• 'Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning' Creative teachers, Facilitators and Group Leaders Courses

    6 day trainings, shorter workshops and consultancy

  • Robin's Full Re-edited, Reformatted 3rd Edition Book

    Now over 5000 copies sold

  • Robin's New Dynamic Groups Book Due for Release Mid 2016

    Robin's partner Rob Clark has just produced a stunning flier about it

  • Brand New 'Permaculture Principles Card Game'

    PLUS 'Creative Process Wild Cards'

  • Introducing ELFy The Magician to the World

    DaDarrr! Mascot, champion and colourful jigsaw puzzle symbol for Dynamic Groups

  • 'The Love Feast' Dynamic Relationships Retreat and Methodology

    Shorter workshops and private couples sessions available

Recent Posts

Social Permaculture Course Reflections

The second Social Permaculture Weekend hosted by Robin and I at Crystal Waters Ecovillage in November 2020 was an absolute delight!

The Centre of Our Circle for the Weekend

A rich group came together to explore and understand the application of permaculture principles for the design of social dynamics. Particularly in the context of ‘times of change’, for which 2020 was a great demonstration.

The engaging content was met with an equally potent delivery – where the sessions were dynamic, interactive, visual, kinaesthetic and engaging.

We sat in circle. Everyone on the same level, with similar access to the information and experience… including us as instructors.

Accessible and impactful tools were shared to implement for one’s self, for one’s kin, and for one’s community. We completed with a gentle ritual of acknowledgement and onward visioning to seal the goodness.

After a weekend of exploring regenerative social design, combined with the delicious fare served at mealtimes, the group were beaming with smiles and warm hearts.

The next Social Permaculture Weekend is on 13 & 14 November 2021 at Crystal Waters Ecovillage, South East Queensland. Click here to let Robin know you’re interested!
By Erin Young

‘Bushtime’ Experience on the Woodford Folk Festival Land

Woodford Folk Festival didn’t happen over the Christmas/New Year period and so the annual Ceremonies at the Sacred Union Labyrinth led by Robin and friends didn’t happen either.

To keep the energy of the site and the staff and patrons alive and flourishing the idea of holding ‘Bushtime’ at Woodfordia was born. 

Robin was invited to offer a 3 hour ‘Ritual and Ceremony’ workshop at these laid back, lightly programmed bush camping experiences. Surrounded by other diverse and creative workshops, nature and science talks and walks, kids activities, the Lake for swimming, delicious food, fantastic music and relaxed and happy people, it was easy to have a good time. This was able to happen in a COVID safe environment and was designed to cater for up to 1000 people. Robin’s favourite workshop was a ‘Personal Shrine Painting’ two hour workshop with Gavin Ryan, the long standing Artist in Residence who does all the great posters for Woodford Folk Festival, The Planting and now, Bushtime. Robin loved it so much she will support Gavin to offer a similar experience at Crystal Waters on Saturday 27th February. 

Unfortunately, Camp 4 was cancelled due to a 3 day lock down of Greater Brisbane, called the day before the camp was scheduled to start.

Woodfordia intends to offer ‘Bushtime’ in the next school holidays and I’ve heard on the grapevine that ‘The Planting’ is being planned. Stay Tuned.

Eco Village Voice Magazine and Community

Robin and many others at Crystal Waters EcoVillage in South East Queensland support resident Michael Ney who has begun producing a world class magazine.

Eco Village Voice is an online community featuring a quarterly magazine including videos, podcasts and webinars. Eco Village Voice provides educational articles on many aspects of ecovillage living, as well as encouraging communication between other ecovillages to help each other and for the sake of our planet‘s wellbeing. We aim to celebrate regenerative and permaculture ethics – care for land, care for people and fair share. 

Here’s the website for more information.

Members have full access to our magazine in PDF downloads, as well as web pages with all the articles AND a web flip page viewer. Also includes podcasts and webinars plus our video channel. Valid for 1 year access. $5 USD per month x 10 paid upfront. = $50 USD annually. Two months free – saving $10. 

See a sample magazine featuring GEN Australia

Would you like to submit an article or photo essay? Please email. 

Dylan Changes Teaching Style After ‘Dynamic Groups’ Course

It’s early Feb 2021 and it’s almost a year since I did the Dynamic Groups facilitation workshop.

