Local Prosperity Lab - Byron Bay

Full, or 1/2 day access to inspiring storytellers of surf culture, environmentalism, food, farming and film, soil, seeds and song creating magic at our Local Prosperity Lab celebrating World Localisation Day.

Join collective stories of prosperity, abundance and joy as we watch a community screening of Helena Norberg-Hodge's 'Closer to Home', recapture the best parts of our local region, swap seeds and produce, work out how to do better, live better, and face the challenges of cost of living, housing, safety while enjoying locally grown and prepared food.

When: Saturday 28 June 2025
Where: Marvell Hall, 37 Marvell St, Byron Bay

Morning session: starts at 11am - Movements and Mavericks
Community Screening - 'Closer to Home' Yes! Business & tech can serve the needs of the many, rather than profiting a few.
Super fun short video - story of our local, cheeky newspaper The Echo.
'Ask Us Anything' Q&A - Film crew [Henry Coleman], and Caravan of Hope environmentalist Anja Light answer your questions about the documentary, inspiring us with practical examples they have witnessed here in Australia, and overseas.

Breakout session: after midday - Meet, munch and mingle!
How does a burger help build a thriving local economy?

• Enjoy a delicious burger from Bloody Good Food Co, learn their story.
• Fresh from its Australian Tour Launch at Patagonia Burleigh, the Seed Box arrives for its inaugural Byron seed swap. Surf, seeds, soil, and sea.
• Meet Anja LIght with the Seed Box. Hear about her Caravan of Hope, the Sloth Club, and story of seeds, abundance, prosperity and resilience.

Afternoon session: After lunch - Authentic Voices, Joyful Voices

• Our storyweavers host the Participatory Groups giving everyone the opportunity to speak authentically. Your local concerns, your ideas, your ideals for our future here - warts and all.
  Alison Drover - Regenerative Wellbeing Strategist, Visionary. TOPIC: Tourism - Local Symbiosis of People, Place, Purpose
  Anja Light - Caravan of Hope doco, Sloth Club. TOPIC: Seed Box Australian Tour, Environmental activism.
  Chels Hood Withey - House You. TOPIC: Housing First, Advocacy.
  Dr Graham Truswell - Electrify Byron Shire. TOPIC: Local Energy & Electirifcation
  Lydia Kindred - Northern Rivers Rail Ltd. TOPIC: Rail Options - Country to Surf.
  Blair Beattie - Farmers Footprint Australia. TOPIC: Food, Farming.
  Susan Wanmer - Byron Bay Business College. TOPIC: Financial Rights, True Cost, Cost of Living
  Dr Steven Fleming - Academic, Author. TOPIC: Local Cycling, Transport, and Urban Design.

• Local insights: Why do you think most people don't buy or source locally?
• Joyful voice - we gather and feedback key discoveries from all groups, then lift the energy with collective sound and song - Catherine Crowley back by popular request!