David Holmgren‎

David Holmgren (born 1955) is an Australian environmental designer, ecological educator and writer. He is best known as one of the co-originators of the permaculture concept with Bill Mollison.

==Early life==

Holmgren was born in Fremantle, Western Australia in February 1955, the second of three children. His parents Venie and Jack Holmgren were bookshop proprietors, activists committed to social justice, and former members of the communist party{{cite news |last1=Childs |first1=Kevin |title=In praise of Venie Holmgren: at 92, still an activist, adventurer and poet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/australia-books-blog/2015/mar/25/in-praise-of-venie-holmgren-at-92-still-an-activist-adventurer-and-a-poet |access-date=22 July 2018 |work=The Guardian (Australian edition) |date=25 March 2015}} who raised their children to question authority and stand up for their beliefs.{{cite book |last=Holmgren |first=David |editor-last=Dawborn & Smith |title=Permaculture Pioneers, stories from the new frontier |publisher=Melliodora Publishing |date=2011 |pages=18–29 |chapter=Chapter 2: The Long View |isbn=9780975078624}}

Holmgren was dux of John Curtin High School, but this remained unrecorded on the roll of honour due to his ‘dissident attitude’. On completing high school he hitchhiked around Australia, before moving to Tasmania in 1974 to study at the Tasmanian College of Advanced Education's Department of Environmental Design. In the alternative education environment there he chose to study landscape design, ecology and agriculture.{{Cite book|title=Permaculture One|last=Holmgren and Mollison|publisher=Transworld Publishers|year=1978|isbn=0552980757|pages=128}}

Permaculture

Holmgren first met Bill Mollison in 1974 when Mollison spoke at a seminar at the Department of Environmental Design.{{cite web |last1=Holmgren |first1=David |title=A chance meeting |url=https://holmgren.com.au/a-chance-meeting/ |website=holmgren.com.au |date=22 January 2012 |access-date=22 July 2018 |ref=A Chance meeting}} This led to an intense working relationship over the next three years, with Holmgren and Mollison sharing a house and garden, putting ideas into practice and collecting useful plant species. Holmgren wrote the manuscript for what would become Permaculture One: a perennial agricultural system for human settlements as he completed his Environmental Design studies, and submitted it as the major reference for his thesis. He then handed the manuscript to Mollison for editing and additions, before it was published in 1978.{{cite book |last1=Mulligan |first1=Martin |last2=Hill |first2=Stuart |title=Ecological Pioneers: A social history of Australian ecological thought and action |date=2001 |page=203 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge}}

Holmgren's development of permaculture ideas and practices were also strongly influenced by Haikai Tane, as well as the work of P. A. Yeomans, Franklin Hiram King, Howard T. Odum and Albert Howard.

Holmgren initially concentrated his efforts on testing and refining his theories, first on his mother's property in southern New South Wales (Permaculture in the Bush, 1985; 1993), then at his own property, [https://holmgren.com.au/melliodora/property/ Melliodora], Hepburn Permaculture Gardens,http://holmgren.com.au/melliodora/ Melliodora, Hepburn Permaculture Gardens, at Hepburn Springs, (http://www.holmgren.com.au) at Hepburn Springs, Victoria, which he developed with his partner, Su Dennett.Melliodora, Hepburn Permaculture Gardens – Ten Years of Sustainable Living, 1996a; Payne, 2003

He started his consultancy business Holmgren Design Services in 1983, designing and advising on a wide range of projects including:

[http://www.common-ground.org.au Commonground Co-operative], Seymour Vic
Project Branchout
CERES Community Environment Park, Brunswick, Vic
‘Millpost Farm’, Bungendore NSW{{cite book |last1=Watson |first1=David |title=Millpost: A broad acre permaculture farm since 1979 |date=2018}} David Watson Millpost: A broad acre permaculture farm since 1979
‘[https://www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/hepburn/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/20-03-2012Attachment10-EnergyDescentActionPlanning-HolmgrenDesignServiceFinalReport.pdf Energy descent action and planning in the Hepburn Shire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411163253/https://www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/hepburn/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/20-03-2012Attachment10-EnergyDescentActionPlanning-HolmgrenDesignServiceFinalReport.pdf |date=11 April 2021 }}’ report for Hepburn Shire, exploring innovation in sustainability and resilience planning at the local level

The publication in December 2002 of Holmgren's major work on permaculture saw a deeper and more accessible systematisation of the principles of permaculture refined by Holmgren over more than 25 years of practice. The book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways beyond Sustainability (2002a), is dedicated to Howard T. Odum, who died two months before its publication, and it owes much to Odum's vision of a world in energy transition.A prosperous way down, Odum and Odum, 2001