Dylan facilitating in the ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ Course last year

Since then, I felt more confident to take way more risk in my Permaculture teaching. Many times in the past, I have used a PowerPoint to do a 9-4pm Introduction to Permaculture course and so I challenged myself to ditch the laptop altogether, and plan only interactive activities with me as a facilitator only and not THE teacher. This was risky because one doesn’t know the students, they don’t know each other, and what if I cannot guide them in covering all the content in the allotted time!? 

They started in pairs introducing themselves and then introducing their partner to the whole group. In pairs again they came up with a definition of permaculture. The essence of these were shared on to a board. Even though this was an Intro workshop, I only had to add the word design and they had it! Earth and People Care and limits to consumption were introduced simply and then they mixed and matched cards with permaculture principle, image, and saying/proverb into 12 groupings. This generated much discussion, thought, and teamwork as they arranged them on the board.

We then went for a walk around the permaculture homestead and they had to observe and share a principle from before. After a shared lunch, sitting again in a circle around a table they identified energies coming into the table top imaginary site. These were drawn on in sectors. Elements for our table top permaculture property were drawn on pieces of paper and then placed according to the zone theory in combo with elements having positive interactions. Then the students were off to find a pattern in nature, bring it back, share and discuss. The importance of trees was highlighted when a blank tree drawn on the back of an old poster was covered in functions and uses in 3 minutes by many pens scribbling away. By now students realised how much they already knew and that it was of value to the group learning and so soil fertility techniques and inputs flowed onto strips of paper that they stuck up on the board in appropriate groups. We summed up the day by splitting into 2 groups and timelining what was learnt. Another kinaesthetic and visual review action that showed why everyone had sore brains! My PowerPoint was sent to everyone a couple of days later as a further review tool, so not completely obsolete. As a facilitator, it felt great to stimulate the students to contribute, learn from each other, and not be the one who does all the work presenting a PowerPoint…! 

by Dylan Graves

www.sugarloafpermaculture.net

Facilitation, Teaching and Group Leadership 2021

Hello Wonderful Community and Heart Centred Practitioners.

Many of you know the core work Robin offers in the world. As well as Permaculture, her key focus and offering is the ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ courses, workshops, writings and educational resources.

Robin Facilitating CoLab
Weaving a ‘web of connection.’

She feels very strongly that to support our world, our communities and positive change in education, the environment, social and political challenges etc we need people who are well skilled and trained in facilitation and group work.

Groups form the basis of much positive action and community building. Education creates the backbone of new foundations and for learning a positive, peaceful and powerful way forward for our children, youth and also adults needing more tools, ideas and purpose.

If our groups are well facilitated and work easily together, they are more effective at meeting their purpose and everything works out better for everyone, including all the people who benefit from the group and also, our world, if the group has a People Care and/or Earth Care focus.

Many of us have great skills and wisdom to share.

poster for Dynamic Groups courseThe ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ 6 day training equips people with the skills, confidence, tools and processes to support all kinds of groups and educational situations in a creative, interactive and empowering way.

The annual Crystal Waters course is from 21st to 26th March and you’re invited to consider attending if you are involved or would like to be more involved in education, training, group work and facilitation.

If any of your family, friends or colleagues might be interested, you passing this info on would be much appreciated. Here’s the poster and thank you so much for your support.

Healthy Groups, Healthy People, Healthy Planet- Social Permaculture for Times of Change

Robin Clayfield and Erin Young will be offering their annual Social Permaculture Weekend on 12th and 13th September 2020 with this relevant and potent theme.

Healthy Groups, Healthy People, Healthy Planet – Social Permaculture for Times of Change.

In these potent and changing times, the healthy functioning of our groups, communities and ourselves is vital to provide resilient and cohesive responses for a better world.

Social Permaculture uses natural patterns, cycles, rhythms and influences to guide how we care for self, kin and community.

When groups, learning environments and social systems apply permaculture principles, they work effectively and harmoniously together toward their aim and purpose, benefiting our world.

Robin Clayfield pioneers Social Permaculture globally; a respected facilitator, author and elder, creatively and passionately contributing to a healthy planet.

Erin Young is a facilitator & coach of holistic leadership and group design; helping both individuals and collectives to be adaptive, responsive and effective.

Experience this unique, motivating and creative weekend adventure to upskill with explorative experiences in working with Social Permaculture and Dynamic Group culture.

Care for yourself, your people and your groups by attending and sharing these gifts with your community.

Join us to upskill in:
    * using permaculture principles for social change and people care
    * accessible regenerative social design tools for earth care, people care and fair share
    * group effectiveness, dynamics, ecology and group-work skills
    * how to work effectively together for long-lasting change

Contact Robin for more information