Landcare Learnings: Exploring Permaculture Through Film and Conversation

Our latest Landcare Learnings event on May 12, brought together community members for an inspiring and thought-provoking evening focused on permaculture and sustainable living. With a slightly different format to usual, the event attracted a diverse audience of around 25 attendees, including familiar Landcare faces and newcomers keen to learn more about living sustainably.

The evening featured a screening of The New Peasant, a documentary following a Victorian family embracing an off-grid, permaculture lifestyle centred on growing their own food and fostering strong community connections. The film sparked plenty of reflection, conversation and a Q&A session with TRLA member John Simpson. Drawing on over 40 years of experience, John shared practical insights into permaculture principles, along with information about local opportunities such as the Tamworth Organic Gardeners and the Bicentennial Park markets.

The event also provided a valuable opportunity for networking, with representatives from Nemingha Community Garden and Tamworth Community Gardens sharing how people can get involved locally. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing a strong interest in more permaculture-focused events, workshops, and opportunities to connect with like-minded people.

Overall, the evening highlighted a growing appetite within the community for simpler, more sustainable ways of living. It reinforced the importance of coming together to share knowledge, build connections, and support each other in taking small, meaningful steps—starting right in our own.