12 Jul, 2015 | Permaculture Gatherings
Story by Ross Mars, June 2015
Air travel is significant greenhouse gas emitter
Air travel is recognised as one of the highest producers of carbon dioxide, and so contributes significantly to an individual’s greenhouse gas emissions. Most airlines offer customers a chance (and choice) to pay a little more to offset their travel. Unfortunately most people seem to ignore this offer and I also suspect the (small) cost increase in an airfare is really well below the true cost.
APC13 to consider donating fee for carbon offset projects
While it would be great if all permaculture practitioners automatically considered accepting the carbon offset addition to a fare, it may not be possible to do so for a large number of reasons. While all such schemes are registered by the Australian Government and the funds raised are given to legitimate organisations for tree planting and other endeavours, Perth is seriously considering donating part of a participant’s Convergence fee to local organisations to enable worthwhile projects to be funded.
You can go online and find any number of calculators to work out the carbon produced by travel from one city to another and to also give you some estimate of cost. We intend to pursue this and find ways in which we can reduce everyone’s carbon footprint to attend the Convergence in Perth October 2016. Won’t you join us?
11 Jul, 2015 | Permaculture Gatherings
Story by John Mckenzie, May 2015
Camping in a large paddock alongside the Penguin High school – an easy walk to the conference venue — a large building built with ‘Building the Education Revolution’ (BER) funding. It’s moveable walls pushed back to make a huge open space, large commercial kitchen offering up great food.
Saying hello to Bob Brown, catching up with Geoff Lawton, many tables and stalls in the foyer filled with magnificent information and conversations, coffee from East Timor being sold to raise funds for the rewrite of the Permatil Guidebook from East Timor, four magnificent keynote speakers, the AGM for PA, watching the dance and spoken word performance, dancing ourselves, about 250 of us in the Robyn Clayfield choreographed spiral dance, having breakfast and saying farewell to David Holmgren at the Reseed Centre as we departed… so much happened in those few short days.
The site and program was excellent for the purpose. All the facilities that we needed and what I loved was how it allowed so many opportunities for informal conversations. That was the icing on the cake.
Bob Brown inspired and challenged us. He affirmed Permaculure then urged us to do more. He was thanked with a standing ovation that seemed to go on for ever.
David Holmgren offered a range of challenging ideas:
- On advocacy and the permaculture voice… he cautioned about over-focussing on calling for governments to act. He cautioned us about shouting our message but at the same time being totally dependant on the corporate system. He asked two simple questions:
- What is our message? and
- How do we advocate? …then offered some answers.
That we be a mass movement shouting for ‘less’, that we don’t forget we are in a culture built on a mountain of debt, the permie message should be about living frugally, that we should be producers not consumers.
DIY & DIO (do it ourselves) — build your relationships, build your community, build your garden. He talked about how he and Su were intentionally low income earners.
He talked about Permaculture as well suited to being an idea not controlled by an organisation, he said permaculture can propagate and spread as other ideas, like a virus, thus bypassing regulatory processes of governments and bypassing the monetary economy.
He spoke about people being more concerned about loosing their money than extinctions of species. He proposed that the misplacement and corruptions of our thinking had been pushed by the emergence of corporations. He talked about the significance of the granting of person-hood rights to companies some 200 years ago.
Then finally in a riff on the permie mantra about turning the problem into the solution he said, be wary, these things are cyclical “the solution will become the problem”.
Nicole Foss maintained her ongoing message about the erratic and unstable economic system we live in. She enthused about local cooperatives, and local government as structures we should consider to put effort into to build and strengthen yield and useful return in local systems.
Stuart Hill cautioned us to keep our minds open, to keep a learners perspective. That there is so much we don’t know. He reminded us to care for ourselves, that we filter life through the lens of our personal experience, and often it’s our bruising personal experiences that influence our opinions and thinking. He invited us to be the best permies we can be, the best person we can be, to attend to self care to keep of capacity to emphasis and to keep learning.
Another standing ovation went to local identity Bruce French from Food Plants International. He’d decorated the hall with 100s of photographs of food plants from around the world, an incredible display. Then at 100mph he spoke about his work across many particularly Africa promoting local knowledge and local plants for their better nutrient density and their local availability. He freely distributed his database and it’s also on his website.
