Wow! Margie! Fantastic stuff - keep up the great work, and the great writing! We are still trying to increase the yield from our organic garden in Leuven, Belgium. We're also involved in a Food Forest (a very small one) with a diaspora of relative neighbours, but nothing as coordinated as what you are up to. Maybe it needs a disaster (like your fire) to galvanize the real interest/ commitment. Kind regard, Neil and Anne.
Maybe the disaster helped, Neil. It certainly brought focus, and no one here is under any illusions about what it means. But, I think it still takes a group of people shifting out of thier comfort zone and doing something new. Sounds like you have the foundations of that potential. Good luck!
I am wondering where you're located. I have somehow got it in my mind that you're in Northern California and I would love to begin the process of becoming part of your community.
Bless, Becca. You are too. I am loving the steady stream of beautiful notes you publish. Moments of gorgeous insight. Proud to call you a friend and fellow activist, too.
Only in the last 6 months have I become aware of the equally important work of Nate Hagens and The Great Simplification. You seem an ideal candidate for one of his deep dive interviews, if you haven’t already been featured. Are you aware of his efforts? They seem to dovetail neatly with your own.
This is amazing! I'm feeling it all here in Lismore, NSW and am very much in line with your sentiments. I'm trying to learn about more climate appropriate plants for the subtropics though - a big curve.
I'm also just attempting to up my social media game though. I'm really not sure I should.
RESPECT. Lismore is the epicentre of climate chaos in the western world. Few beyond Australia recognise just how tough you guys have it.
Would love to hear more about your plans.
For what it is worth, I wouldn't bother with the social media channels anymore ... at least not for meaningful engagement. They are too overrun with algorithm driven content and people's topic comprehension is limited to absorbing slogans.
This is fantastic, good for you and it’s inspiring Margi what you’re achieving with the garden and the community building. Like to be a fly on the wall of your greenhouse just to get some of that garden wisdom.
I ran a CSA farm in Portland, Oregon from 2007-2010, but kept it small at two dozen households. The third year I extended it to include winter shares, and was the first CSA in the area to do so, which I was pretty proud of at the time. By the final year I was also accepting $ money for just half the shares, and the other half were barter/trade for goods and services. It felt good to bend the model.
Bending the model is such a brilliant way to describe it. I love that. So glad hear you've sucessfully walked the path. It's always heartening to know I am following in wiser footsteps. With the addition of your winter cropping, did you cover the full 12 months (26 fortnights)? Do you have and tips or resource recommendations for planning to overcome the spring hunger gap period? As we head into our winter I am struggling with planning for this, and can't seem to find much information. It might be that I am not searching using the right terms, perhaps.
Bending the model is such a brilliant way to describe it. I love that. So glad hear you've sucessfully walked the path. It's always heartening to know I am following in wiser footsteps. With the addition of your winter cropping, did you cover the full 12 months (26 fortnights)? Do you have and tips or resource recommendations for planning to overcome the spring hunger gap period? As we head into our winter I am struggling with planning for this, and can't seem to find much information. It might be that I am not searching using the right terms, perhaps.
so good to read about reciprocity being put into action and therefore experienced.
Interesting and empowering to feel the support returning to you Margi from all around the world.
I am currently reading (just started) "The Earth Knows My Name" by Patricia Klindienst. She interviews First Nation and ethnic immigrant farmers/gardeners across America and in the first story talking with a First Nation gardener, he gains inspiration from the works of Masanobu Fukuoka and Bill Mollison's permaculture journey and the links he can see with his gardening using techniques handed down to him over many generations.
Here on Yuin Country I have just learnt that predicted rainfall for the next 2 days has just evaporated as Cyclone Alfred seems to have decided that it doesn't want to follow humans' modelling for it's path. Oh well, more mulching to improve the resilience of the plants.
It is empowering, and stirs my soul, if I am honest. From my own community, its affirming that we are on the right track. From afar, that I didn't expect.
I loves these conversation you and I have about books. I'll go and get 'The Earth Knows My Name' now. I have the dense academic version in Fikret Berkes' 'Sacred Ecology' and have dipped in and out of various parts, always telling myself to carve the time to sit and read from cover to cover. Klindienst Sounds brilliant.
Cyclone Alfred has been a bizarre one to watch from afar. Did you get hit with the fierce winds? We were pummelled by the southern ocean high that was feeding Alfred from below, but that would have been nothing to what hit the east coast.
