"The Community"

This trip sees me still "winging it". Just wait to see what comes along. It was by chance that I was asked if I would like to look after an octogenarian couple for a couple for a few weeks by cooking and rescuing their beautiful garden from an invasion of weeds. They happened to live in an intentional community of 9+ families, which was resigned by David Holmgren, the originator of Permaculture, (holmgren.com.au). There are commonly agreed rules and responsibilities for the running of the community. The setting is in a valley which is surrounded by State Forest. Great harmony and social interaction, as well as common action of projects, such as clearing wood to reduce fire risk, was what I observed. All are self-employed, or of independent means. They built their own houses, or else collaborated. One couple are film makers; another manufacture futons; a third makes tents and yurts; a fourth is a designer and green consultant.

They have a large dam to supply water for gardens. Rainwater is for domestic use and a spring is used for drinking water. It has an effervescence feel to the tongue and if full of healthy minerals, it is velvety in the mouth the and is most refreshing. Electricity is generated by solar power.

The local Senior Citizens have a regular meal to which I was invited. It was served by female inmates from the prison in nearby Castlemaine. A similar invitation saw me with a group of local wool spinners.
There is a weekly film show that is shown in 16mm! Quite surprised that the format is still available. The hall was used by Burke and Wills, the explorers who suffered the same fate as Scott. Why do we not remember the survivors?



 View of part of the dam

One of the houses at the community

Part of the spinning group

A rammed earth house at the community, the home of  my hosts.

The walls are 1 foot thick and insulate superbly and are much more green than fired bricks

A  glance at the list indicates the huge sacrifice made by small communities in a totally unjustified war. I stood mindfully before this Roll of Honour and read the names of the dead. One family lost six, many others two or three. I reflected on the folly of war, its waste and grief; why do we do this to ourselves? I fully understood why Churchill is so loathed in Australia.

A more conventional hose at the community

A more simple residence in the forest: a yurt, occupied by a single person who used an electric bicycle for transport

Part of the garden that I spent time rescuing, the wormery is on the right

A relaxing time at Castlemaine market on a Saturday morning

Caslemaine has a weekly market for locally produced food and cottage industries, such as fruit and veg, honey, pottery, locally roasted coffee, plants. I met many people, which of course the average tourist is unlikely to do. A social occasion at which I recognised people from my last visit here four years ago. Castlemaine was mentioned in the song, "The Wild Colonial Boy"