Creating a Sustainable Sunshine Coast - Nambour to Mooloolah

So how do we relocalise?

Thought I'd take quotes from David Holmgren's presentation 'Regional Sustainability in the Energy Descent Future'. Further information on this presentation is available in the blog section and in David's book - Permaculture Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability.

David suggests we relocalise by...

1. Networking - for information and inspiration

It's a two way street, share what you know and be open to learning new skills and points of view. Networking with like-minded people also helps keep us inspired and gives us the energy and motivation to continue - we realise there are others who are thinking the same way we are - you're not the only salmon swimming against the flow.

2. Start producing your own food, products and services as much as you can and start linking with local producers.

Grow your own food, grow plants that have many uses - eg bamboo: windbreak, screening, mulch, building material, garden stakes, curtain rods, fencing, furniture, feature plant etc. Seek out local sources for what you cannot produce yourself. Eat in season locally grown organic food. Subscribe to Community Support Agriculture projects. Ensure your money is staying in your local community. Shop at Farmer's Markets.

3. Meet your neighbours - start bartering, LETS, PETS

Get to know the people in your local community, volunteer, join groups, barter food, products and goods. LETS = Local Energy Transfer System, PETS = Permaculture Energy Transfer System. Trade your skills for other skills - not reliant on cash money. Organise a bulk buying group and share the shopping, packaging and distribution.

4. Teach children about relocalisation

Become involved in school permaculture projects, support children's activities at local community gardens, educate your own children about food production and the importance of buying locally.

5. Reduce consumption

Goes without saying we all need to do this. Reduce, repair, recycle, re-use, reskill (learn how to do things yourself), reinvent, consider what you really need. Being sustainable isn't about going without, you can live a very comfortable full life, with lots of luxuries (time, health, great food, great friends, better personal relationships, very comfortable home) without subscribing to the condition of 'Affluenza'. Manage waste within your home systems using worm farms, compost bins, animals - keep landfill to an absolute minimum.

6. Share your home, take in a lodger

David believes this is the single most important thing you can do. Also has economic benefits to you. How many times do we hear about the increasing number of people living alone? Huge house with only a couple of people living in them.

7. Share your car

Use your car less, make trips count - doing as many things as you can while you are out, car pool, ask yourself - do I really need to use my car for this? Explore public transport (difficult in some areas) and fuel efficiency and alternatives.

8. Work around impediments

The mainstream world is not set up for the public to live like this. We all need to be creative and find ways to move forward to a better, more positive energy descent future. We can't rely on our leaders to do that for us.

9. Pay off debt / work from home

This is one of the best things we've done - paid off the mortgage. Working from home - can't get much more local than that. With the mortgage paid off, debt kept to a minimum, growing our own food... we don't need as much money. Our lifestyle has changed very little since paying off debt and quitting work.

10. Retrofit your house and garden for an energy descent future - not for the $$ value

Althoug in the future I think a retrofitted energy descent sensitive house will be of greater $$ value anyway.

I'd also like to add lobbying politicians and community leaders in there too. Letters to the editor, writing articles...

Hope this makes relocalisation a little clearer for you.