--- title: "Transition Towns and Permaculture: Community Resilience" description: Transition Towns apply permaculture to whole communities. Learn how the movement builds community resilience through local food, energy, and economy projects. image: https://growperma.com/hubfs/blog/images/gp0283-hero-community-20260630-055503.webp --- [Skip to content](https://growperma.com/blog/transition-towns-and-permaculture-community-resilience#main-content) [![GrowPerma Logo](https://growperma.com/hs-fs/hubfs/icon-512.png?width=40&height=40&name=icon-512.png)](https://growperma.com/) - [Blog](https://growperma.com/blog) - [About](https://growperma.com/about) [Join the Weekly Dig](https://growperma.com/newsletter) - [Blog](https://growperma.com/blog) - [About](https://growperma.com/about) [Join the Weekly Dig](https://growperma.com/newsletter) ![Neighbors of different ages working together in a shared community garden in a small town, planting and sharing fresh produce](https://growperma.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/gp0283-hero-community-20260630-055503.webp?width=1200&height=520&name=gp0283-hero-community-20260630-055503.webp) In This Article Table of Contents ![Peter Vogel](https://growperma.com/hubfs/Peter%20Vogel%20Portait.png) Peter Vogel Peter Vogel is the founder of GrowPerma, bringing together evidence-based gardening advice with permaculture principles. When he's not writing about companion ... [Permaculture Foundations](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/permaculture-foundations) June 30, 2026 # Transition Towns and Permaculture: Community Resilience ## What Are Transition Towns, and What Do They Have to Do With Permaculture? You have learned to design a garden so that plants, soil, water, and wildlife support each other. Now imagine applying that same thinking to a whole neighborhood: local food, local energy, a local economy, and neighbors who actually know each other. That is the idea behind **Transition Towns**, a community movement that grew directly out of a permaculture classroom and now spans roughly 70 countries. The movement began in 2005, when permaculture teacher Rob Hopkins and his students at a college in [Kinsale, Ireland](https://www.resilience.org/stories/2005-12-05/kinsale-energy-descent-action-plan-online/) produced a plan for how their town could "power down" from fossil fuels using permaculture principles. A year later, in 2006, Hopkins helped found Transition Town Totnes in England, the first official Transition initiative, and soon after launched the international [Transition Network](https://transitionnetwork.org) to support others. For anyone already practicing [permaculture](https://growperma.com/blog/what-is-permaculture-a-practical-guide-for-gardeners), Transition is the natural next step: it takes the ethics and design principles you use in the garden and applies them to community resilience. 2005 Movement Born Kinsale permaculture course ~70 Countries Active Transition groups 1,000+ Local Initiatives Registered worldwide 1.3 t CO2 Saved/Household Transition Streets, Totnes Here is what you'll learn in this guide: - How a permaculture course in Ireland sparked a global movement - What "community resilience" actually means and why it matters - The real projects Transition groups run, from local currencies to repair cafes - What the research says works, and where the model falls short - How to start or join a Transition initiative in your own town Key Takeaway Transition Towns are permaculture applied to communities. The movement uses the same ethics of **earth care, people care, and fair share** to help neighborhoods build resilience against climate change, energy shocks, and economic instability. ![A diverse group of townspeople sitting in a circle at a community planning meeting, discussing local food and energy projects in a bright hall](https://growperma.com/hubfs/blog/images/gp0283-body1-meeting-20260630-055504.webp) ## How Did Permaculture Give Birth to the Transition Movement? **The origin story runs straight through a permaculture design course.** In 2005, Rob Hopkins was [teaching permaculture](https://growperma.com/blog/teaching-permaculture-to-children-garden-education) at a further education college in Kinsale, Ireland. He set his students a collective design project: map out how their town could reduce its dependence on fossil fuels over the coming decades. The result was the [Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan](https://www.robhopkins.net/2022/05/28/from-tiny-acorns-celebrating-21-years-of-the-kinsale-permaculture-course/), a 20-year vision built on permaculture strategies like local organic food, renewable energy, and reskilling. It was adopted by Kinsale's town council, an early sign that permaculture design could shape public planning. ![Hands exchanging a basket of fresh local vegetables and a colorful community currency note at a friendly farmers market stall](https://growperma.com/hubfs/blog/images/gp0283-floatleft-localmoney-20260630-055512.webp) That experiment inspired Transition Town Totnes in 2006, which quickly set up working groups for food, energy, transport, the local economy, and "inner transition." One of its best-known projects, the [Totnes