tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50684863153382884192024-03-19T07:02:55.352+11:00Artist as FamilyArtist as Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01000057566127487240noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-25464199368974854702021-06-25T07:56:00.001+10:002021-06-25T07:56:44.765+10:00On the move<p>Hello dear AaF blog readers, </p><p>It's been a while. We've been working with <a href="http://meta4.com.au/" target="_blank">friends</a> to produce <a href="https://artistasfamily.is/" target="_blank">a new website</a> to host our stories and present our videos. We'll be blogging and vlogging from over there in future. </p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPhKBA_gjtQ/YMsvZHWXEJI/AAAAAAAAFJk/8GVc9ACrwXkaHPIl8w8w9k9SBJImja-jgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AaF%2Bwebsite%2Bpic.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="2048" height="340" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPhKBA_gjtQ/YMsvZHWXEJI/AAAAAAAAFJk/8GVc9ACrwXkaHPIl8w8w9k9SBJImja-jgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h340/AaF%2Bwebsite%2Bpic.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Gab Connole</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>
We're also just about to head out on another year-long, permaculture-on-the-road adventure. So please feel free to follow our journey: <a href="http://www.artistasfamily.is">www.artistasfamily.is</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off from here,</div><div>Patrick, Meg, Woody and Zero</div>Artist as Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01000057566127487240noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-48494006486087747662020-08-13T07:42:00.002+10:002020-08-13T07:42:39.968+10:00Preparing for the next fire season<div style="text-align: left;">
As you may know we've been vlogging on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC90Jv6gBc7mf4dyfTyWj4tQ/videos" target="_blank">our YouTube channel</a> since COVID first pioneered Australia, and this winter we've been especially focussed on preparing for the next great challenge –this summer's potential bushfire risk. We've had well below annual rainfall and a mild winter, at least by chilly Daylesford's standards. Some of the bushfire mitigation work we do in Dja Dja Wurrung spoken-for country is the subject of a new Happen Film, which we're eager to share with you <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9yiclBCxMo" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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We do this bushfire mitigation work as community volunteers and we're reaching out to those who'd like to support us and who have the capacity to do so. We require a little more equipment and three new nanny goats so we can keep doing this work. If you'd like to support our post-pesticide, regenerative land-mangament practices please click on the donate tab below (or, if you're reading this in an email feed please click <a href="https://chuffed.org/project/community-led-bushfire-mitigation" target="_blank">this link</a>.</div>
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If you want to keep up to date with our sharing, our life hacks and even the occasional daggy music video, you might like to subscribe to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC90Jv6gBc7mf4dyfTyWj4tQ/videos" target="_blank">our Youtube page</a>. As for now Dear Reader, we hope you and your mob are well and full of possibility for a 'more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.' If you are looking for more inspiration here's a link to <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h-7_fcpB8x2_hXkXY7hi8V1sqx831zfq4XWhWieaXRQ/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">our resources page</a>. </div>
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Artist as Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01000057566127487240noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-5063307369687252042020-04-12T13:30:00.004+10:002020-04-21T22:03:22.365+10:00Radicalising the home economy for greater adaptation and well-beingHello Dear Reader,<br />
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We've been incredibly busy with harvest season this year. It's the first time in 12 years without volunteers helping to prepare and store food, fuel and medicine for the winter, exchanging their labour for learning, and helping us process the various abundances of this giving season.<br />
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We're happily ensconced in the thrum of this seasonal moment with a quieter, more beautiful world, engaging with a plethora of wonderful neighbours, song birds, goats and other sentients while ramping up the next chapter of our radical homemaking.<br />
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We've also been making more neopeasant how-to videos and putting out other offerings on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC90Jv6gBc7mf4dyfTyWj4tQ/videos" target="_blank">our Youtube page</a> as our way of contributing to strengthening peoples' home economies, adaptation and general well-being.<br />
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Last week we participated in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVapePALGgM&t=882s" target="_blank">the first Happen Films podcast</a>, which is a weekly, hour-long conversation with people navigating this new era, embracing the not-knowing of it while at the same time knowing pretty much what to get on with.<br />
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While we've spent the past 12 years slowly weaning ourselves off the monetary economy, and up until COVID-19 we had managed to achieve a 70% reduction of dependancy on the global monetary economy, like many people we have lost money income. We are now a 85% non-monetary household, and while we're pretty excited about this as we've been working towards such an achievement for a while, we weren't entirely prepared for it. The first 50% of reliance on money was fairly quick to achieve. Going car-free, giving up air travel and a few other expenditure-curbing things did this for us within the first twelve months of our transition all those years ago. However, the remaining 50% has been a slow step-by-step process, the last 30% being for our rates and some some utility bills, though mostly for our access to a modest parcel of land.<br />
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Let's talk about <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO7dvLL7gV8" target="_blank">housing being recognised as a basic human need</a> again in Australia, and let's all work together to phase out multiple property ownership. Let's sing up the seeds and the rain for universal access to land for everyone so we can grow the local-ecological economies we really need to invest in now.<br />
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We have been overwhelmed by people's generosity in response to our return to social media, and specifically for our neopeasant how-to films. Your kind and encouraging words (both publicly and privately) are spurring us to share more about our life and daily processes. We have had many people ask us to put a Donate button on our blog. We have ummed and aahed about this but today have decided to. Many thanks for your support, everyone. We are feeling most humbled and most grateful.<br />
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In our recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpKCFmPUgo0&t=12s" target="_blank">fermenting garlic film</a> we offered a free copy of Patrick's 2017 book re:)Fermenting culture. Here again is the link to the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cbQaOSey5DgntjmUvOiv_kgeTWEaqUoE/view" target="_blank">PDF of the book</a> and the link to <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/17ZWMOv-RPJ-LKnngxl_c-LjicvIvVQtM/view" target="_blank">the audio version</a>.<br />
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Thanks Dear Reader for joining us on this strange, unknowable, threatening and exciting journey.<br />
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May your homeplaces be strong, productive, restful, and places of deep belonging.<br />
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Meg, Patrick, Woody and Zero x</div>
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Artist as Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01000057566127487240noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-71597215629793345702020-03-30T08:41:00.001+11:002020-03-30T08:41:46.499+11:00Replacing growth with belonging economiesLast year we were invited to contribute a chapter to the forthcoming book, <i>Food for Degrowth: Perspectives and Practices</i>, to be published by Routledge later this year. Although, let's not count on anything like that occurring.<br />
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We called our chapter, 'Replacing growth with belonging economies: a neopeasant response'. We completed it in November.<br />
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Due to the times we're living we offer it here as a film. It's our most significant collaborative writing project since our book, <i>The Art of Free Travel.</i> (If you're a subscriber and reading this in your inbox, you won't see the below video, so <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkIGXDkPqEY&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">here's a link to it</a>).<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Lived, written and spoken by Patrick Jones and Meg Ulman</span></i></div>
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Text editing by Anitra Nelson and Ferne Edwards</div>
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Sound by Patrick Jones and Meg Ulman (assisted by Jordan Osmond)</div>
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Video editing and seven drawings by Patrick Jones (the second, third and fourth are in collaboration with David Holmgren)</div>
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Photographs and footage by Artist as Family, David Jablonka, Nina Sahraoui, Mara Ripani, Michelle Dunn, Thomas Dorleans, Michal Krawczyk, Giulia Lepori, Nicholas Walton-Healey, Ponch Hawkes, Gab Connole, Zac Imhoof, Anthony Petrucci, Jordan Osmond, Jason Workman, Ian Robertson and David Holmgren</div>
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Soundtrack: <i>A place of simple feeding</i> – a poem-recipe by Patrick Jones, arranged and performed by Anthony Petrucci</div>
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Gift Ecology Films</div>
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Shared under a creative commons license/non-commercial</div>
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an Artist as Family home production</div>
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Please let us know about your own transition from hypertechnocivility</div>
Artist as Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01000057566127487240noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-46561106109672806812020-03-15T18:19:00.000+11:002020-03-16T14:16:01.502+11:00Collective preparednessBack in 2018 <i>Artist as Family</i> was asked to be involved in an art event called <a href="https://www.artshouse.com.au/events/refuge-2018-pandemic/" target="_blank">Pandemic</a> at Arts House in North Melbourne. The exhibition, coordinated by artists Lizzy Sampson & Asha Bee Abraham, was one of a number of <a href="https://www.artshouse.com.au/ourprograms/refuge/" target="_blank">Refuge</a> events centred on where art meets emergency.<br />
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Artist as Family's role was to address the topic of <i>Collective Preparedness</i>. A dinner was held and Patrick joined a Médecins Sans Frontières field coordinator, a herbalist, an epidemiologist, a Melbourne Uni outbreak forecaster, an Indigenous Futurist, a medical ethicist, and a human rights academic as one of eight <i>Sanatorium Hosts</i>.<br />
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This was one of the questions he was asked:<br />
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What do you do individually and what should we be doing collectively to prepare for the future?</blockquote>
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[We are] learning ever more knowledges that decouple our household further from the monetary economy and help model ecologically focussed and resilient communities of place. [We are] re-establishing economies that make returns to people, biomes and the future.</blockquote>
Patrick took some talking point objects and brews with him. Our hand-made hunting and fishing equipment, hand carved tools, medicinal mushrooms, shade-dried herbs, Meg's fermented mistress tonic, elderberry syrup, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfWvdhPccJQ" target="_blank">our hawthorn fruit leathers</a> as our walked-for Vitamin C, "fermented by the sun."<br />
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Nearly two years later, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHtZgRlsRQ&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">we find ourselves</a> no longer in an art event, no longer in a dress rehearsal, but actually cancelling house and garden tours (today's was again fully booked), cancelling visitors, volunteers, public talks, play dates, community meetings and events, and basically every social hang. Today we also cancelled all future bookings for our <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/11305956?source_impression_id=p3_1584248352_yjH6kWxklEY372S7" target="_blank">Permie Love Shack</a>. A first known case of Coronavirus, albeit still unofficial, has landed in our small town.<br />
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Things have been moving pretty fast over the past two weeks and we've been following the speed of the Coronavirus pandemic closely. However, this morning when a friend sent a link to <a href="https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca" target="_blank">Coronavirus: Why You Must Act Now</a>, we decided we wouldn't wait for our leadershipless leaders to finally recommend everyone socially distance themselves. After reading the article we feel it is a social responsibility to act now, for the sake of health-compromised people and the health system more generally. There will be medical shortages, and therefore those of us who are prepared and have good health must step back from services and equipment that will be vital for those at greater risk.<br />
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Today we are pressing grapes to make wine, stewing and bottling apples, quince and pears, chopping and bringing in firewood, making bread and pancakes and pickling gherkins.<br />
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We do these things as we always do them, but now with a greater sense of urgency and intent. Our non-monetary home chemist will keep us as well as we can be.<br />
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Several weeks back, after the bushfire crisis, we were in Melbourne to speak as part of another art-meets-emergency event, <i><a href="https://soundcloud.com/mpavilion/mtalkswednesday-assembly-with-lauren-taylor-simon-winkler-earth" target="_blank">Earth: A Place of Reconciliation, a Reconciliation of Place</a>.</i> Listening back to that talk is a strange thing now, as world events race across our local places and intersect with our local lives. One crisis follows another. The next will be another global recession.<br />
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Innumerable well-meaning folk have said to us over the years, "When the shit hits the fan, we'll be knocking on your door." While this comment is perhaps supposed to compliment us, it actually always makes us feel vulnerable and angry. The comment isn't "we can see the resilience, economic logic and environmentalism of what you're doing, and we're also going to get on with our transition before the shit hits the fan."<br />
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It's time we <u>all</u> share in the responsibility of the predicaments of our time. We've been advocating for years decoupling from the Capitalocene before affluence-descent sends smug Modernity into chaos. Those luxurious days are numbered. Speaking of luxuries: five years of using family cloth, and these little op-shopped squares of soft flannel cotton are still going strong!<br />
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We'll keep blogging in this time of social distancing and keep our sharing going digitally. We're looking forward to honing our hunting, sewing, repairing and foraging skills. Reading all those books we haven't had time for. Carving new objects, fixing tools, sowing more veg, and generally resting. We'll prepare another post on what we're up to shortly. You might find yourselves having more time for things you've been meaning to do too. We hope so. In grief there is learning, there is praise, there is renewal and opportunity.<br />
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We hope, Dear Reader, while this pandemic is still largely an abstract and mediated phenomenon, you are not vulnerable, not in despair or panic, but are preparing as adults in any capacity to meet this global predicament, remaining eternal students within this shapeshifting world as the Anthropocene matures deeper into systemic crises and calls on our adult selves to step forward.<br />
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Much love, community-immunity, social warming and joy,<br />
Patrick, Meg, Woody and Zero<br />
<br />Artist as Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01000057566127487240noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-84038938126248828582020-01-30T11:42:00.000+11:002020-03-03T23:19:29.228+11:00All things fall and are built again: a neopeasant response<b>Fire.</b> One of the most significant phenomenons of this world. Fire makes us human, transports us into technological animals, transforms ecologies, and devastates life when we do not accept its uncompromising feedback.<br />
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The seven year old on the right in the below pic is Patrick, joined by his older brother Sam in 1977. They are on a camping trip with their father, Robert. On this night Robert (the photographer) lit a fathering fire after making a fire circle – an early rites of passage for his boys – and cooked a meal.<br />
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Four decades later Patrick and Meg light monthly fire circles and gather with community folk to listen deeply to one another and more-than-human life. Each circle, held within the Southwest community forest in the south of Djaara peoples' land, starts with a listening to country. In an unprecedented time of fear, anxiety and aggregating bushfire cycles, these fire circles provide opportunities for collective reflection and care. And for transformation.</div>
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While a far greater acceptance and understanding of fire in Australia is required throughout the various non-Indigenous communities, there are things we can do to reduce bushfire risks.<br />
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For us, the most obvious things to mitigate bushfires have been to refuse air travel, boycott drought-producing supermarket products, and compost car ownership. Increasingly refusing drought-making economy and tools, has enabled an advancing of our form of neopeasantry, slowly transitioning over the past 12 years, making an immeasurable number of mistakes, which we've converted into an education, and a home.<br />
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Five years ago we began taking action in the forest near to us, on the edge of town in one of the most fire-prone regions in the terra-nullius-fiction state of Victoria. We work with neighbours and friends, transforming ourselves into community shepherds.<br />
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Our forestry practices marry bushfire mitigation with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcfglzFA2N0&t=206s" target="_blank">post-correct biodiversity</a> values. Djaara people, First Custodians to this land, traditionally have managed their country through lores that maintain such a marriage. We've been organising community working bees to remove tyres from the creek,<br />
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plant trees,<br />
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and herd the most ecologically-sound weeders we know.<br />
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Above are a few of our co-op's goats reducing weeds and bushfire risk at Daylesford Secondary College in the spring. Below are our goats carrying out guerrilla bushfire prevention on the edge of town this summer. Working with animals outside industrial-commercial relations connects us with our animal selves. We become dog and goat people.<br />
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<b>Animals.</b> Labouring with animals, being animals, eating and honouring them after fire has cooked up all those acres of medicinal fodder – blackberry, gorse, elderberry, broom, wild apple and oak – connects us to our ancestors and produces relationships of interbelonging between species and with land. To kill for food is sacred work. Whether we pull up a carrot or slit a throat. Souls are transformed. Life and death dance together to make more life possible.<br />
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There are always hierarchies, the question for us is whether the ideological order we subscribe to supports ecological hierarchy or mass-death hierarchy? The food we produce is some of the most nutritious money will never buy. Food that has been produced requiring almost no transportation fuels, no deforested pastures, no irrigation, no packaging or additives, and no industry-science laboratories.<br />
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Some of our walked-for food is produced by reducing the dominance of pioneer plants and their fire hazards, and in doing so moving ecological succession into the next phase to increase the number of species in the biome. The question of meat or not to meat is not a simply-packaged reductionist exercise, it's an enquiry into ecological, cultural and economic functioning, or dysfunction, depending on what sort of consumer we are.<br />
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As ecological eaters and actors on Djarra peoples' country, 100% of our manures – goat, dog, duck, hen and human – go back into the soil to make more life possible. This flow of goodly shit within a closed-cycle and walked-for poop-loop, gives to plants – the great converters of life.<br />
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<b>Plants.</b> Forests of trees make rain. <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-09-15/trees-make-rain-ease-drought/10236572" target="_blank">An expanding body of evidence supports the idea that forests, in the right conditions, not only make rain locally but also hundreds of kilometres away</a>. Our druidic ancestors held strict tree lores. Druid universities took place in sacred forests. The trees were the professors.<br />
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Cultures that remove forests remove rain. Ingenious swidden agriculture grew Mayan cities and civilisation, for a while. As civilisations grow, increasingly more people become urban-centric and thus increasingly estranged from direct connection to land. Thankfully, all city-empires collapse. Ours will too. Cities represent the pinnacle of primitive thought, smugly bound up in ideologies of abstracted culture making, which inside the context of the city appear sophisticated and advanced. When such smugness reaches a tipping point cities collapse, the monocultures that feed the city return to forests or diverse perennial ecologies, rain returns, populations decrease, animism flourishes again.<br />
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<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43297/lapis-lazuli" target="_blank">All things fall and are built again. And those who build them again are gay.</a><br />
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Planting fire-mitigating, carbon-sequestering, shade-producing and moisture-retaining trees is now our emphasis. We're being led by the trees themselves, oldtimer and newcomer species that have established their own inter-indigenous logic on Djaara country – blackwood wattles, English oaks, native ballart, wild apples, sweet bursaria, elder, holly and common hawthorn.<br />
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These forests make rain and they retard fires, while producing for us and countless others nourishing food, materials for habitat and more-than-human medicines that the Capitalocene will never access.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vUANoejjXmI/XjECrmETAXI/AAAAAAAAE6Y/GOEvQdz8aosBIC2FnbpA-n-0bGpyWSowQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/5.%2BLemon%2Bbalm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b>Food.</b> There are well meaning people who are always trying to get us to scale up, put our food into a marketplace, subject ourselves to time-poverty, grow our art in capital-career terms, and generally get us to be more real in the realm of the Capitalocene. But what we do is modest, and we recognise that the scale must remain small, intimate, informal, flexible, and it must embrace uncertainty and constant change.<br />
