Valley View, Golden Grove, Whitby, YO22 5HH | 07962 505906 | [email protected] | 
Permaculture
The word Permaculture derives from the concept of “permanent agriculture.” It is a mindful approach to managing every aspect of life to minimise consequences and nurture regeneration. Our aim is to co-operate with nature, care for the earth and develop ecologically efficient systems for food production and share our experience with others
In terms of growing vegetables and plants this involves feeding the eco system of the soil so as to create a natural growing environment. By encouraging and supporting wildlife we foster a system of natural pest control and create a safe haven where species can replenish their numbers and we can enjoy observing the changing seasons and circle of life.
At Valley View we grow enough organic vegetables to feed ourselves and our guests practically all year round. We are proud to be a member of the Permaculture Association. But permaculture is not just about growing food, its whole philosophy of life, one that mirrors the teachings of Yoga and Ayurveda; its about awareness of the effects of our actions and doing no harm.
Mark is passionate about these subjects. He can advise on growing herbs, fruits and vegetables at home, and how to minimise environmental impact, whatever the size of your plot. He can advise on foraging too though we are careful to leave the local flora and fauna for its natural inhabitants so selective in what we forage.
Cooking plant based food
While there are many different opinions on what constitutes a healthy diet, it is accepted that we should all eat more vegetables. A major theme of Lorraine‘s book, ‘Why the Chinese Don’t Count Calories‘ is that in China the word ‘cai’ means both a dish of food and a vegetable. In China ‘the vegetables are the dishes’. This is central to our ethos at Valley View. We look at how to balance flavours to nourish the whole body at different times of year. Moreover we can help you understand what to eat for different ‘Dosha’ or body mind types.
The dishes we make and teach are not time consuming, although some of the ingredients may be unfamiliar. Introducing ingredients and helping to source them, or suitable substitutes, is a key part of what we do.
Home grown
We serve home grown and plant-based food at all our retreats and events. The vegetable gardens at Valley View are extensive. Our ethos is vegetarian and we are big supporters of Compassion in World Farming. The Go Vegan movement is terrific as it has brought a new awareness to environmental and animal welfare issues. Most of our cuisine is vegan. But we are also mindful of world resources and air miles. So we do currently use a few carefully sourced dairy products And we use eggs from our very happy ducks and chickens.
Vegan nutrition
If you are a vegan who worries about getting enough nutrients, we can help you. Or if you are considering a vegan lifestyle then we can teach you tasty and nutritious plant based dishes. Moreover, if you are neither vegan nor vegetarian we hope we can inspire you to include more vegetables in your diet. And we will show you how to present them in tasty and interesting ways.
Gut health
There are strong arguments for plant-based diets for optimum gut health, and in particular, eating locally grown food in season. The food we grow at Valley View is truly fresh – usually picked the same day. There is an Asian influence in our cuisine and we create balance and harmony in each meal with different flavours, textures and colours to help nourish the whole body without overloading the gut. Our Ayurvedic recipes use spices to help you absorb vitamins and minerals and often combine rice and pulses to make a complete protein. For these reasons they are ideal for vegans.
Another key aspect of good gut health is avoiding incompatible food combinations, or foods which are heavy to digest, as these can often cause chronic health conditions along with food sensitivities. So sometimes you can be eating ‘healthy’ food and still feeling uncomfortable. This is often the case when people convert to a vegan or even a healthier diet. we can make recommendations for simple changes to your diet that will make a big difference.
