In this episode, Ben Habib is joined by Toad Dell and Guy Ritani from PermaQueer. PermaQueer is a collaborative project to share ecological sustainability methods through the lens of Permaculture, focusing on accessibility to and building resilience for traditionally marginalised communities. PermaQueer brings a queering, decolonising and trauma-informed approach to community-building. In 2021, PermaQueer won the LUSH Spring Prize for Social and Environmental Regeneration.

See show notes on Podbean.

00:00:00  Introduction

00:03:45  Acknowledgement of Country.

00:05:39  Finding permaculture through need rather than through reputation.

00:09:14  Permaculture as a design methodology vs permaculture as a movement.

00:11:16  Women are the backbone of the permaculture community-building.

00:15:38  Queering permaculture and the genesis of PermaQueer.

00:22:24  PermaQueer as a network of resource redistribution.

00:25:07  Having privilege and being a pioneer ‘species’ in social ecosystems.

00:27:54  Understanding ‘queering’ and the diversity of queer peoples’ lived experiences.

00:36:10  The unique aesthetics of PermaQueer’s social media presence.

00:40:17  Value the edge, but only in right relationship to it.

00:44:30  Edge cultures and vulnerable people are not a resource to be selectively mined by the mainstream.

00:47:27  Trauma-informed and decolonial practice in permaculture and beyond.

00:56:50  Problematising the construct of ‘whiteness’.

00:59:55  Scarcity as reality vs scarcity as mindset.

01:04:37  Critical reflection on the permaculture prophesy of energy descent.

01:12:23  TEDx as a platform for PermaQueer online events.

01:19:17  Queering isn’t scary…a call to action.

01:23:41  Conclusion.

Show links

• LUSH Spring Prize for Social and Environmental Regeneration 2021. “Winner: PermaQueer”.
• “PermaQueer: Intentional Projects Award”. Vimeo.
• “PermaQueer: Isn’t they lovely”. Permaculture Visions.
• “PermaQueer: Guy Ritani and Toad Dell”. Growing Media Podcast.
• TEDx PermaQueer: Community Responses to Climate Change.
• TEDx PermaQueer: Cultural Responses to Climate Change.
• Ray, SJ. (2021). “Climate Anxiety Is an Overwhelmingly White Phenomenon”. Scientific American. 21 March 2021.
• Paxton, M. (2020). “In Good Tilth Perspectives: Hannah Breckbill”. Oregon Tilth. 24 November 2020.
• Mahana Culture: Awakening Cultural Dignity..

About PermaQueer

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  LinkTree  |  Guy Ritani on LinkedIn

About Ben Habib, host of Edge Dwellers Cafe

Ben@Earth  |  LTU staff profile  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |   YouTube  |  ORCiD 

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Credits

• Logo design: Sarah Cook Design (cooklsarah@gmail.com).
• Thumbnail artwork developed using Deep Art Effects.
• Intro music: “Lala Bass” by Adele_Newiron from Pixabay.
• Interlude music: “Relax (Drum and Bass)” by vjgalaxy from Pixabay.
• Interlude music: “Centyś – Energy 4” by abctoja from Pixabay.
• Interlude voice-over by Jess Love (https://www.jesslovefilmmaker.com/).

This podcast is broadcast from Naarm/Melbourne on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people. Edge Dwellers Cafe pays respect to their elders past, present and emerging.