Hannah Moloney
Our Permaculture Ambassador
Excerpt from Hasnnah’s Women of the Island page
I’m a permaculturalist based in urban Hobart. Permaculture is a design framework to create sustainable human settlements – a wholistic approach to design and living. I see it as a form of positive, nourishing activism – advocating for a way of life through actually DOING it.
To me, meaningful work is my happy, creative place, so besides playing with my young daughter and partner, all I want to do is get back to work, either in the garden or whatever projects I’ve got on the go.
I want to do good. I feel the challenges of the world deeply and urgently. I don’t think we have time to do anything else but address climate change, actively support First Nation Australians in healing, foster regenerative agriculture, advocate for food sovereignty and dismantle the patriarchy and white supremacy.
It’s a long, scary list – but all I see is an opportunity to create an amazing world. We have everything we need to turn this ship around, except formal leadership. This type of progressive change doesn’t benefit the few people who hold the majority of the power and wealth in our world. We need clear intellect, focused action, love, and tenderness to create a world worth leaving for future generations.
I wear many hats as the Director of Good Life Permaculture. I’m also in our garden every morning, milking and tending to our goats, chickens and veggie garden.
I grew up on a city farm of sorts in inner city Brisbane. We had a ¾ acre herb nursery for 18 years in the middle of the city. This obviously helped shaped my passion for plants and understanding of what’s possible when it comes to urban agriculture.
I dream of (and actively work towards) a world where social, cultural, and environmental balance is restored. We’re more powerful, more resourceful, and more intelligent than we might realise. I spend a lot of time when teaching emphasising this in the hope that people will be inspired into action, so they can live their beautiful lives as they matter. Because they really, really do.
Some people have called me an idealist in the past as if that’s a bad thing. You bet I dream big! We need to drop this boring, unhelpful approach to keeping business as usual and outgrow the status quo.
Good Life Permaculture is focused on building more traction around permaculture in Tasmania and beyond. In the 5 years since we started teaching and running community projects we’ve noticed a wonderful rising of permaculture-type initiatives happening which makes our hearts sing.
Things that have brought me deep joy in recent years are my rich relationship with my partner, coal mines closing down, living with my goats and garden, well designed and implemented permaculture landscapes, young students striking for climate change, and snuggling my daughter first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Everything I do is for her and her fellow little people.
Hannah Moloney has over 15 years of hands-on experience in designing, building, managing, and doing projects around urban agriculture, small-scale farming, permaculture, and community development.
In 2015 she was awarded the Tasmanian ‘Young Landcare Leader Award’ for her work with Good Life Permaculture and co-establishing Hobart City Farm.
In 2018, she took part in the Tasmanian Leader’s Program and in 2019 started appearing as a guest presenter with Gardening Australia on ABC TV (dream gig – you can see some of her stories here) and featured in the Women of the Island project. When she’s not working on other people’s gardens and farms, she’s working on her own, teaching and designing educational tea towels.
Get in touch with Hannah at: info@communitygarden.org.au