Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 11 i Pip Magazine

DANI WOLFF Dani is the co-founder of Agari Earth Building, a natural building collective. She travels the globe facilitating workshops to educate others on how to design and build natural, ecological and regenerative homes (strawbale, cob and tiny houses, and Earthships). Dani is a building designer who aims to inspire people to live in healthy homes which are low in toxins and are energetically healing. She also works to create permaculture projects from the ground up and to engage in community through appropriate technology, resources and whole system design. DAVID ASHER David Asher is an organic farmer, farmstead cheesemaker and cheese educator based on the gulf islands of British Columbia, Canada. David does not make cheese according to standard industrial philosophies; he instead explores traditionally cultured and more organic methods.…

POTATO ONIONS (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) Despite their name, the only thing potato onions have in common with spuds is the way in which they are planted. While potato onions can be grown from seed, they are most commonly grown by sowing a bulb of the previous season’s crop, in the same way that potatoes are grown from a previous season’s tuber. Also known as multiplier onions, pregnant onions and a variety of other names that allude to their almost magical ability to grow a clutch of baby onions from just one bulb, potato onions are a valuable addition to a permaculture garden or food forest. This is because unlike biennial onions, they do not need to be grown from seed each year. GROWING They like free draining soils, so…

Do you dream of milking your own cow? Having fresh, raw milk available on tap? The thought of all of that warm, frothy sweetness pouring into your bucket is very appealing to many but before you consider bringing a house cow into your daily life, there are a few things you need to consider. MILKING A cow will need your care and attention daily, maybe even twice a day. However you don’t have to milk her every day. You can leave your cow’s calf with her in the paddock and choose when to milk. You might choose once a day (in which case you’d need to separate the calf each night) or once a week. PASTURE You’ll need to have enough grass, with the standard generally being 1-2 acres per…

FAIR HARVEST Fair Harvest Permaculture is a demonstration farm, cafe, community venue and learning centre run by Jodie Lane and Dorothee Perez. It was established in 1995 by a group of activists and is situated on ex-dairy country, close to Margaret River. With extensive food gardens, poultry systems, timber, grazing and wild areas, the farm is a great example of a mature and multi-zoned permaculture property. Fair Harvest’s latest project is a small nature-based campground complete with composting loos, grey water systems, worm farms and interactive permaculture systems for guests. Fair Harvest’s aim is to offer people the experience living in a healthy and abundant permaculture system. www.fairharvest.com.au SKYFALL FARMS PASTURED EGGS Skyfall Farms Pastured Eggs is a small farm in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges. Their focus is slow, kind, sustainable…

Jodie Lyn Brown’s ‘Cob Heart House’ sits at the top of a hill in Maleny, Queensland, surrounded by a garden full of fruit trees, herbs and vegetables. This beautiful hybrid home (half cob/half timber) is made even more special as it was built by Jodie herself with the help of a natural builder friend and a team of enthusiastic volunteers. Jodie’s path to her cob house started when she separated from her husband and was living in the small town of Imbil. She’d purchased a large town block in an affordable area and had a house built for her. With four young children she had no plans to build her own home at that time. Not long after she was drawn to the Crystal Waters Eco Village, where she ended…

Death is not an easy subject to talk about, but it’s an inevitable final chapter of life. By choosing a natural burial over a conventional burial or cremation, you minimise your environmental impact and depart the world in a way that is aligned with your values. Natural burial has no set definition or standard in Australia, so the rules and regulations vary from state to state. But across the board, the principles of a natural burial generally centre around one fundamental aim: to return bodies to the earth as naturally as possible. BURIAL WITHOUT HARSH CHEMICALS In conventional funeral practices, embalming is an option given to families, especially when cadaver reconstruction is required, an open-coffin is requested or when burial has been delayed. Embalming is only legally required if an…