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The market demands assurity, which in turn becomes a force against life. Assurity is essentially boring, so the transaction is a boredom in exchange for money, which can buy empty promises to fill the hollowness of modernity. While the spirit and ethic of what we do is free to grow, our household-community economy operates at a scale that enables ecological accountability and market degrowth. If the scale of everything is small, everything is novel, everyday there is a mosaic of labours, which never get boring.<br />
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We now know the origin stories of our food,<br />
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the medicinal properties of hundreds of plants.</div>
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how to turn raw materials into fermented wealth. </div>
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and many processes for making prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics.<br />
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<b>People.</b> An increasing urbanised civilisation produces ever greater enclosure laws. Peasants are kicked off ancestral lands, forests are cut down, ships are built, people once bonded to sacred land become transported slaves who in turn find their way to freedom and join their equally traumatised jailers in dispossessing other indigenous peoples. For the Capitalocene is really the Traumaocene. Healing societal trauma begins with a consciousness of the ruptures and displacements and the severing off from connection to ancestral (loved) land.<br />
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While living our ethics and values is foregrounded in forest, garden and community biomes, the political work to protect what's left of the Djaara commons is also important.<br />
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We are currently fighting our local council on their proposed revised local laws, which are effectively new enclosure laws being brought onto unceded Djaara peoples' country, drafted by lawyers in Melbourne. One such local law seeks to ban open fires in a public place, on non-total fire ban days. As Patrick argues, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjtawwEvHmU&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">this attacks ancient cultural practices.</a> Other laws <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bhpFVIAd4I" target="_blank">stop us from salvaging waste</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWI6QCLEV6I" target="_blank">mitigating bushfire threat</a>. The laws are supposed to make us safer, they often don't. <a href="https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/6601237/person-killed-in-early-morning-crash-at-hepburn/" target="_blank">Five people have died in cars in our shire in less than one month</a> and our council is concerned about someone cutting themselves on the metal piles at the local tips while salvaging the waste of the Traumaocene. Cars kill animals, people, poison waterways and stoke up the bushfire gods, yet they are the most protected machines of hypertechnocivility.<br />
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In effect the local laws drafted set institutional creep deep into unregulated social life, disabling the status of alternative economies, environmentalism and culturing. A bunch of us are running a campaign to stop this state interference of local governance. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ABDpUk1m1I&t=938s" target="_blank">We ran a meeting</a>, we put together <a href="https://hepburncommunity.org/" target="_blank">a website</a> and made <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNI1B2jERRY" target="_blank">submissions, which were recorded and shared publicly</a>.<br />
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Then on Invasion day, January 26, we came together to 'fess up to the legal fiction of Terra Nullius.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rsWFaeT2U4Q/XjEFf1VzBmI/AAAAAAAAE68/O05grWDFzFYdRRQTiDy9EaCqWQ6a1DhlwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Terra%2BNullius%2Bbrekky%2B2020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rsWFaeT2U4Q/XjEFf1VzBmI/AAAAAAAAE68/O05grWDFzFYdRRQTiDy9EaCqWQ6a1DhlwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Terra%2BNullius%2Bbrekky%2B2020.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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People make a difference. Four years ago council was livid we established the Terra Nullius Breakfast outside the Daylesford Town Hall, without a permit. If we had asked permission, or applied for a permit, we would have likely been refused. This year council reached out to be involved. We are not Libertarians, but we're not compliant puppets either. We believe in strict lores. We do however baulk at Capitalocene legalism. People make a difference. Unregulated actions change the culture. We all have a role to play in reculturing society from pollution ideology to diverse modes of low-carbon living.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pkgsw5_8q30/XjIAdQ5EJQI/AAAAAAAAE8c/kq6n9Fb0f6EsfLUL4xvEE66_G6MPV8GrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WheelofEcoCycles.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1024" height="404" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pkgsw5_8q30/XjIAdQ5EJQI/AAAAAAAAE8c/kq6n9Fb0f6EsfLUL4xvEE66_G6MPV8GrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/WheelofEcoCycles.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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People make a difference. Showing up makes a difference. Grandparents make a difference!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbkeVqY30VY/XjEMsdmcvjI/AAAAAAAAE7g/9vCb1jgb7hk4EkrHVgS0CLIauXWLoy_FACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/W%2527s%2Bgrandfolks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbkeVqY30VY/XjEMsdmcvjI/AAAAAAAAE7g/9vCb1jgb7hk4EkrHVgS0CLIauXWLoy_FACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/W%2527s%2Bgrandfolks.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Permaculture scholars and filmmakers make a difference!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJtmJv4DaUE/XjEsZjGqOkI/AAAAAAAAE8Q/drdAtWYQh0ke2Sc-UnqF2Rw34QpQXqAzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/making%2Bpasta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJtmJv4DaUE/XjEsZjGqOkI/AAAAAAAAE8Q/drdAtWYQh0ke2Sc-UnqF2Rw34QpQXqAzQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/making%2Bpasta.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Wise forest women make a difference!</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Wo4azh5DUY/XjENux4OJoI/AAAAAAAAE74/2FLhH8S3pYQBEVFMwvq6kT8phvqBlCpXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Meg%2Bportrait.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Wo4azh5DUY/XjENux4OJoI/AAAAAAAAE74/2FLhH8S3pYQBEVFMwvq6kT8phvqBlCpXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Meg%2Bportrait.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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People on bikes make a difference!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_IduUTO23HU/XjENWlhrE4I/AAAAAAAAE7w/4BB-ABIb9XsqstbuxnCyP6RuGKreM5E9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Ute%2Bbike.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_IduUTO23HU/XjENWlhrE4I/AAAAAAAAE7w/4BB-ABIb9XsqstbuxnCyP6RuGKreM5E9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Ute%2Bbike.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Walked-for regenerative energy makes a difference!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BI2hJJp4I8/XjIBRk61f_I/AAAAAAAAE8k/7Yecrau_3tUxlDS9DXkL5LgfaxCpQfzpACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Wood%2Bstack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BI2hJJp4I8/XjIBRk61f_I/AAAAAAAAE8k/7Yecrau_3tUxlDS9DXkL5LgfaxCpQfzpACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Wood%2Bstack.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And forest children (who are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OMYesA1nQo" target="_blank">Free to Learn</a> and who will never know what <a href="https://www.nap.edu.au/" target="_blank">NAPLAN</a> means) make a world of difference!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoESapHdRZA/XjEOFOtJUZI/AAAAAAAAE8A/esiLOYDghLItrF1lvx-OoWDFnpw5n6HWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Woody%2Bportrait.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoESapHdRZA/XjEOFOtJUZI/AAAAAAAAE8A/esiLOYDghLItrF1lvx-OoWDFnpw5n6HWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Woody%2Bportrait.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Until next time, Dear Reader, we need to get back to the real work now...</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XAhjbJzBfwg/XjIB_Qh4VPI/AAAAAAAAE8s/FZvLx84CkXImg-BtEI1DKjHmDvfTz0ZTACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Fruits%2Bof%2Bthe%2Btrees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XAhjbJzBfwg/XjIB_Qh4VPI/AAAAAAAAE8s/FZvLx84CkXImg-BtEI1DKjHmDvfTz0ZTACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Fruits%2Bof%2Bthe%2Btrees.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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For those wishing to come to one of our two next <u>house and garden tours</u> you can find more info <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/permaculture-house-garden-tour-tickets-46206828869" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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If you're just beginning your transition and would like a non-monetary online course in permacultural neopeasantry, start at the beginning of this blog (2009) and read forward, then smash your device and get digging. Working the soil gets you high.</div>
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A special thanks to Giulia and Michal, doctoral students currently living with us and sharing knowledges, labour and love. All the better pics in this post are theirs. We love you both and we love living with you.</div>
Artist as Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01000057566127487240noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-46219835583160563222019-09-27T14:28:00.002+10:002019-10-01T10:35:31.938+10:00Tending a climate for change – reclaiming, divesting, repairing, resowing, returning, renewing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Currently there are less than 1% of us living carbon-positive lifeways in the rich countries. While taking to the streets is of course important, </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WwdX-qUuO0/XY1ZRuijK8I/AAAAAAAAE2I/n9ke8slbNPAf8704ygpS51nwttcmNBkDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Woody%2Bon%2BTV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="885" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WwdX-qUuO0/XY1ZRuijK8I/AAAAAAAAE2I/n9ke8slbNPAf8704ygpS51nwttcmNBkDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Woody%2Bon%2BTV.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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it is the day-to-day relationships of the home and community economies that will ultimately replace the old paradigm of extractive-consumptive economics driving so much woe. And even as our gardens lie dormant –</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uY5ayClqOjE/XYdfl_fpQII/AAAAAAAAEzw/c9N3LwMKds0AqFhjvjroaNt00ObB60m1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1.%2BSnow%2Bannuals.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uY5ayClqOjE/XYdfl_fpQII/AAAAAAAAEzw/c9N3LwMKds0AqFhjvjroaNt00ObB60m1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1.%2BSnow%2Bannuals.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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and it's time to rest, make music, fool around and play,<br />
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celebrate various rites of passage,<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vq4CSB3r9U/XYdfrr3tcNI/AAAAAAAAE0c/Jh3pliKQBq8WAbp3NQKquoNxJK-beZjRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/3.%2BWoody%2Bcircle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1vq4CSB3r9U/XYdfrr3tcNI/AAAAAAAAE0c/Jh3pliKQBq8WAbp3NQKquoNxJK-beZjRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/3.%2BWoody%2Bcircle.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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give out responsibilities and roles (such as tending wild apples on common land after being shown how to prune for abundance and against disease),<br />
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share celebratory cake, in gathered and op-shopped winter colour,<br />
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and begin again the prepping and planting for another growing season (while living off the fruits from the last sun-gifted season) – there are many things to do and many to give to.<br />
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We have begun to take volunteers again. Our first for the new season the delightful, gutsy 16 year-old self-schooler Ishaa,<br />
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who came to us after spending a few weeks protecting sacred trees near Ararat. This is where we met her and where earlier we'd made a few videos to help grow awareness of that struggle.<br />
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Because the dominant culture still puts roads before trees we must stand with local mobs. Here is the story explained by Djab Wurrung warrior, Zellenach Djab Mara.</div>
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While it's important to rally and blockade, if we only make demands of governments and don't change within ourselves we are just fiddling while Rome burns. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9mJFYeLQ4b8/XYdfvKctorI/AAAAAAAAE0w/BpveD_Iz9Y8-8EsJNwLhpCYbqWQdxyL0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/9.%2BStrike%2BWoody.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9mJFYeLQ4b8/XYdfvKctorI/AAAAAAAAE0w/BpveD_Iz9Y8-8EsJNwLhpCYbqWQdxyL0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/9.%2BStrike%2BWoody.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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In Melbourne <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMCnxSjeyDM" target="_blank">Woody was captured by news media</a> responding to the question of why he was at the largest climate rally in Australia's history:<br />
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He knows life is much more-than-human.<br />
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Walk for degrowth, indeed. And bicycle and bike-trailer for degrowth too.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dG_dQxLSDEs/XYdflO9fBPI/AAAAAAAAEzs/6u-Q5S698Q4Nb54bzS9dSm84KyN5aHipQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/11.%2BBicycle%2Bsign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dG_dQxLSDEs/XYdflO9fBPI/AAAAAAAAEzs/6u-Q5S698Q4Nb54bzS9dSm84KyN5aHipQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/11.%2BBicycle%2Bsign.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is what degrowth looks like in action after nearly 10 years of being a carless household:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2zzCZhnJ2Y/XYdfnnLmG1I/AAAAAAAAEz8/9TqfOsbaAD8zplIIZivWUxvhb_6WzWXmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/12.%2BBicycle%2Broad%2Btrain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2zzCZhnJ2Y/XYdfnnLmG1I/AAAAAAAAEz8/9TqfOsbaAD8zplIIZivWUxvhb_6WzWXmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/12.%2BBicycle%2Broad%2Btrain.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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While having the right tools is important for transition, it's the behavioural and biological changes we can make in our daily lives that are key to real transformation. If political power resides in industrial forms of food, energy, education and medicine etc., then our daily divesting from these things is far more powerful than voting once every few years and more empowering than taking to the street.<br />
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Teaching kids to use appropriate tools that can be fixed, sharpened and repurposed is just one example of changing behaviour. Keeping kids out of school is another, either for two days a week like Tom or permanently like Woody.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WuQqECxWCaw/XYdfoEvqoCI/AAAAAAAAE0A/KJ__D0iWZLQZv4CbcE-pdu-gBPusNFVSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/14.%2BWoody%2Band%2BTom%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WuQqECxWCaw/XYdfoEvqoCI/AAAAAAAAE0A/KJ__D0iWZLQZv4CbcE-pdu-gBPusNFVSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/14.%2BWoody%2Band%2BTom%2B2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Woody has spent much of the year saving up for a violin by selling foraged kindling. The pre-loved violin he bought came from the Swap Shop in Melbourne where he traded in his walked-for sticks for musical strings.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hB8KIIv3Q-o/XZKeJwiAWzI/AAAAAAAAE2g/60qpnmT0Zbc91wS8ZhNEBZgYwA5p-d-8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hB8KIIv3Q-o/XZKeJwiAWzI/AAAAAAAAE2g/60qpnmT0Zbc91wS8ZhNEBZgYwA5p-d-8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6177.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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He is involved in the household's sifting of potash from the char of our home-fire and he routinely returns such wood-promoting fertiliser back to the forest floor from where he gathers the kindling and we carefully handpick our fuel source – a fuel source that requires no grid, is regenerative and requires ecological thinning. This complete approach to economy, including the making of making returns, is at the heart of neopeasant relocalisation.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ducVIoI9d8/XYdfokVgXEI/AAAAAAAAE0E/HDNZGLnZ1DEVmhjboiBZYCqRuvZFoZT7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/15.%2BWoody%2Bkindling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ducVIoI9d8/XYdfokVgXEI/AAAAAAAAE0E/HDNZGLnZ1DEVmhjboiBZYCqRuvZFoZT7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/15.%2BWoody%2Bkindling.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Woody is also one of a growing community of shepherds farming without farmland on public land to mitigate increasing bushfire risk and reduce weed dominance.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B00jb_Suuwg/XYdfqURhg0I/AAAAAAAAE0Q/qiz1uBntd0AKrtT67rMhWVBA0ES5S5NpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/16.%2BWoody%2Bgoats.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B00jb_Suuwg/XYdfqURhg0I/AAAAAAAAE0Q/qiz1uBntd0AKrtT67rMhWVBA0ES5S5NpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/16.%2BWoody%2Bgoats.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://goathand.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Goathand co-op</a>, which several households contribute to now, has recently got a gig at the local high school where the goats are eating down blackberries, broom, grass and annual weeds ahead of a large-scale carbon sequestration planting project.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fu5UCMlBNHU/XYdfpb6sF1I/AAAAAAAAE0I/kF9zXAq-1K86oIm3vlVlNnUci2voSw2_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/17.%2BGoats%2BDSC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fu5UCMlBNHU/XYdfpb6sF1I/AAAAAAAAE0I/kF9zXAq-1K86oIm3vlVlNnUci2voSw2_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/17.%2BGoats%2BDSC.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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As a co-op committed to new and old forms of land custodianship practices we've run into some hurdles, which we explain here in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-hzKC-96cE" target="_blank">our second Goathand video</a>:</div>
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Is Zero related to our Boer goats? He certainly has their agility.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mEYxNuoYRmk/XYdfpirpoZI/AAAAAAAAE0M/fnIWsPEmUWU9KQiBcrcmCgysvOffNqKhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/18.%2BZero%2Bclimb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mEYxNuoYRmk/XYdfpirpoZI/AAAAAAAAE0M/fnIWsPEmUWU9KQiBcrcmCgysvOffNqKhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/18.%2BZero%2Bclimb.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Life in the home and community economies enables us to drop everything when a child is ready to learn something new, and this means learning is magnified and relational. Forced learning may suit institutional life but it doesn't serve children or their futures. Climate change will radically strip our wealth so we'll need to know how to repair things again, like a favourite torn flanny.</div>
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Because there's always loads to do, we have to be well in ourselves in order to keep performing the new-old economies. Preventing disease and staying well will be key as the global economy collapses and the climate gives increasingly louder feedback to its toxic culture of <i>hypertechnocivility</i>. Non-monetised community immunity and wellbeing is central to our transition.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meg makes garlic kraut at Culture Club. Photo by Mara Ripani</td></tr>
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After nearly three and half years Meg is still facilitating <i>Daylesford Culture Club</i>, our region's free monthly fermenting group. She is now also convening <i>Wild Fennel</i>, a free monthly herbal group, facilitated by local herbalist, Rosie Cooper. And she is also helping fellow plant lover Brenna Fletcher organise <i>Hepburn Seed Savers</i>, which will operate out of our town's library. You can read more about these and other projects we are involved with <a href="http://relocalisehepburn.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. Two weeks ago Meg addressed our councillors at an ordinary meeting asking them to declare a climate emergency in our shire. All seven councillors unanimously agreed, and our local shire officially joined over a thousand local councils across the globe in committing to put climate action front and centre of all their decisions.<br />
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Well, that's enough from us for another post. If you need a little more food for thought here are some recent talks. This one is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTzxo2gb65Y&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Meg and Patrick speaking to the transitioning communities of the Yarra Ranges</a>,<br />
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and this one is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcfglzFA2N0&t=206s" target="_blank">Patrick's defence and praise of pioneering biota</a> and the great gifts they bring in performing ecological restoration in a climate chaos era.</div>
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And this one is a talk we organised late last year to promote indigenous, permacultural and post-capital cross pollinations, which we only released recently.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We hope you enjoyed this little offering, Dear Reader. Spending increasingly less time online means our posts are more infrequent. But sharing a little of what we're up to continues to link us into the global spirit of change for people seeking alternatives well beyond taking to the streets.</span></div>
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Artist as Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01000057566127487240noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-47390324279595222182019-06-17T12:15:00.000+10:002019-06-17T14:14:57.631+10:00Towards post-colonial bushfire mitigation practices (using goats and hand tools)...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Austrian painter Eugene von Guerard painted this in 1864. An early colonial image of the place our privilege calls home.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-opeovdleqiI/XQbjZ9F7EAI/AAAAAAAAExs/u9J97EfdleoPVBAPieTcA5YG6_YfFVs3gCLcBGAs/s1600/Breakneck%2BGorge%2B1864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="719" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-opeovdleqiI/XQbjZ9F7EAI/AAAAAAAAExs/u9J97EfdleoPVBAPieTcA5YG6_YfFVs3gCLcBGAs/s640/Breakneck%2BGorge%2B1864.jpg" width="574" /></a></div>
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There was a rapid appearance of European peasant goat grazing, browsing and shepherding upon Djaara peoples' land at the moment when those who spoke old Dja Dja Wurrung tongue, and had survived the prior massacres, sickness and dispossessing intransigence of settlers (backed by the British nee Roman law terra nullius), were being forcibly relocated to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coranderrk" target="_blank">Coranderrk</a>.</div>
