Tag Archives: Guest Presentations

Late April saw 350 Permaculture Folks converge on Mt Barker in South Australia for the 16th Australasian/Australian Convergence. The event had sold out quickly so live streaming of a few of the sessions was made possible. So much great information was offered and shared and the most luscious and locally sourced food was a delight for all. The most commented on element was that of connection and catching up with old friends and new. A Chai Tent supported the social design of the space and the Waldolf school buildings and environment enhanced the whole experience.   ‘The three Robin’s’ shared a cabin together for the event and were together again for the first time in many years. Quite amusing really – Robyn Francis, Robina McCurdy (who was a Robyn) and Robin Clayfield, all wise ‘old’ Permaculture Elders. Robyn Francis and Robin Clayfield are celebrating 40 years since doing their PDC …

Robin and Rob were invited to be on an organizing committee for this inaugural gathering with the theme of ‘The Art of Being Human’.     Six months in the planning of the event and a significant amount of time and preparation for Robin to lead six facilitations over the two days, including one all in session and co-creating the Opening and Closing Ceremony and the Heart Circle. Great feedback was received and some good suggestions for improvements will support the gathering to power on. Nine wonderful humans stepped up to hold the energy and facilitate the next Gathering, scheduled for 1st to 3rd of March 2024.

An exciting announcement – John Seed, who started The Rainforest Information Centre in Nimbin decades ago and is a world travelled and renowned Deep Ecologist, will visit Crystal Waters Permaculture Village and offer a weekend workshop from the 19th to 21st May. This will sell out quickly as only 30 places are available. Click here to book a place and to read more about it. Robin Clayfield and Carl Broman with facilitate with John and host the workshop. Robin Clayfield is an international teacher, facilitator and author who is passionate about healthy groups, organisations and communities, their structures and governance and most importantly, their facilitation and group dynamics. She presents and consults around the world to support global health, group and personal well-being and whole systems change through using Permaculture, Social Permaculture, Deep Ecology and her ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ methodology. Robin loves Ritual and Ceremony and supporting people to …

We’re delighted to announce that The Sacred Union Labyrinth will be fully set up, programmed and open to all festival patrons for walking any time or for attending the magical Ceremonies and any of the magnificent acts performing in our beautiful open air, garden venue.  The tickets to Woodford are capped this year so if you haven’t booked tickets yet, now’s the time. Here’s a link to the site  

In modern times we seem to have lost the age old tradition of supporting our young people to make the transition from boyhood or girlhood or young personhood into young adulthood. Virtually all indigenous cultures have Rites of Passage imbedded in their way of life and use ceremony, challenge, storytelling and wisdom sharing as key elements to support the change. Often the young people are witnessed and celebrated as they return to community after an experience in nature, away from daily life and distractions. In recent decades in Australia we have had the Pathways to Manhood and Pathways to Womanhood which in Queensland has now evolved into Journeys to Manhood and Journeys into Womanhood. Powerhouse Programs is the host and organizer and a skilled and dedicated team lead two camps a year for the boys and the girls program has begun and is finding its natural flow. Robin is one …

Over 300 Woodfordia Citizens, staff, volunteers and Woodford Folk Festival organisers and friends got together recently for a weekend of reconnecting, future planning, ideas generation, music, fun and mural painting. The main highlight was the announcement that the Woodford Folk Festival is back this December, as usual pre Covid, from 27th December to 1st January. The Saturday program of the Citizen’s ‘Gathering the tribe’ weekend began with Robin leading a one hour Reconnection session with participants, followed by a stunning performance by Linsey Pollak. After lunch lots of subgroups formed to brainstorm and develop ideas for getting the word out about the festival, supporting volunteers, forming an onsite logistics working group as well as discussing ideas for The Planting Festival to have a new life and initiate the Conservatree project. Of course there was the now traditional ‘Mad Hatters Tea Party’, great music and entertainment and lots of exciting conversations …