Plan-it Earth

Take two families – complete strangers from one another, and put one family in the other’s home for five weeks.

The farm (white building in the centre) and neighbouring Cornish country fields

Get them to share the space, the domestic duties, the work on their land, looking after the kids, the general day to day tasks of life and what happens….?

Really there are only two ways it can go, either they part wishing they had never met, or leave wishing they didn’t have to part.

Thankfully for us it was the latter, and even now our thoughts still linger on the lovely rural hamlet of Sancreed and the property of ‘Plan-it Earth’ that was our home in Cornwall, England.

Plan-it Earth is run by Rachel and David Smart-Knight and it is an ambitious community focused initiative. Basically these lovely people decided to start an education facility that would service this corner of Cornwall. A place that could demonstrate permaculture, sustainable building, coppicing, shared facilities, spirituality and more. A place that was open to all and a positive centre of energy for the local community.

David and Tom riding 'Fergy' the faithful old tractor.

Rachel and David work on the property to make it happen, they work on the side to keep it afloat and they constantly share their vision without ego or pretence to get others inspired or involved.

There are very few people I have met who are as aware of their world, as giving of themselves and as genuinely committed to making a difference as these guys. Rachel’s depth of empathy for others and her sensitivity to the needs of the land and it’s management are exemplary. David’s common sense and practical nature compliment this perfectly, he is the sort of man who just gets in and gets it done with a warm smile and a friendly chat.

They have helped build a network of like minded people in the area, which has served to strengthen the sense of community. We were lucky to meet some of their friends who were also intelligent, welcoming and delightful company.

Looking across part of the vegetable garden to the classroom

It was an honour to share the aptly named ‘Smart-Knight” family’s lives for that time and it ended all too soon. Our children became close friends and we all left feeling inspired and enlightened, seeing glimpses of a beautiful way of life and a positive way forward.

The surrounding area was full of ancient sites like this one - The Sancreed Sacred Well