The story so far

Tamara left Bunyip in April 2009 seeking what she needed to know for her permaculture future. She spent 9 months at her Aunt Catherine's farm in Arid South Australia, then 9 months at Bill and Lisa Mollison's farm in Tasmania. Now she's off on more adventures starting Moonrise School of Permaculture and teaching Permaculture Design Courses in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne. Ducky is there for the journey...

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Permaculture in suburban Adelaide... alive and well!



I've just been back in South Australia and spent time with some of my oldest friends in Adelaide. Pictured is Madelaine, the extraordinary daughter of Mel and Mat. I reckon if a 9 year old thinks like this, we really can save the planet! I am very lucky to have 'nieces' in Victoria as well, something on them soon! Take it away Maddy!

Black forest school garden wonders
Hi my school garden is run by Kate. We have worm bins and Chickens. We do worm bins I am number 7. At the garden we do stuff at recess and lunch like holding the chickens and picking vegetables or fruit. We also water the plants. We’re allowed to do a range of activities at the garden during the school hours, we have lessons like we do something to do with art we do a sheet or something with the teacher and do something with Kate like planting we also play in the mud pit I have made things with gumnuts and gum leaves and popcorn seeds and lots of other interesting things. 
I like holding the chickens we have a hot house we have 3 worm farms we have a tree section we have a pizza garden section we have tomatoes and eggplant and rhubarb and grape vines and lots of olive trees and celery and bean and capsicum and cabbage and there are people that pick the olives we have a cook book that the school made so they asked people to right a recipe for the cookbook dream of a land that thrives on experiential and happy learning in gardening and there are lot of things you can do in a garden instead of sitting down watching t.v. or playing video games get out there and water the garden plant some seeds or pick some flowers for mum or dad or if you have a small back yard you can get  a hanging basket from your nearest gardening store such as bunnings you can put a plant in there what is your or maybe you can go to the nearest farmers market or the central markets or you can go to your nearest plant  nursery or see the animals. 
There are lots of different things to do in life only if you try them because if you never try things you will never experience the world and its food and people and natures wonders and all of mothers natures gifts because there not just there to look at get involved don’t be a couch potato enjoy yourself and have fun I love hanging out in the garden you don’t have to do stuff you can just sit there and look around you well you might be able to have a picnic on the weekend or do a sport use your free time wisely. 
by Maddy Healey

Maddy and I went exploring her neighbourhood at the weekend. We found Pomegranates from a house near the Glandore Community Garden - we asked if we could have some - cheeky, but they said yes and gave us two awesome ones! One of these just fit in my hand!
The chillies were hanging through a fence... SCORE! There is so much food out there is suburbia, if I see lemons on the ground or over a back fence, I usually help myself, taking care not to break any limbs (this used to infuriate my gran when people would scrump apricots, apples and citrus at her home in Whyalla). 

Tamara, Gabby and Maddy at a permablitz at Franco's shared garden in Unley, Adelaide. They are great helpers. I think Gabby has just found something wiggly :)

Friday, June 18, 2010

Tamara and the animals: a short film by Estela!



Here is a short film made by the wonderful wwoofer Estela here at Sisters Creek starring Tamara and Ducky! Its quite good fun, I laugh everytime I hear myself laughing!
Estela is a Brazilian WWOOFer who stayed with us for a while. These are rare breed Large Black Pigs. I think they are AWESOME!!!