The Sun also Rises

    The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to its place where it arose. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.   I’m not much for reading the Bible but I love the odd aphorism. And… Continue reading The Sun also Rises

NIMBY psychology at Harvard University February 2013

  NIMBY psychology comes to Harvard — from Australia!   February was an exciting month for me. I spent it teaching in the Graduate School of Design (GSD) at Harvard University and giving lectures and classes at MIT and Tufts University.   It was exceptionally cold for a person who lives in the sub-tropics. A… Continue reading NIMBY psychology at Harvard University February 2013

Silencing Dissent: charity begins at home

April 29, 2011 – 4:07 pm In an eco-village, there is more to life than managing weeds and water quality in the dams.   What we have learned about social reform and social change in Western countries over many decades is that burning books and silencing dissent are very dangerous practices. What is my dissenting… Continue reading Silencing Dissent: charity begins at home

The original dream for Jarlanbah Permaculture Hamlet

April 5, 2010 – 3:07 pm I’m mining the archive!     Jarlanbah Permaculture Hamlet from Shirley’s house, 1993   The original dream for Jarlanbah Permaculture Hamlet was very different from the back-biting and suffering we experincce every day on this community. It was a dream with substance and charm. A real dream.   Here’s… Continue reading The original dream for Jarlanbah Permaculture Hamlet

(re)visioning Jarlanbah Permaculture Hamlet

April 3, 2010 – 9:44 am   It’s Easter weekend: a time for reflection on renewal, blessings and hope.   I am awash with fresh insights following a fascinating community mediation about the dual occupancy (accessory dwelling unit) issue on this community.   Sometimes people leave intentional communities. See “Leaving Utopia”, click here: Leaving Utopia… Continue reading (re)visioning Jarlanbah Permaculture Hamlet

Trouble in Paradise: Dual Occupancy at Jarlanbah

March 15, 2010 – 9:59 pm   Trouble in Paradise   Tomorrow evening my neighbours are meeting to decide whether or not to try to ban dual occupancy (commonly called accessory dwelling units: https://www.mass.gov/envir/smart_growth_toolkit/pages/mod-adu.html ) in this eco-village of 43 dwellings on 22 hectares.   The whole process has me mightily confused.   Imagine the… Continue reading Trouble in Paradise: Dual Occupancy at Jarlanbah

The blessings of a composting toilet

March 11, 2010 – 6:51 pm   After four years living on our half-acre block and over eight years in total including time visiting on weekends, we have a toilet.   We christened it a few weeks ago with great delight and considerable relief (pun not intended).   Neighbours and friends wonder why this basic… Continue reading The blessings of a composting toilet

One Sleep ’til the Windows Arrive: The joys of owner building

August 2, 2009 – 9:52 pm The Guest Bedroom, August 2009 We’ve been living in our shed for three and a half years. House under construction for two and a half”¦   And on Friday the windows arrived for the guest bedroom in our house-under-construction project. It has walls, doors, a roof, a floor and… Continue reading One Sleep ’til the Windows Arrive: The joys of owner building

Living with a Gypsy

July 5, 2009   Today the Gypsy and I were sorting hardware. Nails and screws.   It’s been a rough week in community engagement and I had to do something else than listen to bureaucrats and aggrieved residents.   I had to get my hands dirty. Get grounded.   Living on a building site generates… Continue reading Living with a Gypsy