Only a few weeks ago Costa Giorgiadis, from Gardening Australia, travelled to the Blue Mountains to inspire young people doing a Permaculture Design Course at Headspace in Katoomba. The once neglected Headspace yard has now been transformed into a thriving permaculture garden with pond, fire pit, herb and veggie garden and a mini native forest in the heart of the CBD. Local bands helped attract even more young people to enjoy the space at the recent official launch. Now, the Blue Mountains Pluriversity and its Permaculture Institute (projects of the Blackheath-based charity, The Big Fix Ltd) are offering free permaculture classes for young people (aged 16-24) in Lithgow. According to the founder of The Big Fix, Lis Bastian, “we’re thrilled that the stars are aligning at last after the COVID disruption! Our permaculture courses will be some of the first exciting learning opportunities for young people to be held in the new Lithgow Transformation Hub on the former Western Sydney University campus. They’re part of a project called The Lithgow Sprint, in honour of runner Marjorie Jackson, because we’re hoping to be as fast as Marjorie in improving life for young people in Lithgow!”
A free Introduction to Permaculture for young people aged 16-24 will be held during the school holidays on Wednesday 7 April and then, a week later, a free, internationally recognized Permaculture Design Course (72hrs) will offer young people the opportunity to gain experience in designing better systems for the future with inspiring mentors like Costa. According to Lis, “these courses will provide a way for participants to connect with other young people so that they can work together to build community, a regenerative micro-farm at the PCYC, and new social enterprises to create jobs in Lithgow”. This design course will be held three days a week from 14 April to 7 May.
Any young people interested in learning about media and storytelling are also invited to contact Lis.
The Lithgow Sprint has been made possible because of funding received from Wentworth Healthcare, provider of the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network, as part of the Australian Government’s Empowering our Communities initiative.
Bookings are essential for both courses because numbers are strictly limited. Make sure to secure a place by contacting Lis on 0407 437 553 or emailing lis@thebigfix.org
