Social Permaculture

In our February online Q&A session, we explored the question: How do we juggle many balls, projects, & aspects of groups and businesses? The first part of the question explored was: How many balls do you juggle, and how well do you juggle them? Depending on how active each project is, the amount of structure needed varies.  When there’s more project activity, there tends to me more structure.  There also tends to be less time for self-care and personal relationships – these are typically quick to be reduced in attention.  Also, being on screens was noted as part of the juggle – needing balance between time, energy and eye-health.  Trips out-of-town were noted as a tricky aspect for juggling all the pieces of life; where balls tend to get dropped easily e.g. responding to emails after times away with no internet. We then explored planning tools that groups utilise to …

There’s lots of excitement beginning to build in Canada as news is just being announced of Robin’s visit to Canada, to offer a six day ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ creative facilitators, teachers and group leaders course near Edmonton in late June. While she’s there Kym Chi from BC, who’s trained with and supported Robin before, will organise an evening presentation on ‘Social Permaculture’ and a full weekend ‘Social Design and Community Collaboration’ workshop on the Sunshine Coast of Canada in early July. Kym Chi will do some of the facilitation with Robin. The excitement is also building back at home as Robin’s partner Rob is going with her on the adventure and will support the workshops and give more ease and grace to the travel. They’ll also get to see and experience some of the magnificent mountains and lakes of Canada, a dream come true.

Documented by Robyn Francis for a conference presentation. She’s also here.

The wonderfully creative and clever Robina McCurdy from Aotearoa NZ will be visiting Australia in late May early June and we’re very fortunate that she’ll be up on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland so she and Robin can collaborate on a day workshop called ‘Growing Community’. It will build on the material from Robin’s workshop at ‘The Planting’ and take participants deep into the realms of what it takes to foster healthy, vibrant, successful communities – intentional ones and also neighbourhoods, community groups, families, work cultures and any sub-cultural and cultural gathering and collectives that meet and gather over time. Photo by Robyn Rosenfeldt of Robin Clayfield doing her signature process ‘Group Handshake’ Robina can also ‘do this type of workshop with her eyes closed’ and it’s been both hers and Robins life work to support and facilitate group and community well-being and success. They will both have their eyes …

Russ Grayson’s filmed this great interview with Robin on Social Permaculture at the APC 14 in Canberra in 2018. APC = Australasian PermacultureConvergence. Russ also took this great photo of Robin and Robina McCurdy at APC WA in 2016

This wonderful collection of ideas, tips and information is the result of all Delvin’s notes from the numerous courses and workshops he’s participated in and especially what he’s gleaned from Robin Clayfield and Rowe Morrow. There’s also info from Looby Mcanamara and Robyn Frances. Well worth a read and available as a download for free. Delvin is so incredible generous like that and he also, above anyone else I know, acknowledges the source of his learnings and inspiration so generously and astutely. My huge Thank You goes out to Delvin and his team. www.visionarypermaculture.com/teachersnotes