This adventure reminds me of a “back to the future” movie. I don’t know what happened since I came crashing into this alien, yet familiar world. All I know is that I found something so meaningful in permaculture and sustainability that makes me wonder why I didn’t catch onto this sooner. Yep, I know why – because the first time I heard about sustainability was at university when my best friend dragged me to a “Students and Sustainability” conference.  First, I had to look up the word sustainability, then go to the conference in Queensland (Australia) only to end up at a doof party (also a first) amongst a bunch of hippies and not understanding a word they were saying.

“Suddenly”, fifteen years later, I’m thrown in the midst of this world again where people’s vision is a sustainable and currency-free world with open-relationship-experimentation and local food consumption. In most cases, currency is still needed, as is a faithful and monogamous partner and the occasional reliance on the capitalistic system to bring us salt from the Himalayas…but we are improving!

I feel our main purpose is one of evolution rather than revolution. I feel that the “I” becomes “we”.

We are the ones who care for the state of the earth, so we are the ones who are creating and propelling this movement and these communities.
We are the ones who are making it so much fun that everyone else will want to join the party.

Money? We have a better idea…

Living alone in a small apartment in the middle of a city?
Try living in small communities on gorgeous farms, breathing in fresh air and cleaning brown dirt out of your ears rather than black soot.

Receiving a pay-cheque that doesn’t compensate for the exchange of your soul in an office with nothing to show at the end of the day?
We’ve also completed various levels of conventional education in mind-numbing institutions and worked in drone-producing jobs. It’s just that we’ve all said “pass” to a life-less-style in favour of a life-full-style that has nothing to do with convention and everything to do with invention. We’re the slash kid generation, a crowd of engineers/anthropologists/carpenters/producers/graphic artists/permaculturists/etc – a generation of people skilled at a myriad things, favouring diversity rather than mastery with a lot to show for our day’s work.  We’re making chicken tractors, building herb spirals, nurturing our food, harvesting our work and documenting it so that we can share our knowledge with others. We’re using everything we’ve got to create everything we’ve dreamed of. Best of all, we’re having the time of our lives!

Call us the tribal stream; the stream of consciousness for a tribe that aims to embody the ethics of permaculture and sustainability and has a burning desire to share how we connect with that tribal part of ourselves that knows the truth.

We feel very much at home (finally) and we feel enormous gratitude for being part of this community. We are redesigning our lifestyles in every way possible and we invite you to (re)ignite that part of you that knows there just has to be a better way to live, laugh and love.

We’re feeling good!
Tribal T

Well, I see it differently! If your thinking has advanced and you realise that you must go back in order to move forward, that combining ancient techniques with new ideas and methods is a way we can survive and live in a more sustainable way, then invest in your future and take part in this workshop between 17 and 21 April 2011 to learn from one of the most experience women on this topic: Paulina Wojciechowska. You will also have the chance to meet me!

If you have access to a piece of land, the rest are limited only by your imagination. With a minimal investment, you can design the house of your dreams and live comfortably. Take a look here to see what Paulina has created.

Also, I have just finished a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) and I can advise you on how to harmoniously incorporate your beautiful new home into the landscape amongst animals, plants, water and renewable energy sources to have all your food, housing, energy and water that you need in a sustainable way…and not need to rely on anyone else! More info later….

As the flyer states:

“This workshop is a great introduction to earthen constructions. It demonstrates natural building techniques that can be used to transform your world. Locally sourced earth has been used for millennia to house humanity in healthy, effective, long-lasting and beautiful structures. During this intensive workshop, we will focus on building with cob (mixture of sand, clay and straw), lime and earthen plastering and natural floors. Covering topics such as design, foundation, drainage, natural floors and finishes, green roof construction, etc, we will familiarize with the fundamental principles of natural building, while acquiring the basic skills required for anyone to start his own building. Learn the magic behind the theory of clay through hands-on experience. You will find space for fun and creativity and expect a workout for the body and mind in contemporary community!”