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Due to gold extraction, over grazing and then industrial-era forms of land management the wet gullies and creeks of Hepburn and Daylesford are now infested with woody perennial weeds such as gorse, broom and blackberry. While these plants provide useful ecological services – habitat, food, soil stabilising, etc – their dominance can diminish biodiversity and produce a fire threat each warming summer.</div>
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We've been involved in providing a climate-era response to this predicament that may be just more blind colonialism but ironically we think it is potentially a way back to the sort of land management practices of Djaara people. Using goats over a 4-year period as well as sensitive hand tools to diminish the dominance of weedy perennials, we believe we can begin to convert these steep stream ecologies back into perennial indigenous grasslands and ecology that will radically reduce bushfire risk.</div>
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As Goathand cooperative, we have just finished a trial collaborating with the Hepburn Shire Council and Federation University and the results are very positive. What we need now for this climate-safe weed and bushfire mitigation project to both upscale and outscale is broader government and community understanding of the succession process that could lead back to the possibility of <a href="https://www.ffm.vic.gov.au/fuel-management-report-2016-17/what-we-achieved-statewide/traditional-owners-partnerships/celebrating-the-return-of-traditional-burning" target="_blank">Dja Dja Wurrung ecological burning processes</a>, which have not been viable because of great stands of 2-3 m dry gorse, broom and blackberries that can climb fire up into eucalyptus canopies.</div>
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Below is <a href="https://goathand.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Goathand cooperative</a>'s first film showing the trialling of goats and hand tools. Imagine this scaled up to 200-300 goats (permanently rotating around the shire so as not to overgraze until the dominance of the weeds are treated) and 10-15 human bodies with loppers and pruning saws for a few day's work here and there. The people labour is generally nominal because the goats are so effective, but the human labour and goat interrelationship makes a beautiful marriage (not just pragmatic but one of love) and moves us towards a significant post-industrial behaviour change. Very quickly the town's bushfire risk (Hepburn is one of the most fire-at-risk towns in Victoria) and weed cycle would be greatly diminished and no more glyphosate in our waterways or soil disturbing mechanical treatment or white-fella burning regimes, which all put the weed cycle back at stage one, dry out moisture in the soil and thus causes more fire-proneness. This is not ideal when temperatures are warming.</div>
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If you're reading this in your inbox this video will not appear. Head <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGQX3hM0DM4" target="_blank">here</a> to watch.</div>
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If you're a journo and you'd like to know more about <a href="https://goathand.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Goathand cooperative</a>, please <a href="mailto:goathandcoop@gmail.com" target="_blank">get in touch</a>.</div>
Artist as Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01000057566127487240noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-46986098812904234532019-05-27T20:49:00.000+10:002019-05-27T21:30:43.260+10:00Teaching neopeasant lifeways (a love antidote to the Internet-of-Things-business-as-usual future)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
OK, let's take the oak tree, for example. Air conditioner, alkalising leaf compost, fine timber, Green Man cosmology, edible tree crop, and a now sacred feral tree of our homeplace in southern Djaara country. Is such reculturing neopeasantry? </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pynDXTC2DtE/XOsqCeh54nI/AAAAAAAAGAI/AZ7XIzUkboAcNMrsAR9LphN81_lPZQqWQCLcBGAs/s1600/Acorn%2Bchunks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pynDXTC2DtE/XOsqCeh54nI/AAAAAAAAGAI/AZ7XIzUkboAcNMrsAR9LphN81_lPZQqWQCLcBGAs/s640/Acorn%2Bchunks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Is neopeasantry the walking, harvesting, shelling, cracking, steeping, drying, grinding, baking and celebrating of acorns? For us honouring the fruits of this old deity tree as food and soil maker where both remain outside of an economic lock and key is precisely neopeasantry. Teaching this and the following skills, ethics and lifeways non-monetarily where the exchange is labour for learning, is what our School of Applied Neopeasantry at Tree Elbow University is all about.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLiMGCv1z44/XOsqCfw-pGI/AAAAAAAAGAE/hlFrrVTKz_U3todRoJ6HnuvFvSeez1xGgCLcBGAs/s1600/Acorn%2Bprocessing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLiMGCv1z44/XOsqCfw-pGI/AAAAAAAAGAE/hlFrrVTKz_U3todRoJ6HnuvFvSeez1xGgCLcBGAs/s640/Acorn%2Bprocessing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Permaculture Living Courses we've been running over the past year have been a radical experiment in education held in the centre of our family life. This is worts and all learning and sharing. There is no convention centre, no powerpoint presentations, no absence of non-human kin and children, dirt and rich microbial life, as Woody and his friend Fab (juicing gleaned crab apples) can attest.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nPl45txuqes/XOsqCUsJQEI/AAAAAAAAGAA/dzQUk3AD3VQ8A4g7zPmq3HsWKxMzyxNtwCLcBGAs/s1600/Apple%2Bcrabs%2Bjuicing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nPl45txuqes/XOsqCUsJQEI/AAAAAAAAGAA/dzQUk3AD3VQ8A4g7zPmq3HsWKxMzyxNtwCLcBGAs/s640/Apple%2Bcrabs%2Bjuicing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Life is cooked, dried, stewed, fermented, stored and consumed, and so too are all the apples we can reach that haven't been eaten by our fellow friends of the non-monetary economies – the local fruit-eating birds.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVa4BgIqNUA/XOsqDRE9UjI/AAAAAAAAGAM/Zs3lrU0g73odXPCgjBrmWiQpmlUJLmSsACLcBGAs/s1600/Apple%2Bdrying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVa4BgIqNUA/XOsqDRE9UjI/AAAAAAAAGAM/Zs3lrU0g73odXPCgjBrmWiQpmlUJLmSsACLcBGAs/s640/Apple%2Bdrying.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Apples that come from the mothering earth are dried by the fathering sky within a gender fluid logic that is both ancient and present and calls the future to account. Apple cider vinegar and scrap apple cider vinegars brew alongside one another. Before bottling the strong vinegar and the weaker scrap vinegar they are strained and mixed together to get a strength we desire with minimal waste.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P3h0rdbMPlc/XOsqEMPYE-I/AAAAAAAAGAU/f1BX_JhNJyIS0M4CJoRLfdM5P7ZPP-Z5wCLcBGAs/s1600/Apple%2Bvinegar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P3h0rdbMPlc/XOsqEMPYE-I/AAAAAAAAGAU/f1BX_JhNJyIS0M4CJoRLfdM5P7ZPP-Z5wCLcBGAs/s640/Apple%2Bvinegar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Neopeasantry is a physical life (no gym memberships required), and lifting heavy items (such as this basket of vinegar bottles to take down to the cellar) without damaging our backs is crucial in maintaining the capacity to perform such economy and culture, which keeps us fit.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woSTN5X9IEA/XOsqD7wOTPI/AAAAAAAAGAQ/SNQ-klFjp80fwLiyLEsov25WXEYCJvWAwCLcBGAs/s1600/Apple%2Bvinegar%2Blifting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woSTN5X9IEA/XOsqD7wOTPI/AAAAAAAAGAQ/SNQ-klFjp80fwLiyLEsov25WXEYCJvWAwCLcBGAs/s640/Apple%2Bvinegar%2Blifting.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Making sourdough fruit loaves using biodynamic spelt grain and our dried fruit, dried ground orange peels and some spices (purchased from the not-for-profit food co-op we belong to) means we can eat highly nutritional luxuries for around $2.50 a loaf.<br />
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All of our bread making occurs in a bowl and tins. We are too busy to clean the mess that benchwork requires, so we've adapted our method – stretching the gluten in the bowl every hour throughout the day (or when we're home), and doing the final rise in tins that will hold this incredibly wet loaf together. It's a 24-hour ferment that takes 12 minutes of our attention throughout the day and 60 minutes in the oven, which we fuel with bicycled and hand-cut tree waste.<br />
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We reckon our high-hydration sourdough (which costs $1.80 a loaf) is the "best thing since the return to unsliced bread," a favourite saying in our home. It is a locally grown staple (thanks Tania and Steve from Burrum Biodynamics for growing it) that even our gluten intolerant friends can happily eat.<br />
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The starter is made from Burrum rye and because of the diverse microbiology attracted to rye grain it always makes the starter (leaven) very active. Buying yeast, which must come in single-use packaging, is avoided when keeping a starter. So are the safe industrial strains of yeast that men in white lab coats have prepared for the money chasers since the 1960s. A starter becomes one of the household kin, it needs attention, love and regular feeding. Excess starter makes lovely crumpets, just tip it (like wet pancake mix) into a hot oily pan and cook off both sides.<br />
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For about 9 months of the year we make neopeasant cheeses and yoghurt from contraband local raw milk when the cows are not being rested. Neopeasants resist state encroachment into our lives and the ridiculous rules that come with a nanny state. We don't passively accept all laws. Many need challenging and resisting, especially if we are to live again in relationship with the cycles of abundance and limits that constitutes the living of the world.<br />
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Going without cheese and yogurt for approximately three months of the year bonds us to the cycles of the year and the need to rest, which enables us to appreciate these gifts of pasture and cow, sunlight and water even more. Yum!<br />
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Meg loves to teach from this important hearth of our home,<br />
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and also from this hub of the community – the free-to-learn <a href="http://relocalisehepburn.blogspot.com/search/label/culture%20club" target="_blank">Culture Club</a> where wild microbes enable the possibility of what she calls 'community-immunity' without a single cent going to any pharmaceutical company.<br />
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Patrick teaches from other commons in the town – the <a href="https://justfreefood.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Daylesford Community Food Gardens</a> for one – de-privatising his food growing knowledges to any participant who sees the value of a community flow of gifts economy.</div>
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Banana passionfruit vine creeps slowly across the library garden, while the pumpkins spread out across the front annual bed inviting all to behold community food that is not under economic lock and key. Keeping away the encroachment of private interests has taken some work and even among permaculture peers has created tension. This model draws on traditional Djaara food and energy provisioning and our own peasant and indig ancestors', albeit not in the cultural or technical details, but rather in the spirit of keeping food and energy resources non-polluting and free from narrow self-interest. We call this community-provisioning or community-sufficiency.</div>
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Household-provisioning is the foremost economy for us. Neopeasant household provisioning requires broad self-interest. We grow it for ourselves, volunteers, friends and to trade with community but we do it in a way that is ecologically-integrated. Making cookies with seeds, oats and dried fruit we either grow, glean or buy through our local co-op enables us to eat non-packaged healthy snacks that cost very little money. A neopeasant economy is a time-rich/cash-poor economy.<br />
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Tending and growing tiger worms is integral to such an economy. These worms are soil makers and provide home-grown bait for more provisioning.<br />
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And if we don't catch a feral redfin at Lake Daylesford,<br />
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we might go home via the creek and bring a little yabby protein home to join the dinner.<br />
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Commoning is a big part of ours and a growing number of neopeasants in the town. This is Bluey, a mama Boer goat who through our participation as shepherds in <a href="https://goathand.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Goathand Cooperative</a>, we've got to know and love.<br />
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Ryan, a former PLC student, interested in alternative forestry practices, gives young Ella a cuddle. Ella will become one of the herd working sensitively and biologically to reduce fuel loads in the climate changing and thus fire prone forests around town.<br />
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Tess gives herd alpha Woodison a scratch while he's on the job in the Cornish Hill commons in Daylesford. Where these lovely mammals are standing couldn't be accessed for the 3 metre high blackberry a few weeks earlier. This photo shows you where they've got to.<br />
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Hand tool forestry is complimentary to the goat browsing. And planting useful trees, such as this strawberry gum (thanks John + Emmanuelle for the gift), into the commons has been something many of the PLC participants have done,<br />
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especially after multiple sessions of blackberry surfing.<br />
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Once again, this area was impenetrable before our board crushing (blackberry surfing) work, allowing Zero to do more rabbit hunting in areas that were too dense even for this little tough nut.<br />
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With each harvesting of the abundance of perennial crops at home comes learning. Little learnings about when to harvest, where to pick from, what is labour intensive, what is not.<br />
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A year's supply of brewing hops can be harvested by three people in a morning. Audréane shows her haul.<br />
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Some things we do still calls for money, such as the 3-hour house and garden tours we hold from time to time. While we're forever transitioning away from the hold and grief money once played in our lives we still require some.<br />
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Demonstrating the harvesting of garlic scapes on one of these tours raises awareness about growing your own bulbs and getting an extra feed out of them, instead of leaving the scapes on which will put the energy into the flowers instead of the bulbs.<br />
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Demonstrating the simple processes of humanure composting on these tours can encourage a transition from fecaphobe to fecaphile and a way forward in a peak phosphate rock era.<br />
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Recognising we are the largest mammals on our quarter-acre plot means our shit is out of the outhouse and back on the table,<br />
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via a very safe and slow method,<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUVTAq7u3IU/XOsqQENY6gI/AAAAAAAAGCM/ET_JNHrOn4EZe9G7543ke_mQyFw4UMGpQCLcBGAs/s1600/Humanure%2Bbay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUVTAq7u3IU/XOsqQENY6gI/AAAAAAAAGCM/ET_JNHrOn4EZe9G7543ke_mQyFw4UMGpQCLcBGAs/s640/Humanure%2Bbay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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that is fool-proof once you know how to do it.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oMne7Jhz_ak/XOsqQX7vRXI/AAAAAAAAGCQ/vX8zktrE9_EYzutTDq_I_vPt3cp3gfG_gCLcBGAs/s1600/Humanure%2Bmisting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oMne7Jhz_ak/XOsqQX7vRXI/AAAAAAAAGCQ/vX8zktrE9_EYzutTDq_I_vPt3cp3gfG_gCLcBGAs/s640/Humanure%2Bmisting.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And this is our shit on our table. Beautiful produce enabled by a closed-poop-loop.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3dT_QFAEUuw/XOsqThrU9wI/AAAAAAAAGCw/dQ9aPw6pwIQM5oKu_pCb_pjsB0owahnvgCLcBGAs/s1600/Produce%2Bharvest%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3dT_QFAEUuw/XOsqThrU9wI/AAAAAAAAGCw/dQ9aPw6pwIQM5oKu_pCb_pjsB0owahnvgCLcBGAs/s640/Produce%2Bharvest%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And this is what Zac, Tess and Audréane turned some of that goodly shit into.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_MCeuLk0Lk/XOsqUpJjQ1I/AAAAAAAAGC0/dk0BRTTJ9P0iq8evQJYiHfiL3G8KwWcdwCLcBGAs/s1600/Produce%2Bharvest%2Bdinner%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_MCeuLk0Lk/XOsqUpJjQ1I/AAAAAAAAGC0/dk0BRTTJ9P0iq8evQJYiHfiL3G8KwWcdwCLcBGAs/s640/Produce%2Bharvest%2Bdinner%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Learning and making on the go is a big part of a PLC course, which came out of the teaching we were already doing with our SWAPs or volunteers. Many had said to us they'd done a Permaculture Design Course but it wasn't until they came here that all that theory was actually performed and they could see how to begin to embody it.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_mruzOTKts/XOsqRByIJbI/AAAAAAAAGCU/Koap6mD1P_8Nr6-pdzhO4lOsagOFPrswwCLcBGAs/s1600/Kitchen%2Bmaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_mruzOTKts/XOsqRByIJbI/AAAAAAAAGCU/Koap6mD1P_8Nr6-pdzhO4lOsagOFPrswwCLcBGAs/s640/Kitchen%2Bmaking.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Keeping bees and making mead,<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-db9DMtDmPNs/XOsqRtIwdkI/AAAAAAAAGCY/EaGzBR9deDkGDt548QDgiqp_Mp07MIv3QCLcBGAs/s1600/Mead%2Bmaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-db9DMtDmPNs/XOsqRtIwdkI/AAAAAAAAGCY/EaGzBR9deDkGDt548QDgiqp_Mp07MIv3QCLcBGAs/s640/Mead%2Bmaking.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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knowing the farmers who grow our staples, the earth processes given freely for us to make pasta,<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G_WylAHGNGU/XOsqSHxLv-I/AAAAAAAAGCg/SbcU2fVd2lsAlDbofzkya0q5t67eUd7_gCLcBGAs/s1600/Pasta%2Bmaking%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G_WylAHGNGU/XOsqSHxLv-I/AAAAAAAAGCg/SbcU2fVd2lsAlDbofzkya0q5t67eUd7_gCLcBGAs/s640/Pasta%2Bmaking%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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to learn skills for life so our consumption is conscious and full of story and indebtedness,<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KK9Tl5ybk_g/XOsqSnsEgmI/AAAAAAAAGCk/sgLUZuun_QAxQFd0fOJLPtJAqJu5bh2rgCLcBGAs/s1600/Pasta%2Bmaking%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KK9Tl5ybk_g/XOsqSnsEgmI/AAAAAAAAGCk/sgLUZuun_QAxQFd0fOJLPtJAqJu5bh2rgCLcBGAs/s640/Pasta%2Bmaking%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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and caring for the ecologies that make more living possible,<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i7gZb7gviQg/XOsqTCw9PCI/AAAAAAAAGCo/M4zpVLEEgUgCGc7KcH8YDZKyA98R1E7RQCLcBGAs/s1600/Peach%2Bharvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i7gZb7gviQg/XOsqTCw9PCI/AAAAAAAAGCo/M4zpVLEEgUgCGc7KcH8YDZKyA98R1E7RQCLcBGAs/s640/Peach%2Bharvest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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is the heart of neopeasantry, which is a deliberate refusal to follow the intransigence of global economic rationalism and all its waste, separations and despair. While the land on which we make this alternative economy has never been ceded, and we stand in the trouble of this, we have found that capitalist food, energy and medicine resources can be divorced with a little access to land and a lot of will, attention and care.</div>
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If you missed it here is ABC Gardening Australia's take on what we're doing. It's cheesy but generous and they reveal a complex story of economic and cultural change in simple and accessible terms, for which we are grateful. (If you're reading this in your inbox you'll need to click through to our blog to view it.)</div>
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There have been so many learnings, diggings, explosions, failures, accidents, fermentations, tears, discoveries, haulings, screamings, inventions, reclaimings, cuttings, upcyclings and salvagings to get to this point in our neopeasant transition. When we began we saw the internet as a friendly commons, that is before the dopamine engineers and greedy manipulators polluted it. So each year we contribute less and less to it, weaning ourselves off a digi-dependancy that further plays into the hands of powerful interests and their non-transparent algorithms and spying ways, the data of which they sell to third parties who forever try to claim our attention. </div>
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With three course participants at a time and six two-week courses now complete this means that 18 students have completed a Permaculture Living Course with us. A big thanks to Marty, Cara, Teeka, Mo, Liam, Christy, Ryan, Claire and Lucille who came in the late spring and early summer months and Felix A, Felix L, Nat, Audréane, Zac*, Tess, Peter, Patrick and Tara who came from late summer to mid autumn. We hope you are all out there in your homeplaces stirring up big pots of microbes and trouble.</div>
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* Thank you so much Zac Imhoof for taking all of the beautiful photos above!</div>
Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-88928128060561463082019-01-27T20:37:00.000+11:002019-01-31T21:56:19.052+11:00White people dreaming (and performing other forms of culture and economy)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We saw out the year with greenkin friends, once again walking and pedalling the main drag of our home town for the 2018 Daylesford New Year's Eve Parade. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlsNsLiW2K8/XEjb6JtfS4I/AAAAAAAAFzg/bfR5iipE_kEb0ExrghM9HmXHCW_yhJSgwCLcBGAs/s1600/1.NYE%2Bby%2BDavid%2BJablonka_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlsNsLiW2K8/XEjb6JtfS4I/AAAAAAAAFzg/bfR5iipE_kEb0ExrghM9HmXHCW_yhJSgwCLcBGAs/s640/1.NYE%2Bby%2BDavid%2BJablonka_l.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(photo by David Jablonka)</span></span></td></tr>
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It was quite a challenge to pull around 100kg of future community food on our e-bike. We community food gardeners were awarded money to dress our annual NYE float. By purchasing fruit trees and perennial veggies we <a href="https://vimeo.com/13759047" target="_blank">once again</a> steered arts funding into something deep-rooting.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HW06CmoACCU/XEjb7zdi9mI/AAAAAAAAFzs/U9Gn1G_ua04-67oyhHvyMx3ucKOmllWOACLcBGAs/s1600/2.food%2Bforest%2BtrailerJPG_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HW06CmoACCU/XEjb7zdi9mI/AAAAAAAAFzs/U9Gn1G_ua04-67oyhHvyMx3ucKOmllWOACLcBGAs/s640/2.food%2Bforest%2BtrailerJPG_l.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This lil video will give you a feel for the parade and our contribution to it, for which we won the sustainability award. (Please note: videos won't appear in your inbox subscription.)<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s2WN7UrLpuM?start=1" width="560"></iframe>
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Yes, it's a strange time of year to plant dozens of trees, herbs and perennial veggies, but with our $100 prize money (Thanks Hepburn Wind!) we bought a new hose and established a watering roster so we can nurture these generous gifts through the coming hot weeks. A big thanks to the permie crew from Deans Marsh who strengthened our numbers and dug right in, joining the local <a href="https://justfreefood.blogspot.com/2019/01/new-years-planting-day-at-daylesford.html?showComment=1548217561636#c3803748917186933974" target="_blank">permablitz working bee</a> mob.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WV1a2xYvKos/XEjb7-DXiOI/AAAAAAAAFzw/nd2Uf8IAAzIAUO4sdHwD7KYZ_loFBCMfgCLcBGAs/s1600/3.wb%2Bgroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WV1a2xYvKos/XEjb7-DXiOI/AAAAAAAAFzw/nd2Uf8IAAzIAUO4sdHwD7KYZ_loFBCMfgCLcBGAs/s640/3.wb%2Bgroup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In late December we had a number of friends come and stay for the Melliodora solstice party, which eventuated in another form of spontaneous permablitz, this time a music video. Charlie (from Formidable Vegetable) came for dinner and he spoke of the possibility of a new video clip. We hooked him up with our mate Jordan (from Happen Films), added in a whole bunch of Artist as Family creative direction, garden and community peeps, and voilà, this was hatched:<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZIQlS_VrNkQ" width="560"></iframe>
