119. Fulltime Consulting with Michael Wardle

In episode 119, Cormac chats to Michael Wardle from Saviour Soil Permaculture about his journey from discovering his first Permaculture book to full-time consultant: Learning, Teaching, and Building a Practice. Discovering Permaculture in a LibraryThe journey began with finding permaculture books in a neglected library section. The ideas immediately appealed, leading to early experimentation, but not full commitment. Life priorities delayed deeper involvement until later.Learning Through Trial and PracticeInitial learning came from testing ideas directly on land. Techniques like digging swales, composting, and observing water movement were explored. The focus was on seeing what worked in a specific landscape rather than relying on theory alone.From Informal Learning to Formal TrainingFormal education came much later through a series of courses taken in a short period. This included a PDC, market gardening, and hands-on experience on-site. The PDC revealed gaps in knowledge and expanded understanding significantly.Starting a Consulting Career by AccidentA consulting opportunity came immediately after completing the PDC. Despite feeling unprepared, the work began with simple designs and careful listening to clients. Word-of-mouth led to more projects without active marketing.Keeping Designs Simple and Client-FocusedEarly work focused on simplicity and understanding client needs. Emphasis was placed on aligning the landscape with the client rather than imposing ideas. This approach built confidence and trust over time.Expanding into EducationTeaching developed alongside consulting work. Running courses started after recognizing a lack of local education opportunities. Practical experience from consulting informed teaching content.The Role of Multiple Courses and PerspectivesCompleting many PDCs and other courses provided exposure to different approaches. The goal was not certification but understanding varied perspectives and applications. This helped refine tools and improve design decisions.Teacher Training and Developing SkillsTeacher training programs introduced methods for presenting information in different ways. They emphasized adaptability, especially when conditions change. These skills supported both teaching and client communication.Moving Beyond Design HandoverEarly consulting involved delivering designs without follow-up. This evolved into longer-term engagement with clients, including education and co-creation. The focus shifted to helping clients understand and manage their systems.A Three-Year Client ProcessThe current approach involves working with clients over several years. This includes design, education, and implementation support. By the end, clients can manage systems independently.Changes in Students and Learning TrendsStudents now often arrive with prior knowledge from online sources. The key value of courses is providing structure and a framework. There is increasing interest in social and internal aspects rather than just gardening.Shifting Toward Community-Based SystemsPersonal growing systems have shifted toward community-focused work. Efforts now include supporting shared spaces and local initiatives. The goal is to distribute production and responsibility across communities.Rethinking Food Production at ScaleInstead of centralized systems, distributing small actions across many households is explored. Examples include planting one tree per home or diversifying crops across groups. This reduces risk and workload while increasing output.Building Resilience Through Shared EffortEncouraging people to grow different crops and share results creates diversity. This approach supports resilience when individual efforts fail. It also strengthens community connections. Get full access to Cormac Harkin at cormacharkin.substack.com/subscribe