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The Challenge

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How might we restore vibrancy in cities and regions facing economic decline? Read the challenge brief

Inspiration

Mission #2 Share Stories Find out more...

Permablitz

Permablitz is helping communities get together and have fun learning about, designing and implementing suburban food systems – one backyard at a time.
With 300+ events already taken place around the globe, the Permablitz concept is bringing edible backyards back to the suburbs. Originally launched in Australia and now popping up from Toowong to Texas, Yeronga to Uganda, Permablitz communities have been gathering to transform, inspire and share skills while collaboratively transforming the backyards, cafes and school gardens of the urban environment.

The network functions on the basic premise of reciprocity. Anyone and everyone can come to a Permablitz. They especially welcome first time gardeners. People from many different backgrounds and from nine months to ninety in age turn up. Because everyone has to eat and food gardening is relevant to almost everyone, you're sure to meet interesting, friendly people of many stripes and persuasions at a Permablitz.

If you go to three or so Permablitzes we can help organise one at your house. That's right. Permablitz is based on reciprocal volunteer support. Once you've been to a few we can help connect you to a volunteer or professional permaculture designer, help you plan your blitz, promote it, and co-ordinate it on the day. For free!

What can reciprocal models teach us about revitalising cities? Is diversity important to urban vibrancy? How might the "learning by doing" approach be used to encourage active citizenship?

[We originally heard about Permablitz on the OpenIDEO Local Food Challenge. Image sources: first + second]




Mission #2 Share Stories Find out more...

Comments

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November 23, 2011, 05:21AM
I'm wondering if you could combine this with the micro-entrepreneur concept. Instead of "for free" - can this be a service provided by Detroit's citizens, for Detroit's citizens, paid for by blighted property owners? Or can you expand this concept to home repair as well as gardening? Teaching the 47% functionally illiterate population of Detroit a marketable skill such as gardening and home repair may go a long way.
Meena Kadri's reply to Anthony DeCaria's comment
November 23, 2011, 05:33AM
Brilliant ideas, Anthony. We're big fans of economically sustainable business models & there are loads of great examples around of for-profit initiatives which still serve social good. Hoping you might be back in the Concepting phase to propose and flesh out what you're suggesting here. Home repair seems like such a great addition! I wonder how we might attract folks to such a venture? The Permablitz drew folks in as a fun, time based, collaborative event. Would be great to think about how to make what you're suggesting an aspirational enterprise.
Joaquin Samper's reply to Anthony DeCaria's comment
November 27, 2011, 05:19PM
Economically sustainable, is the key to any revitalization project. Altruism is good, but is difficult to keep in the long term.
I see it as a seed, where the donor plants the investment, but needs to see it germinate, grow and flourish, or he/she will move that altruism to a different venue where the results will be more tangible.
November 25, 2011, 06:30PM
Great post, thanks for sharing it
November 24, 2011, 08:23PM
Congrats on this post being today's onsite Featured Inspiration.
November 23, 2011, 09:41AM
I wonder if Gardening in Detroit area also includes shovelling of snow, spreading sand and salt, on sidewalks during winter? (just a small idea to get you thinking about trying collective efforts in your neighbourhood during season when you cannot plant anything outdoors)
November 18, 2011, 11:20AM
like this idea - maybee painting could be such an act of common doing...
November 09, 2011, 01:49AM
Hey Meena! :-)
Your post reminded me of the Actions exhibition at the CCA. http://cca-actions.org/actions/oranges-lead-nocturnal-walk

#9. Oranges Lead Nocturnal Walk
A Los Angeles law makes all fruit and vegetables growing over sidewalks “public,” so that even trees rooted in private yards may bear public fruit. The collective Fallen Fruit leads walks and makes maps of public fruit trees in the Los Angeles urban area. Fallen Fruit shows residents how to access a harvest of free food, and criticizes city planning that excludes productive planting on public land such as parks. Fallen Fruit holds jam-making parties using fruit collected from the public portions of the trees; they also produce liquor with public fruit. These products, like their ingredients, belong to the citizens of Los Angeles.
Meena Kadri's reply to Anthony DeCaria's comment
November 09, 2011, 01:52AM
Nice one, Adriana! Would be great if you could post this as a fresh Inspiration... it's such a goodie!
November 08, 2011, 10:21PM
Great great questions in this inspiration... *me thinking*
November 08, 2011, 08:58PM
Nice one Meena! Building community vibrancy, a culture of reciprocity, people's skills, local food production systems, and more...
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