Workshops
I’ve recently run a series of free workshops around the UK, in collaboration with the Resurgence Trust. These workshops are now available on a voluntary donation basis. This depends on a community’s resources; I believe strongly that the workshops should be available to all who would like them, as humanity is currently in a time of great need for a space in which to explore the issues and heal some of the disconnects between us and our natural lives.
The workshops include working in pairs and small group discussions, time for individual reflection, some outdoor activities wherever possible and a little theoretical input. The aim is to provide a space for people to explore the four themes as individuals and as a group. There’s also some time dedicated to how people can carry forward their inspirations and insights from the day - the aim is to help people make a difference!
Day workshops take place from 09:45-16:00 approximately, and there is a shorter version for evening workshops.
Reasons for embarking on this project
I believe that all life on earth is interconnected - earth is life. I believe that when we hurt something else or someone else, we hurt ourselves. I believe that we have become disconnected from our past as a species - we have lost touch with our natural selves and many of us live at deep division from the rest of the world and often at deep division with others and ourselves.
There has always been conflict, and nothing has ever been perfect, but there is a lot of evidence to show that some of the world’s ‘poorest’ people are the happiest and healthiest on earth. These are not people who live in modern poverty, but those indigenous peoples who are still connected to the world, each other and themselves.
I believe that many of us are unhappy, or disconnected, because we cannot live our vocation. Some of us may have lost touch with our own vocation, and others may know it perfectly well, but today’s society doesn’t enable us to fulfil it.
My own vocation is increasingly emerging as one of enabling others to live more natural lives - in whatever way that means for them: whether it’s reconnecting with nature, living more in accordance with their own values, discovering their own innate potential or relating more consciously with others.
I believe that we can come more fully to our natural lives through qualities such as awareness, compassion, respect and authenticity. And I believe that somewhere we each hold our own answers - and that sometimes we need a little help, or the right space and company, to help us discover them. Whilst nothing has ever been perfect, I believe that through becoming more fully our natural selves there is abundant potential for joy, creativity and wellbeing. I also believe that through helping ourselves, we help someone else or something else.
Harmony Workshops - dates and venues
| Date | Venue | After the event | Contact Details |
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| 11 Jul | Cwm Ricket, Old Hall, Llanidloes SY18 6PT | Report | Gwen Prince 01686 411128 |
| 14 Jul | Moorfoot Old Farmhouse, Penrith CA10 2EP | Report | Sal Cawley Walks for Women 01768 891464 |
| 15 Jul (evening) | Galgael, 15 Fairley Street, Govan, Glasgow G51 2SN | Report | Tam McGarvey 0141 427 3070 |
| 17 Jul | Meet at the Post Office, Kilmartin, Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8RN | Report | Woody Milne 07900 473493 |
| 19 Jul (evening) 20 Jul | Friends Meeting House, Kirkgate Nr Settle BD24 9DX | Report | Ann Ambrose 01729 822809 |
| 22 Jul (evening) | 1 Forts Buildings, Waterloo Rd, Kelbrook, Nr Skipton BB18 6UB | Report | Nuala Eden 01282 842153 |
| 24 Jul | The Memorial Hall, Pickering YO18 1AA (as part of ‘Connect For Life’ conference) | Report | Janice Every 01751 476128 |
| 26 July | Home Farm, High Hutton, Nr Malton YO60 7AW | Report | Selma Khan 01653 693690 |
| 31 Jul | The Zoo Cafe, Hull HU5 3AB | Report | Patrick Crabtree 01482 642163 |
| 3 Aug | Trinity Centre, Eastgate, Louth LN11 8DJ | Report | Biff Vernon 01507 358413 |
| 5 Aug | Yoga Studio, Gravel Pit Cottages, High Toynton LN9 6NN | Report | Alison Bell 01507 526591 |
| 7 Aug | Abbey Access Centre, Arboretum Lodge, Lincoln LN2 5HU | Report | Sandie Stratford 01522 528477 |
| 14 Aug | Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington EX38 8HQ | Report | Leonie Grey 01884 861348 |
| 22 Aug | Wilcot Village Hall (near Pewsey), Wilcot SN9 5NN | Report | Jane Brown 07804 857938 |
Reports from the workshops
11 Jul 2010 • Llanidloes
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The first workshop took place in Michele and Chris' beautiful barn at Hafren herbs deep in the welsh hills near Llanidloes. The sun came out for long enough to enable the group to spend some time outside connecting with nature, and there were many lively and contentious debates during the day about broad-ranging issues such as whether and how we can eat fish in a way that’s sustainable, and the degree to which we can or should influence others thinking on issues we feel strongly about. Gwen Prince and her husband David put me up for two nights and were thoughtful, interesting and generous hosts - I couldn't have asked for a better start to my journey.
