Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 17 i Pip Magazine

VICTOR STEFFENSEN Victor is an Indigenous writer, filmmaker, musician and consultant, applying traditional knowledge values in a contemporary context. He is a descendant of the Tagalaka people, through his mother’s connections to the traditional owners of the Gulf country of north Queensland. Much of Victor’s work over the past 27 years has been based on reviving traditional knowledge values – particularly traditional burning – through mentoring, leadership and on-ground training within Aboriginal communities and with many non-Indigenous Australians. He is the co-founder of the National Indigenous Fire Workshops. EMMA-KATE ROSE Emma-Kate Rose is a mother, community advocate and social entrepreneur based in Brisbane, Queensland. She co-leads Food Connect and the Food Connect Foundation, a non-profit which runs events and advocacy campaigns focused on a fairer food system. Emma-Kate also works…

THE GOOD CAR COMPANY The Good Car Company exists to de-carbonise transport by making electric cars affordable. By focusing on the import of quality second-hand electric cars from Japan and elsewhere, this company is delivering affordable, zero-emission transport, utilising vehicles that are in their ‘second life’. In 2019, The Good Car Company delivered Australia’s first electric vehicle bulk-buy, and are partnering with communities around Australia to create a step-change in transport. Upcoming bulk-buys will be occurring in partnership with Hepburn Wind in Victoria and SEE-Change in the ACT. Vehicles can be purchased individually or through a bulk-buy. The vehicle range is currently limited to late model Nissan Leaf sedans and the Nissan eNV200 electric van. www.goodcar.co From $19,000 LIFE IN A GARDEN: ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS FOR THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM By…

Email your letters and photos to editorial@pipmagazine.com. au. We’d love to hear what you think of Pip and if you’ve embarked on any projects as a result of our articles. Each issue, one published entrant will receive a limited edition Pip Magazine art print, printed with archival inks on beautifully textured archival 300 gsm rag paper. Hi Pip, I came across an idea recently that has rocked my thinking and views on permaculture. Perhaps you’ll share my interest. It’s this: self-sufficiency is poverty. Skills today have advanced to a point where they take tremendous dedication to master. You can be barely competent, or you can trade with someone (likely dollars) to do it better and faster for you. If I can make $60/hr doing my work, should I be spending…

What to sow: • July: Silverbeet, lettuce, parsley, Asian greens, radish. Divide and plant out asparagus crowns, rhubarb, Jerusalem artichokes, garlic chives, comfrey, yarrow and yacon. • August: Cherry tomatoes, zucchini, squash, pumpkin, basil, cucumber, coriander, lettuce, radish, silverbeet, parsley, edible viola heartsease, potatoes. • September: Cherry tomatoes, pumpkins, zucchini, squash, spring onion, basil, coriander, parsley and lettuce, potatoes. • October: Climbing beans (e.g. Purple King, Rattlesnake), bush beans, cherry tomatoes, basil, zucchini, squash, pumpkin, corn, spring onion, coriander, lettuce, parsley, warrigal greens. What to do: • Prune back your grapevine, mulberries and any tall trees.• Stake any bananas with heavy bunches in preparation for strong winds in August and September.• Citrus are in abundance, so keep on top of harvesting them and sharing the abundance, or get creative with…

What to sow: • July: Salad greens like lettuce, coriander, rocket, peas, onions, leeks, shallots, kale, beetroot, daikon, radish, kohlrabi, purple top turnips, Asian greens, mustard greens. • August: Basil, beans, beetroot, bok choy, pak choy, cucumber, eggplant, kohlrabi, melons, okra, pumpkin, potato, spring onions and tomatoes. Don’t forget to interplant with some colourful flowers such as amaranth, cosmos and salvia sunflower. • September: Basil, beans, beetroot, bok choy, pak choy, cucumber, eggplant, kohlrabi, melons, okra, pumpkin, potato, spring onions, tomatoes, rosella, sweet potato, yacon, oca. • October: Basil, beans, beetroot, bok choy, pak choy, cucumber, eggplant, kohlrabi, melons, okra, pumpkin, potato, spring onions, tomatoes, rosella, sweet potato, yacon, oca, choko. What to do: • Replenish washed out soils in July. Fork open areas that feel compacted, gently lifting but…

