Permaculture Business Lab

by Alejandra Garcia | Jun 15, 2026

Permaculture Business Lab

Permaculture has a well-developed body of knowledge for designing land and ecosystems, but far less exists to guide the design of permaculture businesses and organisations. Last year, the Mapping Permaculture Business Models team began to address that gap. We interviewed successful permaculture business owners, developed a set of archetypes inspired by nature, and built a framework that uses the eight forms of capital and value flows as a more living model for understanding permaculture business design. We then formatted this into a guide and visual model which can be found here

This year we return to deepen that work. First, the core team runs collaborative design sessions to refine the archetypes and the business model framework, working through how the three permaculture ethics are embedded in the model and how the eight forms of capital actually flow through it. Second, we bring the expert practitioners we interviewed back into the room to collaboratively engage with the work, dig into the findings together, and develop a deeper shared understanding. Third, we reformat the existing research into more practical and digestible resources, including design activities that people can use to apply the framework to their own contexts.

The goal here is to move from theory to practice and to bring the findings into helping permaculture microenterprises survive and thrive. Our name ‘The Permaculture Business Lab’ reflects this intention to open into a space for shared learning and experimentation

Bonus goal: Mentorship and Q&A spaces for CoLab members: to develop a model for opening up mentorship routes discussed with the practitioners last year and hosting Q&A and mentorship time available for CoLab members who want to go deeper.

Not Funded

STATUS : CANCELLED

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Team

Siobhan Vida Ashmole
Ntsikelelo Colossa
Camille Burkhard

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Area

Emergent Festival, GROW project

Objectives 2026

1. Collaborative Design Sessions: Refining the Framework and Archetypes

Specific: The core team holds dedicated design sessions to refine the permaculture business model framework and archetypes, focusing on how the three ethics are embedded in the model and how the eight forms of capital flow through it.
Measurable: Revised framework and archetypes documented by July 2026.
Achievable: Existing material provides a strong foundation; team has the capacity to work through it within the timeline.
Relevant: Strengthens the integrity and depth of the research already done and makes it more applicable to real permaculture business design.
Time-bound: Design sessions completed within the GROW Emergent Festival 2026 timeline.

2. Collaborative Session with Interviewed Practitioners

Specific: Invite the permaculture business owners interviewed last year into at least one session to engage with the refined work, deepen the shared understanding of the designs, and explore what mentorship for CoLab members could look like.
Measurable: At least one session held with at least two to three of the original practitioners; notes or recording produced.
Achievable: Permission for re-engagement was already obtained and relationships exist.
Relevant: Grounds the refined designs in real practitioner experience and opens a mentorship pathway for CoLab members.
Time-bound: Session held before the end of August, following the internal design sessions.

3. Reformatting into Practical, Digestible Resources

Specific: Reformat the existing research and refined designs into more accessible outputs, which may include practical design activities, a visual summary, or a recorded session, with Q&A and mentorship time made available to CoLab members.
Measurable: At least one new practical resource produced and shared in the CoLab community space
Achievable: Team delivered on high quality resources last year and has the capacity to do this.
Relevant: The existing guide is not easily read; more digestible formats extend the reach and usefulness of the research to CoLab members and beyond.

Time-bound: Outputs completed and shared by the end of the festival period.

outcomes 2026

This project was cancelled and not carried out.

No work was done towards the set objectives.

resources created

contact links

contact@perma.earth

Permaculture in Africa: Deepening our Roots

The Permaculture in Africa (PIA) circle exists to create a space of support and connection for permaculturists coming to the CoLab from Africa. We are working on three connected pieces of work:

The first is reviewing and testing an onboarding guide that was developed last year and has since been updated to reflect the CoLab’s new community discourse space. The guide is designed to support smoother onboarding for CoLab members based in Africa, and is also relevant for members from the Global South more broadly, as well as those with higher accessibility or tech needs. The review process will involve testing the guide with real users and incorporating feedback to improve it.

