Phil Gamble
Phil began making compost by recycling grass mowings through an elephant. Since those years, caring for the gardens of his local wildlife park in Somerset he has qualified in horticulture, training & education. He discovered the 'P' word in the late 1980's & holds the Certificate in Permaculture Design. Originally inspired by a childhood amongst the plants & gardens of his mother & grandfather, Phil trained at Cannington College, Somerset.
As head gardener on a large estate in North Somerset, he maintained ornamental grounds & raised vegetables in a one acre walled garden - all by 'traditional' methods. He was asked back to Cannington to join the lecturing staff & found himself on his true path. Qualifying as a further education lecturer the following year he took up his first full-time teaching post at Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester in 1987.
Offshoots from his courses - spanning the next ten years - included the formation of the West Dorset Organic Gardening Group. Tutoring mainstream courses, not least Groundsmanship & Sports Turf Management taught Phil how to see the damage such industrial methods & practices are causing to our environment & social culture. The sun garden, moon garden & rainbow gardens he looked after for several years in East Devon inspired visitors in an entirely new & refreshing way. Offering talks, demonstrations & tours of all kinds of gardens & teaching the practical skills needed to create them is where Phil's background & the revelation of permaculture join together. As a popular & experienced speaker he offers illustrated talks to groups on various subjects, including the varied activities of the local group; S.A.P.