Principles and Pathways offers twelve key permaculture design principles, each explained in separate chapters. It is regarded as a major landmark in permaculture literature, especially as the seminal work, Bill Mollison's Permaculture: A Designer's Manual (1988) was published fifteen years previously and has never been revised.{{Cite web|url=http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profiles/blogs/principles-and-pathways-class|title=Principles and Pathways, Class #2: Rob Hopkins, and Transition|date=June 8, 2011|last1= MacLeod |first1=David|first2=Rob |last2=Hopkins | author2-link = Rob Hopkins |website=transitionwhatcom.ning.com}}

Other contributions

= Novel ecosystems =

Holmgren is a public critic of the land management orthodoxy of removing all non-native plants despite their ecological functions.{{cite web | url=https://holmgren.com.au/spring-creek/#WillowWars | title=Willow Wars – Spring Creek Community Forest on Landline | date=June 2006 | access-date=July 9, 2018}}

Holmgren's interest in recombinant ecosystems or 'weedscapes' is partly inspired by a 1979 visit to New Zealand and interactions with New Zealand ecologist Haikai Tane (1995).{{cite book|last=Mulligan, Dr. Martin, RMIT University|editor=Professor Stuart Hill|title=Ecological Pioneers: A Social History of Australian Ecological Thought and Action|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vZ5pH6RmDDoC&q=Haikai+Tane&pg=PA205|access-date= 15 October 2013|date=2001 |publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=0521009561|page=205|chapter=Thinking like an Ecosystem: Australian Innovations in Land and Resource Management}} It has also been shaped by Holmgren's interactions and experimentation at [https://holmgren.com.au/spring-creek/ Spring Creek Community Forest] where an informal network of locals manage a riparian forest of mixed native and non native species, with outcomes including increased recreational use and reduced fire hazard. The site has hosted guided tours and has been the subject of scientific research.{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=M E |title=Organic Matter Dynamics in Willow and Eucalypt Lined Central Victorian Streams |date=2001 |publisher=Doctor of Philosophy thesis |location=School of Science, University of Ballarat, Victoria.}}

His ‘Weeds or wild nature: a permaculture perspective’ (2011) was published in [http://www.weedinfo.com.au/ppq_home.html Plant Protection Quarterly],{{cite journal |last1=Holmgren |first1=David |title=Weeds or wild nature: a permaculture perspective |journal=Plant Protection Quarterly |date=2011 |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=92–97}} and he wrote the foreword to Tao Orion's [https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/beyond-the-war-on-invasive-species/ Beyond the War on Invasive Species].{{cite book |last1=Orion |first1=Tao |title=Beyond the War on Invasive Species: a permaculture approach to ecosystem restoration |date=2005 |publisher=Chelsea Green}}

= Future scenarios =

In 2007 Adam Grubb, founding editor of Energy Bulletin.net (now Resilience.org) published Holmgren's extended essay "Future Scenarios; mapping the cultural implications of Peak Oil and Climate Change" at futurescenarios.org, which established Holmgren as a significant futurist articulating and clarifying the Energy Descent concept.{{Cite web|url=https://store.holmgren.com.au/product/future-scenarios/|title=Future Scenarios - Community adaption to Peak Oil & Climate Change}}

Influenced by the work of [https://www.theautomaticearth.com/tag/nicole-foss/ Nicole Foss], Holmgren's more recent work has also taken into account the possible impacts of a global financial bubble burst.{{cite journal |last1=Holmgren |first1=David |title=Crash on demand: welcome to the brown tech future |date=December 2013 |url=https://holmgren.com.au/crash-demand/ |access-date=9 July 2018}}

= Retrofitting the suburbs =

Holmgren argues that Australian suburbs can be effectively retrofitted for liveability, resilience and sustainability through strategies such as home food production and preservation, building retrofits and behaviour change.{{cite web |last1=Holmgren |first1=David |title=RetroSuburbia: the manifesto |url=https://www.retrosuburbia.com/reading/retrosuburbia-the-manifesto/ |website=retrosuburbia.com |access-date=9 July 2018}} An early version of these ideas, [http://www.raisethehammer.org/index.asp?id=175 'Retrofitting the Suburbs for Sustainability'], was published by the CSIRO in 2005{{cite journal |last1=Holmgren |first1=David |title=Retrofitting the suburbs for sustainability |journal=CSIRO Sustainability Network Update |date=31 March 2005 |issue=49E |pages=1–10}}

Holmgren created the fictional story 'Aussie St' to illustrate both the changes in Australian suburbs since the 1950s, and a possible resilient future.{{Cite web|url=https://retrosuburbia.com/resources/aussie-street-presentation-at-the-wheeler-centre/|title=Aussie Street Presentation at the Wheeler Centre}}

His work on retrofitting the suburbs culminated in 2018 with the publication of [http://store.holmgren.com.au/product/retrosuburbia// RetroSuburbia: the downshifter's guide to a resilient future]. The work is both a manifesto and a manual on how Australian suburbs can be transformed to become productive and resilient in an energy decent future.{{Cite web|url=https://retrosuburbia.com/book/|title=The Book}} It is divided into three fields for action – the Built, the Biological and the Behavioral – and contains real-life case studies and an update of the Aussie St story.

