Having just finished my online PDC with Geoff Lawton I wanted to get some on-the-ground experience and, preferably, at a permaculture centre with a good reputation. As I was living in France at the time, I decided to visit the Ferme du Bec Hellouin in Normandy, a permaculture-inspired micro-farm run by Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer. The first course I did was a week-long introductio to wild plants, foraging and communing with nature in general. The second was a day-long in-depth look at permaculture as practiced by the couple on their farm, with advice on tools and how to set up your own place. I'm glad I went when I did as, for over a year now, it has been impossible to get a place for any of the course: permaculture is so fashionable in France that anything permaculture-related is just crazy!