How to host a permablitz

Ever wanted to transform your yard into a garden but didn’t know how? Well, much like the Amish tradition of barn raising, a permablitz is a way of bringing the community together and turning a suburban house into an urban homestead in a single day.

The original permablitz network was established by Adam Grub and Dan Palmer, and (as of 2012) more than 140 permablitzes have been held in Melbourne, Australia. The concept has since spread across Australia, and begun to move overseas to countries such as the U.K., the U.S., and Canada.

As a blitz host, you’re about to receive a big input of labor, design and energy. Permablitzes are great fun, but do require some work getting ready for. You’ll be expected to work with a designer, organize materials, do some prep work, and most importantly, feed your volunteers. In fact, you may not be doing much work at all in the garden on the day of the blitz, as hosts often find themselves in the kitchen instead. The permablitz network will help you with your design, come up with the quantities of materials needed, facilitate the day, and provide some follow up help if needed.

Below are tips for creating and running your own permablitz.

1.Design

Every permablitz must incorporate permaculture design, therefore someone who’s completed a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) needs to work with you to draft up a design for your garden.

Finding a designer

Once you’ve been to a few blitzes and have decided that you want to host your own, it will be easier for your network to connect you to a permaculture designer.
A good design is the difference between you doing the clearing, digging, fertilizing, and pest control for your new veggie patch — or your rotationally fenced chooks (that’s an Australian chicken) doing the work for you. Isn’t it smarter to let the chickens gorge themselves on grass, weeds, and bugs; dig through soil; poo in it; and hand over eggs into the bargain? In short, you need an ultra-smart, well-integrated garden design.
Work with your designer to create a plan that you are willing to commit to over the long haul. It is more important to get a great, long-term design established during your permablitz, than it is to complete all the work in one day. Use your blitz day to break the back of that design, then keep adding to and refining your project slowly, over the years.
At the end of the design process you should have a to-scale sketch, explanatory notes and brief implementation guidelines. In order to achieve this the designer(s) usually need a minimum of 3-4 hours consulting with you and developing the design on-site.

2. Prepare for the day.

Find a facilitator

Generally the host isn’t expected to facilitate the blitz (although some do).

There should be one or more facilitators — usually one of the designers or someone else from within the permablitz network.
For a particularly complex blitz, up to five or more facilitators and team leaders may be needed, whereas for a very simple blitz you may only need one facilitator.
Your network should have access to a list of potential facilitators if you are having trouble finding them.
If needed, there are Facilitators’ Guides available like this one from the Permablitz Melbourne network.

Set a date

Work with the designer and facilitator(s) to set a date for the permablitz
Generally you’ll want to give yourself a few weeks to prepare and time to promote
the event.
It’s not usually a major consideration if there are other blitzes on the same day, but we would recommend finding a date that does not have other blitzes scheduled.
Most blitzes are scheduled on weekends, but if you are feeling adventurous (or you have a small project) try hosting one on a weekday!
Let your network know so they can add it to their online calendar and social media, and assist with promotion.

There is fun for everyone in a garden! Photo credit: Permablitz. Used with permission.

Gather materials

The designer’s report should include a list of materials such as length of pipes, cubic meters of mulch, height of newspaper piles, etc.
Some materials such as cardboard and horse manure can often be sourced for free.
If you have a list of materials that you need that you would like to crowdsource, post a list of your needs on your network’s website and social media accounts.
Take your permablitz design to your local nurseries and garden centers; your network may already have arranged discounts with particular nurseries, but if not, these businesses may offer discounts for large projects.

Promote your permablitz

Again, utilize your network’s website, mailing lists, and social media.
You may also wish to invite neighbors or other members of the local community to your blitz.
Another good way to let people know about the blitz is to put up notices in like-minded businesses such as your local coffee shop, your local co-op, and/or your workplace’s newsletter.
Remember to play up “what’s in it for them (the volunteers)” angle: learning new skills; free food and drink; potential volunteers for their permablitz; meeting new friends; etc.
Be sure to make it an RSVP event where respondents must email you to get the address, which not only adds an air of “exclusivity, but also so that you can track numbers.
Make sure that you respond to any inquiries straight away, and keep your volunteers informed along the way with email blasts showing the plans, pictures of your yard, and any other information to keep them interested and excited for the big day.

Bookings and numbers

Track volunteer numbers so that you can not only anticipate mouths to feed, you can also control the number of volunteers.
Too much energy in any system creates chaos and disorder so we recommend limiting the number of people attending your blitz to 15 – 20 people.

The number of people you can handle depends on:

The size of the property
The amount of work to be done
Whether there are additional facilitators/supporters who can run workshops throughout the day to soak up all the spare energy and make sure people have a good time.

Encouraging people to arrive at different times in the day can also be helpful; this ensures that. as one group of people begins to fade, new, energetic sorts can kick in and start things all over again.

Health and Safety

Prior to the permablitz, the host’s role is to deal with any obvious safety issues.

Don’t plan to fell any trees or large branches on the day, or other potentially dangerous activities.
As well, the host is responsible for locating underground lines and hazards well in advance of the blitz.
Contacting your electric company is a good idea.
It’s the facilitator’s role on the day to draw attention to any dangerous tools, like mattocks or power tools. They should also discuss proper back care, and highlight any safety issues specific to the site.

A mapped out permaculture garden for a Permablitz — A mapped-out permaculture garden. Photo credit: United Diversity.

3. Finally, permablitz day!

Create a game plan with your designer and facilitator(s) ahead of time so that they can provide practical direction and support and try to find out who amongst your volunteer crew has the specialist skills that you will need (like bricklaying or carpentry) in advance.
Hosts need to make sure they have enough materials on hand — enough timber, mulch, shovels, saws, and screwdrivers, etc., to finish the job.
Have a registration sheet for volunteers and greet people as they arrive.
Give them a name tag, a marker, and masking tape for their tools, as well as the itinerary of the day.
Make sure to post site and design plans around the blitz area.
Have beverages and snacks ready, and make sure they are available throughout the day.

The best blitzes are the result of adequate preparation in the lead-up to the event, and crazy, constructive improvisation on the day.

It’s fun. You’ll like it.

This how-to guide was originally posted on July 29, 2013. It was updated and reposted on Monday, May 20, 2024.