About Jasper Hall

Jasper Hall is a communal living group, and Permaculture farm in rural North East NSW, made up currently of 10 adult members and 5 children, plus numerous Willing Workers (WWOOFers) who exchange their labour for food and accommodation. Established in 1996, our community is moving towards becoming self-supporting, self-managing, and self-sufficient, with an aim of becoming completely ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable.

Ecological sustainability

Jasper Hall is a well-developed Permaculture farm, indeed possibly one of the best examples in Australia of the paradise that Permaculture promises. Our farm is certified organic, uses small scale, crop-rotating, high diversity, closed systems to simultaneously reduce our ecological footprint, maintain production for future generations, and minimise waste of finite resources.

We have pigs, ducks, chickens, rabbits and worms, all of whom perform multiple functions on the farm – including pest control, source of fertilizers, waste management, and food source. We are planning for one or two cows, and enough bees to cater for our dairy product and honey needs respectively, in the near future.

Although we still outsource many of our food items (mostly from locally owned wholefood distributors) we do grow a lot of what we eat (over 50%). Our diet is diverse, catering to a great variety of eating styles, but is increasingly based on whole and or raw food.

In terms of energy efficiency we use renewable resources for heating, such as with wood from our own forests, and solar and wind. One day we will disconnect from the mains power supply, and until then we look for ways to reduce our use and waste. We do most of our own construction, utilising the skills of the people we have staying with us, and the abundance of recycled or second-hand materials that are relentlessly gleaned from local and regional sources. Trading these materials is one of our income streams.

At Jasper Hall we compost all of our food scraps and paper, on-site; and fastidiously clean, collect, and sort our recyclables, so that our garbage output is as small as possible. Our black and grey water, composting and mulching systems create assets out of potential liabilities.

As well as recycling, and reusing resources, we make every effort to conserve them, thereby reducing our dollar expenses and, our ecological impact.

Economic sustainability

No one has to work outside our community to earn money, although that is up to personal choice. Jasper Hall is home to a number of cottage industries, the most profitable of which, so far, is the postcard business, turning over AU$1 million over its 18 years of operation.

We offer a wide variety of work options to our members, including gardening, food processing, cooking, office work, accounting, construction, woodworking, equipment maintenance, childcare, forestry, domestic work, and the list goes on. These work options are also possible income streams for those inclined to make it happen. The management committee of Jasper Hall supports every effort made by individuals towards developing sustainable livelihoods on the farm, in every way it can.

Each member has a private room or cabin, and we all share the numerous farm facilities, as well as the responsibilities of farm management. All of the work of the community - business, domestic, maintenance, childcare, administration, farming, etc. - is divided among the members and distributed according to personal choice.

For those not inclined to develop their own micro business, our labour systems are flexible. WWOOFing (with its limited rights and responsibilities) is one option over the short term, but to become a full member requires a greater commitment to the Jasper Hall vision. Members maintain a lot of control over when they work and which jobs they do. Our willing workers are treated accordingly, although we do expect greater flexibility from short-term visitors.

We govern ourselves by a form of democracy with responsibility shared among various managers, planners, and committees.

Social sustainability

We are developing an approach to sustainability based also on non-dogma, believing that people are naturally inclined to uphold common goals and values when they are supported, rather than forced to do so. For example, to achieve the sustainability goal of reducing plastic waste, we need to make it easy for people to reuse, or in-source containers, while educating them about why it is so important. Furthermore, as our lifestyle supports people to more fully trust their intuitive knowledge, or wisdom, ‘the right thing’ becomes a more natural and spontaneous act.

However, as sometimes happens, when an individual threatens the peace or harmony of the community, they are dealt with swiftly in as respectful a manner as possible. Usually the matter is discussed and a resolution sought at a meeting, either with all members, or in a small group depending on requirements. When issues are too big for our group we may utilise external resources (police, mental health services, or other government departments) as the situation requires.

Very often disharmony results from poor communication, in which case meetings are a perfect remedy. Sometimes disharmony occurs because a person or people are undergoing a healing process, which may bring to the surface a lot of emotional pain. In these cases a small confidential group meeting may be all that is required to help ease tension and provide support.

Our regular meetings are commonly exhilarating, uplifting, and refreshing. We use these meetings to re-create our mutual visions, clear up misunderstandings, and facilitate harmonious discussion of general points. Because we tend to debate operating processes in smaller committee groups, meetings are light quick and uplifting, frequently leaving people feeling a deeper sense of group harmony and resonance. Currently we schedule them as needs be, but this is likely to change, as regularity can avoid the problem of a finding mutually suitable time-slot.