Pound](https://www.resilience.org/stories/2019-04-05/my-talk-at-the-celebration-of-the-life-and-times-of-the-totnes-pound/), was a local currency that circulated from 2007 until 2019, designed to keep money flowing through independent local businesses. Permaculture, originally developed by [Bill Mollison and David Holmgren](https://growperma.com/blog/australian-permaculture-where-it-all-began), is a design system grounded in working with nature and building localized, resilient systems. Transition simply scales that approach up from the garden bed to the town. Many practitioners describe it as permaculture on a community-wide scale. Why This Works: Social Permaculture Permaculture's [three ethics](https://growperma.com/blog/permaculture-ethics-earth-care-people-care-fair-share) map neatly onto Transition. Earth care shows up as community gardens and renewable energy. People care appears in inclusive group work and strong social networks. Fair share drives local currencies and fairer access to land. Transition is, in effect, an experiment in applying permaculture design to human systems: groups, economies, and cultures. ## What Is Community Resilience? **Resilience is the heart of the whole project.** Rob Hopkins, writing for the [European Commission's environment directorate](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/env/items/137211/default), defines it as "the ability of a system, such as a local economy or community, to withstand shock and then adapt to that shock." Crucially, he frames resilience not as bouncing back to how things were, but as bouncing forward into something better suited to current realities. The [Post Carbon Institute](https://www.postcarbon.org/issue/resilience/) describes resilient communities as having diverse local economies, strong social ties, participatory governance, and ecological stewardship. A 2024 systematic review of community resilience research identified four recurring themes: resources and infrastructure, social capital and networks, governance and leadership, and culture and learning. Those four map almost exactly onto the seven "ingredients" Transition uses to organize. ![Circular infographic showing the stages of a community Transition initiative: raise awareness, form a group, grow local food, build local energy, support a local economy, and increase resilience](https://growperma.com/hubfs/blog/images/gp0283-infographic-transition-journey-20260630-055511.webp) | Transition Ingredient | Resilience It Builds | | --- | --- | | Healthy groups | Social capital and trust | | Vision | Shared meaning and direction | | Involvement | Broad participation | | Networks and partnerships | Connected governance | | Practical projects | Resources and infrastructure | | Reflection and celebration | Learning and culture | Sources: ## What Does a Transition Town Actually Do? **Transition turns big worries into small, practical projects.** The flagship example is Transition Streets in Totnes, a neighbor-to-neighbor program where households work through energy, food, water, and travel together. It supported 550 households in its first year to cut an average of **1.3 tonnes of CO2 per household per year**, alongside roughly £570 in annual savings each. ![A thriving neighborhood community garden and shared orchard with raised vegetable beds, fruit trees, and people of all ages harvesting together](https://growperma.com/hubfs/blog/images/gp0283-body2-garden-20260630-055508.webp) ![A small community building with rooftop solar panels beside a flourishing vegetable garden, a symbol of local renewable energy and shared resilience](https://growperma.com/hubfs/blog/images/gp0283-floatright-solar-20260630-055515.webp) Beyond Transition Streets, groups run a recognizable toolkit of projects. Local currencies like the Totnes, Bristol, and Brixton Pounds keep spending local. Community gardens and community-supported agriculture rebuild [local food production](https://growperma.com/blog/aquaponics-in-permaculture-fish-and-plants-together). Community energy co-operatives put renewable power in local hands. And repair cafes, which spread across the United States through Transition US, fight throwaway culture by fixing things together. | Project Type | Example | Resilience Benefit | | --- | --- | --- | | Local currency | Totnes Pound (2007 to 2019) | Keeps money in the local economy | | Community garden / CSA | Incredible Edible Totnes | Local food and social connection | | Community energy | Energy co-operatives | Local, renewable power | | Repair cafe | Transition Pasadena, US | Reuse, reskilling, less waste | Sources: ## Does It Actually Work? **The honest answer is: meaningfully, but modestly.