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Permaculture and the Prince

Prince Charles visits Offshoots! Click here for details


See the Summer Programme of Events at Howard Street - Click here
Offshoots Traditional Skills and Living Allotments workshops and courses - Click here
New dates for Art Workshops - Click here
See our Wild Things Kids Club FREE Summer Family Activities - Click here

The Offshoots Permaculture Project started in May 1997. Offshoots is housed in the old walled garden of Towneley Park, Burnley. The site had previously been a council depot and tree nursery that had stood derelict for 10 years. As a result of lots of hard work from legions of dedicated volunteers, Offshoots is now a thriving 1 acre organic fruit and vegetable garden boasting 5 different forms of eco-friendly buildings that are renewably powered and used daily.
Keeping it real! Everything grown is sold Compost is produced and sold Training is delivered on and off site Environmental construction and consultancy work is undertaken off site All of this aids financial sustainability

What is permaculture?

Earth Care	People Care	Fair Shares

provision for all life systems to continue and multiply	provision for people to access those resources necessary to their existence	by governing our own needs, we can set resources aside to promote Earth Care and People Care

Permaculture was developed in the mid-1970’s by two Australian ecologists, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. Their idea was to create stable agricultural processes which did not poison the land and reduce biodiversity.

Offshoots is in keeping with these principles. We have solar and wind powered buildings, a kiln for making charcoal, a wildlife pond and reed bed, compost toilet, cob building with oven, organic vegetable production, tree nursery, ABPR compliant in-vessel composting project, backyard garden demonstration and beekeeping.

Offshoots is a Community Project - it is managed by Groundwork Pennine Lancashire on behalf of the Offshoots Voluntary Management Committee. The Committee is made up of local people who are all actively involved with the Project. Offshoots achieves charitable status through the Permaculture Association.

Offshoots involves people from the whole community, either through the composting project, as visitors to the site, as volunteers, or through colleges and schools running training courses - Offshoots is for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

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Offshoots is supported by:

Offshoots is managed by Groundwork Pennine Lancashire

Permaculture and the Prince

Earth Care

People Care

Fair Shares