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It was another moment of spontaneous creation at Tree Elbow. Thanks to all the neopeasant solstice revellers who showed up and ensouled the morning; all we singulars numbering a collective effort with not a single dollar mentioned, spent or sought. An example of permaculture media-making at its best – and an antidote to typical white-people careerism, profit motives and meaningless content.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kh_Ss3pqPE8/XEjb8ZXXEOI/AAAAAAAAFz0/3B9vJOlg6KAnycQwXBCwZtsm692NeeaMQCLcBGAs/s1600/4.Charlie%2BTree%2BElbow_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="800" height="510" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kh_Ss3pqPE8/XEjb8ZXXEOI/AAAAAAAAFz0/3B9vJOlg6KAnycQwXBCwZtsm692NeeaMQCLcBGAs/s640/4.Charlie%2BTree%2BElbow_l.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">photo by Vasko Drogriski</span></span></td></tr>
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In other news, the violet and rhubarb leaves at Tree Elbow are being frequented by these lovely Southern brown tree frogs (<i>Litoria ewingi</i>),<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WnUmGvQ-m9g/XEjb816qasI/AAAAAAAAFz4/SkC0hpZhs_omktKY35xTIf2Zkndz770ZgCLcBGAs/s1600/5.frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WnUmGvQ-m9g/XEjb816qasI/AAAAAAAAFz4/SkC0hpZhs_omktKY35xTIf2Zkndz770ZgCLcBGAs/s640/5.frog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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as well as common garden snails (<i>Helix aspersa</i>). While allcomer frogs, toads and froglets are more than encouraged to make their life in, through and around the garden, snails are gathered up in large numbers and fed to the chooks and ducklings, or we prepare them <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XdQRkuV9YY" target="_blank">this way</a> for dinner. Yum!<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eV5Pjk5IcV8/XEjb9DGIPwI/AAAAAAAAFz8/zBHKp2BfMvosevKuD2sUSvzrOHX7jMeSwCLcBGAs/s1600/6.snails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eV5Pjk5IcV8/XEjb9DGIPwI/AAAAAAAAFz8/zBHKp2BfMvosevKuD2sUSvzrOHX7jMeSwCLcBGAs/s640/6.snails.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The ducklings certainly think so. Snails and comfrey leaves are their faves.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WSuVYDrXnBY/XEzLB2GBF_I/AAAAAAAAF2M/Sen_gtgwAJc-m7nzpScEQLHvGYYjMBoGQCLcBGAs/s1600/add%2Bgift%2Bof%2Blife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WSuVYDrXnBY/XEzLB2GBF_I/AAAAAAAAF2M/Sen_gtgwAJc-m7nzpScEQLHvGYYjMBoGQCLcBGAs/s640/add%2Bgift%2Bof%2Blife.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Amy Wagner</td></tr>
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For Blackwood (much like the froglets, baby snails and ducklins), home schooling and home economics have become the same thing. Like us, most things he requires are non-monetised, but each of us have occasion to save up for things. A new guitar has been the motivator for this little market store.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HVJbfvnZzNA/XEjb9rKUcbI/AAAAAAAAF0A/WlBuJxUihB0U9jnmqXUhVH78b7gfRhbtwCLcBGAs/s1600/7.sotw1_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HVJbfvnZzNA/XEjb9rKUcbI/AAAAAAAAF0A/WlBuJxUihB0U9jnmqXUhVH78b7gfRhbtwCLcBGAs/s640/7.sotw1_l.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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But generally we try to make what we need, such as this fishing spear. Every occasion, every visitation, project and ecology<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DqDlusV9djo/XEjb-IsC8DI/AAAAAAAAF0E/9VMBrW9AsqUvi7bk705iR2VxHqnof8utACLcBGAs/s1600/8.sotw2_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DqDlusV9djo/XEjb-IsC8DI/AAAAAAAAF0E/9VMBrW9AsqUvi7bk705iR2VxHqnof8utACLcBGAs/s640/8.sotw2_l.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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is another school for Woody. It is in these places where play, exploration and experimentation are given true homes. His education isn't evaluated or assessed. He is free to learn without anxiety or comparison. He is free to collate all his learnings and build upon them in his own time and way,<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5OUcu_gROM/XEjb-P3wzHI/AAAAAAAAF0I/z7b2XAYECq8VN4caymbMovo1lnhgwVc2QCLcBGAs/s1600/9.sotw3_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5OUcu_gROM/XEjb-P3wzHI/AAAAAAAAF0I/z7b2XAYECq8VN4caymbMovo1lnhgwVc2QCLcBGAs/s640/9.sotw3_l.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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and with others, such as the children he is bonded to at the Make & Play bush school we hold. Here's Charlie again at the M&P end of year celebration. (Jumpers in late December? Yikes!)<br />
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And because of the expansive time given to him to learn, time to be, time to thoroughly explore what NAPLAN could never allow for a child, the rewards come, which only aid more learning,<br />
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where play making and knowledge building are all part of the same flow.<br />
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While his learning is mostly self-directed, he also absorbs his parents' knowledges, and they share with him what to glean and hunt and make bounties from,<br />
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while far away from the high country lakes</div>
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and productive gardens of home.</div>
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He observes the gifts that can be made from the abundant raw materials of our local terra. This wrist band was made by Patrick for Meg on her birthday. The lake is a special place for Meg, where giant-leaved newcomer NZ flax grow (great for cord making) and moulted breast feathers from oldtimer cockatoos are shed around the foreshores (thanks for the tip Kimshar!).<br />
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Woody observes the gifts and skills of other adults too, from musicians like Charlie, filmmakers like Jordan and Antoinette, and all the community gardeners to name just a few. Out of all the adults that generously pass on their trades, it is <a href="https://theartistasfamily.blogspot.com/2018/01/artist-as-extended-family-our-year-with.html" target="_blank">Jeremy</a> that Woody calls mentor. Jeremy made this insulated oven window cover for us, especially for summertime cooking. It reduces the heat radiating into the house on the coolest day of the week when we bake bread, roast veggies and heat up our hot water.<br />
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We traded him a wild ferment brewing lesson, exchanging microbe knowledges for technical know-how. What we've found is that gifts flow, if generosity flows. A few years back Edward from nearby Adsum Farm gifted us some garden bed hoops. In spring they support a hothousing re-usuable plastic hood to get the potatoes going early, in summer they support a fine netting to keep the cabbage moths from destroying the brassicas.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Amy Wagner</td></tr>
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Knowing what to protect and what to leave open to the multifarious relations of diverse garden ecology requires kinship with both domestication and wild entities – a subject <a href="http://www.slf.org.au/event/animism-respoken/" target="_blank">Patrick will be speaking on with Claire Dunn and Maya Ward at the National Sustainable Living Festival</a> in Melbourne on February 9. And this subject is at the heart of why we hold the annual <i>Terra Nullius Breakfast</i>,<br />
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which acknowledges, accepts and seeks compassion for the history of this continent - a nation that has crippled symbiotic life by over-playing domestication's hand.</div>
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Terra Nullius stands at the heart of property relations in Australia and aggregating wealth division. When property is turned from a basic need into a predatorial industry, more and more people will suffer. We wrote this song for our friend Eka, a fellow Bentley Blockader, when we visited her on our travels last winter she spoke of the constant insecurity and powerlessness of her housing situation. Eka stood with thousands to stop the Northern Rivers from being fracked by greed's intransigence to common sense, giving her time and skills over weeks and months as a volunteer. While we dedicate this song to Eka, it is also for all people kept from having secure tenure over a little plot of land that can be loved, held sacred and given back to for the momentary time we dwell with and upon it.</div>
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If you feel passionate about this issue, please copy the link of this Youtube video and share it widely. Songs can be fertile seeds for change, even rough-cut home-brewed ones such as this.<br />
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Well, thank you Dear Reader, we hope we served up some nourishment and inspiration for you in our more or less monthly instalment. If you'd like come on a house + garden tour <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/artist-as-family-house-garden-tours-tickets-45398924405" target="_blank">we've released more forthcoming dates</a>. If you're interested in applying for one of our Permaculture Living Courses please watch this space, we'll be opening the applications for the spring 2019 courses shortly.Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-43898180241326539102018-12-17T08:31:00.001+11:002018-12-17T08:31:09.688+11:00Fire in our hearts; fire in our belliesFire! It's wild, feared, harnessed and praised. Our first tool. Like the Greek story of Prometheus stealing fire to give to mortals, Djaara people – on whose land we have made home – also have their stolen fire story. Waa, the raven, was originally white and in stealing fire got himself burnt. We heard this told at <i>Yapenya</i> in Bendigo recently. All comers were invited to come witness this new Djaara ceremony.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Djaara women performing <i>Yapenya</i>, before the ceremonial fire is lit. </td></tr>
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Performing new ceremony is soulful, much needed work. Former SWAPs Connor and Marta – who met at Tree Elbow, got hitched, travelled far and wide and moved back to the area – are expecting a child. Patrick lit a fire for Connor and a number of men gathered in the forest to warm Connor into fatherhood with stories about being dads, sons and men. The night was transformative, a kind of medicine.<br />
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Meg concurrently held a women's circle for Marta and again the night revealed many insights and gentle sharings, and this group also realised ceremony was missing in their lives as women.<br />
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The cultural absence of gathering around fire, in forests and in other more-than-human environments, led us to establish <i>Make & Play </i>a few years ago. Patrick has recently begun a second weekly group for older kids called <i>Feral & Free</i> – a radical form of scouts (drawing on both the ecological masculinities and ecofeminisms of our day). The following quote from Patrick's book <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v49bB6YC9zw" target="_blank">re:)Fermenting culture</a>, which excavates the fire stealing creation myth of western culture, has been cited as the epigraph in the recently published, <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Ecological-Masculinities-Theoretical-Foundations-and-Practical-Guidance/Hultman-Pule/p/book/9781138719910" target="_blank">Ecological Masculinities: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Guidance</a>:<br />
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A culture that has lost its beginning story is a culture adrift, destructive and self-harming. While the West can be seen as synonymous with imperialism, this is not our old people, this is not our true culture, gender-lopsidedness is not our only heritage.</blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feral & Free crew</td></tr>
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The Celts reportedly said that a woman's soul is male and a man's soul is female. How's that for oldskool gender fluidity? The father fire (technics) and the matering earth (ecology) are within us together, regardless of how we identify. They are not opposing stories, they are intertwined. We are technical animals; storytellers. Story derives from fire.<br />
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Story features at all these gatherings in the forest. It is stories – what we tell out and to ourselves – that make us who we are. When we gather and speak together across a fire a raw heartfeltness springs forth. Courage to do this is more than required. Woody spoke his first public story recently, at the local community <a href="http://thecicada.com.au/" target="_blank">Cicada storytelling night</a>. He mustered all his pluck to raise himself from his seat and make the slow walk up onto the podium at the Senior Citizens' Room behind the Daylesford Town Hall. His story was called <i>Spring Blossom</i>, and he quietly spoke of beholding the blossom of a wild apple, trying with his 6-year old language to conjure that earlier moment of praise and delight for the tree, for all of us to share.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic: Juanita Broderick</td></tr>
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Stories heard from across the crackling foci of the fire speak to our ancient selves in our present bodies. The podium or stage can adversely change this intent, but that's another story for another time.<br />
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Woody is growing up within a general household narrative where a commons (of any form) is never to be capitalised, where an economy (of any form) never enslaves us or makes ruin terra mater. On working out how he is to save up for a new guitar he said: "If I get the sticks from the tip to make my kindling bundles, then I'm not selling them from the floor of the forest but only selling waste." This ethic he did not learn at school but by learning <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSdrdY6vmDo" target="_blank">to think with a forest's thoughts</a>. What if the dominant value system shifted from <i>unrestrained growth at all costs</i> to <i>the sanctity of humus and earth others at all costs</i>? What transformations of culture would we see?<br />
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If we know that the tumorous <i>Internet of Things</i> is just the next sales pitch in a long line of greed and intransigence, how do we garner the courage to turn away from such seduction and face and embrace humus, and all the quiet things of earth not screaming for attention? How do we perform other stories that don't just passively go along with the dominant, egotistical ideology?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic: Laurel Freeland</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Woody has been setting up his fire-starting stall beside his dad's edible weed ID stand at the Daylesford Sunday Farmer's Market. Like the mushroom ID stand Patrick offers in autumn, spring is weed time, and there are many beneficial autonomous plants to eat, make medicine from, preserve and ferment. None of these gems beneath our feet require climate altering transportation, weeds move around without industrial distribution systems.</span></div>
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Weed knowledges are just some of the things we've been sharing on our Permaculture Living Courses (PLCs) this spring. Foraging for weeds is a powerful way back to sensing what ecological economies might be performed in the near future. Weeds constitute about 5% of our diet, but because of their many health-filled properties this constitutes about 40% of our preventative medicines.</div>
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On the third and final 2018 PLC we hosted Ryan, Lucille and Clare for two weeks, and reperforming commons of all forms was central to the curriculum. As was making leek kraut, another arsenal in our preventative medicine chest as it is both a pre- and probiotic.</div>
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Just three students at a time is small enough to engage intimately with the many interrelationships and layered learnings within a permacultural neopeasant household. We began the course with a big list to get through, that grew and grew from this picture on...<br />
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Wood was collected on bikes from areas of forest where fuel reduction burns take place. We talked about the importance of reducing fuel load going into the fire season while at the same time leaving more than enough for habitat, mycelium and humus production.<br />
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We also scavenged useful materials from the tip such as chicken wire and fire wood. (If you're reading this in your inbox you'll need to click through to our blog to watch the video below).<br />
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We gathered elderflowers for brewing tonics and ciders in ready for the festive solstice period.<br />
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We planted pumpkins at the community garden, yet another goodly place for reclaiming and expanding the commons.<br />
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We prepped beds (double dug and humanured) in the Tree Elbow annual garden. By the time a PLC participant leaves The School of Applied Neopeasantry they would have been introduced to the imperatives of origin-known food. They are also introduced to our economic form: subsistence first (nourishment of household), surplus second (gifts in and out to community), money third (paying the rent and bills). If money by its very nature must grow as an economic form, and knowing what this means to terra mater, it must be sent into degrowth. Money constitutes just 30% of our economy now. We are active degrowth-ers.<br />
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Each day of the PLC, when we broke for refreshments, we engaged in discussions on the philosophy, poetics and politics of neopeasant economy, permaculture garden-farming, or regenerative culture making (take your pick of language). Oh, and the subject of Zero was a high priority...<br />
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While philosophy, poetics and politics are important, they are nothing without a sleeves-rolled-up pragmatism and a goodly interspecies back scratch.<br />
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While Ryan, Lucille and Clare were with us we updated our <a href="https://issuu.com/permapoesis/docs/tree_elbow_fire_prevention_and_resp" target="_blank">fire plan</a>, a three page document featuring various codes and scenarios, and what our actions will be with each. We're sure this doc will be put to use a number of times this season.<br />
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We carried out a dress rehearsal on the first <i>Very High</i> day in early December. The PLC participants will no doubt call on such prep work well into their climate changed futures.<br />
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Bush fires are, of course, going to be more and more frequent, and more or less a direct feedback to neoliberal economics. Thanks <a href="https://dreamflesh.com/essay/jordan-peterson-environmentalism/?fbclid=IwAR1qG7jq9wsZjZaj8p6lEVQ_gHFkeJUPMPBgHrZi3IF3_PeLVg1lYnHONdk" target="_blank">Jordan Peterson environmentalism!</a> Thanks neoliberals everywhere! Thanks belligerent Baby Boomers and your mainstay Ayn Rand ideology! Go get 'em Hercules, Superman, indulgence tourism! Plugging and filling our gutters with water is really such a quaint response to the climate leviathan so indelibly ready to pounce. But plug we will.<br />
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As a car-free family, we (ironically) need to be even more prepared on fire risky days than those with cars. Which days we stay home and defend and which days we leave early (on the bus out of town after hopefully persuading the driver to let Zero and his PTV rail approved dog carrier on board because we are, pleadingly, climate refugees) will be critical to call. Packing special items and required documents to have on hand throughout the season is just one of the many tasks listed on our plan.<br />
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Ryan, Lucille and Clare carried out fire mitigating work on public land nearby to Tree Elbow. This labour also has the benefit of ensuring a weedy commons is not sprayed with pesticides, burnt or bulldozed by one of the various land managers, and thus the weed cycle returned to phase one, again. Using chop and drop techniques and an old peasant trick of laying down a sheet of iron or a large board onto the brambles, we reduce fire risk while using the crushed material to make more humus for other (fire retarding) plants to grow within.<br />
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We made this video to highlight holistic, post-pesticide methods of fire and weed mitigation, which is not the same as traditional Djarra land management practices, due to the fact the A1 soil horizon, and thus the ecology, has changed so radically. However, like both contemporary and traditional Aboriginal principles of land care, our methods aim to incorporate fire-risk mitigation with ecological enhancement. Watch on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07QQGPky4t4&t=3s" target="_blank">Youtube channel</a> or below.<br />
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Fire is something we handle every day. For us it is a local, renewable energy. Our outdoor kitchen stove (repurposed from the tip) to fuel our 8-slice toaster made up of a wire rack (again from the tip), powered by wood (also from the tip) collected on foot or by bicycle. No grid is necessary. Being of the mindset that nothing needs replacing, things just need repurposing, remaking or mending, we move our household's economy further into a degrowth of money and debt, growing an abundance of relationships with people, forests, soil communities, knowledges, nourishment and skills.</div>
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And when the day's labours are done, and the heat is upon us, we descend to the lake with our big post-carbon rig. Just about everything we need comes from the tip, skip bins, op-shops, garage sales or from terra mater herself. A blow-up dinghy is only ever a reclaimed waste product, lovingly patched. It never comes new off the shelf. When the tip runs out of such things, then we'll learn to make our own canoes from scratch. This is powerdown in action.</div>
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Picnicking by the lake is a great chance to unwind, especially after the stresses of a day prepping for potential fire. Although it only turned out to be a dress rehearsal, it was a great opportunity to see where the weaknesses in our fire plan lie. Swimming in untreated lake water is so restorative after such a long, hot and windy day, especially after we'd been so pragmatically staying with the reality of climate chaos, trying not to lose our senses.<br />
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On the last night of the third PLC we invited the first 6 participants to join us. Nearly everyone was available. We walked with Liam, Cara, Ryan, Lucille, Clare, Moe and Marty up to the forest so each could see what the other had done in the commons to allay fire threat and continue the work of moving ecological succession into the next phase.<br />
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The PLC alumni came together for dinner and swapped notes and sang some sweet tunes. A tradition we'll keep going.<br />
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Marty and Cara, from <a href="https://therattlers.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">The Rattlers</a>, and the first PLC, gave a wee after dinner performance. (Again, you'll need to click through to our <a href="https://theartistasfamily.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McSXfo1pcdo" target="_blank">Youtube channel</a> to watch if you're reading this in your inbox).<br />
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Aren't they great! We're continually inspired by the love, labours and intent of young people on their respective regenerative culture making journeys.<br />