Gill Coombs, 12 Jul 2010
Photo credit: Sharing lunch at the first workshop
14 Jul 2010 • Penrith
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The second workshop was held at the lovely restored farmhouse of Sal Cawley, who runs ‘Walks for Women’. The house is full of beautiful objects, including the ceramic artwork of Sal’s late partner Josie.
We were just four participants, which gave us a very special opportunity to discuss our concerns about the Earth, our fellow species and our communities in depth. It was also a warm and supportive space in which we could usefully explore individual issues that get in the way of us living in ways more congruent with our values. There were several commitments to action at the end of the day.
The highlight for me came out of a discussion about how we can influence others without ‘hectoring’ - by enthusing!
Gill Coombs, 15 Jul 2010
15 Jul 2010 • Govan
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Galgael is a fantastic vibrant community scheme in Govan, Glasgow. People who've had some difficult lives come together with others to practise boat building, woodwork, mosaic art, spinning, cooking and eating to name but a few... and all done as sustainably as possible.
There was a lot of coming and going, noise from the wood workshop, gulls overhead and some lively debate - chaotic at times and a wonderful vibe. Not only Glaswegians took part but visitors to the regular Thursday social evening from all over the world, and at one point Alistair MacIntosh, author of Soil and Soul, and his wife.
Galgael is run by a committed and skilful team, including Tam O'Garvey, who quietly takes care of many practical aspects as well as running projects, and the warm heart of Galgael, Gehan McCleod, whose late husband Colin founded the centre.
For potential answers to the world's problems, Stewart called out, 'Galgael in all cities'. I would go further: Galgael everywhere!
Gill Coombs, 15 Jul 2010
17 Jul 2010 • Kilmartin
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We had an interesting day at Kilmartin museum, moving around locations as the day progressed, from the beautiful conservatory to the library where there is a stunning table made by local craftsman Martin, to a yurt in the forest.
One of the participants, insightful local artist Claire McNiven, drew a striking parallel: 'if we don't act for the Earth, we are like an abused woman who stays silent'.
Gill Coombs, 17 Jul 2010
20 Jul 2010 • Settle
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Louise explores personal |
Ann in the 'cob' Tom built |
We held a lively evening workshop, followed by a very rich full day event, at the Friends Meeting House in Settle.
There was a broad mix of backgrounds and ideas, and some useful connections made. Louise (pictured) and her partner Sarah have an inspirational lifestyle, doing without cars, computers or mobile phones, and eating in a way that is healthy for them and the environment. Louise says that it takes some discpline: she 'just manages to hold out'. It seems to me that discipline, and love for the world, are potent partners for living natural lives.
My hosts Ann and Tom have boundless energy for working in the community: an important ingredient too!
Gill Coombs, 20 Jul 2010
22 Jul 2010 • Kelbrook
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At Kelbrook we met in the wonderful welcoming home of Nuala and Gianni. This was primarily a group of counsellors and therapists, who have a love of the natural world, although their focus is primarily on their fellow human beings. There were some soul-searching discussions, some rememberings of connections with the natural world that had been forgotten, and quite a lot of laughter!
My bodily needs (which were pressing, after two days' hard walking!) were well taken care of by Nuala and Gianni (who loves to cook). I left Kelbrook cleansed, rested, and with a 'happy tummy'.
Gill Coombs, 22 Jul 2010
24 Jul 2010 • Pickering
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This workshop was part of the Connect for Life conference (organised by Janice Every and Chris Newsam), which aims to connect groups working for the same purpose: life! Satish Kumar spoke in the morning about Soil, Soul and Society, and in the afternoon he led a walk and discussion about next steps.
40 people took part in the Harmony workshop, which made for a fantastic long list of actions, of which my favourite was 'be content with what you have'. This is possibly the most powerful action we can take for the planet, but it takes time and work to cultivate this attitude.. We finished with a lovely standing circle of 40 voices in Harmony.
After the conference the organisers and speakers enjoyed raspberries and broad beans fresh from the garden of the Quaker Meeting House, which is carefully and lovingly stewarded by Alison and John Lawson.
Gill Coombs, 24 Jul 2010
26 Jul 2010 • High Hutton
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Selma Khan was at the Pickering conference, and kindly offered me accommodation at High Hutton on my route south. Two days didn't give enough time for organising a workshop, but I spent a lovely evening in the company of Selma, her husband Chris, and various friends and family around the big kitchen table.
The following morning, before I set off, Selma and I did some work on her next steps towards the future she and Chris are creating. They run the popular Gaia Tribe summer camp, which combines the vitality of live music and dance with relaxation, green living skills, friendship, fun and play.