We know plants need water to grow, however understanding when and how much they need can seem like a mystery only ‘green thumbs’ can solve. Enter the wicking bed! Wicking beds are an innovative vegie bed irrigation solution. They minimise the watering challenge by creating a water reservoir that sits underneath the soil your vegies grow in. A typical wicking bed has a waterproof lining in the bed, on top of which is a layer of small stones. The stones are then covered with water, landscaping fabric is laid on top and the soil goes on top of that. There’s an inlet pipe and a special overflow setup that prevents the water level from rising up into the soil, which would compromise plant health. The water below the soil layer…

Is the garden your happy place? Do you like to go out there to play, explore, look at the flowers, pick some vegies, get your hands dirty? We love seeing Pip kids having fun in the garden and enjoying nature’s bounty. Our Kids’ Patch winners for issue 11 are sisters Fleur and Arabella from Swan View in WA. Congratulations! You’ve won a Kid’s Garden Trowel and Fork set from Ryset. Next issue we’re giving away a copy of The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew it Was None of his Business. To be in the running, parents can email a photo through to editorial@pipmagazine.com. au along with your child’s name, age and suburb. SHOW US YOUR GARDEN Name: Rueben and Lucia Age: 6 Location of garden: Our farm Daisy…

Hey Pipsters, Preparing this issue of Pip for you has been an inspiring experience. In the process of interviewing people, photographing them and editing the articles, I always learn so much and get really excited by all of the great things people are doing. After talking to Jodie Vennitti (A Year From The Garden, page 32) about her challenge to only eat fruit and veg from her garden for a year, I wanted to push myself a bit further so I too could do this. I eat loads from my garden but not everything. Setting myself a challenge makes me really think about what I grow and how, and makes me evaluate the design and systems I have in place. And after going out to Emily Stokes’ place to take…

PERMACULTURE AUSTRALIA OPEN GARDENS AND FARMS All Year, Nationwide Permaculture Australia is encouraging permies all over Australia to open their farms and gardens to the public. This will introduce permaculture to more people, encourage social interaction with like-minded citizens and help fundraise towards the operating costs of Permaculture Australia, Permafund and your local permaculture group. To access an interactive map and the listings, visit Permaculture Australia’s website. www.permacultureaustralia.org.au/permaculture-farms-gardens-open-days/ PIP CLASSIFIEDS Did you know about the Pip Classifieds? It’s the go-to place for your who, what, why and where questions. If you are looking for something permaculture specific or if you have something to sell or promote, you can do it in the Pip Classifieds. Buy and sell, real estate, upcoming courses, job opportunities, building consultants, design consultants, markets, swap meets,…

COOL TEMPERATE Words by Fabian Capomolla What to sow: • July: Beetroot, lettuce, mustard greens, onion, peas, radish. • August: Artichoke, asparagus (crowns), beetroot, cabbage (summer varieties), capsicum (undercover), chilli (undercover), eggplant, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, parsnip, peas, potato, radish, rocket, spring onion, strawberry (runners), sunflower, thyme, tomato (undercover), melon (undercover). • September: Artichoke, asparagus (plant crowns), basil (undercover), beans (after frost), beetroot, broccoli (summer variety), capsicum (undercover), carrot, celeriac, celery, chicory, chives, chilli, coriander, cucumber (undercover), dill, eggplant (undercover), endive, fennel, horseradish (crowns), Jerusalem artichoke (plant tubers), kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard greens, parsnip, peas, potato, pumpkin, zucchini (undercover), radish, rhubarb (crowns), melon (undercover), silverbeet, spring onion, strawberry (runners), sunflower, corn (after frost), tomato (undercover), turnip. • October: Artichoke, asparagus (crowns), basil (undercover), beans (bush and runner), beetroot, broccoli (summer varieties),…

