Practical Permaculture

Yep it't that time of the year. Zucchini's are seemly growing a centimetre per minute. You have successfully grown an abundance of vegetables. Now what? There are so many you can't possibly eat them all, or even give them away fast enough. This our friends is the Summer veggie Glut. It happens to even the best garden planner. But the question is what to do with it all? Here is our take on how to minimise the glut (waste) and eat/preserve your produce in various ways to make the most of the glut. Enjoy! 

The principle "Integrate rather than segregate" highlights the value of fostering synergies between different elements within a system to boost efficiency and resilience. When we isolate components, they often become weaker and struggle to thrive. This concept applies to people as well. We flourish when we connect with like-minded individuals who share our values. Check out Episode 4 season 1 to find out about the Miyawaki method of planting.

You Tube Liz zorab - Blyther Farm  Based in Wales. Liz shares their triumphs, our failures and some insight into the daily life of a small homestead. They share how they explore ways to make their lives greener, more enriched and more fulfilling. Focus is on sustainable living.  https://www.youtube.com/@LizZorab Free Range LIving - Troy and Pascale and their little bub on 9-acre homestead in the South West of Australia. Lots of practical videos and how to’s. Ths one was recommended to me some time back by a friend and I was invested from day 1. It's like you are part of the family.  https://www.youtube.com/@FreeRangeLiving Anne of all trades - More homesteading than permaculture focused but fun and easy to watch . Based in Nashville in the US. Anne is someone who is learning how to do everything homesteading and lives by the motto everything is figureoutable. - Great one to get inspired for projects.   https://www.youtube.com/@FreeRangeLiving Podcasts  Avant gardeners - 2 friends who are learning how to garden often with a cocktail or a wine. They interview guests including the amazing Charles Dowding. These ladies are light hearted and easy to listen to. Episodes are fortnightly with the last one in  May and we hope they are back soon.  https://open.spotify.com/show/0n06Jg8dYvMhZuVsIzunjN?si=da0aab06f83c4067 Futuresteading: Jade Miles has been in my ears since 2020. now up to season 10 there are some seriously amazing conversations. Everything from big picture thinking and action to actions we can take on a small scale everyday. As the name suggests on the box, it's a  conversation about future focus. Creating a culture now that values tomorrow. https://open.spotify.com/show/5OFbma9mUm5fuiNkfNTOjI?si=d32ee8c3a47d4ea3 Big Things, little things with Sophie - this is one has been around since 2021. Lots of big conversations and insight into many brilliant humans who are leaders in making positive changes in the world.  https://open.spotify.com/show/0156407tkctwCnGXQsh8pT?si=42d7eb22181841c9

We're diving into Permaculture Principle 7: "Design from Patterns to Details." This principle guides us to start by understanding the broader patterns in nature and society before zeroing in on the specific details of our designs. By recognising these larger patterns, we can create more efficient and sustainable systems. Tune in to learn how to apply this principle to your permaculture projects! Big-Picture Thinking: Start by observing and understanding larger patterns. Patterns in Nature: Use natural patterns like sunlight and water flow in your designs.

The fourth principle of permaculture, "Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback," emphasises the importance of creating systems that are self-sustaining and adaptable. This principle extends beyond managing gardens and ecosystems to include personal habits and our how we design our lifestyles. Key Points: Self-Regulation: Design systems that maintain balance and productivity with minimal external input. Feedback: Observe and adapt practices based on environmental changes and personal needs. By applying these principles, we can create more resilient and sustainable systems that benefit both ourselves and the environment.

Hi it's Jo, In this episode, I discusses the principle of Catch and Store Energy. By capturing energy when it’s abundant—like sunlight, water, and wind—and storing it for later use, we reduce dependence on non-renewable sources and ensure a steady supply of resources. Practical examples include solar panels, rainwater harvesting, composting, greenhouses, biogas digesters, thermal mass, and DIY solar ovens. These methods build resilience into our systems, making them less vulnerable to challenges like droughts and energy shortages. I share simple steps to get started and encourages us all to think creatively about energy sources and incorporating multifunctional aspects into daily life. By catching and storing energy, we create a buffer against fluctuating resources, promoting a resilient and self/community sufficient lifestyle. Tune in to learn how small changes can lead to significant impacts and take on the challenge of enhancing your energy storage methods.

