There is a new bioregional group starting in and around Mt. Gambier – if you live in the area, please see our bioregional page for more info.

PASA held a great day of fun food and festivities at the Food Forest, Gawler. Over 80 people came from far and wide – people from way up North, way down South, and everywhere in between! We had a great tour of the Brookman’s property, followed by a delicious shared BBQ feast, complete with wine and homemade cordial. We then held a Transition Town-style World Cafe event, where people sat in groups of 4 or 5 and discussed the question  “How can we facilitate more localised permaculture action in our own neighbourhoods/communities?” Each group talked for 15 mins, with an appointed note-taker writing down people’s thoughts and ideas, and then all the groups swapped randomly ready for the next 15 mins of discussion. For the third and final 15 min discussion, we arranged the groups into local neighbourhoods/bioregions to allow people to meet each other and work out ways they could help to act in their own regions. Everyone generated a lot of energy and enthusiasm as a result of the event, and it will be great to see what evolves out of the initial discussions people had. We winded up the afternoon hearing from a handful of past PDC graduates, who had some amazing stories to tell of their adventures after the life-changing PDC at the Food Forest! After snacking on a few more delicious dried fruit and nuts and chatting with friends,  the day was over – thanks everyone for helping out (especially the Brookmans for hosting the event), and for making it such a great day.

Delicious morning tea!

Starting the tour

Graham Brookman discussin olives

The productive market garden

Diversity and abundance in the market garden

Graham talks humanure

In the deep, productive jungles of The Food Forest, Gawler

Chooks and the goose that thinks it's a dog!

Graham talking humanure again!

The orchard in winter

Carobs and pistachios

A past PDCer shares her story

The  Autumn 2011 edition of the Quarterly PASA journal is out now! Packed full of stories and ideas, from discussions about food security in Australia, strategies and policies for increasing food production in urban areas, spanish agri-ecosystems, making use of surplus grasshoppers, perma-circus principles and much more! If you are a member you should receive it in the next week…if you want to join up to receive the journals, please see the Join page.

PASA recently held a jam-packed gathering on Sunday 7th November at Lochiel Park, Campbelltown. We heard from Sustainable Communities SA and Transition Adelaide West about the great work they are doing building re-localised communities that are resilient to peak oil and climate change, by growing food locally, supporting local businesses, sharing skills and knowledge, and reducing energy dependence. This was followed by a shared lunch and AGM at the newly established community garden at Lochiel Park, under the shade of a beautiful old red gum. We discussed the future directions for PASA, which included the possibility of hosting the Australasian Permaculture Convergence in 2014 or 2016, expanding the role and support of the bioregional permaculture groups (where the action is!), and the possibility of a new “permafest”-style annual get together of environmental groups in Adelaide. We’ll keep you posted! The newly elected members of PASA are:

• Chris Day – Chair
• Nat Wiseman – Secretary
• Michael McMillan – Public Officer & Treasurer
• Sally Knight, Atma, Eric Nicholson and Sophia as committee members.

Congratulations to all new committee members! After the AGM, we had a tour of Lochiel Park, which included some interesting sustainable urban design elements such as stormwater capture, retention and re-use, ”rain-garden”-style swales to infiltrate and clean runoff from the roads, and an integration of housing layouts to maximise solar gain.

Thanks everyone for coming along and for making the event possible!

Rod and Nicole from Transition Adelaide West

Morning tea at the Lochiel Park Sustainability Centre

Lochiel Park Sustainability Centre

Lunch at the Lochiel Park Community Garden

The newly planted beds in the Community Garden

Down to business – the AGM!

Tour of Lochiel Park – lots of open and pedestrian space for playing!

The wetlands – stormwater capture, infiltration and reuse within Lochiel Park