Meet the Permaculture Tasmania Committee series: Damien Crompton, Northern Permablitz Coordinator

There are some fabulous folks volunteering behind the scenes with Permaculture Tasmania who keep the organisation going strong. Over the next few weeks we’ll be introducing these fabulous folks, including sharing some of their Permaculture journey, including why they volunteer with PAT and the community activities they’re involved. We are starting this week with our wonderful Northern Permablitz Coordinator Damien:

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“My name is Damien most commonly referred to as “D”, I began my Permaculture journey through a need to feel reconnected, not only with my surrounding nature and the world in which I live but also to reconnect with people and community. After reading Bill & David’s book i began to realize there were others out in the world with similar goals in mind, with the same principles (or close enough) and ethics that I was looking to be a part of.

Setting aside the obvious gardening positives for using Permaculture I began to look at how these same principles and ethics could be used to strengthen existing communities or create them from seemingly nothing. The chance to barter or trade for what I needed, the sharing of knowledge without want of return and the social connections that heal the soul. I guess you could call me a modern day Hippy  And you know what I LOVE IT 

Permaculture has helped me appreciate life as life, not as a tool but as a way of life that has the potential to change the way we see ourselves as a species on this planet.”

For De’s full profile you can go to our website here: https://permaculturetasmania.com/…/damien-crompton-ordinar…/

For more details about Permablitz’s please check out the website here: https://permaculturetasmania.com/perma…/permablitz-tasmania/ or the Permablitz Tasmania facebook group. We’d love to hear from you.

Huon Valley: Permies in the Pub

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Calling all Permculture folks in the Huon Valley (and surrounds). The Huon Valley locals: Permaculture Tasmania group will be meeting on Sunday 17th June. Come along and meet like mind folks from your region and be involved in discussing next steps for Permaculture activities in the Valley for 2018 – and beyond!

See you there at 3pm. Any queries please go to the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/221395715316800/ or email [email protected]

Focal point: Permaculture Tasmania Committee member Celia Leverton

Thank you to outgoing Committee members & President: Lauren and Oberon Carter

 

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We would like to say a HUGE thank you and goodbye to Oberon and Lauren as they finish up their Committee role with Permaculture Tasmania. This formidable duo have been part of the Committee for the last two years and contributed hugely to the committee including with the fabulous new graphic and website design, facilitating permablitzes and video screening events in Hobart, chairing the Committee, and just being awesome folks to work with! Thankfully Lauren and Oberon will still be in Tasmania and are not leaving our state and you’ll see them in their many ventures including Zero Waste Tasmania, Spiral Gardens, and getting ready to launch their first new book on living a Zero Waste lifestyle – we can’t wait! All the best Lauren and Oberon.

Our Vice President, Kym Blechynden, will take on the Interim President role until the AGM later this year.

Permaculture Tasmania events: June/July 2018

The Permaculture Tasmania Committee has been super busy behind the scenes planning some fabulous regional based events for winter 2018.

Permies in the North, West Tamar Sunday 17th June 2018

Calling all Permie folks from the Tamar, Launceston & surrounds! ‘Permies in the North’ is happening at (venue in Tamar TBC) on Sunday 17th June. This informal Permaculture Tasmania catch up is a great opportunity to meet like minded folks from your area, exchange ideas and brainstorm activities you’d would like to be involved with for 2018 (and beyond).

We’ll also have a mini skill sharing session on making your own Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) by the wonderful Mignon, one of our members. Bring along a glass jar (at least 500ml size) and if you have some backyard apples to share and receive an ACV starter to take home.

Please bring along some food to share or your lunch, we’ll provide some tea and coffee. The venue is kid friendly and there is a community garden we can check out too.

RSVP to the event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/345841925942638/ or via email [email protected].

Permies in the Pub, Deloraine, Sunday 24th June 2018

Calling all Permie folks from Meander/Northern Midlands & surrounds. ‘Permies in the Pub’ is happening at the Empire Hotel, Deloraine on Sunday 24th June. This informal catch up is a great opportunity to meet like minded folks from your area, exchange ideas and brainstorm activities you’d would like to be involved with for 2018 (and beyond). Find the group in the Ladies Lounge (Men are welcome – don’t be fooled by the name), Empire Hotel at Emu Bay Rd Deloraine from 2pm. There is a buffet on that night for those who want to stay and enjoy a meal together. (All meals/drinks at own cost). Please RSVP if you are coming via the Facebook event page or email: [email protected] See you there!

