Montreal Is Being Permablitzed!

By Edward K. Yersh

Permablitzes have arrived in Montreal. You would be forgiven for thinking that this is a new kind of Eastern European deli food. They're not. Permablitzes are a novel application of the principles Permaculture, a burgeoning global movement that designs and creates human habitats that are in harmony with their environments and sustainable in the long term.

Permablitzes are a one day event in which a yard, or any other space where people live, is transformed into an edible organic garden. An experienced permaculture designer works with the resident before-hand to create a design for their space. Using the Internet, volunteers are coordinated to collect the necessary materials, mostly recovered from the city's waste stream. The materials and labour being mostly free, permablitzes involve very little financial outlay.

On the day of event, volunteers show up in the morning and get to work implementing the design and transforming the space. People of all ages and levels of gardening knowledge are welcome to pitch in. Elements incorporated often include herb spirals, no dig vegetable gardens, water-catching systems, small ponds, composters, medicinal plant gardens, to name a few. New skills are shared and learned as permaculture concepts are demonstrated and applied. Community is built as curious neighbours stop by to find out what all the fun is about. New friendships are formed among the happy blitzers, and at the end of the day, after a shared pot-luck meal, it is not uncommon for musical instruments to appear and even more good cheer to break out.

Permablitzes began in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia, where Permaculture was developed. Newly arrived Montrealer Clarisse Thomasset, lived in Melbourne for some time and was actively involved in the Permablitz movement there. On arriving in Montreal in 2009, she hooked up with the Montreal Permaculture Guild and together they introduced the practice here.

As concerns about peak oil and environmental degradation are grokked by the mainstream, more and more people are realizing that our best chance is to produce for our needs locally. Concordantly, the permablitz movement has taken off all over the world with active groups now established throughout Australia, in France, Texas, Uganda and now in Montreal.

Asked about the first season of Permablitzes here Clarisse said, “Our first permablitz was in Ville-Émard. We took a typical grassy front yard and turned it into verdant food production site that now has the potential to provide a significant portion of the resident's annual food needs. Additionally, it is much more engrossing than a simple grass lawn. The diverse plant life attracts birds and beneficial insects. The street-fronting location encourages interactions with neighbours who are usually quite delighted to see just how much can be done with a simple front yard. Permablitzes restore biodiversity, and eliminate the use of synthetic petrochemical products. The aim is to create a balanced, self-perpetuating micro-ecosystem that satisfies basic human needs without requiring intense inputs of human labour. We let nature do most of the work. A permaculturalized site takes pressure off the global industrial system that is placing such a strain on our suffering planet.“

In 2009, three locations in Montreal were permablitzed. With your involvement, there will be even more in 2010. Here are some links to get you started:

Permablitz Montreal www.permablitzmontreal.blogspot.com

The Montreal Permaculture Guild www.montrealpermaculture.org/index.php/Main_Page

Permablitz International www.permablitz.net