Books like good food are moorish. I walked into a bookstore in Adelaide a couple of years ago and said to the lady who approached me to help, "I'm not going to be a good customer as I already have 6 books waiting to be read but your shop looks interesting". Her reply was wonderful. "Only 6 books, you need at least another 4 on your pile!"
No extra strong winds down this way Margi except for the usual winds we seem to be having a lot more of these days. Coastal sea breezes seem to be a thing of the past, but how much is that to do with selective memory. If I switch off from the news any further I most probably wouldn't know there was a cyclone. Unfortunately, there is a focus in the printed news on a man who blows a lot of wind and can be totally unpredictable.
I will follow the stories of preparing for and going through the season of winter with interest. Here I may experience one frost per winter (6 winter history so far) so hardening pumpkins doesn't happen. Last winter the leaves on a Manchurian Pear finally finished falling just as the new buds were swelling getting ready to burst open. The rhubarb though will appreciate a less intense sun.
Congratulations on accomplishing the hardest thing possible today - bringing people together to form a community. The disaster you all went through was the impetus which allowed it.
Growing food is easy compared to growing communities.
Oh, I agree with you, Toma. More than you can imagine. Growing food is absolutely the easy bit (growing food to a schedule has tested me, thought!) Community building is way, WAY tougher, and takes shit-tonnes more patience than I thought I had. But, it's gotta be done!
Margi, you are an inspiration! I am learning so much from you and gobble up every one of your posts with a spoon. May I ask, is the Geoff in your story, Geoffrey Deihl?
Thank you, Walt! No, not Geoffrey Deihl, although there are similarities in character between them. My Geoff would blanch at the thought of writing like Geoffrey does. 😉
Well that's bloody marvellous! Welcome to the soil! (From the damp, slug ridden British stuff) and the sorority of food producers!
This essay was very meaningful to me. Thank you.
Oh, thank you, Jessica. 🙏 That means the world to me.
Wow! Margie! Fantastic stuff - keep up the great work, and the great writing! We are still trying to increase the yield from our organic garden in Leuven, Belgium. We're also involved in a Food Forest (a very small one) with a diaspora of relative neighbours, but nothing as coordinated as what you are up to. Maybe it needs a disaster (like your fire) to galvanize the real interest/ commitment. Kind regard, Neil and Anne.
Maybe the disaster helped, Neil. It certainly brought focus, and no one here is under any illusions about what it means. But, I think it still takes a group of people shifting out of thier comfort zone and doing something new. Sounds like you have the foundations of that potential. Good luck!
You're such an inspiration. Thank you for your work and generosity to share your journey with us.
Bless, and thank you for your kind reply.
I am wondering where you're located. I have somehow got it in my mind that you're in Northern California and I would love to begin the process of becoming part of your community.
Michael, we would love to have you in our community, but sadly we are half a world away, on an island off southern Australia.
I don't know how I thought you were in California. Well then, good luck to you and to all of us. Getting out of the doom loop is a good idea.
Probably the climate, reflected in my photos. And, that fire is ever present in my writing. Still, we would have loved to have you join us.
You are so beautiful and courageous and inspiring, Margi Prideaux! Proud to call you my friend and climate colleague.
Bless, Becca. You are too. I am loving the steady stream of beautiful notes you publish. Moments of gorgeous insight. Proud to call you a friend and fellow activist, too.
Thank you. Insightful, educational, and inspiring.
Thank you, John. You are very kind.
Only in the last 6 months have I become aware of the equally important work of Nate Hagens and The Great Simplification. You seem an ideal candidate for one of his deep dive interviews, if you haven’t already been featured. Are you aware of his efforts? They seem to dovetail neatly with your own.
Aware yes, but haven't followed. I'll reach out to Nate. Thank you.
Excellent!
Great article! And also appreciate the reference!
Thank YOU for the spark!
This is amazing! I'm feeling it all here in Lismore, NSW and am very much in line with your sentiments. I'm trying to learn about more climate appropriate plants for the subtropics though - a big curve.
I'm also just attempting to up my social media game though. I'm really not sure I should.
Glad to connect with you, Jo.
RESPECT. Lismore is the epicentre of climate chaos in the western world. Few beyond Australia recognise just how tough you guys have it.
Would love to hear more about your plans.
For what it is worth, I wouldn't bother with the social media channels anymore ... at least not for meaningful engagement. They are too overrun with algorithm driven content and people's topic comprehension is limited to absorbing slogans.
Doing similar things in Western Colorado last 18 years or so. Would be lovely to compare notes.
Any opportunity to communicate off line ?
And if so, how.
Do you know of Nate Hagens and his Great Simplification podcast ?