Blueberries are a fantastic addition to the home garden, be it contained on a balcony or sprawling across acres, due to their adaptability and longevity – a happy mature blueberry bush can produce fruit for many years. DESCRIPTION Blueberries are a perennial woody bush originating from North America. They can be deciduous or semi-deciduous, with a stunning autumn display of colour; or evergreen, depending on the variety and where they are grown. Bushes range in size from around one metre through to more than two metres tall, making them great for anything from growing in pots to creating edible hedges. Blueberry bushes develop delicate white and pink bell-shaped flowers, adored by bees in late winter and spring. The bushes produce fruit through summer and into autumn. Most varieties are self-pollinating,…

While we are told that eating less meat or eating a plant-based diet is the most earth-friendly way to go, it’s worth looking more deeply into this advice; and rather than just considering whether we eat meat or plants, consider how each of these foods are farmed. It’s well documented that regenerative agriculture can not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but actually sequester carbon dioxide – by pulling carbon from the air and storing it in the ground. By eating food that is farmed using regenerative practices, you will be helping to build soil fertility and grow healthier and more nutrient-dense plants and animals; which will create a healthier you and a healthier planet. THE ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS – BEEF The statistics say the greenhouse gases emitted when producing beef and…

‘What we had was a weed scape and bare lawn that turned into dirt and dust in summer, and was impossible to get a spade into,’ explains Sam. They were growing a few herbs, a lemon tree, some raspberries and greens, but they wanted to do more. Their introduction to permaculture came from an interest into reducing their waste. They watched the film ‘A Plastic Ocean’ and, as Sam puts it: ‘It was like having the blindfold ripped off’. They knew they wanted to change their habits. Sam and Emily joined the Zero Waste Tasmania group and started their journey to reduce waste, which led to growing their own food. During this journey, the word permaculture kept popping up and when they heard Sam’s sister was doing an introduction-to-permaculture course,…

We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide and, through the process of photosynthesis, plants convert this carbon dioxide back into oxygen. But it’s more than this oxygen release that provides benefits to the environment around us; plants help clean the air inside your home, reduce anxiety and stress, and filter toxins from the environment. Research has shown that indoor plants are great for offices because they can calm your sympathetic nervous system, reducing stress and helping you to feel more alert and productive. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, found in building materials such as paint, carpet, plastics and electronic equipment, release gases and pollute our indoor space. Research suggests that plants and microorganisms in the soil may have a role in cleaning,…

Rehydrating landscapes relies on small and slow solutions, and therefore the benefits start small and build over time. Benefits include reduced erosion and salinity and increased soil health and productivity. But they also increase your property’s resilience to fire, drought and some aspects of flooding; and are a key part of any permaculture disaster risk management plan. BUILD ORGANIC MATTER The best and simplest way to rehydrate landscapes is to build organic matter – or humus – in the soil. Lush, healthy soil with a rich structure and diverse soil life enables water to infiltrate deeply into hard, dry or clay soils. It also creates an environment that retains water because of the capacity of humus, the soil’s organic component, to store it. There are a number of ways to…

This beautiful Form Boss three-tiered planter is an ideal way to create an instant kitchen garden in any garden space. Suitable for growing vegetables, herbs and small trees such as dwarf apple or citrus varieties. And receive a free packet of seeds with every print subscription. WIN A FORM BOSS THREE-TIERED PLANTER VALUED AT OVER $500. Subscribe now and receive every issue delivered to your door. We are now offering FREE DELIVERY on all subscriptions. Subscribe from $38.85; save up to $20.50 on a three year sub. Learn the skills to reduce waste, grow food, make compost, forage for food, save seeds, preserve your fruit, keep bees and backyard chooks, build eco homes, repair your things, make your own clothes, and much more. SUBSCRIBING IS EASY. subscribe.pipmagazine.com.au e: subscribe@pipmagazine.com.au p:…

What a crazy year 2020 has been. As I write this in May, we’ve faced the worst bushfires on record, affecting hundreds of towns and communities across Australia. Now a global pandemic continues to have a devastating effect across the globe. Although our lives have been completely altered, it is amazing how quickly we adapt and start to accept this new normal. I want to start by acknowledging that this is an incredibly difficult time for a lot of people. Being forced to self-isolate has meant job losses, financial hardship, a rise in depression and mental health issues; and there have been the deaths of more than a quarter of a million people, worldwide. Let’s not forget those affected by the fires; many of whom are still living in caravans…

