Introduction to project

I’m coordinating a working group, convening people (charrette) who would like to see permaculture & living systems design have a stronger role to play in the housing development sector and who have the skills, knowledge, and experience to make it happen.  The focus in on Aotearoa NZ (could also include Australia) and could include people globally who can benefit and contribute.

Vision

What I envisage are housing communities that are surrounded by, woven within, and stewarding nature, have food growing spaces, local enterprises, arts, connecting spaces, a range of housing price ranges and tenure types, is multi-age and ability, has education facilities, is a place for learning and development, utilizes innovative energy and water systems, and is walkable. 

About Common Ground

Common Ground is about enabling regenerative housing developments that increase social, ecological, and economic wellbeing.  This project fits within that scope and will be a foundation to succeeding on that mission.  See our About page for more on Common Ground.

About Me

I’m a permaculture educator, I’m trained in Ecovillage Design Education, have a Masters in community development, a justice activist, and I’m working within the alternative housing sector as a consultant, trainer and facilitator with Common Ground.  I'm also a single mother who wants to live in such a community for a better quality of life for me and my family.

Why this project:

Conventional housing development is environmentally destructive—at all stages--is energy intensive and the outcomes of conventional development exacerbate many of the social and economic challenges we face today.  

The housing development sector is very siloed and so damage is caused by not operating in an integrated way.  Those who are in charge of and operate within these systems do not necessarily understand permaculture and living systems thinking to know what needs to be changed and how.

We have an opportunity now with a focus on "building back better" to lead with a vision and narrative of what this actually looks/operates like.

Those who have an understanding of this and are trying to do alternative housing better (environmentally and socially) are running up against policies, legislation, planning, and other roadblocks that inhibit or slow these solutions.

We need to remove these roadblocks of current development policies and practices and increase awareness, knowledge, skills, and will for more “biophilic” housing development (based on living systems thinking) through education and training of the professionals who are currently in the housing development sector.

Purpose of the charrette:

• Transform what future neighbourhoods and communities will look and function like (more ecological and socially connected)
• Remove planning policy and other barriers that are counter to living systems design and even free up funding and resources for better housing development,
• Create livelihood for people teaching and practicing permaculture, regenerative development and similar professions
• Other...

Who will be in the charrette:

Professionals who are in the field of

• Permaculture design and education and living systems frameworks as applied to place-making
• Housing community development and the housing sector who are keen to see changes in the sector (Council staff, Councillors, planners, developers, engineers, landscape architects, etc)

If you’ve got a strong interest in this kaupapa as well as knowledge and skills in these two areas (permaculture ed and housing devp), be in touch to join the charrette.

Who will the education and training serve:

Those working for and elected to Council, planners, developers, institutions funding development, land owners, infrastructure engineers, water engineers, landscape architects, architects, etc.

Project measurables/colateral could include:

The charrette will discuss the problems and solutions of developing biophilic neighbourhoods and towns and come up with a way forward in terms of education and training solutions.  It could include:

• Creating an accredited and/or recognised course or collection of modules.  For instance, education could be an adapted PDC with a focus on neighbourhood and housing devp
• It could be Ecovillage Design (like what Gaia Ed offers).
• Creating a biophilic placemaking consultancy made up of those trained in permaculture, regenerative development, biophilic development, etc.
• Holding a conference to bring experts in all these fields together along with leaders of biophilic communities worldwide
• Creating online and in-person training
• Adding on to what is already offered to these professions
• Other…

How the charrette could operate:

• We have a series of online meetings fortnightly (or there could be subgroups that meet more regularly) to:
  • Discuss what is working well in other places that could be emulated in term of education and training
  • ID what are the biggest roadblocks and challenges for the sector to transform
  • ID who do we need to “bring on board” from the spectrum: those who know permaculture/living systems/regenerative devp, those who are the biggest challengers, and those who could become advocates and champions (and first adopters.)
  • What could we pilot in Aotearoa or develop first in terms of education or modules?
  • ID where funding could come from to develop and pilot
  • Other…
• We could share a Trello Board to keep all our ideas in categories and put attachments and links
• We could use Loomio to have discussions and make decisions.  Loomio costs money so suggestions for other platforms are welcome.
• I suggest getting together for an in-person day or two (charrette) to work through—this could come at the end of either the alternative housing gathering “Co-Ho Hui” or at the end of the national permaculture gathering in NZ.
• I suggest we work towards a professional conference (see Nygren Placemaking conference for an example)
• Other…

Resources & Inspiration--doing education for placemaking 

• Serenbe
• Serenbe Stories podcast
• Nygren Placemaking
• Global Ecovillage Network
• Gaia Education
• Permaculture in New Zealand
• Living Future NZ
• Regenesis (Regenerative Development education)

Possible Partnerships:

• NZ Green Building Council
• Building Better Homes, Towns & Cities (university research)
• Local Government NZ (Equip)
• Kainga Ora
• Community Housing Aotearoa & Community Housing Providers
• Home Developers
• The Society for Alternative Housing Development
• Papakainga Development and Te Puni Kokeri
• Existing communities in NZ, Australia, and globally that are showcasing these models
• University departments that teach planning and similar degrees