David Holmgren is the co-originator of Permaculture, self-aware contrarian and contemplator of everything. 

I’m lucky enough to be part of his extended household, so rather than shooting the breeze about the state of the world while sowing parsnips I figured I better bloody well get him on the podcast. 

We dig into David’s own internal landscape as well as the contours of his life at Melliodora, and I was especially eager to quiz him about land sharing and housing alternatives; prime listening for those in the debt-avoidant club. 

Listen out for our new Reskillience segment: Word Association – which sees me peppering David with all kinds of words and phrases to see what he’ll volley back. Such fun. And David said it’s unlike any interview he’s done before, which I’m taking as a good thing.

Maya Ward

Permaculture principle #8 – Integrate rather than segregate

Bill Mollison

Edges talk given by David in Lisbon

Permaculture principle #11 – Use edges and value the marginal

David Holmgren’s collected essays

Essay ~ Pandemic brooding

Essay ~ Crash on Demand 

Essay ~ The Apology

Book ~ The Golden Calm by M.M. Kaye

Melliodora property

EcoBurbia

Ivan Illich

German Permaculture Academy

Call of the Reed Warbler ~ Charles Massey

RetroSuburbia Chapter #25: Changing Habits for Self-Reliance + Resilience

Book ~ RetroSuburbia: The Downshifter’s Guide to a Resilient Future ~ David Holmgren

eBook ~ Trees on the Treeless Plains ~ David Holmgren

Permaculture events + workshops