On Permaculture

“…while searching for alternatives to the global industrial agriculture system, I’ve become excited about what permaculture and food localization (producing and consuming food in the same area) have to offer. But then when adding peak oil and climate change to the mix, and the likely consequences of these on today’s food and agriculture systems, it looks like food localization using permaculture principles and design is going to offer more than an ‘alternative’ - it will become a
necessity.” ~ Asha Bee, in an interview by Lou Smith of Breakdown Press (www.eatthesuburbs.org)

PermaBLITZ

A contraction of Permaculture and blitz - an informal gathering involving a day on which a group of at least two people come together to :

- create or add to edible gardens where someone lives
- share skills related to permaculture and sustainable living
- build community networks
- have fun

Each permablitz is part of a longer process including a pre-blitz design visits, prior organization of materials needed, and after-the-blitz follow up to see how people are doing with their new gardens. This means that permablitzes stay true to permaculture design, which is always an extended process in which all action is informed by prior observation and reflection.

“Our focus is edible gardens, and our ultimate aim is to make the suburbs edible enough such that should food become unaffordable, we don’t even notice.” ~ www.permablitz.net

It all started when permaculture students collaborated with a South American community group in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Permaculture designers visit a suburb block to design a food system relevant to that site and locale and gather together a bunch of enthused individuals who spend a day converting boring household blocks into an almost instant organic food garden. People participation, sustainable agriculture, local food, community self-reliance, etc, all rolled into one event. ~www.treehugger.com

Read more about the Language of Local Economy