Julie – Growing Communities Through Permaculture

by Simmone Sache

Julie is all about communities. She builds them, connects them, and supports them. A member of PermacultureWest for over 15 years and a committee member for nearly two, Julie is passionate about making the organisation WA’s go-to resource for permaculture knowledge and connections.

“PermacultureWest should be the first place people think of when they need reliable information or expert advice,” she says. Julie believes the organisation plays a vital role as WA’s peak body for permaculture and is committed to ensuring it remains relevant for years to come.

Hands-on and practical, Julie is a champion of local solutions. Having recently moved house, she’s actively building new networks and relationships in her area. She founded the Bassendean and Surrounds permaculture group and is an active member of her local share shed.

“The local groups are where all the action happens,” she explains. For Julie, face-to-face interactions are the foundation of strong communities. “It’s about getting people out of the house and involved,” she says. “The secret is finding out what they can do. At first, people often say they have nothing to offer, but once they feel at home, they realise they have so much to share.”

Whether she’s organising soap-making workshops or passata-cooking events, Julie is always creating opportunities to bring people together. “I’ve met so many incredible people through organising these events, people I would otherwise have not met, that have come together to make a difference” she says.

“A proud moment for me was organising a sustainable event where the bins never arrived. At the end of the event, we didn’t even need them, so we know we did something right.”

Julie sees a bright future for PermacultureWest as a central hub for knowledge, connections, and inspiration. “If we can connect people with the right information and resources, we can create stronger, more resilient communities,” she says.

With her passion for collaboration and dedication to empowering local groups, Julie is helping PermacultureWest thrive as a key player in WA’s sustainability movement.

Get Involved with PermacultureWest

Learn more about permaculture, sign up for a workshop, or become a member: Permaculture West.

Q&As

What’s your biggest green guilt (the eco unfriendly habit you can’t seem to break)?

I can’t give up travel, even though I know how much air travel impacts my carbon footprint. It’s what I like, so it’s tough knowing that I can make progress in other areas, but with flying, there’s just no real alternative.

My last trip was a two-month solo cycling adventure through the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany. I went for twice as long last year, starting in Prague and ending in the UK, cycling through Berlin and Amsterdam along the way. I love the small villages and what I can discover when moving slowly.

Julie’s honest reflection on her “green guilt” highlights the trade-offs even sustainability advocates face. Learn more about permaculture values at PermacultureWest.

What’s Your First Memory in Nature?

Walking in the Yorkshire woods with my father. We’d look at trees, birds, and sometimes spot foxes, badgers, or deer. He taught me so much about nature, and even now, it’s what I love most when I’m out cycling.

My father installed a love of nature in me. He’s now 87 and living in Perth, and as active as ever. He does his own gardening, mows his own lawn, and still wins awards for his roses. He’s also a brilliant bird photographer and still holds the world record for his age in bench press powerlifting.

Julie’s story is a reminder of how early experiences in nature and the people who inspire them, can leave a lasting impact.