Gill Coombs, 26 Jul 2010
31 Jul 2010 • Hull
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The Zoo Cafe kindly gave us free space for today's workshop, which was co-created by eight participants with very different stories and goals in life - people who might never have come together but for today, and who stayed on at the end of the day to begin creating an ongoing group with rich creative and practical potential.
We had some illuminating dialogue about developing awareness of the shadow side of that which is apparently good, such as charitable organisations, and the good to be found in that which is sterotypically bad, like MacDonalds - a challenging and thought provoking discussion!
For me, a special moment was the creation of a new model to aid an exploration of how different people naturally act for the earth in different ways according to their personalities, or sense of vocation.
Patrick Crabtree, craftsman baker, put his great energy and enthusiasm into co-ordinating the day, and he and his family were lovely and thoughtful hosts.
Gill Coombs, 31 Jul 2010
03 Aug 2010 • Louth
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Considering commitments to |
The conservatory at Tithe Farm |
Biff Vernon and his wife Jean organised the Louth workshop, and accommodated me at their beautifully natural and naturally beautiful organic tithe Farm B&B .
16 of us met in the beautiful octagonal room of the Eastgate Centre, the reincarnation of a church destroyed by fire. we were able to wander in the sunny graveyard and connect with and celebrate nature in a very real and intimate way as a prelude to our day. Many participants are members of Louth's transition town movement, and very readily came up with a wide range of issues and potential actions.
However this didn't mean there was nothing to learn; members of the group were inspired by new ideas and local information from one another, and found that the activities were thought-provoking at a personal level.
The day ended with an uplifting circle of harmonious voices... all the more lovely as they resonated around the vaulted ceiling of the former church.
Gill Coombs, 04 Aug 2010
05 Aug 2010 • High Toynton
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I arrived at High Toynton in high spirits, having travelled from Biff and Jean's by Dutch bike, bus and foot along the Viking Way.
Today was a team effort: Rose Williams of Transition Horncastle co-ordinated the event and shared with me her home, her courgette fritters and beautiful views of free range hens and sheep, and big Lincolnshire skies. Ali and Kennie provided their yoga studio for the workshop, and Ali's sister Pauline invited us to her yurt for a delicious shared lunch.
Bethany, recently returned from working on a permaculture project in France, was probably the youngest workshop participant yet, and prompted a discussion about the involvement of young people in learning to care for life on earth.
Gill Coombs, 05 Aug 2010
07 Aug 2010 • Lincoln
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The Lincoln workshop was held at the Abbey Access centre in the Arboretum, which gave us a wonderful opportunity to go outside and connect with nature!
New connections were made between people and ideas, and a big theme of the day (and indeed of the whole weekend with my amazingly active and generous-hearted hosts Sandie and Geoff) was growing your own food. We discussed the multiple benefits: the therapeutic effect of working with plants, the joy of harvesting, the nutritional benefits of eating what's just been growing, the reduced trafficking and packaging of food, the joy of sharing home-grown food with others, the knowledge that no harmful chemicals have gone into us or the environment.
We were all inspired by the 'Back to Front' scheme in Leeds that aims to promote growing food crops in front gardens as a socially acceptable norm.
Gill Coombs, 07 Aug 2010
14 Aug 2010 • GreatTorrington
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The good people of Great Torrington were otherwise engaged, so Leonie and I went out and worked in harmony with each other and nature. The afternoon was a mixture of workshop, coaching session and something quite different: for me a powerful new way of working.
Leonie is a shaman-in-training, and an artist inspired by her connection with the natural and the spiritual. She joined me on the first part of my walk back across Devon, and we shared a commonly expressed desire for a small piece of land on which to live, grow food, keep a few animals and plant some fruit trees. As Leonie said, 'It's not a big ask'. And yet it's a fundamental human need that is a huge challenge for many to achieve.
Leonie and her partner Sirus will be showing their work at the Plough Arts Centre in December.
Gill Coombs, 14 Aug 2010
22 Aug 2010 • Wilcot
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Paul and Jane discuss how we |
The last candle |
What a way to finish - with my longest walk of the journey: over Roundway Hill and through Pewsey Vale beside the Kennet and Avon Canal. I even got my first blister! I stayed with Jane, a knowledgeable botanist and gardener, who organised the workshop through Pewsey Environmental Action Team. Her partner Paul works with local farmers keen to farm more in harmony with nature. He is also a member of folk group The Yirdbards.
The group discussed factory farming, and shared information about various farming practices: there's currently a plan for a local intensive dairy unit. Juin Gibson, who's been living in Spain and Greece and working as a flower essence practitioner, brought an interesting continental perspective.
For me, best idea of the day: organise a community 'Best Wildlife Garden' competition! This could be judged by someone from the local wildlife trust.
At the end of the day we extinguished the candle of the last workshop... for now...
Gill Coombs, 22 Aug 2010