Transition Town Convergence

Sustainability in action, on a local level, within a global context.

The first ‘Transition Town’ initiative was established in Totnes, in Devon, England, in 2006 … and new Transition Towns have been popping up ever since, across the UK and in many other countries, including Australia. Victoria alone is home to more than 60 initiatives, at varying stages of development or maturity.

Each local Transition group takes on a life of its own, according to the skills and goals of the local community that supports it. Inspiration and ideas are drawn from the local context as well as other Transition initiatives, while resources, training and support are also available from the Transition Network, a charity based in Totnes in the UK.

The author on a study tour in Totnes, in south-west England – home to a progressive community and the world’s first Transition Town.

One of the aims of Transition initiatives is to reconnect people within local communities and to encourage and support them in working together at a neighbourhood, village or regional level to address issues like climate change, peak oil and economic uncertainty. This inclusive and engaging, community based approach focuses on solutions and on enabling people to ‘be the change’ they wish to see in the world, in a very practical and ‘do-able’ way. In the process of reducing reliance on fossil fuels and working towards the co-creation of a more sustainable future, relocalisation and resilience are enhanced, and a stronger sense of ‘community’ is created.

‘People Power’ – members of communities working together – is what drives the innovative Transition Towns movement.

The Transition movement has inspired all manner of practical and creative projects, relating to topics like renewable energy and transportation, the growing of healthy food and the support of sustainable, small-scale and urban agriculture, the re-invigoration of local communities and economies, ecologically and socially responsible development, and the improved management of waste, water and other resources. But it is also about enjoying the journey along the way, sharing it with others, and caring about the ‘Inner Transition’ – in terms of people’s health and wellbeing – as well as the more externally focussed and practical Transition projects.

A collaborative approach on a Transition development project in Totnes, UK. 

Being ‘in Transition’ is all about creating a shared vision of a more sustainable future and a more connected community and then ‘back-casting’ or working backwards to achieve those collective community goals. In essence, Transition is “Hope with its sleeves rolled up”, as co-founder, Rob Hopkins, describes it. After studying environmental management and permaculture design and becoming a sustainability educator, Rob Hopkins helped to develop the Transition Town idea, with his students and colleagues, before putting it to the test in England. Ten years on, Rob has written widely on the topic and further developed the Transition concept. It offers a positive, replicable and proactive model for change which continues to resonate around the world. But more importantly, it continues to be rolled out, adapting to local circumstances along the way.

Transition Network co-founder, Rob Hopkins.

Sharing the tale of Transition.

Stories of Transition from across the world.

Reflecting on change.

The Victorian Transition Town Convergence

Victoria hosted its fourth ‘Transition Town Convergence’, at the Multicultural Hub in Melbourne, on 30 July 2016. Nearly 50 members from a dozen different urban and regional ‘Transition Town’ groups got together in Melbourne, to catch up, brainstorm ideas and exchange information and insights. There were presentations, activities and ‘Open Space’ discussions, interspersed with conversations over cups of tea and a shared lunch … lots of great food for thought!

Facilitator, Paul Shelton, welcomes participants to the Victorian Convergence.

Video Slideshow

Below is a 3’30” video (photo montage slideshow) that I have collated and posted on Vimeo to recap the day’s events …

The Victorian Convergence provided a good chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones, with people drawn from far and wide – from Banyule to Port Phillip, Gippsland to Geelong, Wyndham to Wallan, Maroondah to Hobson’s Bay. All sharing a collective vision of strengthening their local communities and living more sustainably, while building community resilience and connectivity along the way.

Some of the best conversations take place over a cup of tea.

Throughout the day there were opportunities to share and learn from each others’ successes and challenges, and to canvas the way forward, for local groups and for the Transition movement within Victoria … and also, Australia. Mark Clayton, from Transition Gawler in South Australia, was a special guest who presented the idea of forming a National Transition Hub as a resource centre for supporting existing Australian Transition Town groups and also assisting people interested in starting new ones. More than 50 countries around the world now have National Hubs, which link in with the Transition Network, based in the UK.

Mark Clayton, from Transition Gawler in South Australia, canvassed the idea of establishing a National Transition Hub in Australia.

At the Melbourne event, stories from the International Transition Convergence, held in England last year, were brought to life on the big screen via a photo story slideshow, which transported the audience on a guided tour to what was akin to the ‘UN of Transition’. It was good to cover the international perspective and to hear stories about positive initiatives taking place right across the globe.

