With much of the Australian continent enduring some of the hottest driest conditions on record in recent years as well as significant floods, the ninth annual Australian Permaculture Convergence (APC9) nominated “water” as its main theme. Being an essential component in any productive ecological system, the successful harvesting and use of water is an urgent issue needing alternative approaches.

Australia, the land of drought and flooding rains, has borne more than its fair share of internationally respected practioners working with water in the landscape. The Water Conference component of APC9 launched with a series of presentations. Speakers included legendary permaculture practioners like Geoff Lawton and Darren Doherty, widely revered for their work in designing water efficient systems for large scale systems.

Darren Doherty uses the Yeoman's keyline system to increase productivity of large pastoral systems while Geoff Lawton uses swales to bring water into some of the harshes landscapes on earth. One of Geoff's most celebrated projects was a system of swales in Jordan that allowed local farmers to plant trees and even mushrooms in the saline sands of one of the lowest places on earth.

The audience also heard from geographer, Hakai Tane, who discussed the Australian community's collective inability to manage our watersheds. This was due, he claimed, to our flawed cultural misunderstandings of water and landscape. He said that river systems are still largely understood in crude plumbing terms as a system of pipes and drains, reflecting and reinforcing our civilisation's alienation from nature. He called for an understanding that is more indigenous and culturally-embedded.

Salt of the earth Aussie farmer Peter Andrews spoke about Natural Sequence Farming, a system he pioneered to restore the Australian landscape. It is based on his understanding – inspired by indigenous perspectives as well as his own observations – of the unique pattern of water movement (and storages) within the Australian landscape. Rather than trying to create a ceaseless flow of water, Andrews urged landholders to respect, and work with the “chain of ponds” that comprise the Australian environment's sometimes interrupted flows of water and nutrients.

Josh Burne from ABC TV's Gardening Australia gave a slick presentation on “mains water neutral” gardening in his own small suburban block. He blended innovative design with the latest water recycling technology. John Archer took a more esoteric approach to the fluid entity that moves through our landscapes and even our bodies, cycling eternally. He said we should follow the mystics and use water as our teacher.

'The Panel'

The water conference also involved these presenters joining several others including permaculture founder Bill Mollison to form a “Water Panel”. It was an imposing picture. Nearly twenty 'experts' taking up the length and breadth of the stage. They were all men, bar one - with a lot of grey hair and beards.

As panel took questions from the floor, lines of division emerged. Peter Andrews questioned whether the more interventionalist nature of some permaculture practioners (using massive earth moving equipment to cut massive channels through the earth) would create more problems like salinity if too much water was brought into the landscape.

The tension in the air could have been with a knife, perhaps even graded with earth-moving machinery.

As an oberver, and admittedly not an expert, I was a bit surprised that these conflicts arose. I thought there was more than enough similarity in the approaches for something merging on consensus. To me, the differences were questions of scale and method rather than substance or principle.

Many of the presenters were skilled in working with the land. They were in Geoff Lawton's terms 'surgeons of the soil'. But perhaps the discussion would have advanced if the panelists could talk more in terms of principles.

All presenters, for example, thought there was a need to integrate with natural features of the surrounding environment, to slow down the flow of water through the system, and to increase the soil's water holding capacity as well as using vegetation (even some so-called “weeds” like Willows) to hold landscapes together and act as water filters. These strategies are quintessential examples of permaculture principles like energy cycling, catching and storing energy, using biological resources, working with ecological evolutions and so on.

Both Peter Archer and Hakai Tane both refered to Daoism, most commonly recognised in the yin-yang symbol – the symbol for balance. Ironically the panel was perhaps a bit unbalanced with an excess of male yang.

The panelists seemed to be competing to be the authority. Some people undoubtedly have a wealth of experience and knowledge. But in competing to be the authority in water management, cooperation was overlooked. Perhaps it is up to others to integrate and synthesis while these rugged pioneers go their own way.

In conversations with other participants after the panel there was a lot of talk about the way the discussion had gone. I said to a friend, 'maybe they're all a bit right' and my friend replied, 'yeah and maybe they're all a bit wrong too'. As MC Stuart Hill pointed out, the amount we know is dwarfed by what we don't know, particularly about natural systems. No matter what we achieve or what accolades are given, complex systems like those found in nature be approached with humility.

Open-space workshops on water

The next day was more inclusive and inspiring. Participants got together in small groups and workshopped strategies for how to think about and use water in various contexts. Some groups looked at water use in high-density urban environments, others looked at large rural holdings. My group looked at water in the context of a small country town like where I currently reside. One group was also attempting to create a permaculture influenced manifesto, drawing together all of the divergent views into one clear statement.

Although the groupwork presented some challenges it was of a scale that could include a variety of people and allow them to be creative. Unlike the main presentations of the previous day it was deeply embedded in context. We were looking at real challenges and solutions for real communities. Some of the approaches outlined by the main speakers also featured, customised to local contexts.

The permaculture movement matures

The permaculture movement is based around a creative tension between individual visionaries and the tireless grassroots practioners. After attending the APC9 I felt like it is a critical juncture for the permaculture community as a whole to work together to create a shared vision.

One the final day, the convergence considered how to take the permaculture movement forward to play a key role in mainstream discussions about sustainability. Several models were presented such as the Permaculture People's Party, an alternative representative structure linking local groups with a national body as well as reforms to the existing peak body, Permaculture International Limited (PIL).

These presentations triggered wider discussions amongst permaculturists which are still going on as I write. I recently began to think that water might prove a valuable metaphor for the permaculture movement.

In it's liquid state water moves as one fluid body, despite being composed of many small elements. It has no leader and can separate and rejoin with ease. It can cut through the hardest of materials like the way a stream can carve a canyon from solid rock.

Perhaps water as liquid symbolises the diversity of the permaculture movement itself, made up of many individual pracitioners. Over thirty years this movement has grown with only a shoestring organisation and with no formal structure of leadership. Now it is a powerful world-wide movement mixing with, and influencing the mainstream of society.

Water as ice could be an appropriate metaphor for the formal structures of the permaculture movement which should remain transparent (like pure ice). Permaculture International Limited is one example of a permaculture structure. PIL has played an important role in overseeing the development of Accredited Permaculture Training (APT) and other has several other achievements.

Well considered structures, like PIL or new institutions, give form to an otherwise diffuse movement and consolidate resources for greater influence. Like ice can be carved and reshaped (and melted), these structures should be maleable and flexible.

As vapour, water can also represent the invisible “essence” of permaculture – it's ethics and principles. Like water vapour flows the most freely, permaculture principles and ethics can penetrate all facets of society, even within individuals. As principles, permaculture doesn't have to be a visable movement or organisation but perhaps has even more influence for this reason.

Water has an ability to be transformed from ice to liquid to gas and vice versa. Likewise, permaculture principles, structures and movements should be a cycling inteconnected system. Principles should inform structures. Structures should involve the movement. And the movement should be embedded in principles, working inside and outside structures.

The APC9 seemed to be evidence that permaculture is maturing. It celebrated the “pioneers” who spread the seed over permaculture thirty years ago. But the convergence also showed the promise of more complex organisations and systems emerging from the ground prepared by the pioneers.