Jane is the pseudonym for this beautiful hearted night owl, who enjoys the midnight hours as time for deep thinking, quiet pondering and some of her best work.

We didn’t do coffee, Jane and I, but whiled away an hour or two under the sun umbrella, drinking sparkling water and eating assembled nibbles in welcome conversation, until dark clouds threatened a storm.

Jane oozes peaceful enthusiasm, an uncommon mix, and is reticent to blow her own trumpet, but I find myself together fascinated and overwhelmed by her depth and courage. Born in an orphanage in Wellington to an unmarried mum, she was initially named Baby Angelique and was cared for by nuns before being adopted out to a well-known surgeon and his wife, a nurse. Her father, who sadly died when she was a toddler, was a rose breeder of some distinction and its fascinating to ponder her own green thumb and love of nature, perhaps gifted in her early years through means other than genetics.

Jane has always been a reader and explorer of new ideas and remembers even as a youngster being enthralled with books, many of them her father’s. We’re not talking light reads here, but rather tales of heroic doctors, writings of Winston Churchill, and William Shirer’s Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. In time she became interested in quantum dynamics, and physiology. She is currently involved in testing equipment related to vacuum and vortex science, international research which may one day lead to very high-tech prosthetic equipment exponentially improving the lives of many who live with disabilities. It’s exciting heady stuff!

As sometimes occurs, an unexpected crisis led to a spiritual awakening, and a geographical relocation south, requiring courage and tenacity to rebuild her life.

Jane’s spiritual journey has included study in Comparative Religions at Massey University, delving into Arcane, Ashram and Trans-Himalayan teachings, these combined delivering a high degree of acceptance for Jane to the belief structures of others. Her connection with the local church at Kumara began unconventionally around 5-6 years ago, when she started attending with a friend, lending support to an important part of the community she was concerned would disappear due to dwindling numbers. Here she has found a growing connection with people of faith and describes having an understanding of the Christ as Saviour. 

Jane lives off grid and is at one with nature on her property, enjoying time with her animals and plants. Jane is a particular fan of dwarf citrus trees, with lemon, grapefruit and mandarin finding a welcome home at hers. She’s also developing an asparagus patch, patience a virtue to establish a fixed bed, which in time will faithfully yield its spears year after year. Nothing is wasted at Jane’s, straw and waste from the chicken house richly feeding her crops, as she embraces a permaculture lifestyle.

Permaculture fascinates me, and while keen, I’m something of a novice, so take the opportunity to tap into Jane’s modest experience. Jane explains the concept of “permanent agriculture” as a way of life following some important principles. She speaks of “earth care” and using what’s close to hand to ensure the living soil is fed and cared for, humus and manure added aplenty, with garden designs encouraging natural energy and water storage: if the soil is good, everything else will follow suit. She speaks of the “fair share” principle, ensuring plants are not stripped completely, and that excess bounty is preserved or shared with others. The third key principle, people care, begins with ourselves but spreads to include our families, neighbours and wider community in a collaborative effort, using the wisdom and resources of the group for a greater outcome.

You know, as I listen to Jane speak with passion about this way of life, it occurs to me how well the permaculture lifestyle provides a picture of the healthy Christian life.

Caring for the environment God so richly gave, feeding well the growth medium of our lives (including allowing the “manure” to bring forth new life), giving to those in need, and drawing on the wisdom, resources and gifts of the wider body for the common good.

Jane’s commitment to her way of life expresses itself powerfully in her involvement with projects that build the resilience of the neigbourhood. Jane is involved with Civil Defence preparedness efforts, and the Community Centre Group, a hub of information and project coordination locally. Together these groups target food security, with the knowledge that should a significant natural disaster occur, Kumara is likely to be cut off from all directions, bridges no longer passable, and food scarcity a real potential. To help mitigate that risk, the project seeks to plant 110 donated fruit trees on public or pledged private land by 2030, this estimated to be enough fruit for the 400-strong community. Foraging is encouraged, and a map is planned to aid foragers source their treasures. Jane also works in the Community Garden, a project started in 2018 with a vision for showcasing interesting ways to grow food with permanence built into the ecosystem design at little or no cost. It's a work in progress, with materials sourced from scrap timber discarded in local waterways, lawn-clippings dropped off by interested residents, and seedlings donated from others’ surplus. 

Thanks, Jane, for reminding us to keep going, even when life is tough beyond imagining, embracing the imperfection and trusting it will all turn out okay.

Together let's embody the principles of permaculture, building with that which is close at hand, allowing both the manure and the Light to grow good seeds into enduring and fruitful lives, and sharing freely from that bounty with others along the way.