For more information, visit the ecoart website and for registrations, email workshop@ecoart.gr before the 27th of December if possible, so the girls can get organised!

As I depart Istanbul after 2 weeks of the Permaculture Design Course (PDC) that taught me all about  sustainability, energy efficient systems and total lifestyle design amongst people that I proudly call my tribe, I enter a bus full of consumers whose sole purpose for visiting this city was to shop till they dropped.

Within an hour of the bus’ departure, a woman lit a cigarette. I demanded that she put it out (and thankfully others supported my request) and was told that this is a Pontian bus, that smoking is allowed and furthermore that they can’t help themselves, since they have been smoking for a long time. In other words, it is impossible and inconceivable that they change!

Trying to find space to sit amongst all their purchases, think amongst their Pontian screeching and breathe amongst their inconsiderate smoking, I was suddenly confronted with the ignorance that made me want to learn about permaculture in the first place…and the stark reminder that we still have a long way to go.

Most importantly, however, this experience pointed to one important fact: that we need to stick together, work together and co-create our ideal world.

Permaculture entered my realm in June this year when I visited Sydney and joined an introductory course with my best friend who was involved in developing a community garden. Needless to say I was shaken to the core, but I didn’t want to make any sudden moves…nor miss out on summer in Greece. So, I let the notion of permaculture swing with me on my hammock  to see what would happen. And I found that not only did it not go away, it kept seeping in and nourishing my soul like swales nourish the ground, until I ended up taking the PDC in Istanbul.

I came to the course thinking about properties to which I have access in Greece and within a few days all I kept thinking about was my mum’s olive grove in Australia. And while I was fantasising and even dreaming of the designs that I want to implement on our farm in Australia, I couldn’t help but think about how it would be great to get some experience first working with other people’s farms and the importance of creating with like-hearted souls.

On my second to last day in Istanbul, I was in discussions about a position on a farm in the South of Spain and setting up PRIs globally and suddenly I remembered my long-forgotten fantasy of working in the Spanish country side…my life is moving towards my dreams and I like it!

And once the bus reached the Turkish-Greek border at midnight, I was transferred into the back seat of a tiny sports car where I squeezed into the middle of two young men who wanted to know all I could tell them about this “alternative” lifestyle. Once again, I felt like I was back on track – I was educating people about other options!

It’s easy to forget our priorities and dreams when standing alone amidst ignorance and ego-operated souls, family who berate you consistently for not conforming and a bus full of particular Pontians.

Perhaps the best thing we can do straight after a PDC is ride the momentum before we get sucked into the coma-inducing lifestyle that they tell us is reality, team up with people with whom we resonate (our tribe) and go go go until we generate the critical mass that shows that we are on the right path – not because we say so, but because we are creating what we have always wanted: a world of people who totally adore each other, support each other and share a vision of a totally sustainable and beautiful paradise: the way it was always meant to be!

Here’s to tribes!

Tribal T

Congratulations to all involved!

An enriching few days not only for the soil of Paros, but for the souls of people who attended the Seed Festival with the aim of greening the arid land of this popular island. As a tourist ten years ago, I remembered Paros for its stunning sunsets and beaches. Now, all I saw was barren land begging for help.

Several people gathered across four days to learn about the principles and techniques of natural farming from Panos Manikis the man responsible for the Natural Farming Centre of Greece and for the heart-tugging inspiration for anyone within the perimeter of his aura.

Panos worked closely with Masanobu Fukuoka, the Japanese farmer and author of several books, including “The one straw revolution”, who brought to life the ancient technique of making clay balls, throwing them onto the land before rain season and trusting nature to take care of the rest.

We tried a few techniques for making clay balls, but the key ingredients remained the same: positive energy, clay, seeds, water + natural fibres for resilient clayballs and in one case bentonite for moisture retention.

Throwing the dried clayballs onto the land was the most fun and rewarding part…and now we wait for vegetation!

This is the video I shot and edited to capture the event: