Solar panels, positioned on two of the buildings, power all nine buildings on the site.
Story and photos by Linda Moon
Brahma Kumaris are embracing green living and solar energy at their North Leura Retreat Centre in the Blue Mountains. We can all learn from their journey.
In January, the Brahma Kumaris Retreat Centre in Leura celebrated their new solar system. They explain how it works.
In Indian tradition, three coconuts are smashed symbolically on the ground. In a gentler, more official gesture, Sarah Redshaw, Greens Councillor for Blue Mountains City Council, cuts a ribbon to the applause of those present. We are asked to devote 30 seconds of silence to send good wishes to the green initiative.
The new solar system at Brahma Kumarisis worth the fanfare. Energy costs are booming and the environment issue of carbon emissions remains critical.
Greens Councillor, Sarah Redshaw (middle) with Jessica Yuille, Retreat Centre Coordinator, and Charlie Hogg, the National Co-ordinator.
Community power
Speaking at the onsite celebratory event at Leura, Charlie Hogg, the National Coordinator, said Brahma Kumaris holds a philosophy of treading lightly on the planet.
It is a not-for-profit organisation and the switch to renewable energy was fully funded by donations.
The Leura Brahma Kumaris Retreat centre is one of four in Australia. Worldwide Brahma Kumaris has over 4,500 centres across 110 countries. It’s also the largest female-led spiritual organisation in the world. Their goal is spiritual education and helping people take responsibility for their own emotional happiness through meditation, explained Retreat Centre Coordinator, Jessica Yuille.
As they host many large meditation retreats, keeping the power on is vital.
Solar panels also can perform well in the east and west.
Panels in the East and West
The new 75 kW solar and 50kW battery storage system services nine buildings. According to Greg Wellham (who looks after the solar project, grounds and maintenance), it’s currently producing more energy than they use.
The solar panels (182 in total) are located on two buildings. Due to limitations of the site, they were unable to position panels in the north. The Hall, for example, has panels covering the east and west roof angles.
Greg said the East / West configuration has meant they only lose six per cent of energy production compared to having panels in the north. The east-facing panels start generating as soon as the sun is up. The western ones capture the late afternoon sun.
How to power at night
As the Centre staff rise around 2 or 3 AM, they start drawing on power before the sun comes up. Battery storage has been crucial.
The 50kW battery storage system is comprised of 10 x 5kW lithium batteries, Greg said. These and the switchboard are located in a storage room. Greg uses an App on his phone to monitor power use and production.
Greg Wellham in the storage room that houses the hefty 50kW battery system (behind him).
Power in the mist
What about those trademark misty mountain days?
Even then, the system still creates 7kW of power, Greg said. As a comparison, a hot summer day typically produces 35kW.
When it’s raining, the system can still power up about 3kW, Greg said.
In winter, the underfloor heating is the main suck on the power. Fortunately, now it runs off the new solar electricity.
The cottage is the focus of meditation retreats
More green practices
Jessica described several other green initiatives at the Centre. These include recycling everything they can, composting and converting all the lighting to LED.
They’ve also changed gas appliances, including air-conditioning, to electric ones. The hot water is powered by solar and heat pumps. This means all appliances are now electrified and running off the new solar system.
Caring for the land means the endangered Giant Dragonfly, Blue Mountains Skink and Mountain Pygmy Possum have been spotted at the site.
Guardians of the universe
Outside there’s also a lot going on.
The property is located on 50 hectares of mostly natural bushland in Mount Hay Road. It includes a hanging swamp, natural spring and one kilometre of Govetts Creek.
Initiatives to protect the land include removing noxious weeds and planting natives, such as ferns.
A Landcare groupsupported by Blue Mountains City Council also tends the land monthly. (They’re always looking for volunteers, by the way!)
Visitors can attend regular meditative gardening retreats at the 90-year-old ironstone Cottage, and contribute to weeding and land care while they meditate.
According to principal gardener, Chris McDonald, the site has a huge population of Antechinus(a native mouse).
Principal gardener (Chris McDonald) and Jessica Yuille (Retreat Centre Coordinator) with visitors: Venerable Korvida and Venerable Mudhita.
A kind, sustainable food garden
Living with so much native wildlife around creates challenges for growing food.
Two years ago, Chris and his helper, Russ, established a permaculture food garden. Choosing a sunny, north-facing site near the kitchen has made it accessible to those preparing food. It’s also closer for watering and chores. “You’ve got to think about these practicalities,” Chris said.
