Permaculture Australia’s Permafund has the pleasure of receiving updates from many permaculture projects around Australia & the world who have received small grants from Permafund. All have their own unique combination of flora and fauna, resources and climatic and cultural factors which drive locals to apply permaculture principles to projects in unique and innovative ways.
This often includes using organic solutions to keep local wildlife from decimating gardens while supporting biodiversity and ecological balance. Sometimes that involves small creatures – such as companion planting to attract beneficial insects, or hand-picking caterpillars off vegetables, or introducing lady bugs to manage aphids. Thinking a little bigger, here in Australia we may need to net fruit trees to exclude cockatoos in order to obtain a yield, or tree guards to ward off wallabies.
But when it comes to managing large animals, Friends of Wildlife in Myanmar really “takes the cake” – with a need to keep Asian elephants from trampling their permaculture plot! They are using strategies including planting bio-fencing with elephant-unpalatable seedlings.
Friends of Wildlife (FOW), with support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Myanmar, works to conserve Asian elephants and to mitigate human–elephant conflict in nine villages of Taik-kyi Township in southern Bago Yoma, Myanmar (Burma). To reduce human–elephant conflict, FOW has established eight Elephant Emergency Response Teams (EERTs), an Electric Fence Management Group, and a village-level network.
FOW’s current project involves developing one of the villages, Shwe-Myine (Ywar-thit) Village, as a model for community-based conservation. This village consists of 63 households. While the village faces multiple challenges, including Myanmar’s political situation and some men having to leave due to conscription, women have actively taken leadership roles. Activities include awareness, training, home gardening, permaculture, fish farming, and community forestry – while strengthening inclusive governance and empowering the community-based organisation or sustainable resource management.
This project is supported by funding from both Community Conservation Inc (US $ 10,000) and Permaculture Australia’s Permafund (AU $2,800). FOW is using this funding strategically to cover 15 activities in order to meet their three main objectives and is an example of donated dollars stretching further when converted to another currency.
Activities 1-3 of FOW’s project involve meetings to address Objective 1: Increasing Awareness and Behaviour Change.
Activities 4-10 involve training activities in the following areas to meet Objective 2: Capacity Building.
Community forestry management
Fish biology / nursing the fingerlings
Home gardening
Bio-fertilizer
Ethics and Principles of Permaculture
Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO): Organizational development and financial management
Conservation ethics
Organic home gardening and greening
Permaculture Practice
Community forestry
Elephant Emergency Response Team
Activity 13, Permaculture Practise, involves a permaculture plot which is 100 feet long and 80 feet wide. It is located beside a road that is sometimes used by wild elephants.
During a one-year reporting period, wild elephants entered the village on four occasions. The Elephant Emergency Response Teams (EERT) responded successfully to three incidents, and no damage occurred. On another occasion, two wild elephants entered the village at around 2 a.m. The response was delayed, and some fences were damaged. Friends of Wildlife support the EERT with essential equipment, including batteries, torchlights, and streetlights. In addition, they are establishing bio-fencing by planting 420 elephant-unpalatable seedlings. The planting was carried out in September 2025, and survival monitoring in December 2025 showed a 97% survival rate.
Between December 2025 and January 2026, several permaculture activities were completed. This included soil preparation, development of the permaculture zoning design, and selection of suitable plant and crop species. In addition, 4,300 seedling bags were prepared in the home nursery to support village greening activities, home gardening, and the permaculture plot.
FOW plans to implement the permaculture design with an aim to create a low-maintenance and climate-resilient system. It also provides clear learning zones for villagers and integrates food production, soil health, water management, and biodiversity.
Zone 1 will serve as a learning and management hub. It includes the existing hut, mango and cashew trees, a rainwater harvesting tank, tool storage, a notice board on permaculture principles, and a seating area for training.
Zone 2 is the intensive demonstration area located near the hut and water source. It will include raised keyhole garden beds, vertical gardening, and a nursery and seed bank. Crops will include leafy greens, vegetables, herbs, and mulch-rich beds.
Zone 3 is a semi-intensive food forest. It will feature fruit trees, nitrogen-fixing plants, and an understory of medicinal and multipurpose crops.