** A widely cited 2014 study in [Global Environmental Change](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959378013002197) found that Transition initiatives succeed where there are committed core groups and supportive local conditions, but many struggle to sustain participation and influence formal policy. Critics also note that Transition can lean apolitical and draw mostly middle-class participants, which limits its reach. The local food side has stronger backing. A 2022 umbrella review in [PubMed Central](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9229094/) found that most community-gardening studies reported improved fruit and vegetable intake and food security among participants. And a 2015 study of community gardens after Hurricane Sandy in New York described them as "refuges of local resilience" that provided food, social support, and a base for community organizing during a disaster. Set Realistic Expectations Transition is not a silver bullet, and it runs almost entirely on volunteers. Research on volunteer burnout shows that people quit when roles are unclear and their voices go unheard. That is exactly why the movement now puts "healthy groups" first: a project that burns out its organizers builds no resilience at all. Why This Works: Use Small and Slow Solutions One of the [permaculture design principles](https://growperma.com/blog/12-permaculture-principles-explained-with-garden-examples) is "use small and slow solutions." Repair cafes, street-by-street energy programs, and neighborhood gardens look modest on their own, but small, locally adapted projects are more resilient and easier to sustain than grand top-down schemes. Cumulatively, they shift habits and infrastructure. ## How Do You Start or Join a Transition Initiative? You do not need permission or a budget to begin. Here is the path most groups follow. 1 Check the map first Search the [Transition Network map](https://maps.transitionnetwork.org) for an existing group near you. Joining one is faster than starting from scratch, and groups are active in around 70 countries. 2 Form a healthy group Gather a few committed people. Spend real time building trust and shared purpose before launching projects. The movement's own guidance says this relationship work matters as much as the projects themselves. 3 Pick one practical project Start with something visible and achievable: a community garden, a seed swap, a repair cafe, or a Transition Streets group. Early wins build momentum and draw new people in. 4 Work head, heart, and hands Combine understanding the issues (head), emotional support and connection (heart), and hands-on action (hands). This balance keeps people engaged without burning out. Key Takeaway Starting is simple: find your neighbors, build a healthy group, and launch one practical project. Transition gives permaculture-minded people a tested framework for working at the scale of a street, a neighborhood, or a whole town. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is a Transition town? A Transition town is a community that has set up a local initiative to build resilience against climate change, energy shocks, and economic instability. Rather than waiting for governments or corporations to act, residents organize their own projects: local food gardens, renewable energy schemes, local currencies, repair cafes, and skill-sharing. The movement began in 2006 in Totnes, England, and grew out of [permaculture](https://growperma.com/blog/what-is-permaculture-a-practical-guide-for-gardeners) design thinking. Today, registered Transition groups operate in roughly 70 countries. ### What is community resilience? Community resilience is a local community's ability to withstand shocks, adapt to them, and ideally come out stronger. In the Transition context, those shocks include climate disruption, rising energy costs, and economic instability. Research identifies four building blocks of resilience: resources and infrastructure, social capital and networks, governance and participation, and culture and learning. A resilient community has diverse local food and energy sources, strong relationships between neighbors, and the capacity to organize and learn together when things go wrong. ### How are Transition towns connected to permaculture? The connection is foundational, not incidental. The first Transition plan was created by permaculture students in Kinsale, Ireland, and founder Rob Hopkins was a permaculture teacher. Transition takes permaculture's [ethics](https://growperma.com/blog/permaculture-ethics-earth-care-people-care-fair-share) of earth care, people care, and fair share, plus principles like "use small and slow solutions" and "integrate rather than segregate," and applies them to whole communities instead of single gardens. Many practitioners call it "social permaculture" or "permaculture on a community-wide scale." ### Is the Transition movement still active? Yes, though it has matured and changed. Registered groups remain active in around 70 countries, and the Transition Network still provides training and resources. Some early experiments, like the Totnes and Bristol Pounds, have wound down, partly because of the shift to cashless payments. Activity ebbs and flows with volunteer energy. The bigger story is that many Transition ideas, including community energy, repair cafes, and community gardens, have spread far beyond the formal movement and become mainstream. ### How do I start a Transition group in my town? First, check the [Transition Network map](https://maps.transitionnetwork.org) for a group near you to join. If there is none, gather a few committed people and spend time building trust and a shared vision before diving into projects. Then choose one achievable, visible project, such as a community garden, a