Gaia Gallery

General information

Five years ago our team resolved to bring local communities in London together in a creative project to help them to engage with permaculture design and living. We are blessed with a network of waterways spreading throughout our city hosting a wealth of wildlife but these space remain largely unappreciated. The areas canals pass through in London tend to be poor as a remnant of their industrial past. The canals, after all, were threaded through London in a bid to connect this burgeoning industrialisation. Today, many of these areas - including Ladbrooke Grove, Camden, Hackney and the east-end, have become artistic hubs due, in part, to the reuse of these warehouse spaces. The canals therefore offer a fantastic opportunity to bring together people from across the capital - using the canals as a link - to highlight permaculture ideals of regeneration through human spirit and an appreciation of the canal side wildlife in the lives of Londoners.

So how can you help?

The 'Gaia Gallery' project looks to refit a 43 foot steel barge in such a way that it exists totally 'off-grid.' 'Off-grid' means that the boat will require no mains electrical, water or fuel input and no sewage output and will run solely off firewood and solar power generation. Traditional building methods such as cob construction, carpentry and
joinery will be married with cutting-edge technologies such as solar-pannel generation and the latest in permaculture design processes
such as rocket stove mass heating and rainwater harvesting. Through combining these different methods we are able to use predominately
natural or recycled materials in the build making this a pioneering structure - being, not only the first 'off-grid' exhibition boat in the U.K., but also bringing natural material building and permaculture to the attention of many Londoners for the first time.

We have already come a long way; linking up with London's premier earth building organisation 'Cob in the Community' and up-cycling specialists 'Pallet Furniture' for help in managing the build, finishing 3rd place in the prestigious Mayor of London/Siemens Low Carbon Entrepreneur Prize 2015 and, most importantly, receiving fantastic support from London communities in support of this unique addition to their canals. We now need to come together as a community supporting the project and join in! Whether that be in regards to hosting an event on board, or getting stuck in with our courses - there's plenty to be part of so keep your eyes on this page.

The build will be inclusive throughout as we run courses in: Rocket Stove construction, Cob building, Cob and Lime Rendering and Composting Toilets to ensure London communities engage in permaculture skill-sharing from the outset. Your support will therefore be an investment in the future sustainability of this, one of the high-profile and influential cities in the world. Help us spread the seeds of permaculture and take up a place aboard The Gaia Gallery.

Welcome aboard!