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Connor, Marta and Jeremy – the three Tree Elbow musketeers of 2017 – have all moved back to the area permanently, and are all brewing up special things of their own. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jeremygardening/" target="_blank">Jeremy</a> will be taking interns at his place in 2019, especially for those interested in learning all things curing animal skins, blacksmithing and other lost arts. Here he is with newcomer to town Tony, harvesting broad beans at <a href="https://justfreefood.blogspot.com/2018/12/2018-thank-you-bee.html" target="_blank">the most recent community garden working bee</a>.<br />
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Community garden working bees really get the love juices going. Through activities like gardening, the soil releases nonpathogenic <i>Mycobacterium vaccae</i>, which increases levels of serotonin and decreases levels of anxiety in mammals. Do it communally and you get oxytocin as a top up. Oxytocin is the bonding chemical found naturally in the body and exchanged between loved ones (including between dogs and humans). Though be aware, it also heightens awareness of enemies and potential threats. This smiling assassin will rake apart any mug who threatens terra mater. <br />
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And this mama, Lovely Duck, is also a fearsome warrioress when it comes to keeping her brood safe. It has been a pleasure to get to know her over the years. Her truly giving demeanour instructs us and lets us know what love is possible as radical homemakers.<br />
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There are many in our community who are actively engaging in a flow of gifts economy. These lil beauties were brought to us by Fiona and Edward from <a href="https://adsumfarmhouse.com.au/about/" target="_blank">Adsum Farm</a>. Kohlrabi kraut is the best! Knowing where the great majority of our food, medicine and energy comes from means we can better live accountably to our local land's logic and processes, and know what we need to give back to keep such abundance flowing.<br />
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Thank you Fiona and Edward for your generosity and nurture, and thank you Sari for your flame red morello cherries that you didn't want to see go to waste. They have lit our days; a wild morello cider is on the brew, and a bottle or two will boomerang back to you.</div>
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Flame red morello cider will be appreciatively consumed this summer as more and more fires will burn in the nation-state of Australia, never ceded. Bill Mollison famously wrote that, “Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple."<br />
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Fire is a wild force that could more than displace us and our community one day. Creation stories across the world speak of how humans tamed or procured fire as our first tool, and how we got burnt in the process. With climate change fire will be wilder and far less tameable. Djaara people haven't forgotten that Waa got burnt stealing the first tool and they are retelling that old story today. We would be wise to heed such a story.<br />
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Merry solstice everyone! May you continue to trust the fire in your bellies in 2019, and stoke your guts with goodly microbe-generating fibres and ferments from your homeplace hearths<i>. </i><br />
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If you would like to come and visit our homeplace we have three more <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/artist-as-family-house-garden-tours-tickets-45398924405" target="_blank">house + garden tours</a> coming up in 2019: Sunday 24 February, Sunday 31 March and Sunday 28 April.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic: Jennifer Polixenni Brankin</td></tr>
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Sending our very best wishes for the solstice and new year, much love from Artist as Family.Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-1423653675775901352018-11-12T18:00:00.000+11:002018-11-13T12:38:19.141+11:00This is permacultural neopeasantry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It has been a very social time of late, guests from many places visiting with much sharing, learning and sleeves-rolled-up labouring. A lovely French couple, Ariane and Thomas, stopped in. They are making a film of transitioning peoples from around the world, and they provided us a very privileged bird's eye view of <i>Tree Elbow University's School of Applied Neopeasantry</i>, AKA our quarter-acre home ecology.</div>
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<a href="https://www.thomas-dorleans.fr/" target="_blank">Thomas Dorleans</a> even made this little mash up of the footage he took, which we layered with our mate <a href="http://formidablevegetable.com.au/" target="_blank">Charlie</a>'s songful magic to make this little vid of the spring garden. (If you are reading this as an email subscription you'll need to click through to our blog to see it).</div>
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Thomas also took this lovely pic of us with our second Permaculture Living Course (PLC) participants, the delightful Christy, Moe and Liam. </div>
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A PLC involves many differing skills and knowledges and any given day will include various songs of fermentation, cellaring, composting, sowing, harvesting, soil prepping, building, cooking, repairing tools, community gardening, community forest stewardship and fire prevention work, to list just a few things. Woody has been making a series of videos of late of such labours and learnings and this one shows the work Christy, Moe and Liam carried out to continue the fire prevention and ecology enhancing programme we've initiated on the south-west edge of the town, based on David Holmgren's and the Spring Creek community's volunteer work over the past 25 years in Hepburn.<br />
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This work complements and extends the beautiful labours that Cara, Marty and Teeka were doing in the previous PLC. <i>Make and Play</i> bush school kids, Woody, Luna, Fab and Leah, hang out while gently absorbing the volunteer service work of adults taking responsibility for their futures. </div>
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<i>Make and Play</i> has been going for two years now and we have been learning so much about forest biomes, edible weeds and wild foods, and how to make magic, simple tools and build collaborative skills.<br />
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Patrick is about to start <i>Feral and Free, </i>a group for older kids, which will be a radical, less formal form of Scouts. If you would like more info please <a href="mailto:permapoesis@gmail.com" target="_blank">email him</a>. Patrick has also been offering his weedy and feral knowledges at the Daylesford Sunday Farmers' Market, collecting donations for the <a href="https://justfreefood.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">community gardens</a> in exchange for proclaiming the edible and medicinal properties of numerous weed species. His next weedy appearance will be on Sunday 2 December between 10-12 noon.</div>
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While Meg has been sharing her fermenting knowledges at the monthly <a href="http://relocalisehepburn.blogspot.com/search/label/culture%20club" target="_blank">Daylesford Culture Club</a> meet-ups. In December she will be facilitating a miso-making workshop. Make sure you follow the <a href="http://relocalisehepburn.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hepburn Relocalisation Network</a> for details to come.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Mara Ripani</td></tr>
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Other guests we have hosted recently include <a href="https://evaperroni.com/" target="_blank">Eva Perroni</a> and <a href="https://foodfirst.org/team/eric-holt-gimenez/" target="_blank">Eric Holt-Giménez</a>, who came to stay with us on their tour of Australia for the <a href="https://evaperroni.com/events-2/" target="_blank">Food for Thought and Action series</a>. With Eva we put together the <i>Land for Life</i> event as part of this series, and it will soon be available as a video on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC90Jv6gBc7mf4dyfTyWj4tQ?view_as=subscriber" target="_blank">our Youtube channel</a>. Community elder and permie activator, Su Dennett, joined us for a post <i>Land for Life</i> breakfast.<br />
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The <i>Land for Life</i> event, featuring Bec Phillips, David Holmgren and Eric, was a remarkable moment in our community, drawing on indigenous, permacultural and post-capital relationships concerning food, land, culture and economy. The night transcended typical heady discussions to become more about trust building and healing the traumas of our imperialist pasts, each as capital subjects and actors of varying degree.<br />
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It is always sobering after such a powerful event to return to the stuff of the everyday, using the body for what we call <i>productive yoga</i> – lifting, hauling, cutting, stirring, holding, shaking, walking, mixing, harvesting, digging, sitting, throwing, forking, running, thrusting, hurling, bending, squatting, etc. All these things constitute the biophysical rhythms of the day from stretching the gluten of the spelt dough, to mixing the weed or poultry teas, or sifting the dry potash from the char to make a range of home-brewed fertilisers required for the garden. In combination they call us home to a certain presence of mind, through the body,<br />
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like hanging out the family cloth, for example. Each cloth, after being washed, is 'ironed' by the palm of our hand as we prepare them for the drying rack. They dry by the solar of the sun (outside) or by the solar of our hand axed and walked-for wood (inside). Many small, repetitive tasks throughout the day mosaic into a rich order of productions, which together constitute as low an impact life as we can currently achieve. We were once fecaphobes, now we are fecaphiles, as our brightly singing family cloths and humanure soils attest.<br />
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And it is this that we aim to impart during each of our PLCs. Below Christy, Moe and Liam plant out our home-raised tomato and basil seedlings into our newly prepped humanure compost annual beds. Closing the poop loop and saving seeds are two very powerful processes that enable us to live off the industrial food grid and therefore divest from that sector of capitalism.<br />
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Running these courses has been extremely rewarding and heartwarmingly positive. Building relationships are everything within regenerative-gifting economies, and the social warming that takes place in a PLC is certainly the sympoetic honey on the cake. </div>
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Many thanks for reading. We look forward to responding to your comments and questions. If you are inspired by what we do please subscribe to this blog or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC90Jv6gBc7mf4dyfTyWj4tQ?view_as=subscriber" target="_blank">Youtube page</a>, and tell a friend or two about the things we're up to. It's your social network that will help to share and expand a culture of households who are in transition from damaging forms of economy to a culture that includes a plethora of regenerative and life-giving household responses to the predicament of our times.</div>
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Before we go we'd like to tell you about a number of forthcoming events:</div>
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<b>A talk</b></div>
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Patrick is giving a talk in Melbourne on Wednesday November 14 at Hawthorn Library (584 Glenferrie Rd). The talk, entitled <i>Here come the neo-peasants</i>, is about how and why we live like we do and what are the social, environmental and climate imperatives of transitioning to low carbon lifeways. Entry is free. <a href="https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/events/here-come-neo-peasants-patrick-jones" target="_blank">More info here</a>.</div>
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<b>A tour</b></div>
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We have one more house and garden tour for the year on Sunday November 25 from 1.30pm - 4.30pm. Tickets are $32.74 (incl. booking fee) and includes afternoon tea. You can buy tickets <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/artist-as-family-house-garden-tours-tickets-45398924405" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<b>More PLCs</b></div>
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Would you like to do a Permaculture Living Course? Do you understand the permaculture ethics and principles but are not sure what it means to embody them in your everyday life? Are you already on the path away from a pervasive pollution-consumption ideology but want to take it much further? Our next round of applications to do a PLC at Tree Elbow University's School of Applied Neopeasantry are open. Head <a href="http://theartistasfamily.blogspot.com/2018/05/permaculture-living-course-applied.html" target="_blank">here</a> for more info about what's involved. And please <a href="mailto:theartistasfamily@gmail.com" target="_blank">email us</a> if you'd like an application form. Applications close Friday November 23. The three autumn 2019 PLC dates are:</div>
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Feb 25 - March 10</div>
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April 1 - 14</div>
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April 29 - May 12</div>
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PLCs are 100% non-monetary and 100% non-accredited.</div>
Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-66351103389404961802018-10-09T14:19:00.000+11:002018-10-27T08:22:19.367+11:00New podcast! House + garden tours! New PLC dates! And a very special forthcoming event!Well, it's been three weeks since our sweet divorce from social media and we've been breathing more deeply by not serving the algorithm. We are exceedingly more productive, co-organising a significant new community speaking event, tending, gathering and making returns within our food and energy biomes, and teaching our first Permaculture Living Course (PLC).<br />
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<b>PLCs</b> aim to transform permaculture principles and ethics into truly <i>living the change</i> – living alternative economies, practicing social-permaculture, fermenting and composting incalculable things to extend life and honour death, caring for kin, community and more-than-humans, developing post-materialist/capitalist lifeways, growing and harvesting home and community food and energy resources, making biomic returns (humanure, potash, micturated biochar, weed and poultry teas etc), and guerilla-managing public lands using regenerative land practices. Song-, philosophy- and poem-making also feature big throughout the day's labours, coupling the pragmatic with the soulful, the earthly with the abstract. Our PLCs are 100% non-monetary and 100% non-accredited.<br />
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<b>Apply. </b>Our next round of applications to do a Permaculture Living Course are open. Head <a href="http://theartistasfamily.blogspot.com/2018/05/permaculture-living-course-applied.html" target="_blank">here</a> for more info about what's involved. Please <a href="mailto:theartistasfamily@gmail.com" target="_blank">email us</a> if you'd like an application form. Applications close Friday November 23. The three autumn 2019 PLC dates are:<br />
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<b>Dates.</b><br />
Feb 25 - March 10<br />
April 1 - 14<br />
April 29 - May 12<br />
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<b>Gift. </b>We're looking for those who are not only committed to transforming their home economy into a carbon-conscious social ecology, but those already engaged in such work within the community (by which we mean non-monetary) economies.<br />
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<b>Tours.</b> Our house and garden tours have begun again and you can <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/artist-as-family-house-garden-tours-tickets-45398924405" target="_blank">book for a tour here</a>. There are two more tours this year.<br />
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<b>Podcast tour.</b> If you can't make it to an actual tour you can listen to our latest podcast, <i>Radical neopeasant homemaking</i>, which was recorded a few weeks ago, captured on our last tour:<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/511479918&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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We hope this gives you a little insight into some of the processes, systems and biomes we labour with and within.<br />
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<b>Event. </b>With our community caps on we have been working hard with <a href="https://evaperroni.com/" target="_blank">Eva Perroni</a> to put together this special event, which takes place in our home town of Daylesford in less than two weeks:<br />
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<br />
<b>Land for Life.</b> Featuring Jaara speaker Rebecca Phillips, permaculture co-originator David Holmgren and US food activist-scholar, Eric Holt Giménez, this event will be the second in a series of talks, since we co-produced <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2IrBoLbWU4" target="_blank">Land Cultures: Aboriginal economies and permaculture futures</a> (2016) with Anthony Petrucci.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g2IrBoLbWU4?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
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<b>Note.</b> If you'd like more info about <i>Land for Life</i>, please email us (click above right) or head over <a href="http://relocalisehepburn.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<br />
<b>Another thing. </b>If you are reading this in your inbox, some of our media will not appear. You may have to click through to our <a href="https://theartistasfamily.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> to read the post in full.<br />
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***</div>
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<b>Thanks.</b> Thank you for reading and engaging with our labours in our little neck of the world,<br />
Artist as Family.<br />
<br />Artist as Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01000057566127487240noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-58096342887390936862018-09-17T21:22:00.000+10:002018-10-06T20:58:53.324+10:00Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We are home.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WDdbv2qvzFM/W5-CphsZPKI/AAAAAAAAFlE/Rftwo51-8sgO3VFGGnj7LKr49F6Bvx9UACLcBGAs/s1600/1.%2Bhome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WDdbv2qvzFM/W5-CphsZPKI/AAAAAAAAFlE/Rftwo51-8sgO3VFGGnj7LKr49F6Bvx9UACLcBGAs/s640/1.%2Bhome.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is male. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--IRAOsacbkM/W5-CstSAD4I/AAAAAAAAFlo/lKhLPBF46I4UCVoXc2VppveEJeVo92kGwCLcBGAs/s1600/2.%2BP%2B%2526%2BW%2Bsowing%2Bcarrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--IRAOsacbkM/W5-CstSAD4I/AAAAAAAAFlo/lKhLPBF46I4UCVoXc2VppveEJeVo92kGwCLcBGAs/s640/2.%2BP%2B%2526%2BW%2Bsowing%2Bcarrots.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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It is female.<br />
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Home is we.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmlh3krXDys/W5-CyDEmFLI/AAAAAAAAFms/cTHHNucW-UQU_xiNw69yU9hjtjGj5RySQCLcBGAs/s1600/4.%2BKookaburra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmlh3krXDys/W5-CyDEmFLI/AAAAAAAAFms/cTHHNucW-UQU_xiNw69yU9hjtjGj5RySQCLcBGAs/s640/4.%2BKookaburra.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<br />
Home is a place of many makings,<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3YkkB5LfMVM/W5-CyLYrOcI/AAAAAAAAFmo/k_4MK29Ami8-OENilOxrXK_FDa2TnJMpACLcBGAs/s1600/5.%2BDaily%2Bbread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3YkkB5LfMVM/W5-CyLYrOcI/AAAAAAAAFmo/k_4MK29Ami8-OENilOxrXK_FDa2TnJMpACLcBGAs/s640/5.%2BDaily%2Bbread.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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and scratchings,<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TvTSqtqYd_4/W5-Cy1OLkVI/AAAAAAAAFmw/_VitVM6iw5sE77P_qtdV_WRMRxA3Nn70ACLcBGAs/s1600/6.%2BChook%2Bduck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="536" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TvTSqtqYd_4/W5-Cy1OLkVI/AAAAAAAAFmw/_VitVM6iw5sE77P_qtdV_WRMRxA3Nn70ACLcBGAs/s640/6.%2BChook%2Bduck.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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and gifts.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yWKozVwaUvk/W5-CzDgeSlI/AAAAAAAAFm0/Bjh-8sGanvYZgOLKsnmPHKzoS2cb4hL7ACLcBGAs/s1600/7.%2BChook%2Beggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yWKozVwaUvk/W5-CzDgeSlI/AAAAAAAAFm0/Bjh-8sGanvYZgOLKsnmPHKzoS2cb4hL7ACLcBGAs/s640/7.%2BChook%2Beggs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
We are young ones,<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NHRcJx2bUJ4/W5-CzLJ5HQI/AAAAAAAAFm4/FPtXtQKNbPk0xCkA-sZbKkR-QK1UJ--rQCLcBGAs/s1600/8.%2BW%2Bbeing%2Balive%2Bto%2Bgoodly%2Bfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NHRcJx2bUJ4/W5-CzLJ5HQI/AAAAAAAAFm4/FPtXtQKNbPk0xCkA-sZbKkR-QK1UJ--rQCLcBGAs/s640/8.%2BW%2Bbeing%2Balive%2Bto%2Bgoodly%2Bfood.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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learning to make,<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zKvCoCWDbQA/W5-CzzQqwEI/AAAAAAAAFm8/hphGnnb-vo0K4x5uUpF5x53zCLNLL86dgCLcBGAs/s1600/9.%2BW%2Blearning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="536" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zKvCoCWDbQA/W5-CzzQqwEI/AAAAAAAAFm8/hphGnnb-vo0K4x5uUpF5x53zCLNLL86dgCLcBGAs/s640/9.%2BW%2Blearning.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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an array,<br />
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of goodly things.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y58xdVIalQw/W5-CpdXTl_I/AAAAAAAAFlA/NN46uQLNrnQetgCNAyQxKjkylmUOXnAlgCLcBGAs/s1600/10b.%2BW%2Bviolin%2BAdam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y58xdVIalQw/W5-CpdXTl_I/AAAAAAAAFlA/NN46uQLNrnQetgCNAyQxKjkylmUOXnAlgCLcBGAs/s640/10b.%2BW%2Bviolin%2BAdam.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<br />
We are older ones,<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zIjSQUq3FU8/W5-Cqbcse9I/AAAAAAAAFlI/bijyNRdjcBQUu8UGn5gIphIBQDhyKBktQCLcBGAs/s1600/11.%2BM%2B%2526%2BP%2Bweeding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zIjSQUq3FU8/W5-Cqbcse9I/AAAAAAAAFlI/bijyNRdjcBQUu8UGn5gIphIBQDhyKBktQCLcBGAs/s640/11.%2BM%2B%2526%2BP%2Bweeding.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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who brew fire and broth,<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fOiclhvi2Xk/W5-CqoSaYlI/AAAAAAAAFlM/_7JKznbFWHUy4Wg9dMrn6KO77sQd7rgUwCLcBGAs/s1600/12.%2BBone%2Bbroth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fOiclhvi2Xk/W5-CqoSaYlI/AAAAAAAAFlM/_7JKznbFWHUy4Wg9dMrn6KO77sQd7rgUwCLcBGAs/s640/12.%2BBone%2Bbroth.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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preserve all manner of sweet things,<br />
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throw together weedy, seedy and sprouted lentil salads,<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dbxkZi42B20/W5-Cq_Ksz1I/AAAAAAAAFlU/jBeXqMMsLmIFl1Iq8O7woxF5u6Tl6VX6gCLcBGAs/s1600/14.%2BChickweed%2B%2526%2Bspr%2Blentil%2Bsalad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dbxkZi42B20/W5-Cq_Ksz1I/AAAAAAAAFlU/jBeXqMMsLmIFl1Iq8O7woxF5u6Tl6VX6gCLcBGAs/s640/14.%2BChickweed%2B%2526%2Bspr%2Blentil%2Bsalad.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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clean and dry nutritious weeds for storing,<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSmGp3mmXQw/W5-FSmNPC5I/AAAAAAAAFng/QouQj7P0ia4MUGRX1Fq01IHxUL9_fOzzACLcBGAs/s1600/P%2Bwashing%2Bchickweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSmGp3mmXQw/W5-FSmNPC5I/AAAAAAAAFng/QouQj7P0ia4MUGRX1Fq01IHxUL9_fOzzACLcBGAs/s640/P%2Bwashing%2Bchickweed.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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sift the char from the potash and use both in different applications,<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3gceSdUZn74/W5-CrOpw4uI/AAAAAAAAFlY/6-A7lwkEOQ0RXVPh03apaOb8xPGfIIhRQCLcBGAs/s1600/15.%2BChar%2Bsifting%2B%2526%2Bpotash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3gceSdUZn74/W5-CrOpw4uI/AAAAAAAAFlY/6-A7lwkEOQ0RXVPh03apaOb8xPGfIIhRQCLcBGAs/s640/15.%2BChar%2Bsifting%2B%2526%2Bpotash.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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build ritual places to cry out the old life,<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jM5IMlIsRuw/W5-CsFs0ctI/AAAAAAAAFlg/DZ6taubPekMITf7eYMpSnrX6pX4HoaeEQCLcBGAs/s1600/16.%2BCookhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jM5IMlIsRuw/W5-CsFs0ctI/AAAAAAAAFlg/DZ6taubPekMITf7eYMpSnrX6pX4HoaeEQCLcBGAs/s640/16.%2BCookhouse.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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and recycle our mammalian wastes to ferment into humanure.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MSjDtq-07j4/W5-CsIEmeJI/AAAAAAAAFlc/UWzTHHCvUhcpz-QW2Mi3FSmXfxkGfmSqgCLcBGAs/s1600/17.%2BHumanure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MSjDtq-07j4/W5-CsIEmeJI/AAAAAAAAFlc/UWzTHHCvUhcpz-QW2Mi3FSmXfxkGfmSqgCLcBGAs/s640/17.%2BHumanure.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<br />
