Urban Permaculture Tour

Today we visited some urban Permaculture systems.

One of these is sustainability and community education centre in Byron Bay called the Island Quarry.

It is based on the site of an old bluestone quarry that hit a spring and closed down. The spring now fills an amazing body of water.

Owned by the commonwealth it is managed by a not for profit in trust an experiment that is quite unique to the world as far as they can see. This means at this stage there is an incredible amount of work that must go into integration of the council approval and applications processes.

It has been a long road for them, and they are building for the long term. A 25 year management plan is in place. Slow, small solutions have allowed this place to continue progressing through considerable challenges.

Now they are an avenue for considerable energy through work for the dole schemes, dept of corrections programs, and mutual obligation agreements. The ongoing community work is done by volunteers, where it serves as a place to foster connections and meet likeminded people. Several projects have seeded and germinated there and then been planted out in other places.

Interesting to see a charcoal maker in place to convert their considerable store of salvaged trees into a usable product. I’ve spoken a little bit about this biochar process before.

Expect to hear more about it - lots of potential in our context.

Changing the Pace:

We also visited a home scale garden that has been grown and tended by Wally for over 25 years!

He is over 90 now and still gardens six days a week (he takes a day off from work for the Lord). Growing beautiful broccolis, luscious lettuces, pineapples, tomatoes and more.

Enough for his wife, himself and most of his neighbours too in their ¼ acre block.

In a twist to the conventional home garden he fertilises it with his own composted humanure. A fine example of the principle of using biological resources.

Here is his composting chamber:

Giving amazing growth really considering the salty coastal sand that is the soil around his place.

He credits persistence in the garden, there is no lack of challenges on his block but he keeps at it and the results shine through.

This year birds have been a particular problem for him when he is out the front they duck out the back.

Gavin is an absolute inspiration, a testament to good design. In seven years he has completely regenerated the once paddock of his steep north easterly aspect block to a vibrant, massively productive Permaculture paradise. He has also built a beautiful house, travelled and worked internationally on numerous projects including tsunami relief and rebuilding in Aceh and is raising three kids. Fruit trees of all shapes, sizes and stages of maturity fill his designated zone he said he had to contain himself or it would have kept going down the hill. His home absolutely inspired me to check out Daily’s nursery in Kyogle. Fruit trees suit my kind of investment style, a lot of energy at the beginning and then consistent returns for a long, long time.

The Work Journal

As part of my Qualifications in Permaculture I have to meticulously record all the details of the work that I do. The course is competency based and differs from the old “listen - study - exams” model.
We are briefed on an actual project, shown an example and do the work. This way we gain actual practical experience and are able to assessed on the spot.

For this bush experience system to gel with the existing structure, the course is auspiced by a Registered Training Organization / TAFE. The facilitator needs to have comprehensive records so that they can present evidence to them in case of an audit.

For my own integration I am going to rewrite my notes, include any photos i’ve taken and publish them online here.

An example of Activity Based Training is Composting.

You can find it in the gardening category along the top.

My first day at the Permaforest Trust

I’m here now.

The Zen house - a quiet space for residents to live, the reference library and the broadband internet connection. I’ve found my work zone.

The desk i’m at is at a large picture window overlooking…

It is an amazing place here. It works beautifully. Today is orientation - I’m meeting people. Most of who have lived here for a while and flow with the essential domestic routine effortlessly. Some are even newer than myself - another here who reminds me the most of myself flew in from Auckland yesterday.

The grounds here is where the real magic happens - aiming to be food neutral. Balancing what grows and selling surplus with what still needs to be bought. It is all happening in such an integrated way here with such awareness - I feel I am in the right place.

Ben is a fast friend and likes bikes.

Tim i’ve formed the quickest connection with - he is the founder of the trust. 40 years old and passionate about sustainable living. 10 years he has been here at the Permaforest and is a wealth of experience. Solidly connected in the Permaforest circles - working with the likes of Bill Molison, David Holmgren and others that really lead the world in the sustainable wholistic Permaforest movement.

It is the guys that have been forward with getting to know me. After the delicious organic vego lunch there was almost a speed dating vibe with people circling around - I kept to my seat as new people would come up, ask about me or something they wanted to know and then move around. The girls here have remained a bit aloof - interestingly in relationships the slower things start the longer they last. Hot and fiery tends to burn out quickly. Slowly and naturally tends to flourish and grow.

There is a lot of working going on all the time. And it is very well co-ordinated. Organised to a scale of 12 people all eating three meals a day + two tea times requires a complex system of understanding - I’m still learning it. Feedback is given freely and reading the subtle cues and comments is a valuable skill.

So much has opened up so quickly for me. I love all the new changes. This is definitely the place for me to be learning this year.