This week we chat to Elle from Australian Medicinal Herbs (AMH). Elle has an amazing story, starting her carer as a busy cop in Sydney, experiencing PTSD and then following little clues to find gardening and permaculture.  She launched Australian Medicinal Herbs after finding most herbal medicinal teas where produced overseas, which is crazy since she lives in prime growing region of Australia. Her business is a paddock to packet, local business, founded on permaculture ethics.  She  saw first hand the power of herbs by using them and also giving them to family and friends; and wants to bring them to as as many people as possible.  AND we are super lucky that Elle has offered our listeners a 5% discount on her products. Use the code 'PPP5%' here: https://australianmedicinalherbs.com.au?bg_ref=M6BZCxElUJ ps. We don't get anything from the sale of her products, just wanted to bring our listeners a sneaky discount!   Learn more about AMH here: https://australianmedicinalherbs.com.au?bg_ref=M6BZCxElUJ https://www.instagram.com/australian_medicinal_herbs E-book: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61556649236ee350ffbcff0a/t/6663ff9dd64c1d5988847886/1717829749266/ebook+herbs.pdf Weedy X AMH video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3U1tr-h3Z8

This season we are taking the time to unpack each Permaculture Principles in our mini Episodes. We explore what we have learnt, what our current understanding is, musings and considerations in relation to each principle. This week Alysse explores Principle 1 - Observe and Interact.

We are back after our two week break and launching into season 3! We have some super interesting guests this season. Looking forward to sharing all their stories with you all. We start off the season in this episode chatting about "Winter". What does winter look like where we live, what our winter plans are, winter projects at our places and what you can think about during this season of the year. As always we would love if you could subscribe to our Podcast to get us in more ears and share stories about permaculture.

In this fun and enlightening episode, join Alysse and Jo as they chat with Anthea Power from Maplewood Permaculture about the inspiring World Localisation Day! Celebrated for the first time on June 21st, 2023, this day shines a light on the importance of building robust local systems that can withstand global disruptions like those highlighted by recent pandemics. Anthea shares her passion for rekindling community connections and fortifying local economies, crucial steps towards enhancing both ecological and social well-being. Anthea shares what localisation can look like: think shorter distances for your food to travel from farm to plate, supporting local artisans, and fostering a human-scale economy. It's all about empowering communities, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing our quality of life. Plus, hear about practical ways you and your neighbours can actively promote localisation—from attending produce swaps to supporting local businesses and even starting a garden, no matter the size! Whether you’re looking to host a local food feast, join a working bee, or just learn more about sustainable living, this episode is your gateway to making a meaningful impact. Don’t forget to register for World Localisation Day events and start making a difference in your community today! Links https://worldlocalizationday.org/ https://www.maplewoodpermaculture.com/ Insta @maplewoodpermaculture @anthea_at_maplewood Facebook /maplewoodpermaculturefarm/

Sourdough's global journey has seen it become a beloved addition to diets and café menus worldwide, renowned for its delicious flavour and health benefits. We explore what makes sourdough unique—its natural leavening process using a fermented mixture of flour and water known as a 'starter'. This natural fermentation process, free from commercial yeast and additives, is what sets sourdough apart as a healthier alternative to supermarket bread. We also break down the basic ingredients required for making sourdough: high-protein bread flour, water, salt, and of course, the all-important sourdough starter. Maintaining a starter is akin to nurturing a living organism, filled with millions of wild yeast and bacteria that give sourdough its characteristic tang. We touch on the essential tips for caring for your starter, troubleshooting common issues, and the various factors that affect the success of your loaf, from humidity and temperature to the recipe and hydration levels.