The second piece builds on a local networks database that PIA developed last year. This database maps permaculture networks across Africa that can offer on-the-ground support to CoLab members, since the CoLab itself does not provide this. The work here is to move from a basic directory to active outreach: identifying key contacts, introducing them to the CoLab, and inviting them to join. We will also promote the database internally so PIA members know it exists and how to use it. The hope is this will strengthen our strategic connections and partnership allies across Africa.

The third piece is providing advanced onboarding and extra support for new members who come in through the outreach process, working alongside the Welcome Circle.

Funded with 1000 GBP through emergent festival

STATUS : CANCELLED

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Team

Siobhan Vida Ashmole

Rogers Muthegheki

Mkhulu Colossa

Josie Redmond

Paul Phillips

Aimee Fenech – volunteering

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Area

Emergent festival, Grow project

Objectives 2026

1. Onboarding Guide Review and Testing

Specific: Review the updated PIA onboarding guide for the new community discourse space, test it with at least 3 to 5 members from Africa or the Global South, and incorporate feedback into a revised version.

Measurable: One revised guide published by end of festival period, with documented feedback from testers.

Achievable: Guide already exists; team has capacity to coordinate testing and revisions within the festival timeline.

Relevant: Directly supports CoLab’s accessibility and inclusion aims, and reduces barriers to participation for members from the Global South.

Time-bound: Testing completed and revised guide published within the GROW Emergent Festival 2026 timeline.

2. Local Network Outreach

Specific: Identify key contacts within the existing local networks database, conduct direct outreach to introduce them to the CoLab, and sign up at least 5 new members from African permaculture networks.

Measurable: Number of outreach contacts made, number of responses received, and number of new CoLab sign-ups tracked.

Achievable: Database already exists; team members have existing relationships with local networks across the continent.

Relevant: Strengthens the CoLab’s African membership base and builds a more robust support structure for members on the ground.

Time-bound: Outreach initiated and first round completed within the festival period.

3. Internal Promotion of the Local Networks Database

Specific: Create and share at least one internal communication to PIA members explaining what the local networks database is, how to use it, and why it matters.

Measurable: Communication published in the CoLab’s community space, with engagement tracked (views, responses, or follow-up questions).

Achievable: Straightforward communication task within team capacity.

Relevant: Ensures the database is actually used and valued by the community it was built for.

Time-bound: Published within the first half of the festival period.

4. Advanced Onboarding and Member Support (ad hoc)

Specific: Provide dedicated onboarding support for new members coming in through the outreach process

Measurable: Number of new members supported tracked; support sessions or check-ins documented.

Achievable: Hours allocated for this within the festival budget; team has experience with onboarding support.

Relevant: Ensures that outreach converts to active, retained membership.

Time-bound: Support provided on an ad hoc rolling basis as new members come in during the festival period.

outcomes 2026

This project was cancelled for lack of capacity.

resources created

contact links

contact@perma.earth

Map Mappers

After the participating in the Hackathon organized by the CoLab (Naomi and
Keala), as well as following the map channel in slack, a space was found that is not yet mapped and where we could add value to the whole community that uses the various mapping systems.
MapMappers is the digital “homeset” of the existing mapping systems, the technologies they use, and the persons behind those projects.

Funded with 2800 GBP

STATUS : ONGOING

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Team

Luis Tiago

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Area:

Prototyping

Aim

After some research we could not find anything similar, in that way we are already creating value – we will create a system that would make it easy for any individual , community or organization to find accurate and uptodate information about the various mapping systems we have today online.
We will also be creating new relations with those who are developing it, and hopefully they will flourish into what we can say as intangible outcomes and this cross pollination may bring value for the wider community we are interconnected.

OUTCOME

A website that gathers a diverse range of mapping systems. A “listing” type of website where people can find the various mapping systems, their developers and technologies.

Power & Permaculture

To develop an online transformative course covering power and equity in permaculture.
This course will have two aims:

– to provide a shared language and understanding across all of our associated networks, reducing inequitable power, increasing understanding and generating real change / culture shift!

