Permafund Patron awarded the Order of Australia medal

Permafund Patron awarded the Order of Australia medal

26 Jan, 2021 | PA News

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Rowe-Morrow-150x150-1.jpg

We are thrilled to announce that Rosemary (Rowe) Morrow has been awarded an Order of Australia medal (OAM) on 26th January 2021 for service to permaculture.

Permaculture is probably the world’s greatest people’s movement while being embraced from every place and people. This award celebrates this movement. It is perhaps Australia’s greatest export.” Rowe Morrow

For almost 40 years Rowe has worked extensively with communities in Africa, Central and South East Asia and Eastern Europe, including conflict zones and those experiencing the serious effects of climate change.

“This is wonderful news for Rowe to be acknowledged for her many decades of permaculture work around the world and especially with refugees and communities recovering from war. Rowe did her PDC with me in 1987, what an inspiration,” Robyn Francis, Permaculture Elder & Educator

Rowe has been recognized as a permaculture pioneer, was a previous Permaculture Australia Board Director, and is one of the Permafund patrons.

“Rowe has made such a huge contribution to permaculture in Australia and internationally – as an educator, author, teacher, mentor and international permaculture projects – including as our Permafund patron. The award is a great acknowledgement for the work she’s done and continues to do with communities across the globe”, Kym Blechynden, Permaculture Australia.

When not working overseas, Rowe is based in Katoomba, NSW and is an active member and co-founder of Permaculture for Refugees (pictured below) and Permaculture Blue Mountains. She is also passionate about making teaching sustainable and encourage others to succeed her as teachers. Her books include the Earth User’s Guide to Permaculture and the Earth User’s Guide to Teaching Permaculture.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG-0478-1024x769.jpg

More information:

PA’s Permafund provides small grants to community permaculture groups across Australia and internationally. Since 2012 we have provided 54 grants in 16 countries. Donations over $2 are tax deductible in Australia. Find out more including how to donate here.

Permaculture 4 Refugees South East Asia is a network of permaculture aid workers in Australia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and the Philippines, including members of PA’s Permafund. We work in partnership with local NGO’s to support permaculture training and resource development in displacement and crowded urban settings.

‘Fair Share’ Friday – two new Permafund projects

‘Fair Share’ Friday – two new Permafund projects

22 Jan, 2021 | General

PA’s Permafund is thrilled to announce funding for another two grant projects thanks to funding from the Quaker Service Australia (QSA)

Firstly, introducing the Organic Food Kenya Project (OFK). The OFK believe in sustainable permaculture models that are integrated into a community’s culture and traditional methods of agriculture. Their motto “give people a fish, they eat for a day, but teach people to fish, and they eat forever”, aligns with their focus on providing education and support to reduce poverty and food insecurity.

“These are long term investments in the skills and assets of community members to be able to successfully participate in the course and gain lifelong knowledge. It is OFK’s firm belief that the best investments are in people and their success.”

The funding provided via PA’s Permafund will support community training in permaculture, positively impacting on 3000 community members, including women and children.

Our second new project will be implemented by the Rwanwanja Youth Innovation Group (RIYG) in Uganda.

“Since permaculture came to the Rwanwanja refugee settlement, many people are impressed with it, especially youth because they are able to capture and adapt it. Parents are learning from their children and many backyard gardens have been created, though COVID-19 has had some impact”

The funding provided via PA’s Permafund will assist RIYG to expand the permaculture activities already happening. This will include planting trees to protect the soil and provide food, composting, permaculture training, rain water collection &, establishing backyard gardens to support the monthly food ration.

More information:

PA’s Permafund provides small grants of less than $2000 AUD to community permaculture projects across the globe. Since 2012, we have funded 54 projects in 16 countries that support food security, seed sovereignty, regenerative farming practices and water harvesting thanks to your generous donations.

Donations over $2 in Australia are tax deductible and are a great way to enact the third permaculture ethic ‘fair share’. We have a further six projects on our waitlist we’d like to fund at the start of 2021, for more information including to donate click here.