A group photo at the International Transition Convergence 2015. (Photo by Mike Grenville)

The author (third from left) with other Australian delegates at the International Convergence. (Photo by Mike Grenville)

It is wonderful to work together on a local level but to also know that you are connected to other groups around the world, as part of a global and growing movement that is working, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, to foster positive social change, promote relocalisation and renewable energy options and co-create a more sustainable future for all – largely driven by people power! People working together, at a grass-roots level, can be one of the greatest facilitators of the transition to a more sustainable and just society. It really brings the old adage ‘Think Global, Act Local’ to life!

Working together to make a difference. 

Thanks to the members of Transition Darebin, Transition Banyule, Transition Town Maroondah and Transition Maribyrnong, who worked together to organise the Victorian Transition Town Convergence. The next Convergence will be held in Melbourne, in July 2017.

Further Details:

Transition Network, UK

https://transitionnetwork.org

Transition Banyule, Victoria

https://transitionbanyule.org.au/

Transition Darebin, Victoria

https://transitiondarebin.org/

Transition Town Maroondah, Victoria

http://ttm.org.au/

Permaculture Goes Global

The first sunday of May marks the annual ‘International Day of Permaculture’ – a celebration of permaculture around the world. Over the past seven years, what started out as a grass roots Australian initiative has since grown into a global day of permaculture activities and events, celebrated in over 35 countries. In fact, the activities often extend throughout the month of May.

Bill Mollison and David Holmgren’s early development of the ‘permaculture’ concept, in Tasmania in the mid-1970s, arose out of their research and investigation into ethical and environmentally sustainable forms of ‘permanent agriculture’ and the social structures to support this. Permaculture has since evolved into a global movement, with an educational curriculum and millions of students, practitioners and design projects dotted across the world.

A productive permaculture food garden at the Rocklyn Yoga Ashram in Daylesford, Victoria.

In writing about gardening in Australia, I often come across ‘permaculture people’ doing really interesting and diverse things – from Tassie to the Top End. I am continuing to discover the many ‘permutations of permaculture’ and how these link in synergistically with things like fair food, ethical building design, relocalisation, renewable energy initiatives, urban agriculture and organic farming. In fact, the overarching thinking of permaculture provides a suite of tools to assist in developing more sustainable and equitable practices – be they social, environmental, economic or agricultural.

The award-winning Melbourne garden designer, Karen Sutherland of Edible Eden Design – inspired by permaculture.

When I found myself at the International Permaculture Convergence in the UK last year, meeting people from many different nations – people actively involved in creating more sustainable futures for their families and communities – it really got me thinking about the Australian origins of the permaculture concept. And how it is so much more than an organic gardening technique – which is what it can initially appear to be on face value.

A field trip to permaculture properties in the south west of England, during the International Permaculture Convergence.

Farm tour.

Echinaceae.

Pumpkin harvest.

A productive demonstration site.

A pit stop to enjoy the view.

Freedom to roam.

A dog’s life.

ART – The Agroforestry Research Trust.

While overseas for work and family reasons, I also attended the Transition Network’s International Conference in Totnes, Devon, in the UK – again, meeting people from many different parts of the world, this time involved in Transition Town groups and projects. This broad coalescence of kindred spirits has turned into quite a social movement – which continues to resonate with people wanting to simply get on with the job of tackling key challenges like climate change and addressing the many unsustainable practices that they observe around them. In the process, their collective aim is to transition to a more equitable and cleaner energy future – one household, business and community at a time.

A Transition Town initiative in Totnes, UK, the heart and HQ of the Transition Network.

It is all about envisioning the type of future that people want to create and then just getting on with its co-creation, embarking upon a proactive and positive journey of ‘living lightly’ and ‘building community’, and sharing resources, skills and stories along the way. Everyday people and community leaders alike join together and become empowered to act as ‘agents of change’. Like permaculture, the Transition Network too, has morphed into a global movement, with branches that spread far and wide. And as its co-founder, Rob Hopkins, acknowledges, the roots of its development can be found firmly planted in permaculture thinking.

Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the Transition Network.

Jacqui Hodgson, Totnes Mayor.

Edible gardens.

Visitors from many nations.

Recording the event.

Taking note.

Fertile discussions.

Recording ideas.

American and Spanish film-makers discuss documentaries.