Our various productions require planning ahead,<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NtJnGCqZrDg/W5-CsMr-WiI/AAAAAAAAFlk/L18JIP661isosfAQeQeaurp1i5xvUpCKACLcBGAs/s1600/18.%2BKohlrabi%2Bseeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NtJnGCqZrDg/W5-CsMr-WiI/AAAAAAAAFlk/L18JIP661isosfAQeQeaurp1i5xvUpCKACLcBGAs/s640/18.%2BKohlrabi%2Bseeds.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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in order to create abundance,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Otizj3Tj-NA/W5-CsynCLLI/AAAAAAAAFls/8v6_Z8-Iy7kuWqNJQxH3JllRdiDrL65OQCLcBGAs/s1600/19.%2BKohlrabi%2Bharvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Otizj3Tj-NA/W5-CsynCLLI/AAAAAAAAFls/8v6_Z8-Iy7kuWqNJQxH3JllRdiDrL65OQCLcBGAs/s640/19.%2BKohlrabi%2Bharvest.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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and turn such treasure into medicine,<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HtxwEQ_AOBs/W5-CtL7UwII/AAAAAAAAFlw/PK-_nV3rhCIftzMK_mSmdx_y0ILfleigACLcBGAs/s1600/20.%2BKohlrabi%2Bkraut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HtxwEQ_AOBs/W5-CtL7UwII/AAAAAAAAFlw/PK-_nV3rhCIftzMK_mSmdx_y0ILfleigACLcBGAs/s640/20.%2BKohlrabi%2Bkraut.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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and all before lunchtime,<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-foV3YzMXjmg/W5-CtwphQLI/AAAAAAAAFl4/PnIsTuX3PQoM4w-czoVwpaycCVDKDLyKgCLcBGAs/s1600/21.%2Blunchtime%2B2%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="536" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-foV3YzMXjmg/W5-CtwphQLI/AAAAAAAAFl4/PnIsTuX3PQoM4w-czoVwpaycCVDKDLyKgCLcBGAs/s640/21.%2Blunchtime%2B2%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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which is before playtime,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZpM27u0ItQ/W5-CtoiurJI/AAAAAAAAFl0/XQl6JAMwM2AkHsoNEwhtQmFW3nYP3nFXQCLcBGAs/s1600/22.%2BM%2B%2526%2BW%2Bacrobalance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZpM27u0ItQ/W5-CtoiurJI/AAAAAAAAFl0/XQl6JAMwM2AkHsoNEwhtQmFW3nYP3nFXQCLcBGAs/s640/22.%2BM%2B%2526%2BW%2Bacrobalance.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
and more play,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OizjXGeSkFU/W5-Ct6t7IHI/AAAAAAAAFl8/Sa98COBDCEkkgRLgOD7GwY7u4NeFWj3UQCLcBGAs/s1600/22b.%2BW%2Bplaytime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OizjXGeSkFU/W5-Ct6t7IHI/AAAAAAAAFl8/Sa98COBDCEkkgRLgOD7GwY7u4NeFWj3UQCLcBGAs/s640/22b.%2BW%2Bplaytime.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<br />
before siesta time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wPrveYL2sIY/W5-CurDGTUI/AAAAAAAAFmA/h2wLhbppXA4I0t9Gbshftlz3_pEe8GSHgCLcBGAs/s1600/23.%2BZero%2Bseista.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="428" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wPrveYL2sIY/W5-CurDGTUI/AAAAAAAAFmA/h2wLhbppXA4I0t9Gbshftlz3_pEe8GSHgCLcBGAs/s640/23.%2BZero%2Bseista.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
The afternoon's homemaking sees us expanding the food commons,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aLYCELb4FTY/W5-Cu7vbMwI/AAAAAAAAFmI/LQ28X-x6Wes0K1FiZ-uYTVf8Sjf4b-XkQCLcBGAs/s1600/24.%2BP%2B%2526%2BW%2BBark%2Bgraft%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aLYCELb4FTY/W5-Cu7vbMwI/AAAAAAAAFmI/LQ28X-x6Wes0K1FiZ-uYTVf8Sjf4b-XkQCLcBGAs/s640/24.%2BP%2B%2526%2BW%2BBark%2Bgraft%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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bow making with gleaned timbers,<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jhyDEcsr4jo/W5-CunUeNGI/AAAAAAAAFmE/LOnsl-2w43QuCGoQnOBDwX8WBy8WybPzwCLcBGAs/s1600/25.%2BP%2B%2526%2BW%2Bbow%2Bmaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jhyDEcsr4jo/W5-CunUeNGI/AAAAAAAAFmE/LOnsl-2w43QuCGoQnOBDwX8WBy8WybPzwCLcBGAs/s640/25.%2BP%2B%2526%2BW%2Bbow%2Bmaking.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
and then on to the tip to bring back more glass frames,<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C8RMWdpXrSg/W5-Cv-BJlXI/AAAAAAAAFmM/gqo63gKd8XoI7bD-TvdbWU_OtISyXDc-wCLcBGAs/s1600/26.%2BP%2B%2526%2BW%2Bg%2527house%2Bbuild%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C8RMWdpXrSg/W5-Cv-BJlXI/AAAAAAAAFmM/gqo63gKd8XoI7bD-TvdbWU_OtISyXDc-wCLcBGAs/s640/26.%2BP%2B%2526%2BW%2Bg%2527house%2Bbuild%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
to extend the growing season,<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GpHpLGePwF8/W5-CwJlvRlI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/VlbBtGOCih8ysOtR_3AOQ-VEsI1miH0TgCLcBGAs/s1600/27.%2BP%2Bg%2527house%2Bbuild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GpHpLGePwF8/W5-CwJlvRlI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/VlbBtGOCih8ysOtR_3AOQ-VEsI1miH0TgCLcBGAs/s640/27.%2BP%2Bg%2527house%2Bbuild.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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and to make another story of economy,<br />
<div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MBj_hBGPhCE/W5-CwKBSfgI/AAAAAAAAFmU/jFG6Nki5j-ofr0EeUfnH8UKjuO41oI2agCLcBGAs/s1600/28.%2BM%2Bkrauting%2BKohlrabi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MBj_hBGPhCE/W5-CwKBSfgI/AAAAAAAAFmU/jFG6Nki5j-ofr0EeUfnH8UKjuO41oI2agCLcBGAs/s640/28.%2BM%2Bkrauting%2BKohlrabi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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that is active and accountable,<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D90f3X2Lyic/W5-Cw8zmtTI/AAAAAAAAFmY/B2tbAtK_CpQnsyCQsW3AybXNXkhOOiYVwCLcBGAs/s1600/29.%2BP%2Bfaggot%2Bfence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D90f3X2Lyic/W5-Cw8zmtTI/AAAAAAAAFmY/B2tbAtK_CpQnsyCQsW3AybXNXkhOOiYVwCLcBGAs/s640/29.%2BP%2Bfaggot%2Bfence.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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and love treasuring,<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EDFP2m1OFPA/W5-CxLmJ6sI/AAAAAAAAFmc/kjf7niZ2dI0LOj_GpUCTIL_oO_23QDRAQCLcBGAs/s1600/30.%2Blove-filled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EDFP2m1OFPA/W5-CxLmJ6sI/AAAAAAAAFmc/kjf7niZ2dI0LOj_GpUCTIL_oO_23QDRAQCLcBGAs/s640/30.%2Blove-filled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
and making.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AKNucptTiSg/W5-Cxz2aWtI/AAAAAAAAFmk/6jNRGxb-bocg433sHeQIasO2Ui4pbVcawCLcBGAs/s1600/31..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="654" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AKNucptTiSg/W5-Cxz2aWtI/AAAAAAAAFmk/6jNRGxb-bocg433sHeQIasO2Ui4pbVcawCLcBGAs/s640/31..jpg" width="522" /></a></div>
<br />
Thank you <a href="https://www.gabconnole.com/" target="_blank">Gabrielle Connole</a> for all the wonderful photos above, and the 24 hours we shared together.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-2337527092216009082018-06-27T11:25:00.003+10:002018-07-04T08:10:43.134+10:00Creatures of placeIn March of this year, Jordan and Antoinette from <a href="https://happenfilms.com/" target="_blank">Happen Films</a> came and spent a few days with us to talk ideas, share food and labours, and film us going about our daily makings. The result is this beautiful short video, <i>Creatures of Place</i>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rCRukvZE2Vk" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
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If you are reading this in your inbox, you will need to click through to our blog to view it. And if you haven't seen their films, we highly recommend you check them out.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<br />
In other news:<br />
<br />
* For those interested in seeing up close how we live you can now book for one of our spring <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/artist-as-family-house-garden-tours-tickets-46921596759?aff=ebdssbdestsearch" target="_blank">house and garden tours</a>.<br />
<br />
*And for those wanting to hear the audio version of Patrick's <i>re:)Fermenting culture</i> you can now listen by clicking on the 'pop out' on the sidebar, or listen to it on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC90Jv6gBc7mf4dyfTyWj4tQ" target="_blank">our YouTube channel</a>.<br />
<br />
*Thanks to everybody who applied for our first three Permaculture Living Courses (PLCs). We received over 50 applications, which were all inspiring to read. This has made selecting just 9 people (for the three courses) very challenging. We'll introduce them to you after the winter break.<br />
<br />Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-23477403291567175482018-05-26T18:55:00.000+10:002018-06-21T10:30:38.893+10:00Telling our storyThis week saw Patrick telling two versions of our story. At Melbourne Free University Patrick speaks about why we use the term neopeasant, and how this term found us and what it means in the context of conquest, dispossessions, stolen land and climate change.<br />
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The word peasant is from the Latin <i>pagus</i> meaning country or land. <br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aGGYns7abPI" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Earlier in the week he was in conversation with Bushy, Adam and Ged on 3RRR's show <i>Greening the Apocalypse</i>.<br />
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<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AoCMbudGmCg" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Both these talks here are audio only.Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-9105926321674124032018-05-13T18:24:00.001+10:002018-05-13T18:24:16.685+10:00Permaculture Living Course, Applied School of Neopeasantry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From the packaging-free food we consume,</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1StaFPf774I/WvftzLCgk0I/AAAAAAAAFf4/dqD7sznPfOgl95slcoHSfBDWrUS2hHafgCLcBGAs/s1600/1.%2Baaf1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1StaFPf774I/WvftzLCgk0I/AAAAAAAAFf4/dqD7sznPfOgl95slcoHSfBDWrUS2hHafgCLcBGAs/s640/1.%2Baaf1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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including walked-for mushrooms,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcsBsPL1i8o/Wvft4_HWJoI/AAAAAAAAFgg/lpTzAAnkTUg8P9dfKQemk5hPaGrpYt9BQCLcBGAs/s1600/2.%2Baaf%2Bshrooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcsBsPL1i8o/Wvft4_HWJoI/AAAAAAAAFgg/lpTzAAnkTUg8P9dfKQemk5hPaGrpYt9BQCLcBGAs/s640/2.%2Baaf%2Bshrooms.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
to the manure from this food we make,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SznZY244NFA/Wvft6AmSweI/AAAAAAAAFgs/GOCqsOXMu4IAyWIJfUMY9T1ca8TzTR0SgCLcBGAs/s1600/3.%2Baaf3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SznZY244NFA/Wvft6AmSweI/AAAAAAAAFgs/GOCqsOXMu4IAyWIJfUMY9T1ca8TzTR0SgCLcBGAs/s640/3.%2Baaf3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
and the house and garden tours we take,<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U8TVJTs83Uw/Wvft60mN1QI/AAAAAAAAFgw/z2It-9At5-0-lA6xgLzpbP5t9mcN7MIOgCLcBGAs/s1600/4.%2Baaf2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U8TVJTs83Uw/Wvft60mN1QI/AAAAAAAAFgw/z2It-9At5-0-lA6xgLzpbP5t9mcN7MIOgCLcBGAs/s640/4.%2Baaf2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
to the things we grow and store,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GZVJBUsFm9k/Wvft7CTi07I/AAAAAAAAFg0/HLfkXGhvJaEFWH13oWYnuoTLprzqTBBPACLcBGAs/s1600/5.%2Baaf4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GZVJBUsFm9k/Wvft7CTi07I/AAAAAAAAFg0/HLfkXGhvJaEFWH13oWYnuoTLprzqTBBPACLcBGAs/s640/5.%2Baaf4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
inside the cellar door,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SzDYbg03qmQ/Wvft8dNppcI/AAAAAAAAFg4/WY6Cg84koRgQCuJbubrt-D9trtvNiwnxQCLcBGAs/s1600/6.%2Baaf%2Bcellar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SzDYbg03qmQ/Wvft8dNppcI/AAAAAAAAFg4/WY6Cg84koRgQCuJbubrt-D9trtvNiwnxQCLcBGAs/s640/6.%2Baaf%2Bcellar.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
to the fun we've bean,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_we5nr5-Qxw/Wvft88E_4AI/AAAAAAAAFg8/jZpmmxMoveE3XUZKYyHwZ1_NbwD-gVSkgCLcBGAs/s1600/7.%2Baaf8%2Bbean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_we5nr5-Qxw/Wvft88E_4AI/AAAAAAAAFg8/jZpmmxMoveE3XUZKYyHwZ1_NbwD-gVSkgCLcBGAs/s640/7.%2Baaf8%2Bbean.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
and the community fun team,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUNqWyD2YqQ/Wvft89sZ4OI/AAAAAAAAFhA/yVqNY1Ktb10XVQ8QiIbIG2qD04TqCSs7QCLcBGAs/s1600/8.%2Baaf%2Bcomm%2Bresilience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUNqWyD2YqQ/Wvft89sZ4OI/AAAAAAAAFhA/yVqNY1Ktb10XVQ8QiIbIG2qD04TqCSs7QCLcBGAs/s640/8.%2Baaf%2Bcomm%2Bresilience.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
to the things we (carbon-positively) transport,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mElQ69oeMic/Wvft-emoCCI/AAAAAAAAFhE/kbUlpt_73xghXmLLFUTQUbRUPxjEeQ45QCLcBGAs/s1600/9.%2Baaf%2Btransport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mElQ69oeMic/Wvft-emoCCI/AAAAAAAAFhE/kbUlpt_73xghXmLLFUTQUbRUPxjEeQ45QCLcBGAs/s640/9.%2Baaf%2Btransport.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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and the abundance we nurture and support,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IXq5YmAEbhQ/WvftzJvSJVI/AAAAAAAAFf8/o6alNxhvV7MwAwIyiIT2DOoPpWRvcdVfgCLcBGAs/s1600/10.%2Baaf%2Bgarden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IXq5YmAEbhQ/WvftzJvSJVI/AAAAAAAAFf8/o6alNxhvV7MwAwIyiIT2DOoPpWRvcdVfgCLcBGAs/s640/10.%2Baaf%2Bgarden.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
to the regenerative knowledges we teach,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3sT8oWCmb54/WvftzGkOE8I/AAAAAAAAFf0/34BN2mIV2JEq_VnCRaBddXLnDFijMzwNgCLcBGAs/s1600/11.%2Baaf%2Bcomm%2Bgarden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3sT8oWCmb54/WvftzGkOE8I/AAAAAAAAFf0/34BN2mIV2JEq_VnCRaBddXLnDFijMzwNgCLcBGAs/s640/11.%2Baaf%2Bcomm%2Bgarden.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
and the people we introduce having the biggest reach,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7fqi2HuW1U4/Wvft0_f0seI/AAAAAAAAFgA/bu7zU7mMBkk-FZs_1tZ85Dq0nVrC5-bYwCLcBGAs/s1600/12.%2Baaf%2Breach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7fqi2HuW1U4/Wvft0_f0seI/AAAAAAAAFgA/bu7zU7mMBkk-FZs_1tZ85Dq0nVrC5-bYwCLcBGAs/s640/12.%2Baaf%2Breach.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
from our elders who inspire,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lq2AVoXAfzs/Wvft1A448TI/AAAAAAAAFgE/kJhkdCwU5AgBM2jjb4qmrliWyYeIjpPKACLcBGAs/s1600/13.%2Baaf%2Belders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lq2AVoXAfzs/Wvft1A448TI/AAAAAAAAFgE/kJhkdCwU5AgBM2jjb4qmrliWyYeIjpPKACLcBGAs/s640/13.%2Baaf%2Belders.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
to the politics we fire,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NOx0Q-7RnhQ/Wvft1TzKOqI/AAAAAAAAFgI/ZOZM8oMrBPkAYcPsXB4o3hfiyW3J-U7hwCLcBGAs/s1600/14.%2Baaf%2Bpolitics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NOx0Q-7RnhQ/Wvft1TzKOqI/AAAAAAAAFgI/ZOZM8oMrBPkAYcPsXB4o3hfiyW3J-U7hwCLcBGAs/s640/14.%2Baaf%2Bpolitics.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
To the life we raise,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6HiimSTMz1w/Wvft16vN3eI/AAAAAAAAFgM/4Ed4OeG4cZQhS4NCYn7I8CAKt7m4IsmAACLcBGAs/s1600/15.%2Baaf%2Braise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6HiimSTMz1w/Wvft16vN3eI/AAAAAAAAFgM/4Ed4OeG4cZQhS4NCYn7I8CAKt7m4IsmAACLcBGAs/s640/15.%2Baaf%2Braise.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
and the life we soberly erase (in both grief and praise),<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vRZnDXYqjgY/Wvft2PP26iI/AAAAAAAAFgQ/2qCQeEkJ6-Ifn82u-yPXuhBsnbvgbfeYQCLcBGAs/s1600/16.%2Baaf%2Bchook%2Bkill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vRZnDXYqjgY/Wvft2PP26iI/AAAAAAAAFgQ/2qCQeEkJ6-Ifn82u-yPXuhBsnbvgbfeYQCLcBGAs/s640/16.%2Baaf%2Bchook%2Bkill.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
to the insects we hive,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5aAD0hPCrUQ/Wvft2QEy-lI/AAAAAAAAFgU/hDBdpT0iFrEMCm1uUWkUtJXCXXsxPPUFgCLcBGAs/s1600/17.%2Baaf%2Bbees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5aAD0hPCrUQ/Wvft2QEy-lI/AAAAAAAAFgU/hDBdpT0iFrEMCm1uUWkUtJXCXXsxPPUFgCLcBGAs/s640/17.%2Baaf%2Bbees.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
and the pragmatic skills we use to thrive,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cqm3q3OlROU/Wvft342EcrI/AAAAAAAAFgc/lsIpboMRGK8qAyuggQUYQlg8zU_HW7MEQCLcBGAs/s1600/18.%2Baaf%2Bknitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cqm3q3OlROU/Wvft342EcrI/AAAAAAAAFgc/lsIpboMRGK8qAyuggQUYQlg8zU_HW7MEQCLcBGAs/s640/18.%2Baaf%2Bknitting.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
to other skills we tend,<br />
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and the species we plant and teach to defend,<br />
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Come learn with us through life's full force,<br />
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at our 2-week Permaculture Living Course:</div>
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Places announced June 30. Neopeasant education is 100% non-monetary!</div>
<br />Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-55599477956897576082018-01-12T07:17:00.000+11:002018-01-12T07:17:31.462+11:00Artist as extended family: our year with Jeremy Yau<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As you might already know, Jeremy lived with us for the past year, learning and teaching, loving and sharing. This was his house, which we built with him and dubbed <i>The Yause</i>. And this is his story while living at Tree Elbow, told through our eyes and a shared catalogue of pics.</div>
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Jeremy arrived in early 2017 and immediately got involved in our everyday processes of living with baskets of skills and knowledges and very little money. He came for a week as a SWAP, and he stayed a year.</div>
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From different corners of the world, Connor and Marta had also just recently arrived at Tree Elbow, where they fell in love and (later) got hitched. With all three on deck we had a very productive time.<br />
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Food is big at Tree Elbow. It is life, liberty, health, ecology and energy. Jeremy soon understood how serious we take food and energy resources; how these often taken for granted things equate exactly to how each of us touch the earth.<br />
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Growing, preserving, fermenting, storing and cooking food became part of Jeremy's day to day. But this was not entirely new to him. Before coming to Tree Elbow he'd been an intern at Milkwood Farm, completed a horticulture certificate and a PDC, he'd volunteered as a community gardener, WWOOFed at various places and established a mini food forest at his parent's house in Sydney.<br />
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With so many staying at Tree Elbow, we needed more accommodation. Patrick offered to give Jeremy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTsRooS69fM" target="_blank">an informal building apprenticeship like he had with James and Zeph the year before</a>.<br />
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The building had to go up fast, but we'd already saved materials from the local skip bins and tip.<br />
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Materials were also gifted and found online. Jeremy learnt most of the processes of building right through to putting ends and pops in the reclaimed spouting.<br />
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With the colder weather approaching, we needed to get the Yause, as Meg auspiciously named it, completed.<br />
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And we also had to get the glasshouse started.<br />
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It was a busy time, and a time of great learnings and hard yakka.<br />
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And while we were harvesting food, filling the cellar, building the Yause and the glasshouse, we also had to gather firewood for the winter from forests on the edge of town that are prone to fuel-reduction burns,<br />
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and waste wood material from a nearby mill for the humanure system.<br />
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We were all fairly exhausted by the end of Autumn, and the winter promised gentler labours. Jeremy used his horticulture skills to graft medlar scions onto hawthorn in the nearby commons.<br />
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He started carving things, such as this spoon, which he ate most of his meals with.<br />
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He learned new skills and passed them on. Woody was an eager student.<br />
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Jeremy made this small biochar furnace following our design and material salvaged trips to the tip. It works a treat!<br />
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Being an accomplished welder Jeremy made up these lugs for our back bike wheels at the local Men's Shed so we can hitch our trailers to them.<br />
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He made this little low-tech rocket stove, modelled on designs from David Holmgren's forthcoming book.<br />
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Jeremy starred in the trailer for that forthcoming book. The trailer was produced by Patrick and Anthony Petrucci.<br />
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Jeremy also starred in his own video showing the forge he made with scrap material from the tip, while at Tree Elbow. Anthony made the video for him in exchange for bike services Jeremy did on Ant's family's bikes. Participating in the extensive gift economy that exists locally was a revelation for Jeremy, and one he took to wholeheartedly.</div>
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One of the many things Woody and Jeremy liked to do was make a 'road train' (with the lugs) and head up to the skatepark for some wheelie good times.</div>
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Jeremy also taught Woody how to ride a flaming scooter. Hell yeah!<br />
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Jeremy also retrofitted old parts from the tip to make a new bike seat for Woody on the back of Meg's bike.<br />
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Over the year we became increasingly impressed with his technical skills.<br />
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Making all manners of things with materials that were either wild harvested or came from the tip. Most of these items he gave to people as gifts.<br />
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He made a coat rack for the Yause.<br />
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As it got colder he learnt from us how to knit with homemade needles made from hawthorn. This little scarf didn't come off him between the months of June and September.</div>
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He made a more significant rocket stove at the men's shed.<br />
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He learned to tan hides and make other useful things,<br />
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assisting at workshops with his friend Josh from <a href="https://www.thebushtannery.com.au/" target="_blank">the Bush Tannery</a>.</div>
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Earlier in the year he attended <a href="http://www.naturesapprentice.com.au/" target="_blank">Claire Dunn</a>'s natural fire-making workshop with Zeph and Connor,<br />
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and with these two and Patrick <a href="https://permapoesis.blogspot.com.au/2017/03/great-dividing-age-for-zephyr-on-his.html" target="_blank">walked for three days along the Goldfields track</a>, </div>
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sleeping rough and eating bush foods along the way.</span><br />
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Jeremy became a regular in the community, often seen flashing around on his bike through the town's streets.</div>
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and regularly attending the monthly working bees at the community garden.</div>
