Guest Speakers

We have a line up of interesting and knowledgeable people coming to talk about what they do and how you can live off grid and gain freedom over your life.

Welcome to Off Grid Lifestyle Expo

We have a vast array of knowledgeable people in our region, who are happy to share the wisdom and experiences with us so we can learn to be better caretakers of our land.

Most run workshops and courses so you can gain hands on experience and learn the skills required to improve your soils health, grow a productive permaculture garden or food forest, and bring your land back to life.

We have been lucky enough to gather the best of these people and bring them to you at our Off Grid Expo.

Below are the confirmed speakers, with a few more to come. We will add dates and times as we get closer to the event.

We will allow time for questions and answers after the talk. All speaker events are included in the cost of your ticket.

PDF Version of Speakers and Workshop Programs

Saturday Speakers

Home Energy Secrets

with John Lynn
Saturday 9:25 -9:55am

Those who wish to live off the Energy Grid, ie. using standalone systems need to be energy efficient. Home design, appliances and habits dictate kilowatt-hour consumption. At the very least the fundamentals need to be understood. With 25 years of experience and a keen interest my talk will cover those three important aspects.

Now into the third year of giving Weekly energy tips on Moreton Bay Community Radio Station 101.5 FM best-selling author on the subject, a background of 37 in education and practicing what I preach.

WEBSITE LINK

Off-grid vs grid connected power

with Ruby Heard
Saturday 10:00 – 10:30am

I am an electrical engineer and solar designer. I have given community solar information sessions to help people understand solar better. I can talk through some of the confusing concepts such as STCs and optimum tilts/orientations. I can go over the design process for off-grid systems and talk about going from on-grid to off-grid and the cost implications (people often ask me about this and they are very misinformed about the return on investment).

WEBSITE LINK

Habitance Architects

with Alex Hoffmann
Saturday 11:50am – 12:20pm

Off-Grid and On Point
Whether you are designing and building new, renovating existing houses or using recycled materials to create your home, there are many options for people and communities to live Off the Grid. It is a hot topic as it points and highlights today’s financial, social, and environmental issues. Understanding the positive impacts on not only the individuals and the greater community living off-grid but will affect regional and government bodies. These organisations need to encourage the use of natural resources combined with innovative technology in future developments so off-grid, tiny homes and resilient houses can assist with the current housing crisis and benefit future generations.

WEBSITE LINK

Paradise Lost Paradise Found

with Ahtee Chia
Saturday 11:10 – 11:40am

Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained:- Affordable housing, whether home ownership or rental, is beyond the reach of increasing numbers of people. Governments pay lip service to it but does little to solve the problem. We have to take matters into our own hands to solve the problem. The causes of the crisis are many- including speculative investment in land; increasing cost of housing, local government planning policies that impede affordable housing, increasing government charges and taxes on property transaction and subdivision, and housing subdivisions that contribute to social isolation and dysfunction. The solutions lie in community land trusts to eliminate land costs from housing, group housing in the form of co-housing on rural land, self sufficiency in food, energy, water, waste treatment, livelihood, a sharing economy, community connection, and low cost housing. This can be done within existing planning rules, if you know what they are. I will detail what these practical solutions are and how they can be implemented.

Don’t Be in the Dark When it Comes to Light and Your Health’

with Chris Henderson
Saturday 12:25 – 12:55pm

Better Lighting for electricity consumption and health as well and Light and health from a general health viewpoint.

Are you in the Dark when It Comes to Light and Your Health?

Light is an essential nutrient that regulates many bio-logical functions including brain chemistry, circadian rhythms, enhances nutrient absorption and increase general vitality.

It’s amazing to think that modern humans spend two-thirds of our lives living under artificial light without paying attention to the consequences this has for our body and mind. While increased awareness around organic food, supplements, clean air and water is now main stream we may no longer suffer from mal-nutrition, rather mal-illumination.

WEBSITE LINK

PermEco Inc.

with Tom Kendall
Saturday 1:35 – 2:05pm

Road to self sufficiency
describes the challenges he had to overcome and the satisfaction he derived on their road to self sufficiency.

A functioning Biogas Biodigester – In this talk we will explain the details of the functioning biogas biodigester on the Kendall Permaculture Farm: from plans to building to maintaining to cooking with gas.

