How To Start a Permacomputing Collective
This is a guide brewed from conversations with initiatives in London (UK), Berlin (DE), Prague (CZ), Philadelphia (USA), Rotterdam (NL), Vienna (AT), Lutruwtia (Tas/AU), County Mayo (IE) and a community from Middle America gathering on servers. This text can support you when starting a permacomputing collective. We use fermenting as a metaphor. It isn’t a strict recipe but more of a loose framework that can be freely modified to suit local tastes and conditions. Many actions are cyclical and can be seen as opportunities to revisit or re-purpose later.
Start where it makes sense for you.
- Brew the Base: stories about how groups started
- Add the Starter: early organizing & infrastructure
- Let It Ferment: governance, challenges, and ongoing culture
- Pour and Share: reflections, advice, and spreading practices.