Building the proof that we can all thrive with a low-carbon lifestyle

THE STORY

Since 2004, my career in Australia and Fiji focused on climate change, disaster resiliency and sustainability within local, national and international systems of governence. I used Australian laws and regulations to guide sustainable urban planning in local planning systems, used international best practice to guide countries to reduce distaster risk at the United Nations and developed rigorous assessment frameworks for effective methane reduction. 

Despite the repeated calls from scientists to rapidly act on climate change, local, national and international governance have failed to move at the speed and urgency that the science demands, and society needs to stay safe. The window for action is closing and we are running out of time.

So I stopped advising. And started building. This is my praxis. 

After helping to trigger a restart of an abandoned community garden in Istanbul during the pandemic, Burak (my husband/soul mate) and I consciously chose to live in Fethiye. Currently I’m professionalising my Turkish, earning my permaculture design certificate, training as a certified strawbale builder, and creating Merak Çiftlik — a working prototype for regenerative living that combines natural building and permaculture design, unique to Fethiye.

This story is far from finished. Its just beginning to unfold. Because the greatest impact I believe I can do is to show that ordinary people, in real places, can begin building a resilient future right now, with what they have, where ever they are.

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THE PROTOTYPE – MERAK ÇİFTLİK (CURIOSITY FARM)

Right now I’m designing a resilient house and land prototype in Fethiye — combining natural building and permaculture to demonstrate sustainable alternatives to systemic food, water, housing, energy and climate challenges and risks. Merak Çiftlik is the living proof of action-based hope offering best-practice solutions from around the world grounded in science and local knowledge.