Colin Endean

Colin Endean’s Permaculture Journey

Seeds

Sharing an inner city terrace in the early 1980’s, introduced the ideas of permaculture from co-residents and visitors from an aspiring permaculture property in the mid north of NSW. The inspiration of reading Permaculture One & Permaculture Two as templates for action, rather than protest, touched a chord and germinated my permaculture journey.

Successful forays into sheet mulch gardening, herb & vegie growing and propagating fruit trees, shared with friends and fellow house renting residents provided the impetus to continue on this path.

Inspiration

After subscribing to the Permaculture Journal and corresponding with the Permaculture Institute in Stanley, Tasmania, the opportunity to participate in the Permaculture Design Certificate, facilitated by Hans Erkin and colleagues from Mid North Permaculture, Rollands Plains, NSW. Andrew Jeeves from the Permaculture Institute was co-facilitator, of this PDC, March 1984, held at the Pappinbarra field studies centre, one hour north of Wauchope, NSW. This intensive, live-in, 2 week course nurtured the inspiration and knowledge to continue developing my permaculture skills and journey.

“Jumping”

Later in the same year, 1984, the first International Permaculture Convergence was held at the same Pappinbarra field studies centre and meeting the permaculture pioneers from around Australia and some international guests at this forum further enlightened my inspiration. Listening to David Holmgren and Bill Mollison and the community of inspired action oriented permaculture pioneers reinforced my choice to pursue the permaculture journey. As Bill invited the converged gathering to “jump” into the future opportunities and cast away unnecessary baggage, I chose to leave my job in the public service in Sydney, and open new doors.

The Timeline

1982 – 1983  Reading Permaculture One & Permaculture Two, growing and gardening

1984            Pappinbarra PDC, Hans Erkin, Andrew Jeeves et al

1984            1st International Permaculture Convergence, Pappinbarra, NSW

1985            Became shareholder of multiple occupancy community, Budderoo, establishing in Kangaroo Valley, 365 acres

1985            Establish annual organic garden beds in squatting house, Glebe, Sydney

1985            Commenced locum dental work to establish mobile dental service for the Nganampa Health Service, Anangu Pitjantjatjaraku Lands, SA

1986 – 1990  Design & establish permaculture garden in Ernabella, AP Lands, and design & develop site at Budderoo in Kangaroo Valley

1987 – 1988  Develop design and submission “Nganampa Ngura –Our Home” for the Health Service Environmental Health Review – Uwankara Palyanku Kanyintjaku (UPK)

1989 – 1990  Design & develop integrated health promotion strategy “Mai Wiru (Good Food)– Diabetes a chance for change”. Working with group of Pitjantjatjara women elders with diabetes to influence dietary change along the food chian: from food gardens & fruit trees, bush food harvesting & collection, cooking and food preparation to walking and exercise activity. Producing regular fresh hommous & tabouleh, hand made bread and vegie muffins for community store

1990            Advanced Permaculture Design Course with Robyn Francis, Ballina, NSW

1990            Advanced Permaculture Teachers Course with Leah Harrison, NSW

1990            Joined teaching team Francis Lang, Hugh Gravestein, Andrew Sheridan for PDC, Tathra, NSW

1990            Central Australian ABC Gardening Award for Best Garden

1990            Purchased 55 acres property on edge of Burra township, SA

1991            Commenced Kooringa Cohousing village concept

1991 – 1996  Kooringa Cohousing EcoVillage project in Burra, as part of design, developer, publicist and community development team for EcoVillage development

1991 – 1995  Moved to Adelaide with young family, rental housing, designing & implementing “reversible” urban retrofit permaculture garden systems for rental circumstances

1993            Purchased the Coach House and Greystone in Burra township, SA as teaching venue for permaculture courses and focus for Cohousing project

1995            Move to Burra, sharing house and developing permaculture projects and education

1997 – 1998 Develop Coach House as residence, design & planning for Co-Abundance Permaculture Farm, with commercial organic olive grove, pistachio & carob

1998 – 2003 Develop commercial organic olive grove including preparation for organic certification

2002           Organic Certification with NASAA, Licence No. 5158

2005           International Permaculture Convergence (IPC7), Istria, Croatia

2005           IPC7 Tour and Introduction to Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan

2008           Findhorn, Positive Energy Conference, Easter and Attendance at 2nd Transition Conference, Cirencester, UK

2009           Facilitate Intro to Transition in South Australia

2010            Facilitate Transition Communities Nth Mt Lofty Ranges, SA

Colin is the recipient of Diploma of Permaculture Design (1988) and Community Service Award (1989) issued by the Permaculture Institute

Teaching Permaculture Courses

Introduction to Permaculture weekend short courses

1991 – 1992  Backyard courses with Rik Allen

1991 – 1995  WEA Courses, 2-3 times per year, Introduction to Permaculture and Permaculture in Practice, with Steve Poole

Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC)

1991            PDC over weekends with Rik Allen and guests Graham Brookman, Ulrike

1992            PDC intensive 2 weeks residential, Noarlunga, with Rik Allen, David Holmgren

1993 - 1995  Annual PDC intensive 2 weeks residential, the Coach House, Burra

Permaculture Convergences and Associations

Australian Permaculture Convergences in 1984 (Pappinbarra), APC 2 1985 (Ottford – as co-organiser with Robyn Francis and Sydney Permaculture team), APC 3 1988 (Yarrahappinni), APC 4 1990 (Albury), 1995 (Gawler – as co-organiser with PASA collective)

Membership of Permaculture Sydney, Southern Highlands Permaculture, Permaculture Association of SA & Life Membership Permaculture International Ltd (PIL) over these 26 years of my permaculture journey

Permaculture International limited

Director & Board Member, PIL Permaculture International Limited, 2005 - 2008