Zen and the art of motor (re)cycling

By on May 23, 2013 in Links, News

The Buchan Caves Reserve

The Buchan Caves Reserve


It is quite challenging for us techo retarded office types to get through the day without consulting our tech support crew. From “download” problems, to missing photo files, a whole year of lost emails, and the odd misplaced invoice. When we get stuck, who will we call?

In case you are wondering, the state of our tech structure is in a quite precarious state since our resident tech guy, Oliver Holmgren left for his motorcycle adventure up north. While he is on the road, he is keeping in touch through his blog Sunken Miles. Reading his report has been a treat for us with his renowned photographs and carefully chosen words. No wonder he calls his motorcycle Mawson (after an Australian antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson to whom Oliver is distantly related).

Continue Reading →

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Hot in Brazil

By on May 21, 2013 in News

Lançamento São Paulo
Our Brazilian friend, ​Marcos Ninguém, reports that a special permaculture course run in celebration of 20 years of permaculture in Brazil, was a huge success, with some 170 participants. The celebration gathered together activists from the  pioneer generations such as Peter Webb and Skye (Australians), as well as new generation activists (Marcos himself, his brother Jappa, and Guilherme Castanha).
It also coincided with the launch of the much awaited Portuguese language edition of David Holmgren’s Permacultura, Princîpios e caminhos além da Sustentabilidade for which David sent a message.

Continue for some photos from the gatherings in Brazil. Thanks go to PoMei Kwong for translations.

Continue Reading →

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Why I haven’t been flying (much)

By on May 16, 2013 in Ideas, Links
David Holmgren is not showing his flying skill, only reading the landscape (at the 2013 Food Forest PDC)

David Holmgren is not showing his flying skill, only reading the landscape (at the 2013 Food Forest PDC)

Over three decades I have received many requests to travel across Australia and across the world to speak at a conference,  teach a course or participate in some worthy event related to permaculture. My reluctance to travel long distances for short stays has meant I have had to turned down many of these invitations. In more recent years the reactions of invitees has moved from incredulity to understanding, and even admiration, as a small but growing list of public figures  are choosing not to travel by air to highlight the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Continue Reading →

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Holmgren to open United Natures at CERES

By on May 16, 2013 in Events

un-logo-worldy-new-for-print-small-PNGDavid Holmgren will open the premier screening of Peter Charles Downey’s new full length, full strength documentary film, United Natures at Melbourne’s CERES on June 13.  Along with David, the film features great international cast such as Dr. Vandana Shiva, Starhawk, Father Bob Maguire, Polly Higgins, Dr. Helen Caldicott, John Seed, Cormac Cullinan, Michael Reynolds and many others.

Get down to CERES to see the film. David and Peter will be joined with John Seed for a Q&A session after the screening.

(a trailer under the scroll) Continue Reading →

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Insects as food

By on May 14, 2013 in Links
The locust biscuit (insects as food) not served by Su but taken from http://insectcuisine.jp/?p=283

The locust biscuit (insect as food) not served by Su but taken from insectcuisine.jp

Su loves to see the reaction from tour participants as she explains the ingredients in her hot-out-of-the-oven cake served for either morning or afternoon tea; “Wheat, yes it’s commonly graded as chook wheat. Nothing wrong with it, just dusty, a bit of grit and odd insects. Good source of protein.” and thus the insects as romantic food conversation started: Continue Reading →

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Pioneers donate to a worthy cause

By on May 7, 2013 in News

The-PioneersMelliodora Publishing, the publication wing of Holmgren Design, produced the book Permaculture Pioneers in 2011. The editors and authors of the book stipulated that the royalties due to them were to go to Permaculture Australia’s Permafund; we are happy to announce that nearly $3,000 has been sent to Permafund (the Permaculture International Public Fund) to promote and support Permaculture projects around the world especially those that assist with resilience in the developing world and in places of extreme need. 10% of all sales of Permaculture Pioneers will continue to go to this worth while fund, so to keep all these smiling authors happy, purchase a copy and enjoy their stories ‘from the new frontier’.

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International Permaculture Day message

By on May 5, 2013 in Ideas

Following is this year’s international permaculture day message from David Holmgren.

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“Permaculture: A rhymer’s manual” in stock

By on April 29, 2013 in News

Permaculture: A Rhymer's ManualWe are happy to announce that we have fabulous Charles Mgee’s “Permaculture: A rhymer’s manual” CDs and LPs in stock.

Purchase your copy of  this unique and fun filled music with ethical and ecological twist, either as an MP3 file (plus PDF booklet) or a CD (with a special bonus unplugged CD) or a 12″ vinyl disc here.
Now you too can sing along and dance to the music like we do.

See the related posts:

Thoughts on “Permaculture: A rhymer’s manual” 

“Permaculture: A rhymer’s manual” – David doesn’t cringe

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The household level counts

By on April 29, 2013 in Ideas, News

8673479525_4ea29d4776David Holmgren’s comment entitled “The household level counts” was published in the latest issue of Arena magazine (#123) and following is the first few paragraphs of the piece.

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Andy Scerri’s critique of Patrick Jones’ articulation of self-reliance, localism, and gift economies (Arena #115) is a familiar argument that has been used over the last thirty years to dismiss permaculture and related environmental activism by more traditional political activists.
The harsh reality is that neither pathway has significantly impeded the headlong rush of industrial modernity towards the ‘limits to growth’ cliff so accurately modelled 40 years ago by Meadows et al. I am more than ready to acknowledge that ‘our’ collective efforts at positive environmentalism during and since the 1970s have so far failed to catalyse the necessary changes in society, but Andy Scerri’s assertion that composting your private garden counts for nothing, reflects an ignorance of several structural and systemic factors driving and constraining social change. Continue Reading →

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Oi da Australia

By on April 29, 2013 in News

This is the video message sent from David Holmgren for the launch of his Principles book in Portuguese, “Permacultura: príncípíos e camínhos além da sustentabílídade” published in Brasil.

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