Permablitzes Ahoy! March 21 Newsletter
Greetings from the 9th Australian Permaculture Convergence, a celebration of 30 years of permaculture where several of us blitzers are in attendance. Earlier today octogenarian Permaculture godfather Bill Mollison opened the event in typical idiosynchratic style with a 30 minute spiel covering drug smuggling, jailbreaks, english boarding school debauchery, soy bean flatulence, and the relevance of the belief systems of the Kalahari bushmen to their lack of fear of lions. In the tradition of all great wise men, it's not always clear what the point is.
But the event is pumping and a very positive affair with great inspiring stories from many acknowleged permaculture greats and quiet achievers. And permablitz is a hot topic. We gave a well recieved talk today. Even the aging B-man himself said he'd been hearing good things about permablitz, and based on this morning's speech, impressing Bill without committing gratuitous criminal acts is not that easy, so super big ups to y'all, the permablitz community.
So without further ado, here's the most recent edition of the irregular permablitz newsletter in which we've got upcoming blitzes, a permablitz in Bundaberg, upcoming courses, a special item on Melbourne bicycle removalists, and as an extra special bonus, Bill's Kalahari bushmen lions story.
~~~ Upcoming Blitzes ~~~
April is hot. Very hot. Defy the changing of the seasons and turn up to the next three permablitzes in speedos only for instant spot prizes.
We have three exciting blitzes for ye.
6 APRIL: Permablitz #40 @ Eltham
This is big. If you've ever wondered how swales and terraces can be used on steep slopes, or if you'd like to know how to make a pond and encourage aquatic eco-systems, this is for you. And if you're new to Permablitz – fantastic! There is heaps to be learnt at this blitz.
More info:
<http://permablitz.net/…>
12-13 APRIL: Permablitz #41 Sleepover blitz @ Koo Wee Rup
The community of Kooweerup (80km from Melb) would love your help to get their permaculturally designed community garden started. For this 2-day Permablitz you're invited to camp the night (for free) next door to KooWeeRup Health Services (KRHS), where the half-acre community garden will be built.
More info
<http://permablitz.net/…>
20 APRIL: Blitz #42 @ Davies St Brunswick
This blitz is looking set to be a blinder with some exciting projects happening on a quarter acre block. Stay tuned…
<http://permablitz.net/…>
~~~ Bundaberg's first Permablitz! ~~~
I know Andi Hazelworth as the reporter who publishes brilliant audio interviews about peak oil and relocalisation over at GlobalPublicMedia.org. And she's also a key driving force behind SustainaBundy dedicated to building resilient relocalised economies in her new home town of Bundaberg QLD.
On 13th April SustainaBundy holding their inaugural permablitz. Welcome to the blitz family, Bundaberg.
http://relocalize.net/…
~~~ Upcoming Intro Courses ~~~
There are just two places left on next week's course:
From what Kim G has been saying about the catering you should probably come along just for that. Bring an i-pod!
29-30 MARCH @ Port Phillip Eco-Centre in St Kilda
More info: <http://permablitz.net/…>
26-27 APRIL @ Ceres in Brunswick East
More info: <http://permablitz.net/…>
The last one was great, these should be great fun too. Registration is open: http://permablitz.net/pb_rego/
More courses @ http://permablitz.net/…
~~~ Bike Removalists ~~~
Permablitz is about reciprocity. Turns out that through some peculiarity of natural laws that we can achieve more working together than separately.
So anyway recently my most excellent housemate Kat moved to our new place by bicycle. Here's a video we put together from the footage: <http://www.eatthesuburbs.org/…>
And then her friend Shane did it too. Check out bike move movie #2:
<http://shaneonabike.wordpress.com/…>
And there's a another one coming up, this time for a bicycle powered gig at the Brunswick Velodrome!
Here's the callout:
We need as many bike trailers as possible for moving the equipment. If
you can help, please meet at 116 Albert Street, East Brunswick at 9am
on Saturday March 29. Please bring occie straps or equivalent tieing
devices. If you can help with the move, please RSVP, with your name
and what sort of trailer you have. RSVP to: Geoff Browne <[email protected]>
VeloRock 2008 – The bicycle powered indie gig
Come and see The LuckSmiths, Mid-state Orange, Crayon Fields and other
Melbourne indie bands at the Brunswick Velodrome. VeloRock is special
because all the bands and their equipment will be transported to the
venue by bicycle and the event will be run on 100% greenpower.
Date: March 29; 2pm – 7pm
Venue: Brunswick Velodrome, Harrison Street, on the Merri Creek.
http://www.velorock.net/
~~~ Bill's lion story ~~~
So Permaculture co-founder Bill Mollison has a reputation as an adventurer, and his travels have taken him through Russian jails, Siberian winters, and 70 something countries including a lot of time in Africa, where Bill an ex-shark fisherman, in defiance of the hands-off anthropologists, took delight in teaching the Kalahari bushmen sea shanties:
"My father was the keeper of the Eddystone light
And he slept with a mermaid one fine night
Out of this union there came three
A porpoise and a porgy and the other was me!"
One night after a shanty session Bill was sitting around the campfire with the bushmen, rubbing skin cream made from sheep fat into his sore legs, when he sees, no more than five metres away in the flickering fire lights a ring of lions staring towards them, their eyes glowing green. Bill, anxious not to make sudden movements, quietly points this out to his hosts, who only note that the lions have been there for quite some time already. So Bill asks the bushmen why they aren't afraid of lions. And it's explained to Bill that when Kalahari bushmen are eaten by lions they become lions. Which is pretty cool as far as the Kalahari bushmen are concerned. Bill remains afraid, and explains to the bushmen that when Australians are eaten by lions they become lion shit.
Apparently the bushmen laughed so hard the lions ran away.
Haha! But don't necessarily believe a word of it.
Hope to see you at a blitz!
— adam & the permablitz decentrals
