The Elder Tree Podcast - 1. Introduction to the Herbal Education Segment

4 days ago

34. Dynamic Groups, Eco-village Living & Elemental Prayer: Robin Clayfield on Permaculture Herbalism

Robin Clayfield is a Permaculture pioneer, educator, facilitator and best-selling author who is passionate about healthy groups, organisations and communities, their structures and governance and most importantly, their facilitation and group dynamics. She presents and consults around the world to support global health, group and personal well-being, and whole systems change through using Permaculture, Social Permaculture, Deep Ecology and her 'Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning' methodology. Robin loves Ritual and Ceremony, supporting people to have their own deep experience of nature, cycles and patterns, rites of passage, transformation and celebration. She also loves and nurtures a Permaculture garden and a 1-acre lot at Crystal Waters Ecovillage, where she's lived happily for 35 years. In this conversation, Robin speaks openly about her pioneering days as an activist, her role in social permaculture, and what that looks like in her work and offerings, including a five-part series of books soon to launch. I have personally attended her courses and utilised her practical resources as helpful tools when providing group facilitation and dynamic decision-making services, aswell as at any time I am teaching permaculture. We can thank her for bringing the Spirit Care ethic into join the Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share ethics embodied in the framework of permaculture design. She speaks of Turmeric as her must-have herbal plant. She shares her golden milk recipe and other kitchen witching ways that she regularly utilises plants from her garden, including Moringa, Gotu Kola and Brahmi, Lesser Galangal and her go-to first aid herbs. Plus, a reminder to 'eat your greens' wisely and flavour salads with seasonal herbs for taste and health benefits. We also discuss how rituals and ceremonies play an important part in her life, her annual labyrinth-making installation and how Deep Ecology continues to be a source of inspiration and inclusion in her many course offerings. She reminds us to be grateful for the gifts of nature and kindly permitted me to share her elemental prayer aptly called 'Thank You For The Five Sacred Things'. I hope you enjoy listening to this wise woman as much as I did! Show Notes: Upcoming 'Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning' workshop 23rd to 28th July. https://www.facebook.com/events/2609079422566907⁠ Robin's Permaculture Design Course at Crystal Waters in August from 13th to 27th - https://crystalwaters.org.au/permaculture-design-course/ Connect: Website: Earthcare Education + Dynamic Groups: http://www.dynamicgroups.com.au/ Courses & Workshops: https://dynamicgroups.com.au/courses-and-workshops/ To learn more about The Elder Tree, visit the website here and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here. You can also follow The Elder Tree on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the newsletter. Find out more about this podcast and the presenters here. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at: asktheeldertree@gmail.comThe intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins. You can find Chad's music here and here.

1 hr 10 min