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Sunday the 3rd of July saw over 100 people converge on Paradise Street Community Garden in Highgate Hill, Brisbane for a Permablitz.
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I have been living in Brisbane for over 4 years now and I have to say that I think that these Pemablitz days are with out a doubt the best things I have attended. Basically you register for the Permablitz at either the Transition Towns or a Facebook page. Turn up on the day and get involved. There is someone there who has done permaculture course and they usually have a garden design. From here you get started on building the garden.
The one at Paradise Street on the 3rd I found myself building a composting run, which comprised of digging a lot of huge holes so that large post could be dropped into them and pack into place. These poles them had runs of corrograte iron attached so that the compost was added at the top of the run and could be worked down the hill to the bottom. At the bottom it will have turned into compost to be added to the raised garden beds being built by another group on the flat ground. Hard work but wow what an amazing team effort.
Permablitz (noun): An informal gathering involving a day on which a group of at least two people come together to achieve the following:
- create or add to edible gardens where someone lives
- share skills related to permaculture and sustainable living
- build community networks
- have fun
Permablitzes are free events, open to the public, with free workshops, shared food, where you get some exercise and have a wonderful time. To be defined as a permablitz each event must also be preceded by a permaculture design by a designer with a Permaculture Design Certificate.
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Who comes to permablitzes?
Anyone and everyone can come to a permablitz. Skill level and even physical capacity aren't problems at all. We especially welcome first time gardeners. Just come and contribute anyway you are able. People from many different backgrounds and from nine months to ninety in age turn up. Because everyone has to eat, and food gardening is relevant to almost everyone, so you're sure to meet interesting, friendly people of many stripes and persuasions at a permablitz.
What happens on the day of a permablitz?
Every blitz is different. But you can expect to be welcomed with a cup of tea. There will be an intro circle in which the design for the day and the ideas behind it will be explained and then we'll get to work. There will be tasks like weeding, planting fruit trees, digging paths and swales, making vegetable beds with no-dig methods or implementing greywater systems. You'll be shown what to do and be working with others, and there will be short workshops relating to the activities. There will probably be some other workshops on the day too.
The host will provide a shared lunch -- bring something if you would like to share, but you don't have to. By about four o'clock we'll break and thank everyone. By then, quite a transformation should have taken place! You'll hopefully go home brimming with ideas, having met lots of wonderful people, having had a taste of permaculture design and having been learning by doing.
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These Permablitz's are an amazing representation of communtiy spirit, team work and a group design to learn and become more sustainable. There is a return to Paradise Street Community Garden Permablitz planned for Saturday the 16th of July. If you can make it do so. You will have an amazing time.
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