The kitchen garden supplies food to those who live onsite. Their January crops include turmeric, corn, rocket, tomatoes, pumpkin, greens, beans, herbs and berries. There’s also 11 varieties of fruit trees and comfrey, which is used for composting.
Chris and Russ. Building the enclosure took four months worth of weekends, but has been worth it.
No chemicals or pesticides are used in the garden. To minimise pest attacks the plants are protected within a huge covered structure and the beds are raised.
Flowers, like allysum, are grown to attract beneficial insects. Variety supports the garden, Chris said.
When they’re gardening, they sometimes do silent moving meditations, Russ reveals. “Nature’s really sensitive to vibration.”
Giant rhubarb in the kitchen garden: a healthy product of positive vibrations and permaculture principles.
Take Action:
Come to the upcoming Planetary Health Day at the Katoomba Planetary Health Precinct & Parklands.
Get free advice from local solar company representatives on the day.
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
T`ai-chi and Qigong routines can increase mobility and strength, improve immunity and help build an inner calm. To get the greatest health impact you need to practice them on a regular basis, so we`re thrilled to now be offering a 6-week block of classes to take you into summer starting 9am this Saturday 1 November and running until Sat 6 December. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4qrw4Nx This Saturday, 1 November, the activity is also the first in a full day of Skill Share activities at the Centre that includes Seed Saving and Gardening from 10am, and Planetary Health Bushcare from 1.30pm. You can book in for Bushcare here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/49k8PPo Contact Lis on 0407 437 553 for more information.
Rotarians 4 Planetary Health will be meeting again at the Planetary Health Centre at 6pm on Monday 27 October. Register at this link if you`d like to attend! (link in profile) https://events.humanitix.com/rotarians-4-planetary-health-l7bb4qhr?
Thank you to everyone who popped by for the @ediblegardentrailbluemountains today! It was a great day discussing gardens, ponds, frogs, seeds, composting seats, wicking beds and how to restore the hydrological cycle! Next Saturday will be our Skill Share Saturday. We`ll be kickstarting a 6-week block of Tai Chi & Qigong at 9am, launching our Seed Saving and Gardening Group at 10am and running our monthly Bushcare Group at 1.30pm. You can book in for Tai Chi here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/tai-chi-and-qigong-six-week-block-spring-2025-qaw2ts2v and to Bushcare here (link also in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-bushcare-spring-summer-2025
The Planetary Health Centre is on the Edible Garden Trail today! Last week we launched the Upper Mountains Seed Savers and Gardening Group. Come along to learn more, enjoy a coffee in our garden, and pick up a free Vegetable and Flower Sowing Guide. We`re open from 10am. You can find us at 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba. Tickets for the Edible Garden Trail available here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-edible-garden-trail-2025
The Planetary Health newsletter is now out. Read about three days of innovation at the upcoming Full Cycle Conference in Nov, the Edible Garden Trail this weekend, and a six week block of Tai Chi and Qigong classes at the Planetary Health Centre (link in profile): https://bit.ly/47jbFBz
Today is an Extreme Bushfire Danger Day! Have you heard about the extraordinary fire resistant paint developed by Professor Yeoh and his team at UNSW? Professor Yeoh will be presenting at our Full Cycle Conference on Thurs 20 November. He is world renowned in the field of fire safety and his innovations are helping to keep people and property safe. Importantly among these innovations has been the development and commercialisation of FSA FIRECOAT paint (sold at Bunnings), which creates a protective insulating ‘char’ on a building when it’s exposed to flames. It is water based and non toxic. Watch it in action in this video (link in profile): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkA1RlxMjWQ
Join us at the Conference to learn more about Professor Yeoh’s work during three days of innovation and exploration in which leading speakers from around Australia will share how we can reduce the risks of natural hazards and hazardous materials. Places are limited so register here now (link in profile): https://www.fullcycleconference.com.au/
With new modelling suggesting a hot summer with increasing fire risk it`s worth making time now to learn more about how we can reduce the risk of disaster by registering to attend the Full Cycle Conference that`s bringing together the Bushfire Building and Asbestos & Hazardous Materials Management Conferences in Katoomba on 20-22nd Nov. Group discounts apply if you register now here (link in profile): www.fullcycleconference.com.au
• Emma Whale from the NSW Reconstruction Authority will discuss how state-wide and place-based disaster adaptation planning is helping reduce risk;
• David Sanderson, the inaugural Judith Neilson Chair in Architecture at UNSW, will share the results of a landmark enquiry on how our response to disasters requires a change in housing policy and local government empowerment;
• Owen Price, Director of The Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires at UOW will compare the patterns of housing loss in the NSW and Californian wildfires;
• Guan Heng Yeoh from UNSW will share how he developed the award winning FIRECOAT fire resistant paint;
• Everson Kandare from RMIT University will discuss the development of fireproof cladding made from molasses-cultured mycelium - a fungal biomass;
• Alan Green from the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre UOW will introduce Heatwave and Multi-Hazard Resilience Star Rating Tools for retrofitting houses;
• Emma Bacon from Sweltering Cities and Dr Kim Loo from Doctors for the Environment will discuss heat waves and social justice;
• Andrew Bovis from Integrated Water Solutions will discuss the potential use of treated blackwater as an independent water source for landscape hydration and fire fighting;
• Sara Jane Wilkinson from UTS will launch the Bushfire Retrofitting Toolkit for older Australians and do a session on green roofs and walls to reduce disaster risk and increase biodiversity;
• Melissa Knothe Tate will discuss research on tackling PFAS contamination;
Thank you to everyone who participated in our inaugural Blue Mountains Food Security Fair today. It was an inspiring and thought provoking day with lots learnt, many connections made, amazing food consumed and stunning weather! We look forward to doing it again next year!