Could you survive if the only fruit and vegies you ate for a year where those grown in your own backyard? Jodie Vennitti from Perth, WA decided to set herself a challenge and try it out? Jodie’s garden is productive and beautiful, although it hasn’t always been that way. ‘Originally when I bought it, it had no trees, with grass front and back,’ she says of her Coolbellup, Perth backyard. Jodie soon transformed the 728 m2 yard into a thriving permaculture food forest, inspired by the nearby Jetto’s Patch edible garden (profiled in Pip issue 8). However as Jodie was busy working full-time and looking after her daughters, she wasn’t making the most of her yield. She found herself still buying produce from the shops and discovering forgotten wilting vegies…

Manure is an amazing waste product that can transform the health and vitality of your garden. There is a lot of information out there about using manures in the garden, but it can be confusing. Which type should you use for what, do you need to compost it, where can you find it? Let’s cut the crap: manures are faeces, the end result of different animals’ culinary consumption. Which animal, what they eat and how they process their food is what makes the difference. All manures are beneficial, but practically speaking, the best manure is the one that’s easiest and/or cheapest for you to access. This article is not discussing human, dog or cat faeces. Although these can be valuable waste products when safely composted, they need special attention and…

In Natural Cheesemaking we work with nature, instead of against nature, to make cheese. By using a starter that we make at home, harnessing the rich microbial ecology in raw milk, and honouring traditional cheesemaking methods, we can create cheeses that are more healthy, delicious and complex in flavour. Cheesemaking should be a simple and natural process. But anyone who’s made cheese according to the standard approach will attest that cheese is no longer created according to any natural considerations. First milk is pasteurised, standardised and homogenised, then monocultures of microorganisms are added back to replace the life taken away by pasteurisation. Genetically modified enzymes are then mixed into milk to cause it to curdle, and the curds left to drain in plastic forms. And all the while cheesemakers need…

The site of Marg and John Sandefur’s house was a bare paddock on top of a ridge overlooking the ocean. The views were amazing but their location meant they were exposed to some wild weather. They didn’t do the usual thing of building the house first then consider the landscaping. Instead Marg and John, with the help of Hugh Gravestein and his team at HG Eco Logic Constructions, designed from pattern to detail. By the time they’d moved in they had established shelter belts protecting their home and were eating from their fruit trees. Marg and John left Melbourne looking for a place that would provide them with an easy lifestyle in a beautiful and peaceful location where they could build a house that was carbon neutral. After travelling as…

Fingerless gloves are perfect for keeping your hands warm without restricting your fingers. Here is how to make a pair of retro style granny square fingerless gloves. Rather than being strict instructions, this is an inspirational idea kind of pattern. As is the tradition of making granny squares, leftover and small quantities of yarn are used in this pattern. You’ll need a basic knowledge of crochet and knitting to be able to whip them up. MATERIALS • 8 ply wool in a variety of colours and quantities• Size 9/3.50 mm crochet hook• Pair of size 9/3.75 mm knitting needles• Wool darning needle METHOD 1. Crochet two granny squares with four rounds of treble stitch. If you haven’t made granny squares before, look online for some handy tutorials. 2. Stitch the…

It’s early morning in the misty, humid mountains of Timor-Leste, one of Australia’s closest neighbours. Chickens and roosters roam free, smoke from the cooking fires fill the air and the village of Baguia is coming to life. Paulino has been in his jungle garden since 5 am, working in the cool of the morning, collecting yams and sweet potatoes. His wife Fatima has been up for a few hours getting the cooking fire going and preparing a breakfast of rice and green vegetables for the family of ten. At a farmers’ market in Melbourne, a coffee trike is in full swing, pumping out delicious specialty coffee from Timor-Leste, but this brew is different to most. The WithOneBean coffee trike is serving ethical and fair trade flat whites to its customers.…

Birthday parties are special. They are where some of our first memories are formed. Where your dreams and ideas are the focus. Here is the opportunity to really push the boundaries and have a totally different gathering, without having to leave your own home or garden. I’d like to share with you seven of my favourite activity ideas for your next party: 1. Get messy with mud art. All that’s needed is an easel to attach paper to, and a bucketful of perfectly prepared garden soil/mud (not too wet and not too dry—have a test run ahead of time). Once mixed, take small handfuls and throw the mud at the easel. Slowly watch as your mud-sterpiece takes shape. Perhaps put a limit of 10 throws from an agreed distance so…