Zone 4 will focus on staple crops for household food security, such as cassava, sweet potato, maize, and legumes grown through intercropping.
Zone 5 is a buffer and biodiversity area on the northern side of the plot. It will include bamboo, native shrubs, and bee-friendly flowers to provide protection and wildlife habitat.
The design also includes water management measures and clear pathways connecting all zones. Simple signboards will explain key concepts such as mulching, nitrogen-fixing plants, and food forest layers.
Throughout project implementation, FOW has coordinated with CCC to provide rotating support to villagers. For education and demonstration purposes, FOW plans to conduct monthly village trainings/talks, school visits, and farmer-to-farmer learning sessions. Practical demonstrations will cover composting, mulching, intercropping, and natural pest control.
We congratulate FOW on the progress they are making in improving environmental sustainability in diverse ways despite the unique and significant challenges faced in Myanmar, and look forward to hearing more updates in future.
In 2025 Permaculture Australia awarded eight small grants to organisations in South East Asia and the Pacific. When the grant round was launched permaculture teachers and groups helped spread the invitation to apply. One of the successful grant recipients was Asharprodip Somaj Unnyan Songstha (ASUS) an organisation in Bangladesh seeking support to run a permaculture course in their community which is in a region where Rowe Morrow and other members of PA have taught permaculture.
Following the funding being received. Rowe was sent a letter from the Executive Director of Asharprodip Somaj Unnyan Songstha (ASUS), Poritosh Kumar Mridha. Rowe described the letter as ‘lovely and heartfelt’ and great to share.
In his introduction Poritosh wrote “On behalf of ASUS, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to you and the Permafund team for your generous support of our mission. Receiving this grant is not only a milestone for our organisation but a vital initiative for the ecological and social healing we aim to foster in our community.”
“Please be assured that the ASUS team is fully committed to implementing this project with the highest standards of integrity and care. We look forward to sharing our progress and the stories of growth that your support has made possible.“
With Best Regards,
Poritosh Kumar Mridha”
More details about ASUS and their project to spread permaculture activities in the Sundarban’s coastal region of Bangladesh. will be shared in future Permaculture Australia newsletters.
All donations made to support Permaculture Australia projects are greatly appreciated and can be made here.
Thanks to generous donations to Permaculture Australia, Mlatho Farms and Agri-Learning Hub in Malawi was one of the organisations that received a Permafund grant in 2024.
Daniel Chibwe, the Founder and Managing Director of Mlatho Farms has sent us this update on their progress. We appreciate Daniel keeping us up to date, and heartened to hear of the opportunities that have arisen to take Mlatho Farms and Agri-Learning Hub from strength to strength during this year.
“I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to sincerely thank you and to provide an update on the growth and impact of Mlatho Farms and Agri-Learning Hub following the USD 1,300 Permafund 24 support we received in 2024.
Since that support, our journey has accelerated significantly: In 2025, USD500 from the Aspire Leaders Program and USD5,000 has been received from the Tony Elumelu Foundation,strengthening our institutional capacity and confidence from global partners.
I’ve participated in the Young Leadership Incubation Program (YLIP) in South Africa under AHA International and SACAU, with three learning visits to Johannesburg, South Africa.
In January 2026, I will be traveling to Germany to attend the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) and the Young Farmers Forum (YFF). I have already secured a visa and am fully sponsored by the Federal Government of Germany through the Ministry of Agriculture, joining 20 young farmers selected globally.
Beyond travel and leadership exposure, our work has gained strong visibility. This year alone, Mlatho Farms has been featured twice in national newspapers and several times on local and national radio and television, sharing our story of permaculture, youth empowerment, and climate resilience in Malawi.
I genuinely believe that these recognitions and opportunities were ignited by the Permafund 24 support.
You truly lit the candle that opened doors to networks, platforms and trust at a global level. Without that early belief, much of this progress would not have been possible.
As our organisation continues to grow, we are now better structured, more visible and increasingly capable of handling larger responsibilities and partnerships. Should there be future opportunities, collaborations, or advanced funding windows, we would be deeply honored to be considered.
