yV1_iqj3H2xNpK (Accessed 6 January 2026)
Permaculture Association (2025) What is Permaculture? Available at: https://www.permaculture.org.uk/what-is-permaculture (Accessed 6 January 2026)
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