I'll send you a DM with my email, Mitchell. Would love to hear more.
This is fantastic, good for you and it’s inspiring Margi what you’re achieving with the garden and the community building. Like to be a fly on the wall of your greenhouse just to get some of that garden wisdom.
Thank you
Thank you, Leon!
I ran a CSA farm in Portland, Oregon from 2007-2010, but kept it small at two dozen households. The third year I extended it to include winter shares, and was the first CSA in the area to do so, which I was pretty proud of at the time. By the final year I was also accepting $ money for just half the shares, and the other half were barter/trade for goods and services. It felt good to bend the model.
Bending the model is such a brilliant way to describe it. I love that. So glad hear you've sucessfully walked the path. It's always heartening to know I am following in wiser footsteps. With the addition of your winter cropping, did you cover the full 12 months (26 fortnights)? Do you have and tips or resource recommendations for planning to overcome the spring hunger gap period? As we head into our winter I am struggling with planning for this, and can't seem to find much information. It might be that I am not searching using the right terms, perhaps.
Inspirational
Bending the model is such a brilliant way to describe it. I love that. So glad hear you've sucessfully walked the path. It's always heartening to know I am following in wiser footsteps. With the addition of your winter cropping, did you cover the full 12 months (26 fortnights)? Do you have and tips or resource recommendations for planning to overcome the spring hunger gap period? As we head into our winter I am struggling with planning for this, and can't seem to find much information. It might be that I am not searching using the right terms, perhaps.
so good to read about reciprocity being put into action and therefore experienced.
Interesting and empowering to feel the support returning to you Margi from all around the world.
I am currently reading (just started) "The Earth Knows My Name" by Patricia Klindienst. She interviews First Nation and ethnic immigrant farmers/gardeners across America and in the first story talking with a First Nation gardener, he gains inspiration from the works of Masanobu Fukuoka and Bill Mollison's permaculture journey and the links he can see with his gardening using techniques handed down to him over many generations.
Here on Yuin Country I have just learnt that predicted rainfall for the next 2 days has just evaporated as Cyclone Alfred seems to have decided that it doesn't want to follow humans' modelling for it's path. Oh well, more mulching to improve the resilience of the plants.
It is empowering, and stirs my soul, if I am honest. From my own community, its affirming that we are on the right track. From afar, that I didn't expect.
I loves these conversation you and I have about books. I'll go and get 'The Earth Knows My Name' now. I have the dense academic version in Fikret Berkes' 'Sacred Ecology' and have dipped in and out of various parts, always telling myself to carve the time to sit and read from cover to cover. Klindienst Sounds brilliant.
Cyclone Alfred has been a bizarre one to watch from afar. Did you get hit with the fierce winds? We were pummelled by the southern ocean high that was feeding Alfred from below, but that would have been nothing to what hit the east coast.
And I will go looking for Sacred Ecology Margi.
Books like good food are moorish. I walked into a bookstore in Adelaide a couple of years ago and said to the lady who approached me to help, "I'm not going to be a good customer as I already have 6 books waiting to be read but your shop looks interesting". Her reply was wonderful. "Only 6 books, you need at least another 4 on your pile!"
No extra strong winds down this way Margi except for the usual winds we seem to be having a lot more of these days. Coastal sea breezes seem to be a thing of the past, but how much is that to do with selective memory. If I switch off from the news any further I most probably wouldn't know there was a cyclone. Unfortunately, there is a focus in the printed news on a man who blows a lot of wind and can be totally unpredictable.
I will follow the stories of preparing for and going through the season of winter with interest. Here I may experience one frost per winter (6 winter history so far) so hardening pumpkins doesn't happen. Last winter the leaves on a Manchurian Pear finally finished falling just as the new buds were swelling getting ready to burst open. The rhubarb though will appreciate a less intense sun.
Congratulations on accomplishing the hardest thing possible today - bringing people together to form a community. The disaster you all went through was the impetus which allowed it.
Growing food is easy compared to growing communities.
How does it feel to Mayor?
Oh, I agree with you, Toma. More than you can imagine. Growing food is absolutely the easy bit (growing food to a schedule has tested me, thought!) Community building is way, WAY tougher, and takes shit-tonnes more patience than I thought I had. But, it's gotta be done!
Margi, you are an inspiration! I am learning so much from you and gobble up every one of your posts with a spoon. May I ask, is the Geoff in your story, Geoffrey Deihl?
Thank you, Walt! No, not Geoffrey Deihl, although there are similarities in character between them. My Geoff would blanch at the thought of writing like Geoffrey does. 😉
😂😂😂