Permacultureglobal.org - the interactive map and database of the Worldwide Permaculture Network

22 Acre Rural Residence

Details

Commenced:	01/05/2009
Submitted:	22/10/2011
Last updated:	07/10/2015
Location:	Beechwood, NSW, AU
Climate zone:	Warm Temperate

Followers

View Updates

22 Acre Rural Residence

Project Type

Rural

Project Summary

22 acres of rural residential property on the Hastings River. Emphasis on restoring fertility and constant experiments with plant and animal systems. An on-swale food forest is the largest system we've installed.

Project Description

This property is our home of 2.5 years that we're trying to turn productive using permaculture principles and design techniques.

Among our challenges: Deer, rabbits, and wallabies which graze down anything we plant. Weeds that don't conform to the permaculture weed view of weeds-as-repairers (eg. fireweed and paramatta grass). A 30-year old "passive-aggressive solar" home (it gets full sun in the summer). And the usual time, money and experience limitations.

Working the land for us are weeds, meat rabbits, goats, a few cows, chooks, muscovy geese, hideously noisy guinea fowl, and of course chooks.

Successes so far: healthy, breeding animals, observed increases in insect and plant diversity and health, swales built and groundcover established, bamboo thriving, dams cleaned, solar hot water installed, extra insulation installed and pumpkins - LOTS of pumpkins!

Someday we hope this property is a shining example of how well permaculture works. We'll be selling surplus, hosting WOOFers and PDCs. Until then, during its "awkward adolescent" phase, we hope to attract permies to come see what early days are like for a permaculture rehab project and to offer expertise and advice.

Updates

Courses Taught Here!

Project Badges

Administrators

Team Members

(close)

Legend of Badges

Note: The various badges displayed in people profiles are largely honesty-based self-proclamations by the individuals themselves. There are reporting functions users can use if they know of blatant misrepresentation (for both people and projects). Legitimacy, competency and reputation for all people and projects can be evidenced and/or developed through their providing regular updates on permaculture work they’re involved in, before/after photographs, etc. A spirit of objective nurturing of both people and projects through knowledge/encouragement/inspiration/resource sharing is the aim of the Worldwide Permaculture Network.

	Member A member is a permaculturist who has never taken a PDC course. These cannot become PDC teachers. Members may be novice or highly experienced permaculturists or anywhere in between. Watch their updates for evaluation.
	Permaculture Matchmaker One of these badges will show if you select your gender and the "I'm single, looking for a permaculture partner" option in your profile.
	PDC People who claim to have taken a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course somewhere in the world.
	PDC Verified People who have entered an email address for the teacher of their PDC course, and have had their PDC status verified by that teacher. Watch their updates for evaluation.
	PRI PDC People who’ve taken a Permaculture Research Institute PDC somewhere in the world.
	PDC Teacher People who claim to teach some version of PDC somewhere in the world.
	PRI Teacher With the exception of the ‘Member’ who has never taken a PDC, all of the above can apply to become a PRI PDC Teacher. PRI PDC Teachers are those who the PRI recognise, through a vetting board, as determined and competent to teach the full 72-hour course as developed by Permaculture founder Bill Mollison – covering all the topics of The Designers’ Manual as well as possible (i.e. not cherry picking only aspects the teacher feels most interested or competent in). Such teachers also commit to focussing on the design science, and not including subjective spiritual/metaphysical elements. The reason these items are not included in the PDC curriculum is because they are “belief” based. Permaculture Design education concerns itself with teaching good design based on strategies and techniques which are scientifically provable. PRI PDC Teachers may be given teaching and/or consultancy offerings as they become available as the network grows.
	Aid Worker The individual with this badge is indicating they are, have, or would like to be involved in permaculture aid work. As such, the individual may or may not have permaculture aid worker experience. Watch their updates for evaluation.
	Consultant The individual with this badge is indicating they are, have, or would like to do paid permaculture design consultancy work. As such, the individual may or may not have permaculture consultancy experience. Watch their updates for evaluation.
	Community Project Community projects are projects that help develop sustainable community interaction and increase localised resiliency.