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By the last month of the year he'd turned out just as every bit odd as everyone else around here. An anthropologist friend calls Daylesford the town of black sheep. Yay for black sheep!<br />
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We did a lot of celebrating life this year, and we loved Jeremy's spirit, joining in and relishing the looseness.<br />
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We finished the year with strut.</div>
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We're going to miss you Jeremy Yau, and all the fun things we did together.</div>
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We're going to miss you in a really big way.<br />
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Thank you for what you brought to Tree Elbow, Jeremy, and for what you brought to our community. You are always welcome here. With much love,<br />
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<i>Artist as Family</i>Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-18748147063992176122017-12-15T15:21:00.001+11:002017-12-16T09:42:08.449+11:00Childhood wonderland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This year we've been running a weekly life-led bush school called <i>Make and Play</i>. We've carved spoons, made multi-pronged fishing spears, learned to cook on a camp fire, built cubbies, observed many aspects of the forest, made cord with flax leaves, yabbied and fished, swam, climbed trees, learned to find and share food, and enjoyed stories and good times with one another.</div>
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The last <i>Make and Play</i> for the year took place this morning and it was truly magical. After our initial acknowledgement of country and the Dja Dja Wurrung people and elders, and our own old people who have travelled from far and wide, Patrick told the story of how that morning the dawn Kookaburras had told him something strange was happening in the forest today. He asked the kids to keep an eye out for a sign or a clue as to what that strangeness might be.</div>
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Ashar told us the story of an indigenous group that uses ash from the fire to receive messages. He didn't know the full story so we decided to experiment with our old camp fire. Patrick buried his hands into some cold char-ash, threw it up, and as it settled on the ground he discovered a letter under the coals. We were all gobsmacked.<br />
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He read it out.<br />
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We knew we had to help The Captain of the Flying Pirate Ship, so the first thing to do was to find him. We got Zero, our trusty Jack Russell and his scruffy mate Fluff, to smell the letter and get the pirate's scent so these two rough coats could lead us to the Captain. We followed the dogs and lo and behold...<br />
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We found the pirate sleeping not far from our cubby camp. Our excitement must have woke him. He was so surprised to see us. The letter mentioned he couldn't talk unless he had his hat on, so we set out with the friendly mute pirate to try to find it.<br />
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The hat we soon found at the Can Tree, he put it on and - it was a miracle - he could speak! But it was a foreign language he spoke. We had to use our best expressions to tell him we don't speak his language. He quickly understood and spoke a language we could understand. He was so happy we could understand him and that we were eager to help.<br />
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He told us that his flying pirate ship had crash landed and his things were scattered all around. He was especially hoping to find his beloved stringed instrument which he had on him when he crashed. He lost it right after he'd heard the magical sounds. Therefore we wondered whether we would find his guitar at the magical musical sound machine (an old mineral water check point pipe) that goes deep down into the ground, and where we've often stopped and listened for the music of the underworld. It was here we found his guitar.<br />
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The pirate captain, who calls himself Norseman, asked whether there was a magical fairy tree close by. He remembered learning a song from the fairies back home, so he thought that maybe the fairies here would be able to understand the song. Some of the children knew about the fairy tree and led us to it. Our pirate sang the fairy song, and asked us to join in. Towards the end of the song Patrick saw Zero looking intensely inside the fairy tree and said to the little dog "what is it?" Zero raced straight inside the hollow and uncovered a beautiful coin bag. The pirate said that with this was his bag of magical coins and he could now do magic. He showed us how he could bite a coin in half and then blew it back to full size again. We all watched on in amazement. But how did he do it?<br />
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Just at this time a mother fox was seen watching us from just a few meters away. The two dogs got scent and off they went on a chase. We knew the dogs would catch up with us. The pirate was keen to go looking for his tucker bag and find his treasure box. And so were we, so we all headed off to help him. The tucker bag was resting by the mineral water pumps at Sutton Spring, and we stopped for some of this delicious underworld water, and the pirate shared some of his fruit leathers, dried nuts and seeds. Yummo.<br />
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We headed off again, this time we had the treasure chest in our minds. Keeping up with the older kids was quite a challenge.<br />
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We arrived at Lake Daylesford where our Norseman remembered his ship crashing into. He also remembered holding on to his treasure chest while swimming ashore, but remembered little else after that. We all got very excited that we were possibly close to recovering the chest. The pirate showed us a stick riddle. It's answer, he said, would tell us the direction to go.<br />
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The riddle revealed a fish, and the fish pointed as an arrow, and off we raced in the arrow's direction.<br />
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We knew we were getting warmer.</div>
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Two turtles and three ducks on the water all turned their heads as we approached and we knew this was a directional sign. We followed their pointer. A small bag with a key in it was soon found and we were jumping with excitement.<br />
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And then young Axel (or was it his older brother Oscar?) found it. The pirate was so happy because it meant he could perform the old magic he'd learned from shamans from all over the world.<br />
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He turned a blank book into a book of colourful drawings by just rubbing over the cover,<br />
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stuck four separate pieces of coloured cloth into his closed hand and when he pulled them out they were all stitched together.<br />
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The children were dazzled. How did he do it?<br />
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He was so grateful we helped him to find his lost things, and we were so grateful for the adventure he took us on. He took a bow and thanked us for our generosity as we bestowed gifts upon him.<br />
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We then feasted on nourishing fruits and fibres of the earth. We have honoured the earth back in many ways this year, one example of this is having our snack food nude, and not in disposable plastic.<br />
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We then hung out on the jetty, playing games, not quite believing the adventure we'd just had.<br />
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Luckily Meg and Patrick took some photos to show friends and family, because otherwise they would not believe the time we'd just experienced.Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-23994195873725679172017-12-05T10:55:00.000+11:002017-12-05T14:16:51.129+11:00A gut healing book warming (and the importance of home) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There are so many entities to thank when a book comes into being. Convention dictates we thank humans only, which makes sense because a book is a fairly human-orientated thing. Yet a book has many other contributors who make it possible, so before we begin this post on the social warming event that brought <i>re:)Fermenting culture: a return to insight through gut logic</i> into the community, we wish to give thanks and praise to the vegetal flowerings, barks and pulp, the nitrogenous rain cycles and carbonous roots, the mycelial meanderings, bacterial bounties, autonomous chewers, borers and suckers, and much more life besides. Thank you for your part in making this book become.</div>
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Just before the punters arrived, each with their life-giving, much-more-than-human microbiomes, we put the finishing touches on the fermented foods that we wanted to warm people into our home with, and get their guts zinging.<br />
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The word <i>home</i> has become a pejorative term, initially engineered by industrial capitalists to shame unwilling peasants into leave the economic autonomy of home and get a "real job" in a factory. Then later the word was further degraded by a strain of industrialised feminism, those who could only imagine home as a stereotypical 1950s domain of feminine incarceration and boredom. Both these corrupted versions of <i>home</i> are not ours. As radical-homemaking-feminist-neopeasants we think of home as a place of intimate dwelling, and the most empowering environment we could possibly imagine. Of course, by home we don't just mean the confine of our house and garden, but also our walked common land to neighbours, friends, community gardens, near forests, creeks and places of many other relationships that enable wellness to spring forth in relation to our own labours and insights. From such empowerment springs forth such food.<br />
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Home for us is a place of healing, growing, consuming, decaying, dying, birthing and giving back in order to keep the gifts of the earth flowering. Under this order all is compost, all is fermentation, all is food and labour and new life that sprouts from the necessity of death.<br />
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It was to be a day to celebrate poetics and philosophy in the community sphere and what better way to do this than share the food we consume that is our fuel for poesis. By 3pm we were ready for all comers. Speakers, guests, children, dogs – all manner of goodly folk – began to arrive after an earlier rain shower that filled the garden with a miraculous energy that was impossible not to sense.<br />
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Woody sang and strummed the warmers into the hearth of our homelife.<br />
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We were brought many gifts, such as wild fermented sourdough from Mara to add to the ferments table.<br />
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Some of the non-alcoholic fermented beverages Meg brewed for the day were turmeric tonic, jun and rejuvelac, all flavoured with various flowers and herbs from the garden including wild fennel and elderflower.<br />
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It was a day of bright light, colours and ongoing Woody instrumentations.<br />
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It was also a day of raffling hard-to-get-hold-of things, such as these hops vines that we divided from the mother plant and potted up in the winter. In the raffle we raised over $60 for the community gardens. That's a lot of seed!<br />
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Woody tried every instrument in the house as more and more warmers assembled and he developed further a role for himself as musical host.<br />
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Summery peeps and chilled dogs wandered through the garden, where they beheld our neopeasant homestead on a quarter acre, being tended to and developed on a household income well below the poverty line. Such wealth is possible with a volunteered poverty.<br />
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Vegetal life and built environments are complimentary forces at Tree Elbow, and everyone at the warming got to feel the physicality of such energy transference between the formed and the forming.<br />
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More musical delighters rolled in.<br />
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Old and new friends came to the party.<br />
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The outdoor kitchen became a bar for chance encounters and a place of simple feeding. All the food and drink, including the acorn beer and elderflower mead, were fermented with ingredients that came from our homeplace. There were happy guts everywhere; in season and in step with life.<br />
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And there were serious conversation guts too. There's so much work to be done by all of us to keep health flowering in a world being killed off by unhappy gut people whose main concern is money.<br />
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<a href="https://ballaratpermacultureguild.org/" target="_blank">Steve</a> brought some old ferments to trade for a book. They came with quite a story.<br />
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<a href="http://mayaward.com.au/" target="_blank">Maya</a>, before giving her remarkable gut-heart-mind talk, catches up with <a href="https://www.holmgren.com.au/" target="_blank">David and Su</a>, grandfolk of permaculture.<br />
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Hal was introduced to Su, just one of a myriad encounters that brought people together.<br />
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People gathered round the house as Patrick signed books and talked his passions – gut logic, Pandora and the creation stories our culture has all but buried.<br />
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Children gathered under the oak tree. They found their place before the talks began.<br />
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Our book table offered an assortment of publications written by Artist as Family members. Thanks Kat for minding the stall where money and non-money exchanges were made.<br />
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Despite the incredible weather to be outside we decided to welcome people into the house for an non amplified honouring of the book through deeply collected thoughts. Ant played <a href="https://anthonypetrucci.bandcamp.com/releases" target="_blank">a few sweet tunes</a> as around 80 folk found a seat or a comfortable standing place.<br />
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<a href="http://villagedreaming.com.au/" target="_blank">Mara</a> MC'd the proceedings. The gentle formality of such a relaxed event gave ritual regard to the purpose of why we'd gathered.<br />
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She welcomed Meg to speak who gave us considerable laughter (her very own gut-made serotonin and dopamine at work) and an impassioned insight into what we'd been eating – the origins and techniques of such food (which included delicious pickled spear thistle stems) are unobtainable in any supermarket.<br />
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Then Mara welcomed <a href="http://leanganook.org/" target="_blank">Nikki</a> to speak,. Nikki had prepared an eloquent dissertation of the book, which Patrick will share later on his <a href="https://permapoesis.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">permapoesis blog</a>.<br />
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The fermenting vessel <a href="http://leanganook.org/" target="_blank">Nikki</a> used to illustrate her talk had been made especially by <a href="http://clayspacedaylesford.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/studio-tour-petrus-spronk-master-muse.html" target="_blank">Petrus</a>. The vessel was sculptured, broken and the shards put back together as a metaphor for Patrick's putting back the fragments of the Pandora myth and the cosmology surrounding it so important to rethinking culture after the effects of misogyny and misogyny's retaliating sister, misandry. Both hatreds neuter life and are in service only to more war making. Like Nikki's talk, Petrus' fermenting vessel becomes a gift back to Tree Elbow in exchange for the book. The vessel more than symbolising a return to sensible culture after the rupturing of industrial modernity that although masculine in form has harmed both women and men, and taken us away from an intimacy with a loved land and from each other. Thank you Petrus and Nikki! What a lovely ordering of thought and form from two giving elders.<br />
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Maya then spoke, with such force and insight that not a single photograph was taken. She held us in a homeplace where reclaiming life, refermenting it, taking in the medicine of the possibility of post-industrialism and orienteering our cultures again towards their permanent regeneration could be more than dreamt.<br />
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With Meg earlier speaking on the alive foods and drinks we wished to nourish our guests, Mara acknowledging country, the Dja Dja Wurrung elders upon whose land we were gathering, as well as our own elders before introducing everyone, <a href="https://anthonypetrucci.bandcamp.com/releases" target="_blank">Ant soulfully playing songs he has arranged using Patrick's poems</a>, and Nikki and Maya delivering their profound addresses concerning this new little book, it was the author's time to speak.<br />
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After all the thank yous, and a brief talk on the imperatives of writing such a work right now, Patrick read <i>Part 1, Vessel</i> (a <i>slow text</i> poem) from <i>re:)Fermenting culture</i>. This work is the not-so-easy gateway into the book, into the underworld of it. It sets up a physical hurdle for the reader, which requires the time, personal resolve and quietude to engage. The book is divided into 3 parts – a poem, an essay and a recipe (the poetical, theoretical and practical) and we offer it here as an ebook to freely share (email us) or a hardcopy that can be purchased via this blog (see righthand side bar of this website). If you wish to read more about the book head to <a href="https://permapoesis.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Patrick's blog</a>. And if you wish to get your local library to order it in they can do so through us here.<br />
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Thank you Brett for taking all the pics on the day. And thank you Nikki, Maya, Ant, Mara, Jeremy, Brett and Kat for helping out on the day. Thank you to all present and future readers of <i>re:)Fermenting culture</i> and for the goodly labours you each perform to keep the earth flowering, fruiting and producing more and more fermentable fibres on the loved ground you call your home.Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-45222043178881705292017-11-11T13:37:00.000+11:002017-11-12T15:26:38.386+11:00The post-supermarket homefront (nearly a decade on)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello spring! What a flowering we've had this year! So much fruit set. Yippee!!</div>
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Some of our activities in the garden at this time of year include picking off the cabbage moth larvae to feed to the chooks (thanks Meg!), feeding weed tea to the onions (thanks Woody!), and cutting off the frost burnt leaves on the potatoes (thanks Patrick!).</div>
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All our produce ends up in the kitchen and much lands on the fermenting table, which is Meg's shrine to our household's health. We call this the Pandoran hub of the house, after Pandora, known since early Greece as the goddess of fermentation, hope and insight – who Patrick calls, in <a href="https://permapoesis.blogspot.com.au/2017/11/refermenting-culture-return-to-insight.html" target="_blank">his latest book</a>, the healing goddess of the underworld of our gut. The gut is where 90% of serotonin and 50% of dopamine is produced in our body. These are the happy chemicals essential for a good life. Give the body microbiome-killing industrial food and medicine and you have a significant problem, individually and culturally.<br />
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Here's an example of Pandora's goodly alchemistry performed by Meg. In this homemade apple cider vinegar made last autumn there are many beneficial herbs and weeds from the garden including: rosemary, coriander, dandelion, plantain, mallow, horseradish leaf, lemon thyme, calendula, hawthorn berries, rosehips, parsley and sheep sorrel. You can look up the benefits of each of these plants using that old thing, the Internet. Be sure to cross reference and go to peer reviewed papers if they exist. Otherwise trust your gut. She knows. Each plant contains vital minerals and nutrients, and the vinegar helps extract the minerals otherwise locked up. We use a little of this brew each time in salad dressings.<br />
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Meg's raw milk cheeses are another form of wild fermented goodness. We don't eat much animal protein, but adding this contraband local material into the mix of our life certainly adds a cow-kick punch to our week. Thank you gentle creatures of field and herb.<br />
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At this time of the year the cellar is becoming depleted, but there's still something delicious to find on each journey into this other Pandoran underworld. Bottles such as our former SWAP, Marta's Polish pears, or our dried plums, toms and citrus, or Meg's raw wild fermented soft cheese balls preserved in olive oil with herbs.<br />
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So many of the processes and activities we carry out each day offer an array of learning moments, but play is equally as important.<br />
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If Woody wants to jump on the trampoline he does so, but fairly soon he'll come over and say, "Can I have a job." Sun drying herbs is probably not a labour that takes his fancy, so he'll probably opt for the trampoline before lunchtime.<br />
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Speaking of which. Lunch is probably our favourite meal. A typical lunch? Patrick's wild and slow fermented 100% spelt sourdough with sprouted lentils, Meg's veggie spread (tahini, miso paste, olive oil, lemon juice, crushed garlic), her famous three-cornered garlic kraut, and her semi-hard raw milk, wild fermented cheese. Fit for any aspiring neopeasant. Yes, we know, this is all sounding so <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portlandia_(TV_series)" target="_blank"><i>Portlandia</i></a>. For a laugh we call it <i>Daylesfordia</i>, but the radicalism of how we live is not to be scoffed at. Just try us. We do all this well below the poverty line, and while our agency springs from two generations of privilege, the future for us is found in emulating the ecological intelligences of our peasant and indigenous ancestors. We make the bold gut claim that if everyone in the West lived with similar simple nourishment and low carbon lifeways we'd seriously mitigate the effects of climate change, obliterate pollution and species extinction and reduce many human health pathologies produced by unchecked modernity. Yes, it's a big claim, and too big to go further into here, but we will happily chew your ear off, lock horns or swap knowledges with you if that's your thing... Warning: trolls will be composted. Mmmm. Time for lunch.<br />
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This spring Patrick has built the outdoor kitchen in time for summer. Here he checks that the bread tins fit in the oven below.<br />
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Patrick has also just finished the greenhouse, with the help this year of SWAPs Connor, Marta and Jeremy. The suspended worm farm that sits under the bench catches all the drips and keeps the worms moist and happy. It's really great having the worms so close to the kitchen. Scraps are either thrown out the window to the chooks or given to the worms. Gravity fed everything!<br />
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Water recycling has also required a lot of thinking this year, and as a result we are 100% water off-grid. All waste water is now directed into the garden at multiple points, gravity fed.<br />
