A half-day gathering in Paekākāriki last weekend offered a vibrant hands-on experience of permaculture principles in action, hosted by Doris and Bob Zuur as part of the Toru Trail initiative. The event, attended by folks from Wellington, the Hutt Valley, and the Kapiti Coast, showcased sustainable gardening practices, soil creation, and community collaboration—providing participants with practical tools to bring permaculture into their own lives.

Among the diverse group of attendees was the youngest participant, 1-year-old Oscar Mehlenbacher, who seemed right at home in the vegetable garden, reminding everyone of the importance of taking action today for tomorrow's communities.

Child and mother learning permaculture in a garden

The gathering centered around practical activities that are key to permaculture. Doris and Bob led participants through the creation of a layered compost heap, teaching them the art of balancing carbon and nitrogen-rich ingredients to build healthy, nutrient-dense soil

Students learning how to make a permaculture compost heap

~ Transforming your ‘garden waste’ into compost gold, by layering it into a tidy pile, balancing  carbon and nitrogen rich ingredients. Photo B Zuur 

A particular highlight was learning about rat-proof composting systems designed to safely handle food scraps, preventing pests from proliferating, whilst making good use of waste food. Over the years their garden has transformed a sand dune into a deep, rich, worm-friendly soil.

A bountiful autumn permaculture garden bed
worms from the compost heap

~ Bountiful autumn produce and worms from the compost

The day also included discussions about microclimates and how to design gardens that take advantage of natural variations in temperature, moisture, and sunlight for more productive and resilient gardens suited to the local conditions. Everything should start and end with observation to avoid blindly following a system that might not fit your very specific locale which will have its own living individuality.

Doris explains the different micro climates of her permaculture garden

~ Assessing various microclimates: Actual growing conditions can vary greatly, from one end of the garden to the other. Photo J Thomson

A shared meal sparked lively conversations about the potential of permaculture to promote food security and sustainability through initiatives like food sharing, composting, helping with neighbour's gardens and the planting of fruit trees in communal areas.

Doris and Bob emphasized the significant role that local efforts to control rats and other predators are playing in Paekakariki in protecting native plants and birdlife. Predator trapping, combined with the planting of native trees, have helped to restore the local ecosystem and encourage biodiversity both in the village and along the escarpment.

The event was not just an opportunity to learn but also to share ideas and reflect on the broader possibilities for permaculture within communities. Doris is passionate about the power of community and how permaculture can extend beyond individual gardens and into public spaces, through community gardens and shared food systems. She also sees that 'permaculture thinking' can be applied during times of major life changes, to help us re-orientate to a more fulfilling, intentional and future enriching lifestyle.

A circle for sharing permaculture ideas

~ Ending the day inside, with a round of reflections after lunch, through the lens of the permaculture principles. Photo B Zuur

This was a great way to meet a diverse mix of people all interested in sustainability and applying permaculture ideas to their own particular situation, and highlighted just how many social, educational and environmental initiatives there are in the region, each one a small part of a larger expanding and diverse community of changemakers.

Julian Thomson

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