WEBSITE LINK
FACEBOOK LINK

Living Free Tiny House

with Jimmy Hirst
Saturday 2:10 – 2:40pm

Affordable housing, whether home ownership or rental, is beyond the reach of increasing numbers of people. Governments pay lip service to it but does little to solve the problem. We have to take matters into our own hands to solve the problem. The causes of the crisis are many- including speculative investment in land; increasing cost of housing, local government planning policies that impede affordable housing, increasing government charges and taxes on property transaction and subdivision, and housing subdivisions that contribute to social isolation and dysfunction. The solutions lie in community land trusts to eliminate land costs from housing, group housing in the form of co-housing on rural land, self sufficiency in food, energy, water, waste treatment, livelihood, a sharing economy, community connection, and low cost housing. This can be done within existing planning rules, if you know what they are. I will detail what these practical solutions are and how they can be implemented.

WEBSITE LINK
FACEBOOK LINK

Sustainable Chickens and Poultry

with Lisa Delanoue
Saturday 2:40 – 3:10pm

Talking about sustainable Chickens and Poultry

Living in synergy with a Free Range Poultry flock, as a renewable resource for food security and food sovereignty, in an integrated and regenerative land management practice.

Building a Rainforest on Small Acreage

with Naomi Wilson
Saturday 3:15 – 3:45pm

The impact of building a rainforest on small acreage, how and why to do it.

People with 3 – 5 acres often think they can’t make an impact to the environment. Naomi will explain how you can make an impact.

If you start from the front of your block and build your forest up, tis creates corridors aand habitat from native birds, bees and animals. This also adds beauty to the area and may incourage your neighbours to follow your example.

Rainforest areas brings wildlife in and adds diversity to your area.

READ PRESENTATION

Sunday Speakers

Functioning Biogas Biodigester

with Jason Huff
Sunday 9:20 – 9:50am

Composting Toilets 101, we will cover –
Why buy a waterless composting toilet?
Do they smell?
Can I install one myself?
How do Ecoflo’s composting toilet systems work?What’s the difference between a batch and a continuous composting toilet?
What’s the difference between a dry and Microflush composting toilet?
How do I manage my greywater?
Cleaning and maintenance of your system
Useful tips for disposal of composted material

FACEBOOK LINK
WEBSITE LINK

Kane Dabbouss

Red Soil Organics
Sunday 12pm

Biodynamics is a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food, and nutrition. Biodynamics is based on the work of philosopher and scientist Dr. Rudolf Steiner, whose 1924 lectures to farmers opened a new way to integrate scientific understanding with a recognition of spirit in nature.

WEBSITE LINK
FACEBOOK LINK

Gympie Regional Council

with Dale Watson
Sunday 1:15 – 1:45pm

Waste Services including Recycle, Waste and the Future.

It’s all in the packaging – what we consume becomes our waste and it starts at the shops. Packaging is our greatest form of waste and our greatest waste of natural resources. Through this presentation you will learn to recognise that all packaging has some environmental cost, learn to identify with packaging as a resource and not a disposable material and make responsible choices necessary to reduce waste through smarter more sensible shopping choices.

Council recently voted to investigate establishing a Food Organics and Greenwaste Organics collection service for urban residents (i.e. a third green organics bin). This is an exciting step forward.

One Earth Landscaping

with Sean Morrow
Sunday 10am

Sean has over 25 years of experience working in the landscaping industry and possesses a strong knowledge of plants. He has studied landscape trade, holds a Certificate 3 in Horticulture “Landscape”, and a Permaculture Design Certificate. He is also licensed to carry out all ‘structural landscaping’ works (QBSA Act Licence No 1119365).

Sean draws his inspiration from nature, preferring to use natural materials within the landscape. His passions include native bird and frog attracting gardens, water features, timber and stone construction, and organics, permaculture, and bio-dynamics. Sean also offers talks and educational workshops on establishing native bird and frog habitats.

FACEBOOK LINK

Health Express World & EMF Safety

with Cyril Bourke
Sunday 11:05 – 11:40am

Dirty power from off grid inverters cause health issues as well as the location of power cables and magnetic fields. We would like to present on the principles of off grid power safety and how to design a healthy environment.