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We continue our commitment to car-free living, although of late we've had to borrow a car here and there to go look for our gut-damaged teen Zeph and his best friend, trouble. Zeph's rebellion has been to eat toxic corporatised food and drink. The inflammatory results have been startling, and extremely unsettling. Collecting wood on foot and on bikes, never over-harvesting but taking fire-prone buildups of fallen branches keeps us fit and healthy, and our carbon footprint very low. This wood cooks, dries, heats, bakes, boils, brews, roasts, toasts and generally keeps us warm and nurtured. We no longer need the appliances that do all those things. Year after year we live with less and less.<br />
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We daily clean out the wood stoves and sort the potash from the charcoal, using both useful products in the home and garden. The potash is returned to the perennial parts of the garden and the forest from where we pick fruits and mushrooms, and the char we crush and pee onto to activate before we use it in the annual beds. Unactivated charcoal can take up nitrogen out of the soil and therefore can negate plant growth. By activating it you get a slow release fertiliser.<br />
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We use sawdust from a local mill to sprinkle on our poo. The black hole (below right) is a bucket of charcoal for wee. In making humanure it is important to separate the urine from the faeces, otherwise it gets too nitrogeny and therefore stinky. Patrick made this dry composting toilet system which can either be used as a squat or conventional sit toilet, for less than $100. If we had to do it by the book it would have cost more like $10,000 rendering it impossible for us to make the change. The EPA approved systems are good, especially if you don't understand the science of composting poo, but if you follow basic principles all you really need is a bucket, sawdust, compost bays and patience. We estimate we now save 20,000 lt of water a year by removing the old flush toilet. That's 20,000 lt extra we can put on the garden and grow some decent food.<br />
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Building more humanure composting bays has been a priority with all the extra goodies going into our closed loop system. We have three humanure toilets now and plenty of visitors. Reclaiming old pallets and building bays into an existing wall makes this a straight forward and cost neutral operation.<br />
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The result: fertility of the highest order. We rate humanure as the best compost we've ever made.<br />
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Woody is wood obsessed. Every day he has a relationship with trees, timbers and various tools. Whittling,<br />
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chopping,<br />
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and playing. <br />
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This has been a brief snapshot of our lives this spring. A tremendously big warm <i>thank you</i> goes to <a href="http://villagedreaming.com.au/" target="_blank">Mara Ripani</a> for the photos. A big congrats to Connor and Marta who are getting married in Feb. They met at Tree Elbow and fell in love.<br />
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A more detailed account of our lives and a manifesto of how we live can be read in Patrick's forthcoming book, <i><a href="https://permapoesis.blogspot.com.au/2017/11/refermenting-culture-return-to-insight.html" target="_blank">re:)Fermenting culture: a return to insight through gut logic</a></i>. You are all most welcome to visit our garden at Tree Elbow and join us to warm this book into existence in a few weeks time. There will be tastings of our ferments, music and readings.<br />
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We are also now hosting regular house and garden tours. The last one for the year will take place Sunday Nov 19, 1.30 - 4.30pm. $30 per person. There are still a few places available. Contact us for more details.Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-70749528266543888462017-08-04T20:42:00.001+10:002017-08-04T20:42:07.599+10:00Cultural fermentation<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWxVNEcDJqg/WYRPGgX3XxI/AAAAAAAAFEM/aUeQ1DFBtNgMQyqjJnGb3qFEeKhESe5IACLcBGAs/s1600/AaF%2BWinW%2B2017%2Bposter_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWxVNEcDJqg/WYRPGgX3XxI/AAAAAAAAFEM/aUeQ1DFBtNgMQyqjJnGb3qFEeKhESe5IACLcBGAs/s640/AaF%2BWinW%2B2017%2Bposter_l.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For more details call 0418 523 308</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-71516098294977662262017-06-12T21:19:00.000+10:002017-06-22T09:33:48.458+10:00The buildings, growings, gatherings and storings of this regenerative age<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been a busy 6 months of building, producing, gathering and crafting, so busy in fact that we haven't had a moment to blog. Until today.</div>
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Teaching younger folk to build has been our focus over the past year, starting with James and Zeph building <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTsRooS69fM" target="_blank">The Cumquat</a></i>, then more recently, Connor, Jeremy and Marta helping with the north-facing greenhouse.<br />
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We've built a number of other buildings too, including the Yause (named after Jeremy Yau, who came to SWAP with us in February and has been here ever since).<br />
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Jeremy moved into the Yause after just 7 weeks of building.<br />
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We also built the Cookhouse, the name we gave our low-tech sauna. <br />
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We used local cypress timber and discarded sheep's wool to line the inside of Zeph's old cubby, and
we found an old wood heater at the tip which we bought for $30 and
restored with a lick of stove paint. Thanks Zeph!<br />
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It works a treat!<br />
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We also installed more water tanks for further veggie production (nearly everything we spend money on is intended to take us away from further requiring it),<br />
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To preserve our gifted old timber windows (thanks Vasko!), Connor painted them before the rains set in.<br />
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and we started work on the Smithy, where Jeremy and Patrick will be setting up a blacksmith and wood crafting workshop to teach others.<br />
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There have been many other smaller projects we have worked on this year, such as completing the cellar – building more storage for our preserves, ferments, booze and cheeses. We are so close to going fridge-less now! Just a cool cupboard to build and a fridge to offload.<br />
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Home production has also been extensive with many hands making light work. Buster, who rode her bicycle from Brisbane, came to SWAP with us and hung about with Woody, decking the trampoline with summer fruit to sun-preserve. Thanks Buster!<br />
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Our bees have had a remarkable first season, storing food for themselves and for us in the near completed anti-aviary.<br />
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We robbed them of a third of their summer production,<br />
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obtaining a whopping 15 kgs out of a total of 45 kgs of honey that they produced in just 6 months. Astounding! Thank you beautiful creatures.<br />
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The annual veggie production began to ramp up again too,<br />
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and not only did we learn more about bees from our friends at <a href="https://www.milkwood.net/" target="_blank">Milkwood Permaculture</a>, we learnt a thing or two about intensive veggie production too. We have begun to double dig all our beds.<br />
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Home production of perennials has also increased this year with plants such as hops for brewing and for sleepytime tea,<br />
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and kiwi fruits, which tease Woody with their unripeness well into early winter.</div>
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We have been gathering other perennial crops in the garden too, such as acorns – harvesting them for pancake meal and beer making,</div>
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and gathering together for all sorts of events with kin and community. From community garden working bees and free workshops that we've organised,<br />
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to fermenting workshops, including Culture Club's wonderful community pickling day,<br />
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mushroom and weed foraging workshops that we've led,<br />
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and Friday night local food gatherings, which we've hosted weekly at Tree Elbow.<br />
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We've had so many remarkable guests stay with us over the past 6 months. David Asher came from Canada to share his passion for wild fermented raw cheeses,<br />
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permaculture teacher, <a href="http://www.commonweal.org/staff/penny-livingston-stark/" target="_blank">Penny Livingston-Stark</a>, came and feasted with our community and shared her remarkable story alongside David Holmgren,<br />
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cousin Pepper and Ra were regular visitors,<br />
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comedian <a href="http://www.lawrenceleung.com/" target="_blank">Lawrence Leung</a> (who slept in the Yause) and independent filmmaker, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1590758/" target="_blank">Celeste Geer</a>, came with a crew to film for <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/" target="_blank">Catalyst</a>,<br />
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and of course our three long-term SWAPs, Connor and Marta (here stacking a fine compost on the nature strip),<br />
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and Jeremy (here working on a forge blower he's making from discarded material), have all been stalwarts at Tree Elbow this year.<br />
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Long term resident Zero, a huge personality in a little dog suit, will turn 49 this winter, rendering him the most significant elder of Artist as (extended) Family,<br />
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and while Zeph has been extricating himself from Artist as Family collaborations, he still makes regular appearances (often with friend Owen) to Tree Elbow, bringing his zest for disruption, bravado and beautiful independence, and keeping us all on our toes. Onya Zeph!<br />
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The way we get around and retrieve resources, or go out to participate in the community is very much about <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwDx0e8Iczw" target="_blank">our continued practice of a low carbon consciousness</a>. Bikes are essential for this cultural and economic transition. We've been car-less now for seven years!<br />
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Riding and walking into yet another wet and cold season means we are once again hardy to the change of weather. While community friends and other loved ones fall sick around us, colds and flu will be a long time coming into our neo-peasant home.<br />
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Walked-for, dug, and directly-picked food, dirt on hands, active and accountable living and mobility, goodly sleep, and generally being outside all gather as the ingredients for a health-filled, resilient and low-carbon life. While this is not THE solution to the many varied problems of industrialisation, it is for us a genuine response to the predicament of our age.<br />
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We hope you have found some spirit here, spirit to aid your resolve as we find strength and inspiration in yours. For those interested in a deeper unpacking of our practice and of our cultural fermentations, <a href="http://garlandmag.com/article/lively-hood/" target="_blank">Patrick has an essay just published in Garland magazine</a>. If you have similar life hacks you would like to share with us or any other Qs related to how we live, please leave a comment or send us a message. (NB: Trolls will be composted.)<br />
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Over for now,<br />
much loving and flowing of gifts to you, and from and to the worlds of the world,<br />
<i>Artist as Family</i>Artist as Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01000057566127487240noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-11769485067045057682017-02-07T13:07:00.000+11:002017-02-08T08:02:27.254+11:00Into the glean and scene of 2017We ended 2016 with a <a href="http://justfreefood.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">community garden working bee</a> with mates,<br />
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cleaning off graffiti from around the town (that one of us thought was a good idea to do at the time),<br />
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building a new squat compost loo with SWAP, Isobel,<br />
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going for a little ride,<br />
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to spend the summer solstice at <a href="https://holmgren.com.au/melliodora/?v=3a1ed7090bfa" target="_blank">Melliodora</a> with neo-peasant and permie mates,</div>
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advertising for our first SWAP-intern suitable to work with the whole family, particularly Zeph,<br />
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and carried on with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddVmQwrJdrU" target="_blank">forest work</a> and play,<br />
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until the year was done and we gathered with various friends and other community groups to celebrate the new year.</div>
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Our little ensemble of community gardeners won best 'float', despite our on-foot-ness.<br />
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The next day, with our <a href="https://www.milkwood.net/" target="_blank">Milkwood mates</a>, we were very floaty when we heard the news of our win ($500 to the community gardens to grow more free food).</div>
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This year we've been welcoming Connor into our family. Connor was chosen to be our first SWAP-intern. Within days it was like this remarkable young man has been with us for years.</div>
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And we've been blessed with more wonderful SWAPs coming to live and learn with us. Hello Anna!</div>
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And hello Marta!<br />
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We went out of town with our mate Pete to collect some locally grown and milled timber. We're going to build a number of things in the next few months.<br />
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With friends Mara, Kirsten and Kat we made a banner,<br />
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which will be used each year to mark January 26, <i>terra nullius day</i> at the Daylesford Town Hall.<br />
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We've been doing little fermenting experiments and loving the results.<br />
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Actually, Connor doesn't need elderflower cider to fool around in the gloaming.<br />
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Connor and Marta have been hanging out working together, riding the tandem and generally keeping the home fires burning.<br />
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Because it's a time of storing,<br />
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food forestry and many people staying,<br />
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pumpkins, citrus and kiwi fruiting,<br />
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honey making,<br />
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poultry growing,<br />
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appling,<br />
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learning,<br />
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keeping the mice numbers down,<br />
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and more storing.<br />
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Collecting materials from building sites, the tip, and having friends who gift large doors and windows (thanks Nicko and Elle), has enabled the planning of the north-facing greenhouse.<br />
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Our home is a busy mess of multiple projects, ferments and general productivity. We're using the excessive affluence of industrial civilisation to transition to low-money, low-carbon lifeways before inevitable decline or collapse.<br />
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<i>Prepare now or struggle later</i> is our motto, and what we've found in the meantime is a more joyous, meaningful form of life making.</div>
Permapoesishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05565236504537501720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068486315338288419.post-18809852016939541372016-12-04T22:27:00.001+11:002016-12-05T17:01:56.835+11:00Neo-peasants rise up!<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">English writer George Monbiot contests “the oddest insult in the English language [is] when you call someone a peasant, [because] you are accusing them of being self-reliant and productive.” Go Woody! You proud lil 'peasant...</span></div>
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Words such as pagan and heathen were insults Christians used to describe various nameless land-sacred peoples of Europe. In our community our peasant, pagan, heathen women get together to raise awareness about the relocalisation of food and medicine in an age where Christian-capitalism is becoming a spent and dying force.<br />
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Zeph and Woody, like true neo-peasants, are learning grafting techniques to expand the food commons in their locasphere.<br />
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Woody (pictured here after his first haircut on his birthday morning) gets to four years of age without eating processed sugar,<br />
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and for another half year his brother is lovingly unschooled through the gifts of the community.<br />
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(Thanks Tosh, Danny, Nick, Kirsten, Pete, Jeff, Cath, Hamish, Fiona, Henri, Edward, Tim, Angela and Gael for aiding Zeph's learning).<br />
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Zeph also experiments with his own forms of neo-peasant culture-making in his video <i>Treeffiti</i>:<br />
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and mucks around with developing his own written language.</div>
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He helps in numerous home projects such as building the cellar from stone unearthed from our land.<br />
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Nice job 14 year-old!</div>
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Zephyr is loving having <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTsRooS69fM" target="_blank">his own pad</a> to sleep in, entertain friends in and as a venue to host impromptu gigs by touring friends <a href="http://formidablevegetable.com.au/" target="_blank">Formidable Vegetable Sound System</a>.<br />
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This is Angela, who we welcomed as a SWAP (Social Warming Artists + Permaculturists), and who has since become a friend to all of us.</div>
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In this photo Angela and Meg are preparing a bed for cabbages.<br />
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We have irrigation lines set up for the dry months but for the rainy months we harvest water passively in our swales.<br />
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It wasn't just Angela who arrived to our place by bike. These last few months we have hosted four <a href="https://www.warmshowers.org/" target="_blank">Warm Showers</a> travellers: Maya, Kirsten, Jaz and Tom, (pictured below). On most days we talk about upcoming cycle trips that we are scheming, but for now we are happy to be home where we can repay some of the kindness shown to us while we were on the road.<br />
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We also love being home because we love being community gardeners, helping to build an alternative food system based on care, nourishment and trust. The Daylesford Community Food Gardeners are planning to be in the Daylesford New Year's Eve parade again this year, so please get in touch if you'd like to join us.<br />
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Love the poster, Jeff! We're rapt you promised a bike or two for next year's poster.</div>
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Learning the art of bicycle maintenance is an ongoing affair at our place. Bicycles are a preferred neo-peasant mobility.<br />
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But you always see more when you're walking, such as this little family of hard shells we spotted at Lake Daylesford,<br />
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while fishing for some feral redfin.<br />
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Wild plants, fish and mushrooms are part of any neo-peasant sacred economy, as are wild bees. We caught our first wild swarm this spring, aided and tutored by Nick from <a href="https://www.milkwood.net/" target="_blank">Milkwood</a>. Thanks Nick!<br />
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We've been mentoring and handing on knowledges too, while getting fashion tips in exchange. Thanks Ruby!<br />
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Harvesting the early planted garlic was an experiment worth repeating. We planted these bulbs in February.<br />
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Gift economies only work if the gifts flow in every direction. We've been foraging in the nearby forest so carrying out work that enables the diversity of that forest to flourish is the return.</div>
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And we've been speaking, sharing and learning at a number of events including talks at libraries, sustainability festivals and at this event, <a href="http://ksca.land/futurelands/" target="_blank">Futurelands2</a>, where Patrick introduced Bruce Pascoe in the Kandos community hall.</div>
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We shared an event with Kirsten from Milkwood and Uncle Kevin Williams, a Wiradjuri man, at Ganguddy,</div>
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and we did a most non neo-peasant thing and flew to Cairns, breaking our no-fly principle. All throughout the flight we had to burp Beverly, our jun mother.<br />
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We were invited to Cairns as guests of the 2016 International Indigenous Allied Health Conference, and got to spend three days with this wonderful group, each of us sharing stories of resilience and creativity from our respective communities.<br />
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Patrick gave a keynote called <a href="https://issuu.com/permapoesis/docs/fermenting_country_dr_patrick_jones" target="_blank">Fermenting country: caring for the ecology of our guts</a>, and Meg ran a complementary workshop on making fermented drinks, including jun.<br />
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Meg separated 16 parts of Beverly to give away. She named each one after a strong woman in our community. Here is Leith, an exhibitor from the Dept of Veteran Affairs.</div>
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The gifts flowed our way too. Matthew Tafoya, a Navajo man, designed and made this famous t-shirt in the Bush jnr era. Matt's talk about his people's community food gardens was inspirational.<br />
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So as you can see we've been busy lil' neo-peasants and raising quite a sweat these past few months. Meg made us some soap so we can clean up a little before new year.</div>
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Wishing you all a peaceful summer solstice season, with love from <i>Artist as Family</i>...</div>
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Artist as Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01000057566127487240noreply@blogger.com11