Magic Beans
Purple Kings are one of our favourite bean crops – they’re hardy, prolific and darn tasty. But the best bit is that they turn green when cooked. Magic beans!
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Spencer Cocoa: Chocolate with an ethical Center
It’s nearly chocolate season, my friends. But what constitutes ethical chocolate these days? It’s pretty hard to tell. Take a peek at this incredible family of chocolateers, doing it right. In a backyard shed set in a lush vegetable garden in Mudgee is Spencer Cocoa, a single origin chocolate company with the best bean-to-bar story you’re ever likely…
DetailsFive of our favourite Plant Databases
Choosing the right plant for the right spot, working with its behaviours and getting it to cooperate with others can be a little difficult at times. Before you go getting yourself a little too lost in the world of plants (actually that sounds pretty darn good) take a look at these five plant databases…
DetailsHow to plant a tree, Milkwood style
Planting a tree is a simple act. But, as we’ve learned on a site that’s sometimes less-than-welcoming to tree establishment, there’s ways, and there’s ways that work. Last week, with our Permaculture Design Course students, we planted oak trees. And for this site, there needs to be a little more involved than poking holes in…
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Want extra Vitamin D? Place your shiitake mushrooms in sunlight…
As if growing your own mushrooms wasn’t excellent enough, there’s also a way you can further increase their Vitamin D content… simply by putting them in sunlight. And not increase that Vitamin D by a little bit, either. We’re talking a bigtime boost in nutrition here.
DetailsBean Tipi: the harvest
It’s a cubby house, but also bee forage, a shade structure for tender herbs, a plentiful source of dinner beans, and seed saving stock, too. Hooray for the Bean Tipi! And I don’t think our summer garden will ever be without one, from this year onward. They’re far too much fun.
DetailsPip Magazine is live – get your permaculture on
Hey great news – Australia has it’s very own, brand-spanking new Permaculture Magazine. It’s called Pip, and we love it. Pip is going to come out twice a year (to begin with) and offer a stack of info as well as glimpses into fabulous permaculture gardens, projects, people and more…
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How to make Wild Fermented Young Country Wine (it’s easy)
Young country wine is a simple ferment composed of fruit, sugar, water, air and time. With the help of the naturally occurring yeasts on the skins of the fruits, these simple ingredients can be transformed into a delicious good-time brew…
DetailsCropfest: celebrating the wonky veg: Sydney, March 28
Cropfest is all about celebrating the three legged carrot, the eggplant with a nose and all those perfectly good veggies which don’t make it to market because they don’t ‘look right’. It’s going to be a big evening of hands-on cooking classes, live music and making merry, right in the heart of Sydney…
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Home-grown Shiitake Logs: harvest time
Growing shiitakes on logs is a great idea for any backyard or small farm food system. Partly because after the burst of work needed at the start, you don’t need to think about them for a fair while, until they’re ready. Then there’s the main reason that shiitake logs are a great idea. Because eventually,…
DetailsVisiting The Agrarian Kitchen in New Norfolk, Tasmania
What a gorgeous place this is – bursting with organically grown food, fruit, herbs and animals, and boasting the prettiest cooking school we ever did see. Just when I thought Tasmania couldn’t get any better…
DetailsHow to: test your garden soil’s pH, and balance it for a better veggie harvest
So you’re resolved to grow the best darn vegetables ever. You’re on a mission to feed your family nutrient-dense, organic, home-grown food, to stick it to the supermarket, and to hopefully have enough to share with friends and neighbours too. Getting your soil’s pH balanced can help a lot. Here’s how to do it:
DetailsAnnouncing: David Holmgren & our Winter PDC
We are excited to announce that David Holmgren, co-originator of Permaculture, will be joining Nick as a special guest teacher on our Winter Permaculture Design Certificate course happening this July in Sydney. Here’s why we think this is such a big deal:
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