Major projects

= Melliodora =

Holmgren's home and major development site since 1986, “Melliodora” is a {{Fraction|2|1|4}}-acre property situated at the edge of Hepburn Springs, central Victoria. It is one of the best-documented and well-known permaculture demonstration sites in the world. The passive solar house, mixed food gardens and orchards, dams and livestock, and creek revegetation in the nearby public land show how permaculture design can help restore and improve land, and provide for residents' needs and enjoyment in a cool continental inland climate.{{cite web |title=Melliodora – Hepburn Permaculture Gardens |url=https://holmgren.com.au/melliodora/property |website=holmgren.com.au |access-date=22 July 2018}}

= Fryers Forest Ecovillage =

Fryers Forest Ecovillage, near Castlemaine, in Central Victoria, Australia is a significant design and test of his permaculture principles.{{cite web | url=http://enrichlist.org/the-list/david-holmgren/#.VT6SyVr7K00 | title=David Holmgren | publisher=Post Growth Institute | work=The (En)Rich List | access-date=April 28, 2015| date=7 March 2012 }}{{cite web | url=http://simplelives.com.au/the-people-of-fryers-forest/ | title=The people of Fryers Forest | work=Simple Lives | date=May 10, 2012 | access-date=April 28, 2015 | author=Greg Foyster | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20150427221037/http://simplelives.com.au/the-people-of-fryers-forest/ | archive-date=27 April 2015 | df=dmy-all }}

Recognition

Recognition for Holmgren's contribution as an environmental designer, educator and activist has been slow to develop after the initial enthusiasm generated by the publication of Permaculture One when he was 23. The inclusion in Ecological Pioneers (of Australia)Mulligan & Hill 2001 was the first substantial recognition by academic authors. The inclusion of a three part series on Melliodora in a best of ten years of Gardening Australia, the most popular Australian TV gardening program, and a person profile on the Australian broadcast network program Landline (ABC TV rural program) have been the most significant recognition by mainstream media. In 2012, following the publication of PP&PBS in Italian, the environmental organisation Fondazione Parchi Monumentali Bardini e Peyron recognised Holmgren's contribution with the award Il Monito del Giardin.

In 2014, Holmgren was inducted into the Green Lifestyle Awards Hall of Fame{{Cite web|url=https://holmgren.com.au/green-lifestyle-awards/|title=Holmgren in the Green Lifestyle Hall of Fame|first=H. D.|last=Office|date=21 October 2014}} for his pioneering and ongoing work with permaculture since he co-founded the concept more than three decades ago. He is in the good company of Bob Brown, the inaugural inductee in 2012 and Olivia Newton-John in 2013.

In 2017 Holmgren was awarded an honorary doctorate from CQUniversity.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cqu.edu.au/cquninews/stories/engagement-category/2017/milestone-event-for-permaculture-design-program|title=Milestone event for Permaculture Design program|website=CQUniversity Australia}}

Publications

Although Permaculture One was published by a mainstream publisher (Corgi) most of Holmgren's work has been self-published allowing experimentation with subject material such as case studies (Permaculture in bush, Trees on the treeless planes and Melliodora), book formats (Melliodora A3 landscape) and eBook formats (Melliodora, Collected Writings) before their more widespread uptake, and Web publishing (Future Scenarios{{Cite web|url=http://www.futurescenarios.org/|title=Future Scenarios - Introduction|website=www.futurescenarios.org}}). This DIY approach reflects permaculture principles that encourage experimentation and self-reliance.

The Essence of Permaculture, a summary of PP&PBS, is the most translated work by Holmgren (available in 10 languages in 2015) while PP&PBS is available in [https://web.archive.org/web/20130730111841/http://kaicron.com.ar/paginas/ecologia/permacultura.htm Spanish], [http://livrariaviasapiens.com.br/site/index.php/permacultura-principios-e-caminhos-alem-da-sustentabilidade.html Portuguese] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811134642/http://livrariaviasapiens.com.br/site/index.php/permacultura-principios-e-caminhos-alem-da-sustentabilidade.html |date=11 August 2013 }}, [https://web.archive.org/web/20160403100708/http://ariannaeditrice.it/vetrina.php?id_macroed=1645 Italian], Czech, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150511213729/http://www.commonsonline.co.jp/perma%28jyou%29.html Japanese], [https://web.archive.org/web/20140410121215/http://www.ruedelechiquier.net/les-collections?view=bibliotheque&id_collection=6 French], [http://borimbook.com/mall/m_mall_detail.php?ps_mode=search&url=index.php&ps_search=+%C6%DB%B8%D3%C4%C3%C3%B3&x=0&y=0&ps_goid=568&ckattempt=1 Korean] and [http://earthpassengers.org/prod_detail.php?info_id=192 Chinese] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930014806/http://earthpassengers.org/prod_detail.php?info_id=192 |date=30 September 2020 }}. Future Scenarios is available in [http://shop.ruralnet.or.jp/b_no=01_54010272/ Japanese].

