AGAINST all the odds, independent publisher Permanent Publications, which is a founder partner organisation of The Sustainability Centre at East Meon, has just slugged it out with industry giants and won the main prize at the 2017 Garden Media Guild Awards.

Permanent Publications’ No Dig Organic Home and Garden book, written by Charles Dowding and Stephanie Hafferty, beat major industry-supported celebrity titles to the prestigious Peter Seabrook Practical Book of the Year title at the annual event at The Savoy Hotel in London.

A spokesman for the publishers said: “The book has already sold more than 10,000 copies and the Garden Media Guild award will further promote the authors’ ‘no dig’ gardening expertise to gardeners. Winning this award shows that passion for can-do sustainable living messages are now wanted by a public who are ever more educated about our effects on planet Earth.”

For Permanent Publications, it shows that old, outdated thinking can be challenged and embraced.

The spokesman continued: “It is akin to French winemakers being challenged by other farmers across the world.

“Now we can source new local, tasty wine varieties, buy new craft beers, Fairtrade teas and coffees, and there is a resurgence in growing our own veg, herbs, craft home brew and winemaking.

“This award acknowledges that, within our own gardens, we can be climate awareness champions and care for other species.”

No Dig Organic Home and Garden illustrates what to grow, how to store, harvest and cook garden produce by connecting gardening to real needs and exploring the potential to live more lightly on the Earth.

Permanent Publications claims to be environmentally friendly as it uses only UK printers, refusing cheaper, environmentally damaging overseas printers and retaining British jobs, plus it uses FSC paper.

It is a co-founder of The Sustainability Centre, a 55-acre educational site on the South Downs at East Meon, near Petersfield, which offers hands-on experiences with the environment for school children and adults alike.

“Unlike most publishers,” the spokesman added, “they don’t just write and talk about things, they actually walk their talk and are part of the solution to many of the environmental challenges we are facing.

“Permaculture has grown from humble beginnings to being adopted in more than 170 countries worldwide and being a major supporter and influencer of growing techniques, soil replenishment, wellbeing and, importantly, future care.

“It is an ecological and social movement that is making real, practical changes and that is what the Garden Media Guild award represents.”