Your home could do more than you imagine.
Grassroots Permaculture
One home. A world of possibilities.
Intro to Urban Permaculture | Book here →
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About
Grassroots Permaculture is run by Akia and Mike, two long-time permaculture practitioners based in South Hobart.
Akia has around three decades of permaculture practice, a Master’s in Environmental Management and a Diploma of Permaculture Design. Mike has studied and practised permaculture since 2010 and is an ecovillage trainer and Global Ecovillage Network ambassador.
Our teaching brings together whole-system design, hands-on skills and the human side of permaculture: cooperation, decision-making and community. Courses are held at Akia’s home, where the gardens and systems are already established.
Offerings
Two-day course · December 2026 Introduction to Urban PermacultureIntroduction to Urban Permaculture
Two days of practical learning to inspire a more sustainable, productive and connected way of life.
Explore a lush, established permaculture property in South Hobart. Discover how a home, garden and community can work together, and gain the knowledge and inspiration to start making changes in your own life.
Learn. Connect. Take action.
Discover what’s possible
Would you like to grow more food, live more sustainably and feel more connected to the people around you, but aren’t sure where to begin?
Introduction to Urban Permaculture brings together practical skills, whole-system thinking and human cooperation. Across two Saturdays, you’ll explore an established demonstration property, learn permaculture principles and choose from hands-on activities.
This is about more than growing vegetables. It’s about understanding the connections between your home, your outdoor space, natural forces and the people who use and care for them.
You don’t need to complete a design during the course. Come ready to observe, explore, ask questions and discover practical steps you can take.
What you’ll explore
Permaculture principles and design thinking
Explore permaculture ethics and principles, drawing on the work of Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. Learn to consider each element’s needs, functions and products, and how thoughtful relationships between elements can support the whole system.
Reading your site and working with nature
Discover how sun, shade, wind, water, slope, landform, existing trees and built structures influence a space. Explore ways to recognise opportunities and work with natural forces rather than against them.
Productive urban spaces
See how vegetables, fruit trees, rainwater harvesting, composting, worm farming and other systems fit into an urban property. Consider how houses, walls, garages and driveways influence the possibilities around them.
People, cooperation and community
Explore the human side of permaculture: collaboration, teamwork, decision-making, creating alignment and working through differences.
Learn in a living demonstration garden
Akia’s South Hobart home is an established permaculture property with lush gardens and interconnected systems already in place. During the course, you’ll explore examples of:
- Rainwater harvesting, composting and worm farming.
- Vegetable gardens, fruit trees and sun traps.
- Bees, mushrooms and a native plant nursery.
- Whole-property design connecting the land, buildings, natural forces and human needs.
Rather than learning only from diagrams, you’ll see how these elements relate to one another in a real home and garden.
Choose your hands-on experience
A common learning programme will be complemented by a choice of optional practical activities.
Planned opportunities include no-dig gardening and compost building, with other activities selected from the systems and skills available on the property. The final activity mix will be confirmed closer to the course.
Join in where you feel comfortable, or observe and ask questions. All practical activities are optional.
Leave inspired, and ready to begin
The course is designed to help you:
- Understand and apply permaculture ethics and principles.
- Read your own space and recognise opportunities and constraints.
- Understand how to approach an urban permaculture garden design.
- Recognise and work with natural forces.
- Make connections between the needs, functions and products of different elements.
- Explore practical skills for more sustainable living.
- Cooperate more thoughtfully with others.
- Identify practical first steps for your home, garden or community.
Who it’s for
This course is for people interested in sustainable living, food and community, and for new homeowners considering what to do with their outdoor space.
Whether you’re exploring permaculture for the first time or looking for a more connected way to approach your home and garden, you’ll have opportunities to learn, share ideas and find inspiration.
Your hosts
Akia
- Master’s in Environmental Management.
- Diploma of Permaculture Design.
- Around three decades of permaculture practice.
- Permaculture teaching and consulting in Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Victoria, Queensland & Tasmania.
- Native forest restoration experience.
- Host of the South Hobart demonstration property.
More information will be supplied later.
Mike
- Studying and practising permaculture since 2010.
- Community project management.
- Indigenous cultural preservation and capability-enhancement projects.
- Environmental and community activism.
- Ecovillage advocacy.
- Ambassador for the Global Ecovillage Network.
- Ecovillage trainer.
What’s included
Your $400 course fee includes:
- Two days of tuition.
- Lunch and refreshments on both days.
- A handbook covering the course topics.
- Access to an online participant community.
- Access to monthly South Hobart permaculture group meetings.
What to bring
Bring a hat, gloves, boots and a notepad, along with your curiosity and questions.
Join us in South Hobart
Spend two Saturdays exploring what permaculture can look like in everyday urban life, and discover where you could begin.
Book your placeContact
For bookings, questions about the course, or to hear about future offerings, get in touch with Akia and Mike.
- Phone (Akia)
- 0434 665 783
- Location
- South Hobart, Tasmania