Hedvig, The Blog

It’s a few weeks later, but still going with the implementation, and going round the design cycle again and doing more assessment.

In an attempt to increase my income I have been following up doing getting more involved with permaculture in different ways.  So I have been apprenticing the introductory course, both the one run in London and Brighton.  Here’s my observation of Graham at work.

It was really interesting to see the different course.  I have been able to feedback to both Naturewise and Brighton Permaculture Trust (BPT) about the intros.

Next weekend I am going to do some teaching on an introductory course happening on Tottenham Marshes, and yesterday I went to a meeting with the lead teacher and other teachers, plus the people carer.  Interesting way to figure out the structure, exercise, timings and just get input from lots of different people.  So looking forward to that.  Also let the BPT know that I would be interested in doing more training with them.

Otherwise, I applied for a part time job with the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership and even better news is that I got invited for an interview.  So just scheming about that one, and fingers crossed for the interview next week.

I’ve also implemented other changes to decrease my expenditure.  I’m moving down to Brighton and renting there.  The rent is cheaper, which is a good thing.  I’m pushing ahead with trying to get working tax credits, which is a long and tedious process with lots of hoops.  Also just trying to be a bit more savy with spending money on travel etc.

So the assessment stage continued a bit more today using the zone and sector tool.

The zoning method comprises on concentric cirlces, with the frequency of use decreasing from the centre to the outer rings.  The sectors are based on different factors.  So for my assessment, I’ve created four sectors: Get Growing, Permaculture, other work and family.  For each sector, I’ve looked at income generation and the frequency of income generation in that sector.  It makes more sense when you see it, and unfortunately I left my camera at my brother’s house last week.  But I’m going over there tomorrow, so I will get some snaps up asap.

The process was interesting as it got me thinking about the seasonal nature of the gardening work and how to manage that.  I thought about applying for some part time work that would be provide work through out all the year.  Or looking for other work during the non-growing season.  During last week I heard about a growing job, and I’ve started to work on the application today, so will see what happens with that.

I also sat down and read Holmgren’s short version of the principles while sitting out in the sun, great to re-read it with my different projects in mind.   It is strangely comforting to read, to feel like things fit into a framework that I believe in.  I then had a chat with a friend about different forms of income generation and re-skilling.  Felt very Transition Towns.  Such essential stuff.  To be part of a community of self-employed people trying to make sense of the world.

Don’t feel like it makes sense to do the action learning questions tonight before having done the design element of the project.  So I’ll post them up when I have got a bit further with that.   Good to be moving on this and also keeping going with the cosmetics and herbs project.  They do feel connected.

Oh, I know, it sounds like a lot of fun.  In order not to procrastinate too much, I did cushioned today’s activity with a fair amount of work in the garden.  But the assessing did get done, and some interesting findings did come out of it.

I knew that my life wasn’t financially sustainable because I don’t earn enough.  Equally I knew that for this year I was prepared to go into my savings in order to get through the first year of running the organisation.  What was more surprising is that it is more possible to get things to be sustainable and it wouldn’t require too much, which would be awesome.

I have also decided that I am going to move out of London and to Brighton, which I’m really excited about.   So I started surveying interesting organisation and going through websites to see if there are any jobs around for the non-growing season.  I got the info I need from HMCR to figure out my tax… so the fun never ceases.

What went well?  Straight forward analysis, going on to assess job opportunities.

What didn’t go so well?   The internet was cutting out today, so couldn’t continue research into organisation.

Vision?   Contentedly settled into Brighton, earning more money to be able to get ‘Get Growing’ growing.  Research teaching positions in Brighton, continue research for organisations and jobs.  Develop business plan and scenarios.

Next steps? Emails about other work for this summer, think through and assess what want from work,

Oh yes, after a bit of procrastination, the new project is underway.  A really different project, from working with my flat mates, this is quite a personal one.  I am taking a good hard look at the my personal finances.  Can you understand why my usual enthusiasm for my permaculture stuff was dampened a bit?

But after a week’s break up in Yorkshire, I came back ready to have a go.  Also, Sara and I spent some time figuring how much we can get from Get Growing over the growing season and this month was more than I expected.

Permaculture is about designing a system for sustainable living.  Although there is a lot more I can do to become more environmentally sustainable, at this moment in time my financial sustainability brings my environmental stuff in jeopardy.  So why not apply the principles, theories and techniques to personal finances.  As a recent self-employed person and setting up and running my own organisation, there is a huge need for it all to be sustainable.

Today I started the surveying.  I looked through my bank statements and surveyed my income and expenditure.  I have done all of 2009 so far.  It was quite relieving doing the work.  To face facts.  And deal with numbers.  Being dyslexic and numbers having a tendency to jump around quite a lot, this daunting task for anyone is just a tad more daunting.

With this clear understanding and having kept my timesheets up to date, I was ready to take the next step.  Months back I had got a tax credits form, filled it out, but hadn’t filled in number of hours because wasn’t sure what it was going to be.  I went on to complete the form and more importantly went to the post office and sent it off.  As if that wasn’t enough, I came back and tackled the online tax self assessment that is due in January.  That process is now underway and I’m waiting for the codes etc.

During the process of surveying became clear: which months were going to be tighter, where potential cuts could be made.  I also started factoring in other ways of increasing my income.

I planned to explore the principles of ‘apply self-regulation and accept feedback’  and ‘use and value diversity.  Even within the first session, I feel confident that will happen.

To conclude with the action learning questions:

What is going well?  Feel relieved to have started, got good results from the surveying that will have lasting impacts.  Feel more much in control.

What is not going so well?  Have to wait to get codes for the online assessment, lots of uncertainly makes planning and surveying difficult.

Vision? Using zone and sector tool for the surveying and designing.  To come with a plan how to become more financially sustainable, especially given the seasonal nature of my work.  Figure out ethical investment.

Next steps? Use zone and sector tool for surveying, and then move onto the assessment.