The inaugural Blue Mountains Food Security Fair kicks off at 9am today at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. Pop in to listen to a talk, watch a demo, grab a coffee and sweet treat from Good Fat Pastry, a delicious lunch from Bibi`s Kitchen, fresh mushrooms from EarthRising Mushroom Farm, locally acclimatised vegetable seeds from Mid Blue Mountains Seed Savers, and edible native plants from Muru Mittigar Ltd You can view the full program here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nOSJle The Planetary Health Centre is at 33-39 Acacia St (former Katoomba Golf Course).
The Fair is a World Animal Day event and has been supported by a sEEd grant from the Australian Association of Environmental Educators.
A huge thank you to Richard Burrell from Muru Mittigar Native Nursery who delivered us the following edible natives to sell at our Food Security Fair on Saturday 18th October:
Apple Berry Finger Lime Mat Rush Lomandra longifolia Midgen Berry Native Leek Native Parsnip Native Raspberry Female and male Pepper Berry Vanilla Lily Yam Daisy
You can view the full program for the Food Security Fair here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nOSJle
We`re thrilled that EarthRising Mushroom Farm will be at the Blue Mountains Food Security Fair this Sat 18 Oct with their fabulous fresh mushrooms, mushroom grow kits and other mushroom products. Alex can help you get started on mushroom growing and let you know more about the mushroom compost you can pick up from the Farm in Lawson. View the full program for the day here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nOSJle The Fair is at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre: 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba (former Katoomba Golf Course)
Such an amazing program for the Food Security Fair at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on Sat 18 Oct: from the renowned Holly Davis, co-founder of Iku, and author of Ferment, giving a hands on demonstration of how to preserve and increase the health and deliciousness of food through fermentation, to Dr Milena Bojovic from UTS on the Future of Food! Dr Teya Brooks Pribac from Plant Inspired will demonstrate innovative plant based cooking techniques, Michael from Good Fat Pastry will share baking innovations, Marnee Fox from Forage to Feast will share how to use Wild Edibles, seed saver extraordinaire Lloyd Sharp from Mid Blue Mountains Seed Savers will share his amazing expertise and launch the Upper Blue Mountains Seed Savers and Gardening Group, Manu Prigioni from Farm it Forward will discuss equity and nutrition security and Farm it Forward’s response to the National Food Security Strategy document, Erin Hall will provide a hands-on Weaving with Weeds workshop, and Nev Sweeney will share how to build and use a solar food dehydrator. Places are limited so bookings essential here (link in profile @bluemountainsplanetaryhealth : https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or... This event has been supported by an Australian Association for Environmental Education sEEd grant.
Linda Moon has lived in the upper Blue Mountains since childhood and is a freelance writer for Australian media. A qualified naturopath, permaculture designer, mother and former student of social work, her passion is building local community, gardening, mental, emotional, social, housing and environmental health – all of which are linked!
Dave Spees, Katoomba-based carpenter and founder of Against the Grain, has turned the by-product of his craft into a sustainable, sought-after winter fuel. His compressed sawdust briquettes are now helping to heat homes across the Blue Mountains, all while dramatically reducing landfill waste.
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