Talk: David Holmgren ‘weeds or wild nature’

David is back in Armidale to start a discussion on the night of the Strawberry Moon titled ‘weeds or wild nature’. His last presentation ‘Aussie Street’ packed the Armidale Town Hall 6 years ago promoting his popular book RetroSuburbia: The Downshifter’s Guide to a Resilient Future. David Holmgren is a bit of a legend, he is the co-originator of the permaculture concept, following publication of Permaculture One, co-authored with Bill Mollison in 1978. David is a pioneering voice in sustainable design and ecological stewardship. With decades of experience and insight, his work has inspired a global movement towards regenerative living.

‘Weeds or wild nature’ presentation and discussion synopsis — land design and management informed by permaculture principles tends to treat naturalised newcomer plants as assets that stabilise water and soil, build biomass, fix nutrients, ameliorate microclimate and provide habitat, fodder, fuel and food. While naturalised species may be given a lower value in permaculture design than species regarded as indigenous to the site and region, labelling naturalised species as ‘invasive’ or ‘environmental weeds’ is typically rejected as anti-ecological thinking.

The background and basis for this positive view of naturalised plants is not well understood, and has led to persistent criticism of permaculture by those promoting the orthodox view of ‘weeds’ as invasives. This has itself influenced the practices and teaching of many permaculturists to moderate or compromise the permaculture approach to naturalised species. Consequently the ‘weeds or wild nature’ controversy is alive and well within the permaculture movement.

In this presentation, co-originator of the permaculture concept, David Holmgren will provide his unique perspective on the evolution of this discourse and its connection to the wider debate on this issue in conservation and land management networks. David’s story is partly a historical and personal one as well as a review of the scientific literature on the subject.