The Book

David Holmgren’s new book, RetroSuburbia shows how Australians can downshift and retrofit their homes, gardens, communities and, above all, themselves to be more self-organised, sustainable and resilient into an uncertain future. It promises a challenging but exciting mix of satisfying work, a more meaningful way of living and hope for the next generation.

“RetroSuburbia,” David explains, “is the closest thing we have to a plan for the growth of household and community economies that could, over time, replace much of the declining, top heavy, centralised and overcomplicated ways of providing for human needs and desires that we currently call the economy.”

“Aren’t we all craving real world ways to make an impact, and make our lives feel significant in the face of the global challenges we face?” David asks. “I believe permaculture provides people with hands-on, creative solutions to create positive change, and a clear path that can provide models for those searching for a better way of living.”

The book will be launched by Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis at the Sustainable Living Festival in Melbourne on February 10 2018.

The Campaign

RetroSuburbia will be self-published by David’s micro-publishing house, Melliodora Publishing, which has published David’s previous books plus a handful of other titles that are in line with permaculture principles, including the best selling The Art of Frugal Hedonism.

RetroSuburbia will be his first full-colour publication. To print the book offshore would save $23,000, but no matter how enticing the monetary cost, we are completely committed to local printing, supporting sustainable forestry in Australia, and a truly viable paper chain. The paper stock, ink and the printing must be in accordance with the content.

We would like to offer all our financial contributors our thanks – you will be listed on the website, unless you choose otherwise. Everyone who makes a donation at the ‘Contributor’ level ($200) or above will receive a signed copy of RetroSuburbia before the official launch date, and an invitation to the ‘Pre-launch celebration’ that will be held in January 2018 to celebrate both the publication of the book and all the wonderful people who have been involved.

‘Supporters’ ($750) or above will be able to personalise the message in their signed book, and will be listed in the acknowledgements section of RetroSuburbia.

‘Benefactors’ ($5000) will also be offered a night’s meal and accommodation at the famous Melliodora ‘Teahouse’ (or a nights’ accommodation in your own state).

If none of these options suit you, you can make a donation of any amount, or, if you cannot contribute in this way, even preordering your copy of RetroSuburbia would help us. Preorder your copy here.

You can also buy a voucher for a friend or loved one for $100, which includes 1 copy of RetroSuburbia + postage to anywhere in Australia.

Book Details

• 500 pages
• 90+ watercolour illustrations by artist Brenna Quinlan
• 400+ full colour photos
• Foreword by Costa Georgiadis (Gardening Australia)
• 34 chapters, spanning 3 fields – the Built, Behavioural and Biological
• Includes case studies: real-life examples of households creating change and building resilience
• Designed by Richard Telford
• Published by Melliodora Publishing, Australia

The Author

RetroSuburbia promises to be as important as David Holmgren’s previous contributions to the sustainability debate, both locally and globally by providing people in the suburbs, and regional towns with strategies, tools and design ideas to be more fulfilled and resilient by creatively responding to the converging economic, energy and climate crises.

As the permaculture co-originator, David is a leading thinker, writer and teacher on how societies and communities can become more resilient with a lower impact on the planet. Together with his partner Su Dennett, David lives and works at Melliodora, in central Victoria, one of Australia’s best-known permaculture demonstration sites, which they started developing in 1985.

David has spent a lifetime developing a sustainable and fulfilling way of living. Starting a small publishing business that allows him and other like-minded authors to sidestep the large publishing and distribution systems, is a practical application of his ethos. RetroSuburbia is a proud expression of do-it-ourselves self-reliance, artisanal publishing.

The Team

RetroSuburbia is already very much a team effort with a large group working either voluntarily, at discounted rates or outside the monetary economy. We invite you to join us in bringing David’s vision to fruition.

Key members of the team include:

From L-R, Richard Telford (designer, project manager), Brenna Quinlan (illustrator), David Holmgren (author, publisher), Beck Lowe (chief text wrangler, project manager), Oliver Holmgren (photographer, photo editor).

From L- R, Ostii Ananda (website), Su Dennett (publisher, office manager, proofreader), Meg Ulman (publicity).

Other team members include Jessica Perini (structural editor), Anthony Petrucci & Patrick Jones (book trailer), Virginia & John Lowe (proofreaders), Nick Ritar (crowd support campaign advisor), Peter O’Mara (book tour events), Ken Warren (accounts) and countless others who have offered specialist advice on particular chapters and/or provided photographs for the book.