Our species is evolving. But will we ever be smarter than crows?
This is my first post since August 2025. I owe you an explanation. There have been some seismic changes in my life and that’s put writing, and permaculture, into zone three. Dedicated permies will already understand the use of zones to describe energy use, but for those unfamiliar, here’s a quick explanation. Draw five concentric … Continue reading “Where have you been?”
A few years back I led a redesign of Permaculture Central Coast (PCC). I used the permaculture design system to do it. We involved as many people as possible, honoured the work done by those that had come before us and looked at the systemic issues that might be holding us back. We audited the … Continue reading Ten Ways to Improve Your Local Permaculture Group
Preface: I was fortunate enough to attend the recent 2025 Winter Quollstice at Maya Retreat in the Kanimbla Valley, NSW, and what a celebration of diversity and inclusion it was. I was invited to share an Acknowledgement of Country and I have since been asked to share the words with others that were there. Unfortunately, … Continue reading Acknowledging Country
It started as something that seemed ethically aligned, but to be honest it was probably always about making money. Back when in 1998 when most transactions still involved actual money, PayPal, originally “Confinity”, set up an independent third party payment system that quickly grew to become a preferred method of payment for many. So pervasive … Continue reading Why I’m ditching PayPal
Can you imagineBeing part of an ancient culture, stretching back over more than 100,000 yearsLiving in a way that was deeply connected to all other lifeAnd where all things, including rocks and water and skyWere considered alive? Can you imagineRelying entirely upon the land and the people around you for all of your needs; all … Continue reading Australia Day
This is another one of those posts inspired by someone seeking my advice via my Permacoach page on Facebook. I often give a quick answer to this kind of enquiry and then head out into the garden with the question still lingering. If it seems worthy of a longer answer, I come here. This one … Continue reading “Where can I buy good soil?”
In Australia, an Acknowledgement of Country has now become a regular feature of public events, and we always open our training courses and workshops with one. Mine has evolved over the years, and the current version looks like this: “I wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original inhabitants of … Continue reading Acknowledgement of Country: Advice from a…
We had a lovely group from the Hunter Valley touring here last weekend and some of us had an interesting conversation about swales. Because they are an organic growers group, rather than a permaculture group, many of them had never heard of swales. It was a reminder that all systems have jargon, and that we … Continue reading Is a swale just a ditch drain?
When my daughter became a mother she started reflecting upon my mothering, and I, in turn, started reflecting upon mine. This has led to deep thinking about attachment, trauma and how this influences our species.
TRIGGER WARNING FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING OR RECOVERING FROM FAMILY VIOLENCE This week the news is full of family violence. New data shows that, in spite of the Australian government’s commitment to “ending family violence in one generation” and a target to reduce the number of women being killed by their partners by 25% annually, deaths … Continue reading Why are so many women being murdered?