Radical Redesign

WE NEED RADICAL REDESIGN.

This is not the time to ‘snap back to normal’, whatever ‘normal’ is anyway. Through our various teachings, workshops, and consultations it has become clear that many people have not yet realised the deep potential of redesigning in places, spaces and communities. When they do, it is incredibly empowering!

Today seems so full of disaster and crises, both global and personal, and yet, these times shine light on so much: our dreams, most cherished relationships, core values, regenerative and healing practices. We have had to further develop these practices to get ourselves and our loved ones through these tough times.

Our “Radical Redesign” article, published in 2017 in the Permaculture Magazine, is more relevant than ever today. We wanted to share insights from the article and a few of our Radical Redesign Tools & Tricks to help you bring in hope, imagination and foster empowerment.

8 WAYS RADICAL REDESIGN

CAN EMPOWER US

TO ADAPT & TAKE ACTION

1. Care for and heal ourselves, landscapes, and more through proactive wholistic design processes.
2. Build resilience and adapt to the current times, let alone, unknown future. We cannot continue with a status quo mentality of “that’s how it’s always been”; there is too much at stake. We can cope with change, fracture, and loss when it arises.
3. Play with power and possibility. All the facets of our life are redesignable: gardens, houses, clothes, livelihood, lifestyles, relationships, communities, ideas about nature, belonging, identity and more.
4. Reflect upon our dreams, ideas, inspirations and basic life-sustaining needs - clarifying what is important and what is not.
5. Remain relevant and accessible. Even permaculture must undergo redesign and be open to input from other disciplines. We can build an ethical foundation by caring more about the choices we make and how they affect whole systems.
6. Explore solutions and take action to solve the biggest global issues: climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, pollution, military expansions, declining corporate tax contributions, and the desperate plight of hundreds of millions of displaced refugees.
7. Address the principle factors for ill health in the Western world: social isolation, poor nutrition, insufficient exercise, stress, and socio-economic status.
8. Acknowledge, evaluate and learn from practises and practitioners whose ideas and ideals emerged from counterculture and a revitalization of indigenous ways. This guides us to alternative land use, conservation, holistic health, community development, alternative economies, psychology and spirituality. 

Looking for guidance on how to promote Radical Redesign? Check out a few of our tools & tricks....

 4 RADICAL REDESIGN TOOLS & TRICKS

1. Don’t Assume - Describe the unseen assumptions at play.
2. Dream Bigger - How can we know where the limits are if you don’t test them out?
3. Dream Smaller - Why not start there?
4. Flip Your Design - Turn your ideas and actions upside down!

Need more Radical Redesign step-by-step help? Visit our Adapt page to learn how the Adapt Design Deck guides you through a holistic creative and redesign process to help you create the world of your dreams!

Crave redesign inspiration? Check out our Gateway Farm project, and see how a driving range turned into an organic farm with permaculture-inspired design, a community hub, and sanctuary.

You can also check out our "Radical Redesign" article below: