Be part of building a sustainable and resilient local food system in Victoria, while also developing tools and concepts that can empower communities around the world to do the same. The essence of "Stone Soup":
~ When we all give what we can, nobody is left lacking.
~ The more we see others give for the common good, the more we are inspired to do the same.
~ The accumulation of the whole is far ri
cher then is parts through diversity and meaningful connections. A social permacutlure tool, Stone Soup is a delicious initiative that uses food, a common love and living necessity, as a focal point around which we can build vibrant and meaningful connections, and self-sustaning resources that support resilient region. Built on the the idea of selflessness, giving for the common good, an important element of a Stone Soup event is that it's created by working with what is already there, making more with less, and built entirely by collaboration. It usually consists of a dinner shared by the community, with the aim of using every opportunity to create conditions for connections, energy exchange, and the production of self-perpetuating resources*. A Stone Soup event can consist of a dinner shared by the community, created by contributing cooks, and made from ingredients given by local farmers, grocers and bakers. It can also feature performances, presentations, panel discussions, and other elements that nurture our cultural soil. They can also be as simple as a group of individuals coming together with intention, each bring an ingredient for a meal to prepare and share, and conversing on solutions and actions that benefit everyone.
*Self-perpetuating resources refers to the highest form of resources and are explained by Bill Mollison in 'PERMACULTURE: A Designers' Manual' as: "Those which increase with modest use". Examples of self perpetuating resources, resources that increase as we use them, include (but are not limited to)...
- Micro Lending
- Seeds/Seed Banks
- Open Source Systems
- Wiki's (open/collaborative directories, encyclopedia's, etc.)
- Knowledge
- Arts and culture
- Perennial systems
- Can you think of anything else that might fit this list? Of course the worth of these resources can be defined by how they are use.
~ The age old story of "Stone Soup" (in a nut shell) ~
A community, once disconnected, guided by a visiting traveler is brought together through sharing what ingredients they can into a common pot, contributing to what becomes a dynamic and nourishing soup. This, in the end, feeds everyone far beyond what any of them could have cooked up on their own.
