A passionate and skilled group of 18 people from India, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Solomon Islands plus two University Professors (Kristen from UQ and Jagjit from Monash and India) and two student interns participated in a specially designed 3 day tour of places of interest in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in mid December 2023. Robin hosted the tour group with Raven’s help covering logistics and most admin tasks. The program included beginning in Maleny with an Acknowledgement of Country, Lunch at an Indian restaurant and a presentation by Assistant Manager of 44 year old Maple St Co operative, a wonderful member owned food health food store. The afternoon completed with some shopping time and a tour of the Co ops, Collectives and points of interest around Maleny then a bus ride to Crystal Waters Permaculture Ecovillage and dinner with Yoav from ‘Good Food Vibes’ on the Deck at Crystal Waters. …

The annual build of The Sacred Union Labyrinth by 14 people over the week prior to Woodford Folk festival, coordinated by Robin and organized by a core group of four – Christine, Stephane, Rob and Robin, went very well despite extreme heat and then some rain. The front entrance to the Labyrinth received a new mural art paint job, the guiding pennants got a solidifying make over and a quarter of the stone Labyrinth had some major drainage work done by hand!!! This drainage work turned out to be much needed due to rains during the Festival with thousands of people walking through the pathways then heavy, consistent rain on our pack down day. Huge thank you to our Build Crew team and for Woodford Folk Festival for supporting us as a mini Department and Volunteers. Also big gratitude to Woodford Programming Department for supporting us as a Ceremony team …

The last week of July promises to be a lively, creative and fantastic learning time. It’s a year since Robin’s last ‘Dynamic Groups’ course. It’s her annual offering of this type of course at Crystal Waters and since Covid began she has only offered this once a year in her home community as travelling to other states and countries by invitation wasn’t possible. The six day intensive runs from 23rd to 28th July and will be followed a day later by a big Permaculture Music gig with ‘Formidable Vegetable’ launching their new album. People booking for the course are recommended to stay the extra day and night and be part of the event. More info about the ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ can be found on the FaceBook event here. Treat yourself to some Professional Development and lots of fun and confidence building. Contact Robin now to book your place.

Exciting news. For the first time ever at Crystal Waters, the world travelled Permaculture Band ‘Formidable Vegetable’ will be rocking the Village Green and Deck area on the last Saturday evening of July. Fresh from a sold-out national tour, Formidable Vegetable are back with some all new permaculture-boosted electro-funk and positive climate action that the whole neighbourhood can get down to as they launch their brand new album ‘Micro Biome’. With accolades from the UN and having toured to over 20 countries, Formidable Vegetable inspire folks from 5 to 95 to grow their own food, restore their own ecosystems and live a better life with irresistibly funky home-scale solutions to the many problems of the world. From the local farmers market to massive festivals such as Glastonbury, Formidable Vegetable are as at home on stage alongside the likes of Radiohead, Dolly Parton and The Rolling Stones as they are in …

Spontaneous, unsolicited testimonials are always the best kind. This one from Charlie appeared on FaceBook this week and Kate picked up on that and posted on LinkedIn. Thanks to you both for your support of this important work. “If there’s one thing we need more than ever, it’s the ability to organise in harmonious ways. Robin Clayfield is a master of bringing people together and creating dynamic, transformative and… dare I say, FUN groups with the ability to make meaningful change in the world.” – Charlie McGee “I can’t put it better than Charlie, but what I can say is that Robin Clayfield’s Dynamic Groups work has been formative in my own facilitation and practice. I can’t recommend this course highly enough. The annual Dynamic Groups residential training is coming up next month at Crystal Waters Eco Village. Email Robin for more information”. Kate Williams

1’st in the series entitled – Make your own Rules By Karl Fitzgerald of ‘Grounded’ – Community Land Trust Advocacy. With Robin Clayfield (Crystal Waters Ecovillage, Qld), Megan James (Tuntable Falls, NSW) and Peter Cook (Moora Moora Ecovillage, Vic) Here’s a link to the website where there is the 1 1/2 hour recording to watch and also a written transcript. If you’re interested in Community design and living, particularly the design of governance and decision making, how to live and work together, intentional communities and villages, this is a great resource. Great initiative by Karl, and he will be doing more…