RETROSUBURBIA Permaculture co-originator, David Holmgren, has launched his bestselling book, RetroSuburbia: the downshifter’s guide to a resilient future, published as a pay-what-you-feel online book. His decision is in response to the latest health and economic crisis, that has galvanised enthusiasm in permaculture and kindred circles. David hopes his book will inspire those who have been ‘stuck’ at home with digital access and time to read. online.retrosuburbia.com SUSTAINABLE HOUSE DAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2020 Tour some of Australia’s most environmentally progressive homes on Sustainable House Day. A ‘sustainable house’, or ‘green house’, has been designed, built or renovated to be more environmentally friendly, cheaper to run and more comfortable to live in. If you have worked hard to make your house more sustainable and you’d like to share this knowledge with your…

What to sow: • July: Potatoes, onions, garlic. • August: Asparagus and rhubarb can be divided and transplanted. Keep planting successive crops of all types of peas. Green manure crops should be dug in before they flower and set seed (unless you’ve decided to keep those broad beans for eating). • September: Broccoli, kale, spinach, Asian greens, leek, radish, spinach, silverbeet, parsley, coriander, rocket, lettuces. • October: Broccoli, kale, spinach, Asian greens, leek, radish, spinach, silverbeet, parsley, coriander, rocket, lettuces. Start planting beans (both bush and climbing types), beetroot and carrots. Pumpkins, squash, corn/maize, melons and cucumbers can be direct sown in succession planting over the next few months. Sow corn either in a block or in a patch shared with squash and beans for the traditional ‘three sisters’ planting…

On the day of the fires Daryl, partner Lucy and daughter Maggie were caught at their friends’ property as the firestorm hit. The house they were in burnt down around them and they were lucky to escape with their lives. On returning home, Daryl found the fire had burned through the pine timber structure and up into the roof. It took him 20 hours to put out this fire. By that time, inside the house was burnt and ruined, the roof was destroyed, and only the mudbrick walls remained standing. ‘Our little muddy has always been a social setting and as a community development worker this is important to me. Prior to the 2009 bushfires, we would regularly host dinner parties at our ten-seater table. We were close friends with…

ACV is mineral-rich and contains calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, potassium, zinc, phosphorus, selenium and sodium. Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E are also present. ACV is high in polyphenols (nutrients found in plant pigments that act as antioxidants), beneficial bacteria (probiotics) and active enzymes. Vinegars can act as a solvent, drawing additional minerals, vitamins and essential oils out of plant matter – which is why it’s the perfect medium in medicinal formulas. Making ACV is easy, but your finished product takes time to create. The creation of vinegar – acetic acid – happens in two steps. In the first step, the sugar from apples is converted to ethanol by fermenting yeasts that are naturally present on the apple skin or in non-pasteurised apple juice. In the…

PERMACULTURE COURSES & OPEN DAYS SOUTH COAST NSW WITH JOHN CHAMPAGNE PDC – TO BE CONFIRMED www.permaculturedesign.com.au brogopg@bigpond.net.au PH (02) 64927306 An inspiring 14 day immersion in Permaculture design. Spring 2020 – Port Kembla, NSW Tentatively 27 September – 10 October 2020 You will be immersed in learning through practical application. Gain a deeper understanding of Permaculture theory and practices through ‘hands on’ learning in our thriving gardens. Learn the principles and tools of design and have the confidence to start your own project. Our facilitators are leading designers and practitioners. facebook.com/elementalpermaculture – M: 0424241881 Permaculture Teaching, Facilitation and Group Leadership Courses, Social Permaculture, Training Resources and Card Games…with Robin Clayfield at Crystal Waters Permaculture EcoVillage SE Qld. Next Courses - Social Permaculture (Robin C + Erin Young) 12 –…

Mara and her husband Ralf, an environmental engineer, live on 15 acres outside of Daylesford in Blampied with their daughters, 15-year-old Ahlia and Artemisia, eight. Their farm is known as Orto, which is the Italian word for vegetable garden. Orto is where Mara’s days are spent cooking, growing, preserving, teaching workshops, hosting volunteer farm stay and bed and breakfast guests, and much more. MARA’S SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY When she was nine years old, Mara and her family moved to Australia from Italy and settled in Ballarat. Her Italian upbringing formed her conviction to follow a low-impact lifestyle. ‘My Nonna always lived with us and her presence instilled in my sister and I a real sense of the value of things,’ says Mara. ‘It was completely unacceptable to waste resources, whether that…