seed swap, or a repair cafe. Connect with local partners and other Transition groups for support, and balance head, heart, and hands so your volunteers stay energized rather than burning out. Get the Weekly Dig One practical permaculture guide a week, written for gardeners who do this on weekends: permaculture design for real backyards. Free, no spam, unsubscribe any time. [Join the Weekly Dig](https://growperma.com/newsletter) [Browse All Guides →](https://growperma.com/blog) ## Resources - [Transition Network: the international hub for the Transition movement](https://transitionnetwork.org) - [Transition Network: The Essential Guide to Doing Transition (PDF)](https://transitionnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/The-Essential-Guide-to-Doing-Transition-English-V1.2.pdf) - [Resilience.org: the 2005 Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan](https://www.resilience.org/stories/2005-12-05/kinsale-energy-descent-action-plan-online/) - [European Commission: Rob Hopkins on understanding and building resilience](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/env/items/137211/default) - [Post Carbon Institute: Community Resilience](https://www.postcarbon.org/issue/resilience/) - [Feola & Nunes (2014): Success and failure of grassroots innovations, the Transition Movement](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959378013002197) - [PubMed Central (2022): community gardens, diet, health, and food security](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9229094/) - [Aldunce et al. (2024): a multidisciplinary review of community resilience](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772741624000085) **Tags:** [Permaculture Foundations](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/permaculture-foundations) ## Related Articles ![Clump of Egyptian walking onions with tall hollow stalks topped by purple-red bulbil clusters, several arching over to root where they touch the soil](https://growperma.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0550-hero-walking-onions-20260908-071512.webp?width=400&height=220&name=gp-0550-hero-walking-onions-20260908-071512.webp) 8 Sep [Permaculture Foundations](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/permaculture-foundations) #### Egyptian Walking Onions: The Allium That Replants Itself Peter Vogel ![Mature black locust tree in full white flower beside a split-rail fence on a homestead, with honeybees working the fragrant blossoms](https://growperma.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0547-hero-black-locust-tree-20260908-063327.webp?width=400&height=220&name=gp-0547-hero-black-locust-tree-20260908-063327.webp) 8 Sep [Permaculture Foundations](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/permaculture-foundations) #### Black Locust: Nitrogen Fixer, Fence Post, Invasive Problem Peter Vogel ![Mature multi-stemmed perennial kale plant with woody base and blue-green leaves in an autumn garden bed beside smaller annual kale seedlings](https://growperma.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0543-hero-perennial-kale-plant-20260907-142138.webp?width=400&height=220&name=gp-0543-hero-perennial-kale-plant-20260907-142138.webp) 7 Sep [Permaculture Foundations](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/permaculture-foundations) #### Perennial Kale: Varieties, Hardiness and How to Keep It Going Peter Vogel ![GrowPerma](https://growperma.com/hubfs/icon-512.png) Gardens That Work Like Forests — the smart-friend guide to permaculture for normal backyards. #### Explore - [Blog](https://growperma.com/blog) - [Companion Planting](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/companion-planting) - [Soil & Composting](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/soil-composting) - [Food Forests](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/food-forest) - [Permaculture](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/permaculture-foundations) #### Resources - [About](https://growperma.com/about) - [All Articles](https://growperma.com/blog) #### Legal - [Imprint](https://growperma.com/imprint) - [Privacy Policy](https://growperma.com/privacy-policy) - [Affiliate Disclosure](https://growperma.com/affiliate-disclosure) - Cookie Settings As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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The first Transition plan was created by permaculture students in Kinsale, Ireland, and founder Rob Hopkins was a permaculture teacher. Transition takes permaculture's ethics of earth care, people care, and fair share, plus principles like use small and slow solutions and integrate rather than segregate, and applies them to whole communities instead of single gardens. Many practitioners call it social permaculture." }, "name" : "How are Transition towns connected to permaculture?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Yes, though it has matured. Registered groups remain active in around 70 countries, and the Transition Network still provides training and resources. Some early experiments, like the Totnes and Bristol Pounds, have wound down, partly because of the shift to cashless payments. 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