Do you want your course featured here? Send your details to hello@pipmagazine.com.au: name, location, courses, web, phone, email. PERMACULTURE & SUSTAINABILITY ACT CANBERRA PERMACULTURE DESIGN Canberra, Intro to Permaculture Principles, Permaculture Zones, Waterwise Gardening, Making Wicking Pots & Beds, www.canberrapermaculturedesign.com.au, 0410 121 272, cally.brennan@gmail.com SOUTHERN HARVEST EDUCATION Intro to Permaculture, PDC, Specialist courses e.g. Farm Establishment, Homesteading, Forest Gardens.education@southernharvest.org.au http://southernharvest.org.au/education/ NSW A GARDEN FOR LIFE Helensburgh, Garden Design, 0404 123 747, www.agardenforlife.com.au, narelle@agardenforlife.com.au ALLYN RIVER PERMACULTURE Allynbrook, PDC, Intro to Permaculture, Soils & Composting, Small Animals, Gardening Sustainably, Garden to Market, (02) 4938 9748, www.allynriverpermaculture.com.au, info@allynriverpermaculture.com.au BLUE MOUNTAINS PERMACULTURE INSTITUTE Blue Mountains, PDC, Permaculture Teacher Training Course, Permaculture in Development Course, 0407 437 553, www.bmpi.com.au, lis@bmpi.com.au BROGO PERMACULTURE GARDENS Bermagui, PDC, Earthworks, www.permaculturedesign.com.au, (02) 6492 7306, brogopg@bigpond.net.au BYRON COMMUNITY COLLEGE…

SMALL FARM SUCCESS AUSTRALIA: HOW TO MAKE A LIFE AND A LIVING ON THE LAND by Andrew Campbell and Anna Featherstone (Capeable Publishing 2018) Review by Robyn Rosenfeldt This book is for anyone thinking about giving up their day job and taking the step towards making a living as a farmer. Andrew Campbell and Anna Featherstone left the city ten years ago and did just that. They moved to the country and bought their own farm that they live off today. This book is a guide to the ins and outs of running a farm as a business and making it work. With lots of practical advice from choosing your farm, planning, value adding, right through to marketing, this book will help you navigate the complexities of farming as a…

How do I encourage worms into our soil and to stay there? [Rebecca, Maryborough, QLD] In the words of Kevin Costner, ‘If you build it, [they] will come’. Worms live in soils with high humus content. Humus is the product of decaying organic matter. The best way to produce humus is adding consistent volumes of compost and mulch each year. These elements provide worms with the food they require. Consistent moisture is just as important, so do your best to ensure your soils don’t dry out. [Justin] Any tips for managing animals holistically on a backyard scale? [Manu, Lapstone, NSW] Understanding what the animal likes to do and allowing it to undertake these behaviours in ways that benefit other parts of the garden is the key to holistic management. A…

Biodynamics is a method of organic farming that views the entire farm (or garden) as an organism. Biodynamics utilises a closed-loop system where growers aim to produce everything needed by the farm on the farm itself. While this sort of system is used in other organic farming methods including permaculture, biodynamics also incorporates other unique practices. These include the use of specially formulated ‘preparations’ to nourish the soil, planting and harvesting with reference to influences of the solar system and working with natural forces to revitalise their land. As in permaculture, biodynamics treats soil fertility, plant growth and livestock care as a holistic system. Each part is interconnected with all of the others and the health and wellbeing of each part is important for the successful running of the farm…