Love the idea of homesteading but think you need land? This mini episode Jo shares what homesteading might look like for different situations and locations. Links mentioned in the episode: Australians Homesteaders COMMUNITY https://www.facebook.com/groups/3396689447236043. This is created and managed by Amanda Perris from Rockpile Off-Grid Homestead https://www.facebook.com/rockpilehomestead. Its a no nonsense and very supporting group. One of the best in the world of socials. Find us hanging out in the Practical Permaculture Community Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/349282787464711 or on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/practical_permaculture/

Water harvesting is soooo simple anyone can do it and it's not just for those with land. Join Jo this week as she shares a few very simple ways of harvesting water for the garden or for other uses.

What an episode...! This week we chat with Huw Richards. And it was a jam packed episode. We talk about self sufficiency (his garden project and related book), working with nature, balancing harvests, preserving, creating soil/compost, embracing minimal disturbance gardening and of course permaculture's roll in Huw's garden. We hope you enjoy listening to this one as much as we enjoyed recording it. We would love if you enjoyed this episode to share it with a friend. You never know what they may get out of it. Thanks for listening.

Is permaculture expensive? This is something of a misnomer. Many people think that it’s a tool or a method of growing food that has banana circles, mandala gardens and other trendy things.  Permaculture is a design framework (initially for agriculture, but is now for much more) that aims to build resilient living systems in step with the nature that supports the production of nutritious food, renewable resources and resilient communities while also aiming to make a positive impact, leaving behind better than what we started with.  Permaculture can be as expensive or inexpensive as you like. This episode we chat about how we save money and are frugal with what we need and want.  Below are some links to great cost saving methods https://www.theseedcollection.com.au/blog/gardening-on-a-budget https://permies.com/t/1560/Permaculture-money https://www.permaculturenews.org/2016/02/12/voluntary-frugality/ https://permacultureprinciples.com/post/finding-pleasure-in-the-free-things-in-life/ https://www.milkwood.net/2017/09/25/27-life-hacks-for-permaculture-living/

You know those books "Internet for dummies" well this episode is like that, but for chickens! Alysse knows very little about chickens but wants to have them on her property. So Jo gives here the beginner basics to get her started on her chicken rearing journey. Join us as Alysse learns about chicken needs, behaviours, illness and more.

We are exploring indigenous calendars of our local areas and how this can help us to connect with the land we live on fostering a better understanding of the local environment and how we can work with it on a deeper level. Links to resources https://research.csiro.au/dsp/indigenous-seasonal-calendars-enabling-indigenous-knowledge-through-a-dynamic-and-engaging-tool/ https://nesplandscapes.edu.au/2018/04/05/seasonal-calendar-featured-at-international-plenary/

What an episode with Meg! over 2 hours of chattering. We talk: How permaculture was related to Megs prior job in the policy force?  Sustainability and self sufficiency- is it realistic How Meg re-designed police policy to help stop corruption.  What is permacoach?  What’s Megs approach to aging in respect to her garden?  Social permaculture  Produce share  Culture and community concepts - living with mindset of abundance and generosity  Growing your own vs farmer markets environmental impact of sharing  So much info and so many gems. Meg is such an interesting person and we hope you love this chat as much as we did! https://www.instagram.com/permacoach_me/ https://smarterthancrows.wordpress.com/about-meg-mcgowan/ https://permaculturecc.org.au/

This is the 3rd in our mini episode. We run through a number of ways to create more plants from the plant you (or others) have. Great way to save money and get things growing fast.

This week we chat with Lee from Urban Veggie Patch. We have enviously eyed off her blooms online for years and now we get to chat to get and get all the tips and tricks. Lee tells us her top three flowers, talks about the best flowers to grow in winter, how she started Urban Veggie Patch (and UVPM) plus how gardening with a permaculture lens helped her garden. Join us to chat more after the show on our Facebook group "Practical Permaculture Community". To check out more from Lee visit: https://www.urbanveggiepatch.com/ https://www.instagram.com/urbanveggiepatchmarket/ https://www.instagram.com/urbanveggiepatch/