A Town of Random Acts of Kindness and Beauty

Hi, I’m Archie (lets not go into my real name) and I’m a Nimbin real estate agent (among other things).

“What a fabulous journalistic initiative,” I thought to myself.

“These intrepid reporters, failing to find any heroin addicts or needle bins in Lismore much less anyone having a lunch time kip in Spinks or Heritage Park (is this illegal in Lismore?), drove all the way to Nimbin where junkies are apparently strewn about the countryside like Autumn leaves and our needle bins are more photogenic than the rest of the worlds.

Nimbin’s problems are obvious, crammed as they are into a small town under disproportionate scrutiny.

Unlike other Northern Rivers towns, Nimbin is known worldwide. Do thousands of international backpackers say “you’ve got to see Grafton when you’re in Australia” or “Gee, check out Ballina it’s a hive of diversity and creativity?”

It’s shocking, it’s fantastic, it’s awful and it’s amazing. There’s nothing like it in the world!

A Lismore Natural label on a lump of cheese won’t sell like a Nimbin Natural label. The same principle applies to the selling of newspapers it would seem.

Nimbin means many things to many people around the globe.

The ideals that the best of Nimbin represents - environmental awareness, organic healthy food, recycling, spiritual and personal growth, art and craftsmanship, composting dunnies, music and performing arts, meditation, Tai Chi, real community spirit and non-conformity to name some - are dangerously attractive to those seeking freedom from the norm.

And guess what? It’s all here.

In the green hills and valleys people from all over the world and all walks of life are leading fabulous not-so-normal lifestyles in this lush sub-tropical setting.

Nimbin is a place of extremities. The worst of it hits you in the face as soon as you enter the CBD (a whole 200m in length!).

Most of what the media presents is true, however, it’s also one-sided. You may be offered every kind of drug, you may see violence and degradation, you may be disgusted.

But unlike other regional towns you won’t get stabbed or robbed at the ATM, it’s highly unlikely your car will disappear or be broken into, your bag won’t get snatched and the elderly are safe.

What you will also see (but not on a current affairs program or in other newspapers I fear) are random acts of kindness and beauty, music, revelry and colour, laughter and happy faces, lots of people delighted to pleasantly engage with you (and not sell you drugs), and an eclectic collection of eateries where the only beef you get is organic, courtesy of the local butcher.

Just outside this kaleidoscopic carnival there’s a charming country village ringed by rainforest clad mountains with National Parks on top.

Those damned hippies sure pick the most beautiful spots!

I recently went to the Oasis Cafe for a benefit night held to try and raise funds for a much-loved woman, a tireless community worker whose son in New Zealand has been diagnosed with cancer. She had no money, but she did have a community behind her.

The joint was packed and a hilarious auction of donated goods was held. There was singing, poetry, belly dancing, music and plenty of laughter. A thousand dollars were “magicked” up and off she went with tears in her eyes and love in her heart.

That’s my kind of community. That’s Nimbin.

The Secret Garden

As well as being the alternative capital of the world, Nimbin is also the home of Australia’s premiere Permaculture site and training centre... Djanbung Gardens Permaculture Centre.

From an empty cow pasture bought in 1993, the property is now a thriving business and is seen as a pioneer in the Permaculture world, bringing visitors from all over the world to Nimbin.

Djanbung Gardens houses extensive permaculture gardens, a nursery with herbs and medicinal plants, a research library and a shop containing books, garden charts non-hybrid seeds and cottage crafts. Since becoming so popular, Djanbung Gardens now has a canteen where visitors can relax and enjoy the view with delicious food and drinks.

“People come from everywhere to see permaculture and organic gardening in real life practice,” Djanbung Gardens manager, Robyn Francis, said.

“The responses we get are overwhelming. It’s great to see people coming here and then taking practical ideas and solutions home to apply to their own properties or gardens. It’s very inspiring to work here and see how significant it is.”

Djanbung Gardens are open for visiting from 10am-4pm. Guided garden tours are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 10.30am while in-depth farm tours are held every Saturday at 11am or by appointment.

Djanbung Gardens conducts a variety of workshops on permaculture, organic gardening, herb lore, traditional crafts and earth wisdom.

They also have courses and advanced training for permaculture design, eco-village and sustainable community development and bushfoods.

Djanbung Gardens is not only a interesting and educational place to visit but it’s also breathtakingly beautiful and has many, many more features and courses than we can write here. For more information phone Robyn on 6689 1755.

The Truth Behind a Great Place

It’s no secret that Nimbin gets a lot of bad press. If it’s not cannabis raids it’s heroin addicts. Either way, people don’t think Nimbin is a very pretty picture.

However, what a lot of people don’t realise is how much positive community work goes on there and how many volunteers work relentlessly to improve their town and show the rest of the world that Nimbin is a productive and vital part of this region.

“There’s a lot more to Nimbin than the popular misconception it’s just a drug town,” Nimbin Community Centre coordinator, Lizette Twisleton, said.

“Every town has its drug and crime problems but not every town has the diverse, talented and dedicated bunch of people Nimbin does. So many positive things happen out here and yet the world only sees the street scene. It’s something that will change over time and we will continue to work towards projecting an image that reflects the real heart of this town.”

The Nimbin Community Centre is just one example of the Nimbin community banding together to create something better for their town.

Originally the site of the Nimbin Central School, the grounds and buildings were bought several years ago by the community, who worked tirelessly for months and raised an extraordinary $140,000 so they could begin the centre.

More than 100 volunteers have worked at the centre since it’s advent and it now has 16 regular tenants with many other contributing groups. There’s pretty much something for everybody... youth groups, dance and art classes, writing workshops, a choir group, information service, costume design classes, playgroups and childcare facilities, a restaurant and much more.

The centre produces a free weekly publication, Nimbin Good Times, which covers events in the village, as well as Nimbin News, a monthly magazine covering all aspects of community life.

The centre is also the home of Nimbin’s own community radio station, NIM-FM 103.2.

The station has now been operating for 12 months and thanks to more than 70 volunteers and a new aerial the station provides around-the-clock programming to people up to 50 kilometres away.

The Nimbin Community Centre, other than the 80-year-old buildings, has basically been built by the community from scratch, which is no small feat.

To celebrate their third birthday (any excuse is a good excuse), the Nimbin Community Centre is holding a special Happy Birthday gig tonight, March 22, at the Bush Theatre from 7.30pm (being a smart bunch it’s also a fundraiser for the centre).

There’ll be plenty of beautiful Nimbin food to entice your taste buds on the night and entertainment by six local bands... Ripe, Peppa Rose and the Transit Band, the Durga Babies, Peter Pix, Gabie and Go.

Tickets are $10/8 at the door.

What’s even more amazing than the establishment of the Nimbin Community Centre is the fact that it’s only one local success story and there are many, many more.

As a town Nimbin is very small, but as a place to visit and enjoy it’s huge. The main street (a mere 200 metres long) has a huge variety of eateries and restaurants, craft shops, the Nimbin Museum and the Nimbin School of Arts gallery, which is well worth a look.

For a small town there’s a huge number of shops including a newly renovated pub, a cinema, service station, pharmacy, bakery, post office, Permaculture gardens and plenty of beautiful-located places to stay. There’s also a regular monthly market featuring hand-made goods from the craftspeople who live in and around Nimbin, local produce from farmers and great entertainment by the town’s many talented musicians and street performers.

More importantly though, there’s an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else in the world... one that is warm, one that is inviting and above all, one that is different.

It’s only a 30 minute drive north of Lismore and you can’t believe everything you read in a newspaper (good or bad). So why not see it for yourself?