Crystal Waters Permaculture Village

By Erin Young People wanting to up-skill in supporting their groups and human relationships to thrive are invited to join Robin Clayfield and I as we combine forces to offer a weekend of Social Permaculture exploration for this coming November at Crystal Waters Ecovillage. Dates are 10th and 11th November. It is an exciting time of growing momentum for Social Permaculture around the world, so this is sure to be a special and potent weekend workshop to attend. Participants will experience a unique combination of Robin’s extensive and established experience and wisdom as a permaculture pioneer and respected elder. I bring a whole-systems patterns-to-details approach of organisational governance and eco-social literacy supporting groups to be effective, transparent and equivalent. This all combines within the Dynamic Groups methodology to create a fun and experiential learning space. This workshop will provide a thriving collaboration of our skills and perspectives in an intergenerational …

21 people from all over the world and all sides of the country gathered at Crystal Waters EcoVillage in SE Queensland to participate in Robin’s annual Crystal Waters ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ six day training. It was her first Dynamic Groups course since offering them across Europe and returning home last August. March seems to have been a good time of year to offer this course with people attending as part of their yearly plan being put into action. Fortunately the persistent rain from earlier weeks gave way to mostly pleasant conditions so the campers were dry and sessions could take place outdoors. Good use was made of the beautiful EcoCentre, a purpose build training venue hired for the event.     One participant made this statement about the course on their evaluation form. “Magic! This word defines my synthesis of this course. Something inside me that was shut down …

Not long now till Robin’s next ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic learning’  creative teachers, facilitators and group leaders course to be held at her home community of Crystal Waters Permaculture EcoVillage using the community village area, kitchen, deck and dining room facilities in amongst the beautiful 640 acre property. This will be her first Dynamic Groups course back in Australia after successfully leading four of them across Europe last year. Here is a quote from one of our Permaculture Elders, Declan Kennedy, 83, from Lebensgarten EcoVillage in Northern Germany after he participated in (as well as organised and hosted) the six day course. “This course is a must for people trying to facilitate events in a democratic/sociocratic way. The toolbox is extensive and helps the facilitator do his/her job thoroughly, deeply and with fun. Robin walks what she talks during the course of the course. She is so quietly and humourously skilled …

Robin’s excited to offer her ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ Creative Teachers, Facilitators and Group Leaders course at her home community of Crystal Waters in South East Queensland early in the new year. A great way to start the year off and dive more deeply into the tools, methods and skills that support successful groups and courses. Dates are 11th to 16th March 2018 After offering this course all across Europe in 2017 Robin is delighted to be able to easily bring all her resources and materials, library and props etc to the course for the enjoyment and creative enhancement of participants involvement and the betterment of course outcomes. Robin brings over 25 years experience training teachers and facilitators to these trainings and also her deep immersion in the essence of her learning and group work methodology. Have a look at the poster here.

Robin was delighted to re-visit Lebensgarten after 19 years and be hosted by the amazing 82 year old Declan Kennedy for her ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ course and then have some gentle time off for a few days, including witnessing a ‘Global Water Dance’ and receiving a visit from Queensland friend Kestral who’s now living in Netherlands. Lebensgarten is one of the original three EcoVillages that started off the GEN (Global EcoVillage Network) along with Crystal Waters Permaculture Village, (Robin’s home in South East Queensland) and The Farm in Tennessee. One of the ‘Glue’ aspects of the 32 year old community, established in a cluster of old disused WW II barracks, is Circle Dancing which happens every Saturday and Sunday morning and on weekdays if there are courses or gatherings running. Declan’s leading of the dances during the course was energizing and empowering as well as promoting health of the …

An invitation from the Education Team at Braziers Park Community enticed Robin to the experimental group work and social research community in South Oxfordshire for four days. This completed her stay in UK. Members were interested to participate in a ‘Dynamic Decision Making’ one day workshop and Robin also encouraged some community cross pollination by giving a presentation about ‘Crystal Waters Permaculture Village’ on her last evening there. The community is housed in a small Gothic style castle, quite an extraordinary building that was originally a farm house built in 1688 and extended with the Gothic turret type wings in 1799. The community has a large Permaculture garden and hosts many volunteers, workshops, seminars and four festivals a year including WOOD which Robin was luck enough to participate in on her first day there. Each day the community has a half hour morning circle where people share anything they feel …