The Generator

Cuban permaculturist, Roberto Perez, and star of Power of Community – the documentary film about Cuba’s transition to local, organic food production – is touring Australia at the moment. He tol The Generator on Wednesday that people from NSW Northern Rivers had played a significant role in his journey as a permaculturist.

Listen to the interview online. 

His tour of Australia to deliver the message that western countries need to prepare themselves for a significant change in the way food is grown and distributed was launched in Byron Bay last week, because of his long term connection with the area.

Perez noted that Jude Fanton, founder of Seed Savers, had worked closely with him on permaculture and organic farm projects in Cuba. She held a lunch for Roberto and his touring companions in Byron Bay, last Wednesday. Long term co-host of BayFM’s top-rating show, The Generator, Wayne Wadsworth, was a member of the original Dream Team, installing solar panels and permaculture-based market gardens in Havana when the USSR collapsed, taking the Cuban economy with it. “Wayne introduced some of these principles into Havana,” he told The Generator.

Robyn Francis, of Djanbung Gardens in Nimbin, organised Roberto’s tour of Australia which now moves to the southern capitals. She will tour Cuba later this year, as part of an exchange program.

Video and sound files of the interview are available from the Mullum Action Group’s website, www.mullumaction.org