Bibliography

1978 Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. Permaculture One: A Perennial Agriculture for Human Settlements. Melbourne: Transworld.
1985 Permaculture in the Bush. Hepburn, Victoria: Holmgren Design.
1993 The Flywire House: a case study in design against bushfire. Hepburn, Victoria: Holmgren Design.
1994 Trees on the Treeless Plains: Revegetation Manual for Volcanic Landscapes of Central Victoria. Hepburn, Victoria: Holmgren Design.
1995 "The Permaculture Movement and Education", in Goldfields Permaculture and Landcarers, 3, 14–16.
1996 a [http://holmgren.com.au/product/melliodora-book/Melliodora (Hepburn Permaculture Gardens): Ten Years of Sustainable Living]. Hepburn, Victoria: Holmgren Design.
1996 b "Fryers Forest Village", in Green Connections, 2.2, 20–21.
1997 "Getting Started", in Green Connections, 10, 28–31.
2002 a [http://holmgren.com.au/product/principles/ Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability- Revised]. Hepburn, Victoria: Holmgren Design Services.
2002 b [http://holmgren.com.au/product/collected-writings/David Holmgren: Collected Writings 1978–2000]. [eBook on CD] Hepburn, Victoria: Holmgren Design.
2005 [http://holmgren.com.au/product/melliodora/Mellidora (Hepburn Permaculture Gardens): A Case Study in Cool Climate Permaculture 1985 – 2005] [eBook] Hepburn, Victoria: Holmgren Design Services.
2006 a [http://holmgren.com.au/product/treeless-plains/Trees on the Treeless Plains: Revegetation Manual for Volcanic Landscapes of Central Victoria]. [eBook] Hepburn, Victoria: Holmgren Design.
2006 b [http://holmgren.com.au/product/collected-writings/David Holmgren: Collected Writings & Presentations 1978 – 2006] [eBook] Hepburn, Victoria: Holmgren Design Services.
2009 [http://holmgren.com.au/product/future-scenarios/Future Scenarios - Community adaption to Peak Oil & Climate Change]. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing Company.
2011 2011 Permaculture Diary, Marrickville NSW: PcDC Michele Margolis.
2012 "The long view" in [http://holmgren.com.au/permaculture-pioneers/ Permaculture Pioneers: Stories from the New Frontier], edited by Kerry Dawborn & Caroline Smith, Holmgren Design Services, {{ISBN|0975078623}}
2018 [http://store.holmgren.com.au/product/retrosuburbia// RetroSuburbia: the downshifter's guide to a resilient future] Hepburn, Victoria: Holmgren Design, {{ISBN|9780994392879}}

References

External links

[http://www.holmgren.com.au Holmgren Design]
[http://holmgren.com.au/essence-of-permaculture-free/ Essence of Permaculture (free download)]
[https://www.retrosuburbia.com/ Retrosuburbia website]
[http://www.futurescenarios.org/ Future Scenarios: Mapping the Cultural Implications of Peak Oil and Climate Change]
[https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/05/13/world/australia/an-australian-environmentalists-next-act-frugal-hedonism.html An Australian environmentalist’s next act: “Frugal hedonism”] The New York Times
[https://web.archive.org/web/20081120083111/http://www.energybulletin.net/node/524 Peak Oil and Permaculture: David Holmgren on Energy Descent], Adam Fenderson, originally published by Global Public Media, 6 June 2004, hosted at Resilience.org/Post Carbon Institute
[http://www.permaculturecairns.com/davidholmgrenpermaculturevideo.html Peak Oil and Permaculture: David Holmgren Video], Permaculture Cairns
[https://web.archive.org/web/20051027150826/http://www.globalpublicmedia.com/interviews/460 David Holmgren speaks] with GPM's Julian Darley (archived 2005)
[http://www.raisethehammer.org/index.asp?id=175 Retrofitting the Suburbs for Sustainability]
[http://www.permacultureprinciples.com Permaculture principles]
[http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/backyard-answer-to-energy-crisis/2008/03/18/1205602385256.html ‘Retrofitting the suburbs’ for food production], Fran Molloy on David Holmgren & his ideas, Sydney Morning Herald, 19 March 2008, retrieved 25 June 2013
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