A lively debate on climate change.

Break out groups.

A welcoming smile.

Different colours representing different countries.

Promoting wellbeing at the Transition Network Conference.

‘Transition Towns’ provides a good model and practical application of ‘social permaculture’ – still with the mainstays of organic gardening methods and the sharing of local food as a way of bringing people together, but with the important additional focus on households, communities and local economies.

Signs of change.

I couldn’t help but be inspired by hearing about so many great examples of permaculture and transition in action overseas. So on returning to Australia, I signed up for a two week intensive ‘Permaculture Design Course’ or PDC earlier this year, to find out more about this thing called permaculture – which had begun literally “in my own backyard”. It’s funny how being away from home can really highlight such things.

Taking part in a ‘permaculture design course’ (PDC) intensive.

Deep in thought.

Small group activities.

Yoga and permaculture

Student presentations.

The permaculture spiral.

Scribe.

It was nice to study with one of the original co-founders of the concept, David Holmgren, and his inspiring partner, Su Dennett (from the Hepburn Relocalisation Network), in the tranquil surrounds of a yoga ashram, in Daylesford – just up the road from Hepburn Springs in Central Victoria, where the couple is based.

David Holmgren, permaculture co-founder, welcomes students to his property, Melliodora.

Su Dennett chats to students.

Su Dennett at Melliodora, with Julie.

David leads a tour at Melliodora.

The Melliodora ‘kitchen garden’.

One of the buildings at Melliodora.

Our group of 24 students, of all ages and from all walks of life, was fortunate to be guided through the course content by a range of other experienced teachers as well, including Angela Enbom (‘the bee wrangler’), Beck Lowe and Ian Lillington, who covered different topics relating to key areas of their interest and expertise. Additional guest teachers also presented on specialist topics like renewable energy and building design. Robyn Clayfield dropped in to cover the more social and ‘heart-based’ elements of permaculture while she was in Victoria attending the Sustainable Living Festival, and Paddy the Permie Tree Man proved an absolute wealth of knowledge on all things arboricultural (and was a dead ringer for Shane Jacobson aka ‘Kenny’, in both manner and appearance).

Angela Enbom from Tread Lightly Permaculture.

Beck Lowe with German student, Kilian.

Robyn Clayfield and Ian Lillington.

Paddy the Permie Tree Man (with the very studious Ian).

A third of the group of students was comprised of overseas visitors – from Japan, Sweden, Austria, France, Sri Lanka, Germany and the US – people who are already doing really interesting things in sustainability in their own right in those various locations. So the knowledge in the room, from both the teachers and participants, led to a wonderful cultural exchange and some pretty interesting and wide ranging discussions.

New friends – Emily, Yasmine, Katsumasa and Suz at the ashram.

Tania and friend.

International students.

Morning in the ashram garden.

Ehren from Fiji.

Yasmine and Rick lend a hand.

Helen harvests the rhubarb.

Paul collects some herbs.

The picking crew.

Field trips to David and Su’s property, Melliodora, one of the longest running demonstration sites for permaculture principles, and other local permaculture-inspired properties, really helped to bring things to life on a more practical level, balancing out the theoretical side of things nicely. And each morning we would help out in the ashram’s productive food garden – a beautiful way to begin the day.

Gardening is a part of yogic life at the Rocklyn Ashram.

Fair food for all.

Julian taste testing the grapes.

Tess B & Rhys.

Andrew from New York.

Planting a new chestnut tree.

Keen observers – Alexander, Kilian and Irene.

Julie picks some apples.

A Melliodora resident.

Polly and Ehren at the Daylesford Community Garden

Collecting seeds.

Catcher of mice.

At any rate, when it comes to writing about ‘permaculture people’ in the future, and no doubt they will continue to cross my path, at least I will now have a better understanding about where they are coming from and how permaculture has evolved and continues to evolve. And I look forward to finding out more about how the principles of permaculture can be applied in practice, to the creation of more sustainable households, properties and communities.

A group of teachers and students at the Daylesford Ashram – an intentional community which has embraced permaculture design.

Further Information:

The International Day of Permaculture:

http://permacultureday.org

And a special message for those commemorating the International Day of Permaculture, from the wonderful Vandana Shiva, in this 2016 International Year of Pulses.

A farming of permanence works with the hydrological cycle, the nutrient cycle and the cycles of natural systems says Indian food and seed advocate, Vandana Shiva.