Permaculture and Me - How did it all start, where is it taking me?

 My first encounter with Permaculture started in 2010 when I was at the Father's Day Markets in Cairns. There was a small stall there, tucked up at the back, in the corner, showing you how to grow your food using permaculture.......huh, perma what? The thing that blew my mind was a lettuce being grown in a straw bale, .... well not that bit, but the bit where splitting the bale they showed me the root system.....wow! I didn't know that a lettuce plant had such a big root system! I had just planted my first veggie garden, we got  talking plants, growing your own food and I was hooked.

Fast forward one years and I was travelling in my caravan with my husband, taking a break from nursing and working on properties (another story for another time). This particular property was in the southeast corner of Qld, 13 acres, being converted to a permaculture garden. Here I meet two young men with no shoes, interesting hair cuts and smoking a particular plant......not tobacco.  These helpful chappies took it upon themselves to instruct the 'old chook'  on setting up systems and 'stacking functions'.

With my interest further piqué, we took a trip to Nimbin to find the Permaculture College Australia, however Sandy became very suspicious of the greenery in his burger bun and I only saw a fleeting glimpse of the college as we made a speedy return to where we were staying.

When Sandy and I bought our 61/2 acres in St George in 2011, I was determine that this property would be based on permaculture design principles. Armed with my first trusty permaculture book ( Earth Users' Guide to Permaculture), which I found easy to read, well illustrated, I endeavored to design my property. However, changing the way that I thought and trying to overcome some more traditional gardening methods I had been using was difficult, I needed help. I felt like I was just 'put stuff' in my garden design and not stacking functions like those two helpful young lads had explained a couple of years earlier ( I hope they have some shoes by now) . I looked for permaculture courses, but alas nothing out where I was, 600km west of Brisbane.  

Isn't it funny how the universe seems to provide. In 2013 Geoff Lawton launched his inaugural  online Permaculture Design Course (PDC), I signed up and spent the next 3 months studying permaculture under the tutelage of Geoff. What a game changer!  This online course has gone on from strength to strength and provide a vast amount of information.  For me, it has had a profound effect, changing the way I live my life and the way that I think.  I have a dream and a purpose, I have new eyes with which to view the world, my community and my place in it.

Permaculture and Me? This was my answer, the missing link, the reason. It changed me forever, there's no going back, nor do I wish too.

Where to now?

I am now 6 years into my permaculture journey. I am blending permaculture with my 30+ years in healthcare, along with my love of teaching and learning, 'Grow Eat Learn' is part of that journey.

I started my Permaculture Practitioner St George Qld FB page in May 2014, and Pets in the Pantry FB Group in Nov 2015.

How did you start your journey into permaculture? Or have you not started yet, what is holding you back? I would love to hear your thoughts below in the comment section.