I am in Australia at the moment and we had the chance to visit two exiting Projects last weekend which also was the International Permaculture Day (last Sunday).We decided to celebrate this event with some Permaculture Project visits in the local area and also dedicate some of our practical attention to the soil.But read more here:
Our trip started on Saturday morning with a visit to the famous Crystal Waters Permaculture Village which had a market day and we also got the chance to have a guided tour by Robin Clayfield,one of the Permaculture pioneers. Robin Clayfield has spent the past 30 years working, playing and interacting in groups in various capacities.Since 1990 she has been facilitating and creating one and two week intensive residential courses, Training Teachers, Guiding Women’s Weekends, Designing and Leading Empowerment and Visioning sessions (for Community Groups, Businesses and Individuals), Lobbying Governments & Councils, Chairing Meetings, Presenting at Conferences and Festivals, as well as Living, Working and Sharing with others in Community – all in a spirit of empowerment, creativity, joy and holistic growth and learning(taken from Crystal Water Website).
The Crystal Waters Entry Sign
Bamboo Construction
Creative Mosaic Floor and Bench
Where’s the Permaculture in Crystal Waters?
The crystal waters village area
Kangaroos hanging out
Private Garden and Green Roof Housing
Integral to the Centre is the Bellbunya Sustainable Community, established to explore ways to create a re-localised and sustainable future. Our “4-bottomline” approach includes: (1) personal and spiritual growth, (2) social sustainability, (3) economic sustainability, and (4) environmental sustainability. We practice permaculture, organic growing and bushland regeneration. We employ a broad range of group process skills and techniques for group facilitation, collaborative decision making, team building, conflict resolution and project management. We have developed various processes and structures to enable us to function effectively and to continue to learn and grow – both as a community and as individuals. We are growing sustainable enterprises that develop the healthy interplay of relationships with our environment and each other.
Adrien turning the 18 day compost
Our trip started on Saturday morning with a visit to the famous Crystal Waters Permaculture Village which had a market day and we also got the chance to have a guided tour by Robin Clayfield,one of the Permaculture pioneers. Robin Clayfield has spent the past 30 years working, playing and interacting in groups in various capacities.Since 1990 she has been facilitating and creating one and two week intensive residential courses, Training Teachers, Guiding Women’s Weekends, Designing and Leading Empowerment and Visioning sessions (for Community Groups, Businesses and Individuals), Lobbying Governments & Councils, Chairing Meetings, Presenting at Conferences and Festivals, as well as Living, Working and Sharing with others in Community – all in a spirit of empowerment, creativity, joy and holistic growth and learning(taken from Crystal Water Website).
Crystal Waters is an environmentally and socially responsible rural subdivision, designed using permaculture principles. With a community of over 200 people living in the village, it is continually evolving, physically and socially.
The property covers 650 acres, of which 20% is made up of 83 residential and 2 lots for the Crystal Waters Community Co-operative (Co-Op) which provides facilities and services for the social and economic aspirations of the community. The remaining 80% is the best land and is owned in common. It can be licensed by residents for agriculture, forestry, recreation and habitat projects
It was really exiting and amazing to meet Robin,some of the crystal water villagers living there and to get some first had information about the Design and Projects of Crystal Waters from Robin.
The Market Area
We had also got the chance to meet Max Lindegger and see his garden.Max is one of the Permaculture Pioneers,he was invited by Bill Mollison to participate at the first Permaculture Course in 1979 and he also took part in the second course the year after. Since then he has been teaching Permaculture courses from the UK to the US, from Denmark to Macau and from Argentina to New Zealand and has been consulting on the subject in over 60 countries.
Crystal Waters Village Objectives.
In the early design stages, six basic objectives were agreed upon
- Clean air, water and soil (thus food)
- Freedom of spiritual belief
- To work towards a guarantee of meaningful activity for all
- To create a place for healthy play and safe recreation
- Active social interaction
- Healthy shelter/accommodation
These have mostly been achieved and maintained.
