Starting a Local Group
Story by Loretta Leary, Secretary of Permaculture Tasmania
PT’s Member Survey was closed last week and the results were interesting to say the least. One of the top requests was for local groups to be reinstated. As secretary, I have been in the process of contacting admins of past local in person groups and Facebook groups. This has been quite a process; one that I actually started in 2024 and it is still going. Hopefully by the next newsletter, I will have this task completed.
I have a few people interested in reviving or starting a local group and that is great. But first I needed to start my own local group for two reasons:
- the first was so that I could practice what I was and am preaching to people and
- second to work out how to do it. So the Permaculture Tasmania: Meander Valley group was born.
Crop Swap #1
This group has had four crop swaps since January. The first was a bunch of dear friends, a new neighbour and a couple of people new to Permaculture or the area. Now Meander Valley is quite a big Local Government Area and so I was both disappointed at the numbers but glad that for my first gathering it was a small affair. Crops were swapped, as was baked treats and information over cups of tea and coffee. I felt relieved that it was over and grateful that it was, I deemed, a success.
Crop Swap #2
The next one was a much larger affair. Word had spread quickly and there was about twenty people. The same group from the first meeting and a whole lot more interested and interesting people. Permies old and new introduced themselves and what they were doing in terms of Permaculture at their homes. The tea flowed, the chatting was just as fluid. People seemed to like coming together for this occasion, and I didn’t need to go shopping for fresh food for about two weeks!
Crop Swap #3
The third crop swap I missed due to work commitments, but my husband, John, and our good friend Pat, took up the mantle. This time it was held at our friend’s Tomoko and Trevor’s place. The crop swap table heaved with a magnificent bounty and there was tea and cake for all. Tomoko, a renowned gardener, took the even larger group (about 30) on a tour of her gardens and the conversations flowed. By all accounts it was an even greater success.
Crop Swap #4
We have just had our fourth crop swap and wow……just wow! Over 60 people attended at Elvenhome Biodynamic Farm and we were hosted by Graham and Kathleen. Introductions were done, tea and treats were devoured and so much information was absorbed during the garden tours that my head was heavy with it. A fire around the straw bale yarning circle centred our gathering and a two hour event lasted for four hours. I came home with the biggest ever carrot, a cornicopia of fresh fruit and veggies and an intense feeling of satisfaction. Pat has started to organise our first Retrosuburbia bookclub.
So I think that I have answered my own question; how easy is it to run a local group?
Quite easy, especially with the help of a wonderful couple of people. Pat and John have been essential in the running of these groups, especially when I am not available. The generous Tomoko, Trevor, Graham and kathleen also deserve my undying appreciation and gratitude for opening their homes and gardens to us. Now my advice now for anyone wanting to start a group is:
- do it with some friends
- start with something easy like a crop swap or a meet and greet
- work your way up to other events like a garden tour or a book club
- aspire to run permablitzes and working bees
- conquer the hills before you conquer the mountains.
The three of us, John, Pat and I, have conquered some hills but we are not sure that we want to conquer those hills across the entire Meander Valley LGA. We envision becoming more local and changing to PT: Western Meander Valley and hoping there will be a PT: Eastern Meander Valley group started by someone too.
So, if you would like to start a local group, or help me revive an existing one that is lying dormant in the shadows, let me know. I now have enough experience to speak knowledgably about how to do it. Email me at secretary@permaculturetasmania and I will lend you my support.
However, please note that if you wish to be under the banner of Permaculture Tasmania and covered by their insurance, there are some very simple but very important requirements. Email me for more information:secretary@permaculturetasmania.org