– to empower and share the skills of marginalised and experienced facilitators teaching others about power, through facilitator-led pods, generating revenue for Colab members.

As an online course this can be taken in self-study format lowering the barriers for people taking the course. The course could also optionally be taught by an experienced teacher, offering a more in-depth learning experience, potentially in a blended format.

Funded with 9657 GBP

Status : Ongoing

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Team

Wal , Claudiu, Suzie, Luiza, Meera, Paula, Samantha

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Area

Training and E-Learning

Aim

CoLab members, Permaculture community and allied networks will benefit from the content of this course, with increased understanding – greater understanding leading to greater cooperation and more solidarity, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.

Facilitators who are marginalised will benefit from being paid to lead, as well as being recognised in a wider setting as leaders in this topic, being paid fairly for their work.

CoLab (and PAB) will benefit as a leader in JEDI work (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion)

Educators and teachers will benefit from continuous professional development (CPD)

Permaculture community will benefit from greater understanding of what People Care and Fair Shares means now after this year; fostering a culture of accountability and designing safety measures for people who are learning, practising, and impacted by the permaculture movement.

OUTCOME

A course covering power and equity, from a permaculture focused perspective:

Course Structure:

– Re framing Power Module
– Anti-Racism Module
– Decolonization Module
– Gender Roles and Sexism Module
– Queer Permaculture Module
– Accountability

Safety when volunteering / vulnerability Module (including online.. burnout prevention? Care labour etc? … discuss Rights & how to assert them)

Changing our PDC curriculum in light of equity Module

Action / Next Steps module – including signing up at CoLab and other allied networks

Opportunities created for facilitators to hold small groups of learners through this training, complemented with coaching/consulting/evaluation for working groups.

Options for blended learning, self study online, or pods online.

Global South Engagement

Research is working to grow as a network and provide value for the researchers and permaculture practitioners that constitute it. It is also attempting to reestablish PIRN (or an alternative to it) as a hub for researchers interested in sharing their findings and ideas. In the interest of fostering diversity and uplifting the voices of the marginalized, it was determined that extra effort would be needed to engage people from the Global South to help the network bloom into a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive space.

Funded with 450 GBP through capacity+

Status : completed

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Team

Christina M. Sayson, Philipp Grunewald

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Area

Diversity, Participation & Engagement, Capacity+ project

objectives

The PCColab will benefit by having its circles widened/deepened by the increased engagement of members/new members from the Global South whose voices may not have been heard before. It has been my observation that despite efforts to change this, the PCColab is still very much a Global North-dominated space, where White voices are the ones most frequently heard. In making the conscious effort to reach out to those of the Global South, we would be saying, “You’re welcome here. You can participate. It isn’t just about us, this space is yours too.”

Permaculture researchers/practitioners will benefit from connecting to each other at the international level and by accessing opportunities to work as part of the Permaculture CoLab.

OUTCOME

A list of Global South permaculture researchers and practitioners willing to participate in co-leading the reinvigoration of an international permaculture research network and its initiatives
Meeting interested individuals: eliciting their interests, motivations, opportunities and barriers.
The scheduling of at least one meeting with a group of these researchers and practitioners to co-ideate the next steps they would like to take to grow permaculture research networks at an international level
The development of a concrete Global South Engagement Plan based on the matters discussed in the meeting or meetings described above
Integrate all of the above, if appropriate, with Philipp’s work on reinvigorating international permaculture research networks

Permaculture Business Lab

Team

Area

Objectives 2026

outcomes 2026

resources created

contact links

Related

Permaculture in Africa: Deepening our Roots

Team

Area

Objectives 2026

outcomes 2026

resources created

contact links

Related

Map Mappers

Team

Area:

Aim

OUTCOME

Related

Power & Permaculture

Team

Area

Aim

OUTCOME

Related

Global South Engagement

Team

Area

objectives

OUTCOME

Related