Our Kids’ Patch winner for issue 17 is Alexander from Rutherglen, aged 2 years. Congratulations! You’ve won a copy of Grow Do It, the CD from the Formidable Edible Sound System. Next issue we are giving away a set of six permaculture stickers by the talented permaculture illustrator Brenna Quinlan. To be in the running, parents can email a photo of their child through to editorial@pipmagazine.com.au along with your child’s name, age and suburb/town. SCHOOL GARDEN PROFILE Mumbulla School Garden Name: Matilda (Tilly) Dack Age: 9 Describe your school garden: There are lots of plants in it and it’s very fun to harvest all the things in it. What do you grow: Lettuce, garlic, silverbeet, carrots and spring onions. What’s your favourite thing to grow in the garden: Carrots, because…

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, http://southernharvest.org.au/education/, education@southernharvest.org.au 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 BEINGREEN PERMACULTURE, Albury Wodonga Riverina, Vegetable Gardening for Everyone, permaculture workshops for children, wicking beds and permaculture consultations. www.beingreenpermaculture.weebly.com, 0455 535 002, bgperma@gmail.com 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)…

ZERO WASTE SEWING: 16 PROJECTS TO MAKE, WEAR AND ENJOY By Elizabeth M Haywood (Cootala Press 2020) Review by Robyn Rosenfeldt This practical manual by Elizabeth Haywood is a great introduction to the world of zero-waste sewing. Zero-waste sewing is making clothes without wasting any fabric. The pattern pieces are designed to completely fit within the dimensions of the fabric; there are no offcuts and no waste. It’s an inherent practise for traditional clothing where fabric was hand-loomed and precious, such as kimonos, sarongs, kilts, ponchos and saris. This book lays out clear step-by-step instructions and patterns to make your own zero-waste garments. Each piece is unique and echoes traditional designs. From tops, dresses, jackets and pants, you’ll find something that suits your style. If you’re dipping your toe into…

FIRE-AFFECTED GARDENS How do I repair burnt soil? After fire, there remains copious amounts of ash on the ground and this contains potassium carbonates and elements such as phosphorus and magnesium. This is beneficial to all gardens at the rate of one shovelful per square metre. Dig in with an eco-hydrating soil-wetter to overcome hydrophobicity. How do I make the right decisions about caring for fruit trees after damage from radiant heat and fire? Don’t cut back the burnt trees immediately after the fire-front has passed through. Always wait at least six weeks and check to see if there is life in the branches. Scratch the bark through to the cambium layer (the tissue layer just under the bark where plant growth occurs), focusing from the extremities towards the trunk.…

What to sow: • July: Beetroot, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, peas, radish. • August: Artichoke, asparagus (crowns), beetroot, cabbage (summer varieties), capsicum (undercover), chilli (undercover), eggplant, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radish, rocket, spring onions, strawberry (runners), sunflower, thyme, tomato (undercover), melons (undercover). • September: Artichoke, asparagus (plant cloves), 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, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, parsnips, peas, potatoes, pumpkin, zucchini (undercover), radish, rhubarb (crowns), melons (undercover), silverbeet, spring onions, strawberry (runners), sunflower, corn (after frost), tomato (undercover), turnip. • October: Artichoke, asparagus (crowns), basil (undercover), beans (bush and runner), beetroot, broccoli (summer varieties), cabbage (summer varieties), capsicum, carrot, celeriac,…

What to sow: • July: Lettuce, spinach, rhubarb, asparagus, artichoke, tomato (will need frost protection), potato, coriander, spring onion, swede, cabbage, parsnip, turnip, peas, kale, leak, onion, carrot, silverbeet, beetroot, shallot, parsley, lettuce, radish.• August: Onion, carrot, silverbeet, potato, tomato, shallot, spinach, chive, coriander, beans, sweet corn, capsicum, celery, sweet potato, swede, parsnip, turnip, pea, asparagus, artichoke, kale, leek, parsley, radish.• September: Onion, carrot, silverbeet, potato, tomato, shallot, parsley, coriander, beetroot, spring onion, sweet potato, melons, zucchini, cucumber, squash, eggplant, pumpkin, basil, parsley, radish, parsnip, celery, kale, leek, spinach, chive, rhubarb, artichoke,• October: Beetroot, sweet corn, parsley, spring onion, sweet potato, melons, capsicum, cucumber, squash, eggplant, pumpkin, basil, parsnip, beans, kale, leek, carrot, silver beet, potato, shallots, radish, spinach, coriander. What to do: • Prune and feed mulberries first as…