Thank you once again for believing in grassroots permaculture initiatives from Africa. Your support is creating ripple effects far beyond what can be measured in numbers.”
The Permafund grants program, with 103 creative community projects worldwide supported so far, has seen many examples of the multiplier effect of donations, where a small amount of seed funding for an environmental restoration and permaculture education project has produced a positive result in one grant location to then be replicated by others through the inter-community network and has encouraged professional development among community leaders.
Donations to support environmental projects and environmental organisations in Australia and overseas are tax deductible in Australia and can be made here.
What better way than to stand on a stage surrounded by 38 young shouting Timorese to celebrate that they are the 100th recipient of a Permafund grant since we started handing them out 15 years ago.
We were attending the first International Permaculture Youth Convergence held in Timor-Leste last October and this group is from the Aileu Resource & Training Centre, (ARTC) not far from the capital Dilli. They received a grant of AU$3,200 from Permafund to allow 8 of their members to attend the event and take knowledge back to their community to implement what they’d learnt.
The Aileu Resource and Training Centre (ARTC) was established as a registered NGO in 2005 with the aim of providing education and training for people of Aileu, Timor-Leste. It serves a vital role, offering adult learning opportunities integrated with development of cultural expression, environmental protection and improved livelihoods, always supporting women’s development and participation. This approach is designed to respond to local needs and conditions, and to build on people’s existing capabilities in a largely subsistence farming community.
Both ARTC and Permafund have a connection to the first Permaculture NGO in Timor Leste, Permatil. Ego Lemos and Lachlan McKenzie, along with others, for 25 years have steered Permatil to play a prominent role in this new nation’s future at a high Government level in the areas of Education, Water Management and Youth Engagement.
President of Timor-Leste Ramos Horta and Permatil legend Ego Lemos
This first international youth gathering was organised by Permatil and Permatil Global. Both Permaculture Australia and Permafund are very proud to have supported this event and continue the long beneficial relationship we share.
Reflecting on our 100th grant recipient takes me back to the start of Permafund 15 years ago at a meeting held in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. “What does good Permaculture Aid and Development look like?” was the question asked. “Let’s find out” was the response, so we formed a volunteer committee and settled on offering a small grant round of amounts up to AU$2000 every year to Permaculture aligned NGOs most in need. Our 100 plus grants have seen funds sent to 19 countries throughout Australasia and the Pacific as well as the Asian and African continents.
There are many opportunities for growth in Permafund including to research the ‘lessons learnt’ from our over 100 applicants to answer the question we first asked ….”What works?” The story of Permatil operating as a small NGO to be now sitting at the table, participating in Timor Leste’s future is a lesson we can all learn from.
Permafund member Jasper Simmons facilitating a workshop
What we’ve also learnt is that Bill Mollison’s vision of spreading the concept of permaculture globally through a 72 hour Design Certificate Course has been successful. We’ve made contact with hundreds of NGOs and individuals from their native country that took that PDC and acted locally following their course.
The success of Permafund can be attributed to two important ingredients – a dedicated group of volunteers to carry out the workload and to you, our donors. Without your generous contributions we can’t do the work we do and apply the ethic of FAIR SHARE. The donation figures continue to grow and are a testament to us at Permafund that you value our integrity in the work we do……thank you.
John Champagne in front the of the Permafund stand at the IPYC
John Champagne
Permafund Chair on behalf of all past and present Permafund members.
Donations to Permaculture Australia’s Permafund can be made here.
Eight organisations in the Asia Pacific region were awarded Permafund grants in the 2025 grant round. Recipients came from countries around the region including Timor Leste, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands. The wide range of projects shows that permaculture is being implemented in ways that improve the natural environment as well as food security, as summarised below:
Asharprodip Somaj Unnyan Songstha (ASUS) community circle Bangladesh
Expanding ASUS’s permaculture activities in Sundarban coastal region of Bangladesh.
Friends of Wildlife, Myanmar
Ensuring the sustainability of a Community Conservation Committee in Southern Bago Yoma, Myanmar, through Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) mitigation and livelihood support.
ALEY-NM, Philippines
Promotion of permaculture among Higaonon youth leaders in 5 villages in Mindanao.
Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Development for Communities, Inc (SEED4Com), Philippines
Equipping women, youth, and smallholder farmers of Sibugay, Cebu City, with practical skills in producing organic fertilisers aligned with permaculture principles.
Metsa Foundation, Philippines
Metsa Foundation for women in the Philippines
Creating closed-loop permaculture systems for food security and waste management using black soldier fly & chickens.
Baetona Farmers Association, Solomon Islands
Taro patch & trellises Baetona Farmers’ Association Solomon Islands
Promoting increased consumption of local and nutritious foods, and improved incomes of rural women.
Aileu Resource and Training Centre (ARTC), Timor Leste
International PermaYouth Convergence delegates
Assisting with Kadalak Dame garden project workers’ participation in the first International PermaYouth Convergence and follow-up activities in their district.
Permatil Global Inc.
Earthworks workshop at IPYC
Providing support to the organisation of the inaugural International PermaYouth Convergence, Timor Leste
Thanks to the generous donations we received this year, we are able to assist these grassroots initiatives to grow a better future for their communities. Watch this space for reports from the projects over the coming months.
The inaugural International Permaculture Youth Convergence (IPYC) is to be held in Timor Leste from October 20 –25 this year.
Drone photo of Fatequero village where IPYC is to be held
Permatil of Timor-Leste & Permatil Global of Australia are co-hosting the event with The PermaYouth Association of Timor Leste. 500 permie youth leaders from Timor Leste are planning to host another 500 from around the world with the intention of building an active global PermaYouth network of future leaders & change makers and global environmental stewards.
The day program includes permaculture practice and development of leadership skills in:
Water resilience
Sustainable Agroforestry
Agro ecology
Permaculture in action
Art, music and indigenous culture
3D model for learning water catchment techniques
Artists creating new illustrations for Permatil guidebooks
The night program can only be described as a festival, with participants coming together to share a celebration and exchange of indigenous knowledge, culture, music, art and friendship.
This event rides on the shoulders of 8 years of Timor Leste National Youth Convergences and promises to be an unbelievable learning, and sharing cultural event. The IPYC fits Permaculture Australia’s Permafund charter of promoting and supporting educational and environmental projects around the world that have a strong permaculture basis.
Permafund is providing funds to sponsor and part sponsor international participants who financially may not be able to attend otherwise. In addition, letters of recommendation and promotional material to support this awesome initiative have been provided.
Our most challenging contribution however is to activate youth from Australia to participate in the International Permaculture Youth Convergence. Members of the Permafund committee put the message out to their communities about IYPC being an opportunity to see permaculture in action in a youth orientated international setting. Currently 16 young adults will be participating, all paying their own way. One group is from the NSW south coast and another from South Australia. All are excited, learning a few Tetun words and getting organised to attend.
When asked why they were attending, responses from some of the South Australian contingent included:
I feel really connected to nature and the idea of living in harmony with the earth.
After doing my PDC, I want to keep learning and growing, not just in land design but also in how permaculture can bring people together, heal communities, and create a better way of living.
I’d love to meet other young people who share the same passion, exchange ideas, and bring back inspiration to my own community.
I dream of starting a little community around rehabilitating a heavily disturbed section of the low rainfall Mallee in eastern SA. I would like to turn parts of it into a food forest. I have the dream and the property, I’m just lacking the knowledge, people, and the extra bit of passion to see it through; I’m hoping the IPYC can help me with these things.
I’m very keen on building more sustainable ways of living into everything.
I dream of creating an eco-friendly little village with sustainable and affordable housing.
I’m excited to have the opportunity to learn about permaculture and PermaYouth initiatives at this convergence
I want to return to my beloved tropics and learn a lot about Timorese life and culture.
For these reasons, or any others, if you are between 17 and 35 and would like to attend the IPYC or would like to talk about it but don’t have a group to support you, no matter where you come from, don’t hesitate to contact us at permafund@permacultureaustralia.org.au
Planting out a water catching small reservoir
The proceeds of fundraisers and donations to Permafund are gratefully received. Donations over $2.00 are tax deductible in Australia and can be made here.
So far, Permafund has provided seed funding grants for 93 community projects in Australia and 16 other countries around the world.
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