As the founder of Grounded Permaculture Action Party Inc., I’ve been thinking about what’s fueled our journey since we kicked things off in 2016. From humble events to a not-for-profit with a heartbeat—regenerating connections to land, people, and culture through permaculture—we’ve built something special. Looking back, I see four pillars that have been the bedrock of our success. Here’s the rundown, straight from my reflections.
1. VISION, MISSION, CONFLICT RESOLUTION
A community without a clear vision and mission is like a ship without a compass—drifting and clumsy. From day one, Grounded’s purpose has been rock-solid: regenerate our sacred connection to country, community and culture. That’s our constitutional backbone, the rules of the game, and having it written down has saved us a ton of guesswork.
Conflict resolution, though? That’s been a wild ride, especially since we settled at the hub. With temporary setups like events, if tensions flared, you could just walk away. Not when you’re living together on the land—there’s no “home” to escape to. It’s forced us to level up. The Queensland Government even stepped in, mandating that all not-for-profits like us have a conflict resolution process, either custom-made or pulled from their model rules. When I heard that, I got ChatGPT to draft us one, blending Holistic Context, Sociocracy, and Nonviolent Communication—stuff we’ve woven into Grounded’s fabric. It spat out something decent, but it needed tweaking to make it ours based on what’s worked (and what hasn’t), and double-check it aligns with the legal requirements. This is a forever living document updated with time.
2. EATING TOGETHER
This one’s been core to Grounded since the beginning. You know the saying, “Families that eat together stay together”? We’ve scaled it up: communities that share a meal stick around. Food’s a universal connector, a human thing. But we don’t just stop at eating—we dig deeper. Where’s this food from? For us, it’s about a two-way street with the earth. That’s why permaculture action is our jam—if we’re going to share a plate, we’ve got to grow what’s on it. From organic feasts at the Grounded Gathering to hands-on growing workshops, growing and sharing food brings us together as a tribe.
3.HARD TO GET IN - EAST TO LEAVE
Trust is the currency of community, and it doesn’t come cheap. Whether it’s pooling cash for a co-ownership gig like our vision for The Regenerative Living Co. (prepping for when SHTF) or just joining our regular meetups, the deal’s the same: getting “in” takes time, but leaving’s a breeze.
Grounded started with events—hosting our own, serving others—and those early years laid the trust foundation. Shared experiences over time showed us who we are and who’s really with us. Sure, anyone can hop on the mailing list or show up to a gathering, but becoming part of the crew? That’s built through relationships, not a sign-up sheet. And if it’s not your thing, no sweat—you’re free to roll out anytime. It’s a balance that keeps us real.
4. DANCE WITH BUSINESS
This one’s about numbers—tracking what we do and balancing the books. You could run a community on trust and favors alone (see Pillar #3), but let’s face it: we need money to survive in this modern world. The best communities globally don’t dodge the business side—they embrace it. I get the hesitation—our monetary system’s a mess, and shady dealings often follow. When I launched Grounded, I wanted nothing to do with business. I’d been burned before, trying to turn my music passion into a paycheck. But something clicked here. As our activities grew—and revenue followed—I had no choice but to figure out money, marketing, and management to keep the dream alive. A few years in, it’s paying off, and we’re growing stronger for it.
WRITTEN BY: Rupert Faust