Growing food in small spaces is about subsidising our grocery needs with a variety of fresh produce. Most of us would never be able to grow enough food to completely replace our weekly shopping, but we can grow enough so it has an economic impact, saving on food bills; has an environmental impact, by cutting down on food miles and the effects of industrial agriculture; and, most importantly, has a cultural impact, where we come to value our food and recognise the importance of celebrating it. For many people, growing their own food is about adding fresh produce to their staples. Whether it be some fresh parsley for winter soup, lettuce and cherry tomatoes for a summer salad or greens for a smoothie, almost all of us can grow something.…

Wood burners can be cheap to run even if you have to buy firewood; and they work during power cuts – increasing your household’s resilience. Wood burners can fulfil many purposes including heating, cooking, heating water, drying your clothes, raising your sourdough bread before its baked and providing ash and charcoal for your garden. They are an efficient way to clear up fallen sticks and branches around your property. Learning to understand and safely use fire is a great skill to pass on to our children and brings us closer to our ancestors. Not least to mention is the wonderful atmosphere of having a ‘bush TV’ flickering in our loungerooms. DECIDE ON YOUR NEEDS There are two types of wood burners: radiant heat and convective heat. Radiant heat wood burners…

With shorter distances to travel and strong relationships established with growers, a local food system can respond to crises with agility and certainty. Growers know the back roads and can often bypass highway lockdowns with their smaller trucks. The networks established between growers, small transport companies and distribution hubs means they can respond quickly to requests for assistance. LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM ANSWERS THE CALL Food Connect – a small social enterprise in Brisbane – has been feeding customers for 15 years. At the same time, Food Connect pays growers their true value of production and has built a secure supply of locally sourced food from farmers who use organic and regenerative farming methods. Started by ex-dairy farmer Robert Pekin, Food Connect’s business is built on the concept of community supported…

He walked over to the stringybark country and ripped off a long piece of bark from the closest tree… He teased one end of the long piece of bark, lit it up and then walked through the boxwood patch in a repetitive, figure eight type movement… I watched him dancing through the flames like some kind of fire spirit… Soon there was nothing but fire in front of me, but it was only seconds before it started to calm down. Then he reappeared in the middle of the fire, walking over the flames with his bare feet, giving me the biggest smile.’ Over decades we have heard about the many massive wildfires in southern parts of Australia. I remember a few occasions of sitting with Elders, watching bushfire reports on…

What does ‘steek’ mean exactly? If you’re a knitter, you may have seen the word ‘steek’ used in patterns. The technique of steeking garments is not commonly practised in Australia. So it’s not surprising if Australian knitters feel a little bamboozled about its actual meaning. Steeking is a very old tradition. It is believed to be the original way of putting knitted garments together; and it is still practised around the world, from Estonia to the Shetland Islands and many other places with a strong knitting culture. WHAT IS STEEKING? In modern knitting, steeking is the act of cutting a piece of knitting and then sewing it back together. Garments are knitted in the round – one tube for the body and two for the sleeves. Because there are no…

1. OBSERVE AND INTERACT ‘By taking the time to engage with nature we can design solutions that suit our particular situation.’ 2. CATCH AND STORE ENERGY ‘By developing systems that collect resources when they are abundant, we can use them in times of need.’ 3. OBTAIN A YIELD ‘Ensure that you are getting truly useful rewards as part of the work you are doing.’ 4. APPLY SELF-REGULATION AND ACCEPT FEEDBACK ‘We need to discourage inappropriate activity to ensure that systems continue to function well.’ 5. USE AND VALUE RENEWABLE RESOURCES AND SERVICES ‘Make the best use of nature’s abundance to reduce our consumption and dependence on non-renewable resources.’ 6. PRODUCE NO WASTE ‘By valuing and making use of all the resources that are available to us, nothing goes to waste.’…