Hoorays all round and congratulations are in order, for we celebrate Melbourne's 50th permablitz this Sunday! Thank you to everyone who has contributed and been involved so far. You are part of a grand open conspiracy of the beetroot and the spade. We are growing ever stronger and more nimble, and we shall permablitz this whole city yet. 


~~~ Blitz Five O! ~~~

August 3 12:30-17:30: Share the love at Permablitz #50. This will be as much of a party as a blitz, as we make way for a blitz proper in September at this blank canvas yard in Northcote.  But there is still lots of grass and weeds to pulled, soil to be moved, compost to be made, fruit trees to prune, green manure to sow, mini-greenhouses to make and we'll run several workshops and some yogic warm up exercises.  Bring some food to share if you can, even a couple of beers if you like and musical instruments!  We will have an open post petroleum style jam session later on.  This blitz is preparing the way for a future community garden to be shared by yoga students who attend the studio on location.  Note the late starting time!  58 Basting St, Northcote.  Be there.


~~~ Upcoming Courses ~~~

(1) Permablitz Intro to Permaculture Courses

The August course at Ceres is now booked, but we can announce two more!

September 20-21 @ Ceres and October 18-19 @ Port Philip EcoCentre

Come on and get amongst it.


(2) Permaculture Design Certificate

Immerse yourself in the world of permaculture for two fascinating weeks with the permaculture co-originator and others including the permablitz crew...

PDC @ Commonground, Seymour October 11-24
Tutors include David Holmgren, Su Dennet, Ian Lillington, David Arnold and some of the permablitz crew for some urban flavour. This will be a great one with good accomodation, food and field trips included.  More info and application forms: <http://cydoniapermaculture.com.au/PDC2007.html>


~~~ Former AFL star Justin Madden visits a blitz ~~~

The Minister for Planning visited a permablitz in Dandenong a couple of weeks back, organised through our affiliated Dandenong Edible Gardens Project.  From his press release:

"At the heart of any town or city is the community and the more people help and interact with each other, the stronger the community," Mr Madden said. "This project brings people together so they can help one another, and learn from each other in a relaxed garden setting. In a time when food costs are on the rise and our waistlines are expanding, the edible gardens project couldn't be timelier."

Full article: www.premier.vic.gov.au...


~~~ Words of support from the big Hs! ~~~

In order to celebrate our 50th permablitz we've been soliciting testimonials from some well known people who's surname starts with H. So far we're delighted to have words of support and encouragement from two great heroes: Richard Heinberg and Rob Hopkins!

"Permablitz the world! That's the path to survival, sustainability, and cultural renewal. Your lawn will kill you if you don't kill it first, but a vegetable garden with fruit and nut trees will support you from cradle to grave."
-- Richard Heinberg

"...What you guys have created is more powerful than the gardens you have made, it is the concept of the permablitz... the idea that landscapes of lawn, shrubs, concrete and dog mess are not the pinnacle of human achievement, but are an odd manifestation of an age with more oil than sense, and the idea that we can change them, and we can change them fast. Out with the lawn and in with the salad!"
-- Rob Hopkins

Richard Heinberg is a California based home gardener and global energy expert, author of the lucid The Party's Over, Peak Everything and The Oil Depletion Protocol amongst others.  Check out: www.richardheinberg.com

Rob Hopkins is the originator of the Transition Network, the incredibly inspiring grass roots permaculture whole region planning framework for peak oil and climate change which is sweeping across the UK and the world. Check out: www.transitionculture.org

And we hope to hear from two more H-Heroes soon...


~~~ Water systems in Elwood ~~~

This weekend help designers Cecilia and Grant install what Cecilia describes as a "water nirvana" at the home of comedian Elliot Goblet in Elwood.  Should be good place to learn about some cutting edge passive watering systems:
More info: <http://www.permablitz.net/.../>


~~~ The Power of Compost ~~~

"Jean Pain (1930 - 1981) was a French innovator who developed a compost based bio energy system that produced 100% of his energy needs. He heated water to 60 degrees celsius at a rate of 4 litres a minute which he used for washing and heating. He also distilled enough methane to run an electricity generator, cooking elements, and power his truck." (Wikipedia)

Exciting! A new English translation of a video about Jean Pain has just been released on the net:
http://www.taranakifarm.com/blog/?cat=13


~~~ An Oily Godsend? ~~~

A couple of months back in San Francisco they had a pray-in at a gas station to ask God to lower prices.

Desperate times, somewhat embarassing measures.  While it's obvious there are ways to cut our petrol usage by driving less, did you know that it takes about ten joules of energy to produce every one joule of food we eat?  To quote the former deputy PM John Anderson: "We're pouring as much oil into refrigerators as we are into our cars."

If you must pray, pray to your patron saints of rain, and the protectors of brassicas from slugs and snails, and begin reducing your energy burden with some delicious home grown brocolli.


~~~ Self Sufficiency Skill of the Week ~~~

Scientists have found out what dogs already knew (be prepared for some 'I told you so' vibes) that licking your wounds greatly speeds healing. 


~~~

That's it for this newsletter folks.  After blitz #50 there may be some winter downtime from the blitzes, and we'll fire up again in spring. 

Adam @ Permablitz Decentral

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