Tamar/Launceston Skill share: fruit tree pruning and grafting, West Tamar, Sunday 1st July 2018

Want to know more about fruit tree pruning and grafting? Come along to this Tamar/Launceston: Permaculture Tasmania event in the beautiful West Tamar on Sunday 1st July. Permaculture Tasmania members Heather and Nick are kindly volunteering their time to share their expertise with us and you’ll get a brief tour to check out some activities being implemented as part of Permaculture design also. Bring some food to share/your lunch, any cuttings/seeds/fresh produce to swap and if you have some good secateurs. Cost is Gold coin donation for non Permaculture Tasmania financial members, free for Permaculture Tasmania financial members. All welcome.

RSVP to the event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/131271351077506/ or via email: [email protected]

Welcome to new Committee member: Heather Thorpe – Meander/Northern Midlands representative

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Heather-Gaia Thorpe has a lifetime of Organic Gardening and many years of Permaculture experience. Her first PDC was gained in 1999 after being self taught since books on the subject were available. She recently updated her knowledge by doing an online PDC and her TAFE teaching background provides skills to pass on that knowledge. Heather-Gaia has contributed to many aspects of sustainable living in Tassie with T.O.P., Organic Herb Growers, Urban Farming Tasmania and by initiating the Plant Aid Project. As well as being on the Permaculture Tasmania committee Heather is part of the Repair Cafe Movement and teaches sewing with the WFG/Hazara Group in Launceston.  Her reason for being involved in all of these activities: “Being the age that I am I wish to pass on as much as I can before the ravages of time prevent me from doing so”.

Heather is the Meander/Northern Midlands focal point.

Film Screening + Q&A: Living The Change

Come along to Permaculture Tasmania’s first social gathering for 2018!

Living the Change explores solutions to the global crises we face today – solutions any one of us can be part of – through the inspiring stories of people pioneering change in their own lives and in their communities in order to live in a sustainable and regenerative way.

We’ll be hosting a Q&A session with the filmmakers immediately after the screening, and a little chat about all things permaculture and change making (and living), with Permaculture Tasmania president, Oberon Carter.

Entry is free for Permaculture Tasmania members, or $5 at the door for non-members. Membership is only $20 and is available here.

North West Permablitz – Smithton!

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North West folks – this one is for you! We have our first Blitz for the North West to be held at Bron’s place in Smithton – huzzah! What a great way to celebrate the end of Autumn before the long winter months, get involved with community, meet some fabulous folks and learn about Permaculture.

Designer and Facilitator: Cabe MacKenzie
Host: Bron
Permculture Tas support: Kym D Blech

Date: Saturday 20th May
Time: 10am – 4pm

The event is FREE with a fabulous design by Cabe including a mandala design with a herb spiral in the centre, using Toby Hemingway’s ‘bomb proof’ sheet mulching techniques to build the mandala garden beds! See you there!

Please let us know if you are keen to be involved and share the event with your NW networks. You can find the event listed on Facebook. 

Contact: [email protected] for location and for more information.

See you there!

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Annual General Meeting news

(Note: this post was first uploaded to the previous Permaculture Tasmania website on 9th Oct 2015)

G’day folks! It’s Oberon here, I was elected president at Permaculture Tasmania’s Annual General Meeting held on 26th September 2015. Firstly, I would like to offer a sincere thanks to outgoing committee members James DaCosta (outgoing president) and Blake Harder (outgoing public officer) for their sterling efforts. The new committee arrangements are Kym Blechynden (vice-president), Penny Milburn (treasurer), Celia Leverton (public officer), Claire Burnet (secretary) and Kerri Gill (ordinary committee member) – congratulations to all new committee members and I look forward to working with you!

Just a bit of background about me, for those of you who I am yet to meet – I have worked for state governments in Victoria and Tassie in a range of biodiversity conservation related jobs for the last 14 years, and nature conservation remains one of my passions. I’ve completed a PDC with Good Life Permaculture and permaculture teacher training with Rowe Morrow (via Good Life). I run an ethically-based online retail store called Spiral Garden with my wife Lauren, and through that business we also offer an online permaculture-for-families e-course called Seedlings. My wife and I also home educate our three daughters from our somewhat-wild suburban block near Hobart.

I’m looking forward to committing efforts towards Permaculture Tasmania – I am particularly focussed towards connecting our members with each other and with permaculture resources and services they need, whether that be through social media or in-real-life connections, training workshops and/or permablitzes. If you are interested in assisting more with us then please do not hesitate to drop me a line via the contact form on this website. Cheers, Oberon Carter.