Sustainable Housing and Architecture
Where’s the Permaculture in Crystal Waters?
Permaculture is about design, and the efficient and productive use of land while taking care of the earth. Permaculture looks at the incredible diversity of plant and wildlife, the intricacies of eco-systems with their natural checks and balances and uses this knowledge to create a sustainable way of life.
Examples of principles used in the design are:
- The balance of the hydrology was maintained, ensuring that the quality and quantity of the water downstream has not been negatively affected by Crystal Waters’ development.
- 17 dams were created and are multi-purpose –
- increasing the ‘edge’,
- providing access for traffic from ridge to ridge,
- opportunities for aquaculture, climate moderation, recreation, beauty and habitat.
- They provide a flood mitigation strategy; as they absorb runoff and the overflow is directed into the Mary River and Kilcoy Creek via specially placed swales.
- They are also a source of emergency water.
- Re-use and recycle are two catchcrys of Permaculture. Evidence of this philosophy can be seen all around Crystal Waters, in the overall design and in individual lots. There has been a consciousness change towards human waste. It is not seen as someone else’s problem but as a resource.
- A long term sustainable approach is taken, particularly with regard to forestry. Trees have been planted with the intention that they provide habitat and moderate environmental extremes, as well as various timber end uses.
- Buildings make extensive use of renewable materials such as earth and wood, with particular emphasis on solar passive design.
- The multiple usage of land. Crystal Waters can now accommodate up to 300 people, 83 home gardens. The best land has been set aside for agriculture, the steeper areas for forestry, recreation and natural habitat.
- Zoning can be seen on individual lots, but also in the overall design.
- The public face of the village is placed in Zone 1, and all are Welcome here. This is The Village Green, The Deck & Kitchen, The Bakery, Gaia Healing Centre and other Businesses are also part of this zone.
- Zone 2 incorporates the Visitor’s Camping Area (VCA) and the Community House/Training Centre, where visitors come for short term stays and to take part in courses.
- Zone 3 contains the residential, agricultural and habitat areas, and visitors need to be invited here
Robin Clayfield, Kate and me
It was an amazing and exiting experience and i am grateful that i got the chance to see the world famous and pioneering permaculture village Crystal Waters,meet its people and environment.
Afterwards on sunday we visited my friend Daniel,which i met in India at a PDC that we organized with Govinda Sharma from Nepal.Daniel is at the moment Farm manager at Bellbunya another interesting project here in the Sunshine Coast area.
Bellbunya Sustainable Community and Eco-Retreat Centre:
Bellbunya is a demonstration centre for sustaining living on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in Queensland Australia.
Bellbunya is owned by an environmental charity and set up as an intentional community on 40 acres. We have organic food gardens, wildlife corridors, a creek and lagoon, a conference hall and restaurant and accommodation for up to 16 guests. The Centre is run on 100% renewable energy through our 7.2kva solar panel system and by buying wind farm energy.
Integral to the Centre is the Bellbunya Sustainable Community, established to explore ways to create a re-localised and sustainable future. Our “4-bottomline” approach includes: (1) personal and spiritual growth, (2) social sustainability, (3) economic sustainability, and (4) environmental sustainability. We practice permaculture, organic growing and bushland regeneration. We employ a broad range of group process skills and techniques for group facilitation, collaborative decision making, team building, conflict resolution and project management. We have developed various processes and structures to enable us to function effectively and to continue to learn and grow – both as a community and as individuals. We are growing sustainable enterprises that develop the healthy interplay of relationships with our environment and each other.
Here are some Pictures of the Bellbunya Gardens and surrounding environment:
It was a real pleasure to meet Daniel again and get a informative and inspiring tour of the Bellbunya Project.
Last but not least we also turned the 18 day Compost that has been made at the last PDC Course here and connected ourselves to the importance of good soil!
The 18 Day Compost in its final Stages
Overall i really enjoyed this active and inspiring weekend!
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