Living Lightly is a way of thinking, living and working with nature, where ever we are in the world.
Rooted in the permaculture ethics of Earth Care, People Care and Fair Shares, it invites us to consider the impact of our choices on ourselves, one another and the wider world.
To live lightly on the earth is to tread gently, using resources wisely and leaving a lighter footprint for future generations.
To live lightly in body and mind is to cultivate health, awareness and resilience — reducing unnecessary burdens so that we can respond to life with greater clarity and energy.
To live lightly in spirit is to move from scarcity and accumulation towards sufficiency, gratitude and generosity, recognising that wellbeing is found not in having more, but in living well.
Living Lightly is not about perfection. It is about making small, thoughtful choices that, over time, create healthier people, healthier communities and a healthier planet.
Permaculture is a practical design approach that helps us work with natural systems to create healthier homes, communities and landscapes. It offers a way of living lightly wherever we are in the world - urban or rural, tropical or arctic and anywhere in between.
It offers practical ways to understand relationships, reduce overwhelm, combat eco-anxiety and create more resilient ways of living — across land, learning and daily systems, not through perfection or radical change, but through thoughtful observation and small meaningful shifts over time.
Choose your starting point
Small Shifts
Different editions for northern and southern hemisphere, to help you make small shifts in daily actions and attitudes which can lead to long term change
A Guide to Living Lightly
eBook + Audio
A gentle invitation into living more thoughtfully on and off the land, in body, mind and spirit.
What is Permaculture
At its heart, permaculture is a form of systems thinking.
It helps us observe patterns, understand relationships and make more thoughtful decisions about how we live, learn, grow food, use resources and support both people and planet.
Our approach can help you redesign anything from a garden or smallholding to your learning habits, household systems, livelihood or community project.
Structured self-paced and mentored learning pathways designed to support deeper understanding, applied practice and integrated design.
Learning unfolds through observation, reflection, practical application and seasonal rhythm.
The resources shared here combine permaculture, systems thinking, observation and reflective practice in ways designed to support real life and different ways of learning.
To that end, we've created a shared space for people exploring what it means to live lightly — with land, with life and with ourselves called the Living Lightly Commons.
The Commons brings together monthly reflections, seasonal resources, community discussion, learning updates and opportunities to connect with others on a similar journey.
Whether you're simply curious, actively learning, or already applying permaculture in practice, you're welcome here.
Monthly reflections: Small Shifts in Practice
Grounded observations from day-to-day life on Adrian's Croft.
“The more we simplify our material needs, the more we are free to think of other things.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
Cath Sheldrick is the founder of Living Lightly Worldwide, a permaculture educator and practitioner with experience across diverse landscapes, cultures and learning environments.
The teaching, photographs, field observations and practical examples within the courses are grounded in real places, lived practice and ongoing learning.
Much of this work is informed by observations from Adrian's Croft on Scotland's west coast, alongside projects and partnerships in other parts of the world.
You are welcome to engage however you choose.
If you’re unsure which path might relate best to your own situation, feel free to get in touch.