Permaculture Australia had it’s AGM and the primary question was asked – Is it worth continuing with PA? A great session of discussion about the shape and direction of PA including a strong affirmation by David Holmgren for PA. The session was well attended, new members joined PA and new subcommittees were formed and a 2015 Board was elected. The conference also provided an opportunity for an informal conversation between PA Directors and Geoff Lawton to build links between PRI and PA.
Permaculture Australia members in discussion at APC12
So many other great speakers, sessions and memorable moments, Permaculture elders were honoured with a gift of a Huon pine plaque, a dance and spoken word piece was offered by Hannah Cooper & Nick from Poatina, Phil Gall offered a full voice rendition of Bet Midler’s ‘The Rose’.
Some great films were screened, two I saw were:
- Deep Listening: a documentary about intentional communities in Australia. Great interviews with long term residents from some of Australia’s most established communities. View the trailer…
https://vimeo.com/76490760
- Tender Funeral: A documentary about a community project at Port Kembla providing services for the aged and their families at the end of life. To live and die in community with dignity.
I didn’t get to stay and do site tours so I cannot report on that, sorry.
Elected board members for Permaculture Australia at APC12, John Mckenzie is second from the left.
11 Jul, 2015 | Permaculture Gatherings
Story by Caroline Smith, May 2015
Tasmania holds a very special place in the permaculture community. It was here that the concept was developed in the 1970s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. It is also the home of the first Organic Festival, with such luminaries as Peter Cundall, David Stephen and Graeme Stevenson. 2015 happens to mark the 40th anniversary of the organic festival and also the 30th Anniversary of the first Permaculture Convergence.
Despite this rich history there has never been a Permaculture Convergence in Tasmania, so it was with great enthusiasm that North West Environment Centre (NWEC) in Penguin put their hand up to host the APC12 to bring permaculture home to its birthplace. Given the history, the organising committee decided that the theme of the convergence should be both to remember and honour the past achievements of permaculture as well as to continue the challenge to find ever more creative ways to transform the future for a sustainable world. With our planet now in such a dire state we were interested in a ‘big picture’ look at the place and role of permaculture. Our way of doing that was to place a strong focus on deepening our understanding and ability to work across the seven interconnected ‘petals’ (domains) of the permaculture flower.
To help people develop their presentations we suggested they respond these questions:
- Taking stock. Where is permaculture after 40 years and what are its continuing challenges?
- What are the critical future global and local challenges we are facing and how can permaculture provide solutions?
- Where is the cutting edge of permaculture thinking and action?
- What are areas where permaculture hasn’t worked and why?
- What can permaculture really achieve? Are we expecting too much of permaculture?
- What are some models of effective leadership in permaculture?
- Working at the edge with the mainstream – what are permaculture people doing and how can we do better?
- The permaculture flower represents permaculture as an integrated system – what is missing/not well developed?
- What would a permaculture design for a community look like?
- Permaculture and scale – what is the optimum?
- Where does permaculture fit in a consumer society?
- What is the history of permaculture design and how has it evolved over time?
The event attracted some 200 permies, of which more than 50 were presenters. We had participants of all ages and from every state and territory. There were Elders of the movement as well as first time participants. International folks too from Italy, France, Brazil, New Zealand, Taiwan – many of whom worked brilliantly as volunteers. (I hope I haven’t left anyone out).
One of the highlights of the event was the welcoming dinner, with Bob Brown as the speaker. What a wonderful sight to see two giants of the environment movement – Bob and David Holmgren, appearing together. David presented Bob with a copy of Permaculture Pioneers, signed by all the ‘pioneers’ who attended the convergence. Sadly, Bill Mollison was not able to attend because of ill health, but he was acknowledged and honoured in a moving closing ceremony facilitated by Robin Clayfield.
David Holmgren and Bob Brown at the welcome dinner at APC12, Penguin Tasmania, 2015
The history theme was beautifully taken up by Robyn Francis, who gave an amazing overview of the development of permaculture from the 1970s. What a story we have to tell! There was also an Honouring of the Elders — 18 of our Elders received a beautiful hand-made wooden plaque made from native huon pine and blackwood by a local artist. This highlight is set to continue at future APCs – we have many more Elders to honour. A the same time thee was a clear sense of a handing over – some of the older stalwarts of the movement are getting on a bit, so it is critical for the next generations to become the new leaders of the movement. To see that this is happening was one of the joys of the convergence.
