Colorful illustration of a vegetable garden with the text 'The Island Almanac' surrounded by a sun, tomato, carrot, lettuce, flower, and a small solar panel.


“We weave ideas, scribe forward, align with life and create connection.”
— Dr Demeter | Emily Samuels-Ballantyne

Covering topics on Foundational Economics, Convivial Governance, Anthroposophic Philosophy & Everyday Regeneration in Tasmania

Overview
The Island Almanac is a living compendium of stories, tools and place-based examples that weave together foundational economics, anthroposophic wisdom and the rhythms of everyday life. Rooted in the soils of Tasmania and flowering from Magical Farm Tasmania. Across its pages you’ll find:

  • Practical essays on redirecting public and private wealth into community resilience

  • Anthroposophical reflections on seasonal rhythms, ritual and soul-led innovation

  • Tasmanian case studies from coastal hamlets to mountain valleys

  • Project spotlights on island-wide initiatives, from seed libraries to solar co-ops.

    Living Architecture: A dynamic framework of interconnected practices, food, housing, energy, governance, culture, activism and economics that grows, adapts and breathes like an ecosystem, rather than standing as static policy or infrastructure. These seven pillars form the Living Architecture of Regen Era Design Studio & The Island Almanac: integrating heart, head & hands to power a truly regenerative future.

    1. Food, Plants and Planets

    2. Housing and Natural Building

    3. Energy

    4. Community Life, Learning & Culture

    5. Sacred Activism

    6. Convivial Governance

    7. Regenerative Economic Design.

Wildflowers growing in a field with a backdrop of trees and a partly cloudy sky.
Emily Samuels-Ballantyne Emily Samuels-Ballantyne

Scenario 2 for Salmon: Cut Through the Spectacle, Fund the Living Economy

Tasmania’s salmon debate has become an expensive, polarised spectacle that generates plenty of documents and conflict but too little practical change. The article proposes “Scenario 2”: a clear transition that reduces ecological pressure through published water thresholds and pre-agreed actions, while building a diversified, localised food and protein economy. Using Tasmania’s Agri Food ScoreCard, it highlights a core paradox: despite producing around 11 times more food than residents consume, Tasmania still sources about $1.97b (36.5%) of its food spend from outside the state. Capturing $1b/year of that leakage through hubs, cold chain, processing, cooperative logistics and public procurement could support roughly 5,000–7,100 jobs, matching salmon’s employment footprint with a more resilient model.

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