The winner of Pip’s 2018 award for Best Permie Project is Green Connect. We’re excited to share what makes Green Connect stand out as an example of permaculture at its dynamic best. Green Connect is a social enterprise doing good things for people and the planet. It grows and sells ‘fair food’ which is good for those who eat it, grow it and the planet. Last year Green Connect employed 114 former refugees and young people to do this, growing and distributing 13,754 kilos of fair food and keeping 1,990 tonnes of waste out of landfill. Recently Green Connect reached an all-time high of feeding 104 families fresh permaculturally grown seasonal food through their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) vegetable box scheme. Waste management and labour-hire businesses are also a part…

Do you feel like you’re constantly battling pests in your garden for your fair share of the harvest? Do you wonder what you can possibly do to grow more food? As strange as it may sound, a ‘do-nothing’ approach to pest management might just be what you are looking for. Don’t be mistaken; do nothing pest management is not about being idle or lazy. Rather, it is a carefully considered and interconnected way of thinking and gardening that respects natural cycles, the principles of ecology and the power of diversity. This is a permaculture approach to pest management; a thoughtful whole systems design. WHAT IS ‘DO-NOTHING’ PEST MANAGEMENT? The idea behind it all is about shifting from doing pest management and fighting these pests, to instead observing and working with…

In the hills east of Canberra, down a dusty lane that winds up past the Lake George escarpment through Yellow Box Woodland (full of finches, thornbills, cuckoo-shrikes, kookaburras and robins), there is a rusty old gate with a stencilled sign that says ‘Millpost’. Millpost was windswept and degraded when David first arrived in 1979. Since then, we’ve planted or direct-seeded approximately 15 kilometres of native windbreaks using eucalyptus, acacia, bursaria, callistemon and casuarinas. Sheep are excluded from about 100 hectares, including riparian zones, to allow natural regeneration. Stock and wildlife alike benefit from shade and shelter in every paddock. Big increases in bird populations (135 species) mean improved natural pest control. But it’s not all good news: the resulting increase in kangaroo numbers threatens our viability. Deciduous trees such as…

NOMINEES Callum Champagne, Che Hall, John Champagne, Karen Lenehan, Kat Lavers, Kate Venning, Kelly Ryder, Oscar Woods, Peter Axisa, Phil Shanny, Remus Avramides, Tania Brookes, Tom Speldewinde. Aaron Sorensen is our Pip Permie Of The Year for 2018. Aaron’s dedication to permaculture has made a huge impact in the schools he is involved with and the students he has taught. Aaron works with kids, teenagers and adults to teach them how to practically implement permaculture into their lives and gardens. Aaron is creating lifelong learning pathways for students from kindergarten to year 12 with career opportunities at the end. What permaculture related work are you involved with and what’s your role? I’m fortunate to be working on a number of progressive local and regional projects that are not only transforming…

At the gate that opens into the gardens of Seedwell’s St Kilda site, there is a blooming eucalyptus caesia. For the people of the Kulin nation, this gum represents coming of age for young people and for Seedwell it represents a similar idea. Seedwell is an urban permaculture facility which grew out of St Kilda’s Salvation Army Youth and Family Crisis Accommodation Centre. The Salvation Army Seedwell Collaboration started in 2017, an initiative between The Salvation Army and non-profit organisation Marist180, and is run in conjunction with Jesuit Social Services. The Seedwell program teaches young people and the broader community permaculture and sustainability skills. It aims to increase awareness about healthy living while also incorporating permaculture’s healing benefits. There are successful kitchen garden programs at both their St Kilda and…

Too often, we get caught up in our busy lives. We become overwhelmed and never quite catch up with all the tasks we’ve set ourselves. Becoming more aware of our surroundings through mindfulness is one way to reset ourselves and improve our wellbeing. Observation is an important part of permaculture, but being conscious of how we observe makes a huge difference in how we relate to our properties. It’s too easy to walk through your garden and notice only the things that you have to do. Sometimes, it can be energising, but often it is overwhelming and exhausting. Moving from a quarter acre, to seven and a half fertile, sunny acres was a dream come true. Yet, with four established orchards and two huge vegetable patches already in place, we…