There is a spiritual aspect to our lives here, and although many of us share some philosophical perspectives, everyone is free to experience the divine aspects of existence in any way they choose. We have regular meditation workshops, and philosophical forums where different styles and views can be practised and discussed. Some find their bliss through music, some through meditation, prayer or devotion, some through communing with nature, and some through work. We all coexist.

Jasper Hall is a busy place, and there are plenty of activities for people to participate in. Visitors are welcome at many of these: Music at the fireplace, Rental of (good) videos several nights a week, community meetings, rituals, table tennis, volleyball, yoga, and meditation, crafts, swimming in our creek, dances and parties, games, canoeing, rainforest walks, bird watching, sunsets and stars. We also house a small library, including children's books, CDs, and various musical instruments. We celebrate life in many ways, with parties held for solstice, equinox, birthday, or no particular reason at all!

Looking towards the future

Although we have realised many of our goals so far at Jasper Hall, there is still much to be done. In the planning stage is an industrial kitchen, and earth cellar, so that we may more easily and with greater safety and predictability value add to our produce, and store what we grow more efficiently.

The purchase of dairy animals will require a small shelter, milking shed and dairy to be built. We also need a clean, serine slaughter room and butchery.

In future it is envisioned that our diet is sourced 80-100% from our own land, even if it means redefining what is an acceptable diet. For example pasta may not be available because we cannot grow enough wheat on our land. However, trade through farmer to farmer links, may in time help to resolve these issues.

Currently our money is spent according to requirements, without adequate budgeting. We need to develop a yearly economic plan, and stricter budgetary restraints so that our one-man financial management team doesn’t have a heart attack every time he reconciles the bookwork! All that is required is someone to relieve the book-keeper of some of his other duties so that he, and anyone else who is skilled and or interested enough to assist, can make the time to finally develop the plan.

Part of the economic plan will be to pay everyone who works at Jasper Hall a living wage, so that part of the income generated by their work is paid to Jasper Hall (or our shelf company Brookentap). This in turn is given back to the community in form of maintenance and development of infrastructure, as well as providing for food, shelter, clothing, childcare, and healthcare for all community members.

Currently the work-week is based on the WWOOFing standard of 25 hours per week, divided into 5hrs 5 days a week. However, this is not going to sustain the community for long, so members will be expected to work longer hours. 25 hours for an individuals basic amenities, and another 15 or so for their income. At Jasper Hall, "work" includes such activities as washing dishes, shopping, doing laundry, etc. Traditional "women's work" and "men's work" is performed by both women and men.

Some of our other goals are to become a plastic free zone; to go off the grid; to develop our market gardens further; and develop the industrial kitchen and earth cellar to value add to our produce, and keep it fresh.

Jasper Hall will never be sold. The intention is that Jasper Hall is managed and run by its share-holding resident/participants.

We still have a way to go before much of our legal framework is formalised, as this has been a lesser priority than getting the thing on the ground, off the ground (so to speak). We have not had the money (or the wealthy lawyer friends) to carry this process out, but it is becoming more of a priority, as more of the vision has become reality.

How to get involved

To WWOOF is easy. We have space for between 5 and 10 WWOOFers at any time. See our web-site for a registration form. We take people who can commit to a stay of 2 weeks, the minimum length of time needed to overcome surface inhibitions, and to get a feel for the place and the people.

To become a member is harder. You may wish to start as a WWOOFer, this will aquaint us with you and you with us and our lifestyle. Many who intend to stay for a long time, leave after a few days, because they find it too…whatever! We rarely ask people to leave, so stick it out long enough and you are in with a chance!

A period of three weeks is our first level initiation. If it is agreed that you should stay for the three month initiation, then that is the next goal. If it is still mutual by then, you will next be initiated at the three year mark.

To get past these markers, you have to have shown a deep level of commitment to the principles that we are guided by at Jasper Hall, shown yourself to be of good character; and be a gift to the community (more important that we realise it than you). You must also be willing to hold together certain areas of responsibility, based mostly on your preference, but also on our requirements. You may also be able to demonstrate commitment by becoming a financial member. Certain other responsibilities are required to become a resident as well, but that is all contained in another document (available through our website Jasper-Hall.com).

If all this doesn’t sound like you, you may stay with us for a few days as a paying guest. We charge a modest $50 day for food and accommodation. You will stay as one of our wwoofers, but the work expectation is only as far as your own housekeeping (ie, help create your meals, wash dishes, a few light chores).

For more detail about the vision of Jasper Hall please see our website.

Conclusion

With the sense of deeper connections with our farm family, social sustainability, economic prospects, philosophical and spiritual practices, and the emphasis on balanced health and well being through food, environmental care, the benefit of pristine surroundings, and ancient practices to maintain health, Jasper Hall has become an

  Status: working well!