Robyn Francis, at APC12, Penguin, Tasmania, 2015
Economics was a strong focus with the realisation that it is both part of the problem and part of the solution. We even had two young accountants presenting – probably the first time at an APC! We also had a very entertaining presentation from a member of the Victoria Police who engaged us with the story of her ‘conversion’ to permaculture.
An outstanding highlight was the presentation by Tasmanian local Bruce French, who for years has tirelessly documented an incredible number of food crops from around the world in a set of amazing photographs. Bruce was given a standing ovation for his presentation.
There were so many other highlights it’s impossible to record them all, but a great achievement was the re-constituting of Permaculture Australia with a new, young and energetic leadership team. Also Permaculture Tasmania was resurrected and we Tassies hope to have an annual gathering in our beautiful state.
Overall, the participants spent an energetic 3 days gathering, talking, arguing, enjoying each others’ company and forging the strong bonds that only come from face to face interactions.
Some of the stories, photos and other information can still be found on our APC12 website and APC12 Facebook page.
We look forward to continuing the ‘conversation’ at APC13 in WA in October 2016.
29 Mar, 2015 | Permaculture Gatherings
…message from the UK’s Andy Goldring
Looks to me like permaculture in Australia is thriving ~ wonderful!
As you know, we’re hosting the 12th International Permaculture Convergence in the UK this September. I’m passionate about getting permaculture practitioners from the Global South, so that the event is truly representative of the global movement, as well as to support their own work and learning.
I think this can be, and has to be, a breakthrough year for permaculture. With our ‘Next Big Step’ project we are exploring how we can collectively enhance our global networking and learning, and we need people from across the world at IPCUK, in order to make our shared planning truly effective.
To help do that, we’ve set up a crowdfunder campaign, and we’ve raised £5,959 in five days. But I want to raise a lot more. We’ve got just over three weeks to get to £21,000, and I am hoping we can push it a lot further.
I’m asking if you can make a personal pledge – however big or small – to the campaign and then use your many informal and formal networks to share the initiative. You are influencers, so having you on board will make a big difference. Its a global campaign, and I think Australia can help raise a lot. The Americans, Germans, Italians, French, Spanish, Portuguese and others are all doing their bit too.
The campaign
http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ipcuk-scholarships
Many thanks in advance for your pledges, networking and support. I look forward to seeing many of you at the IPC.
Andy
—
Best wishes
Andy Goldring
Chief Executive
Twitter: @andygoldring
Skype: permaculture.coordinator
Direct line: +44 (0)113 2307658
Email: andyg@permaculture.org.uk
26 Aug, 2014 | Permaculture Gatherings
Report by John Champagne, 18 August 2014
Hi everyone,
Just wanting to share our pleasure in the convergence we had here in Bega over the weekend. 100 good folk registered and participated in choosing between 36 different workshops on the Saturday. They came from Wollongong, Canberra, Bairnsdale….and all places in between with a number droving over from Melbourne and central Victoria……nice to see them.
Beautiful local dinner follow by PA Board member John McKenzie putting a call out for local and regional groups to begin communications with PA and support the national initiative. Then Prof Stuart Hill entertained the diners in his usual brilliant style with a great little talk titled – ‘Permaculture 2 ‘ Where to next ?
To finish the night we showed the film ‘The Chikukwa Project‘, the good news permaculture story out of Zimbabwe.
Sunday began by honoring and congratulating a remarkable local, Robyn Rosenfeldt… founder and editor of our new flagship… Pip magazine. And isn’t the 2nd edition looking so good !!
Stuart Hill then led us through a process of steps to take in realising individuals BIG DREAMS by telling BIG LIES. Fascinating exercise that had everyone actively engaged and as to its impact, only time can tell.
Thanks to SCPA – South East Producers whose permie members formed a great team called Permacon and put this event on:
- Julie Davies
- Kathleen McCannk
- Nicky Harris
- Chris Aitkins
- Robyn Rosenfeldt
- Ben Buggy and
- myself.
Thanks also to Damon Davies for the audio set up and musical interludes and Massi and Sundi for catering and providing such delicious food.
It looks like this event may head to Canberra in 2 years and continue the tradition of networking and sharing bioregional resources throughout the South East region.
John.
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