biochar – nature kids – fair food – aboriginal food plants greywater gardens

100 Pages·2016·23.46 MB·English

THE FAIR FOOD
ISSUE
BIOCHAR – NATURE KIDS – FAIR FOOD – ABORIGINAL FOOD PLANTS
GREYWATER GARDENS – DOUBLE DIG – BUILD A COOLROOM – HARVEST COOKING

THE PIP SHOP
Formidable Vegetable Save The Bees T-shirt
Sound System Kids, ladies, men: $25-30
Permaculture: A Rhymer’s Manual: $25
Opinel Garden
Knife: $27
HoneyBee Wraps:
Collection pack: $45
Starter pack: $35
Earth User’s Guide to The Art of Free Travel
Teaching Permaculture by Patrick Jones and
by Rosemary Morrow: $42 Meg Ulman: $29.99
Earth User’s Guide
to Permaculture
by Rosemary Morrow: $38
Fair Food: Stories from a
Movement Changing the World
edited by Nick Rose: $29.95
Opinel Gardener’s Tool Set
Permaculture: Principles &
garden knife, pruning knife and
Pathways Beyond Sustainability
pruning saw: $99.95
by David Holmgren: $38 1
www.pipmagazine.com.au/shop
C ONTENTS
6. PERMACULTURE AROUND THE WORLD
by Morag Gamble
8. PIP PICKS
10. NOTICEBOARD
12. PERMACULTURE PLANT: NEW ZEALAND FLAX
by Hayley Burgess
13. RARE BREEDS: AUSTRALIAN SETTLER GEESE
by Tabitha Bilaniwskyj-Zarins
14. EAT YOUR WEEDS: BLACK NIGHTSHADE
by Patrick Jones
15. SAVE YOUR SEEDS: CUCUMBER
by Steve and Kerryn Martin
86. KIDS’ PATCH
22
89. COURSE PROVIDERS/ DIRECTORY
95. REAL ESTATE
96. FILM & BOOK REVIEWS
28
FEATURE:
16. FAIR FOOD: TIME FOR A CHANGE by Nick Rose
21. PUTTING THE ‘CULTURE’ BACK INTO AGRICULTURE
by Robert Pekin with Emma-Kate Rose
22. FOOD THAT CONNECTS by Tammi Jonas
26. TEN WAYS TO CREATE A FAIRER FOOD SYSTEM
by Kate Raymond, Jennifer Richards
and Sharon Lee
28. FOLK CREATING A FAIR FOOD FUTURE
by Robyn Rosenfeldt
34. RETROSUBURBIA: A DOWNSHIFTER’S GUIDE
TO A RESILIENT FUTURE by David Holmgren
36. FROM DEGRADED LAND TO ABUNDANCE:
BETHEL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CENTRE, LESOTHO by Frances Howe
44
GROW:
38. BIOCHAR by Albert Bates
42. PROFILE: BORJA VALLS – MARKET GARDENER
2 by Robyn Rosenfeldt
44. DOUBLE-DIGGING A GARDEN BED THE
BIOINTENSIVE WAY by Kirsten Bradley
BUILD:
68
46. JOSH’S HOUSE
by Ross Mars and Maria McConkey
50. PROFILE: ROB SCOTT – ’TINY HOUSE’
BUILDER by Adam Hickman
52. BUILD YOUR OWN COOLROOM
by Gina and Peter Silis
EAT:
54. ABORIGINAL TRADITIONAL FOODS AND
AN ALTERNATIVE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY
by Bruce Pascoe
70
58. PROFILE: SU DENNETT by Ian Lillington
60. COOKING FROM THE HARVEST by Jodie Lane
66
THRIVE:
62. URBAN FOOD STREET by Kay Kerr
66. PROFILE: CARA EDWARDS – URBAN FARMER
by Maria McConkey
68. BIOREGIONS: OUR SPIRIT OF PLACE
by John Champagne and Ian Lillington
NURTURE:
38
70. NATURE KIDS: EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING
by Morag Gamble
76. CONNECTING WITH NATURE FOR A POSITIVE WORLD
by Robin Clayfield
62
DESIGN:
78. DESIGNING AN URBAN
SANCTUARY
by Ben Buggy
80. PROFILE: TAJ SCICLUNA
by Ben Buggy
3
82. SIMPLE GREYWATER
GARDEN DESIGN
by Dan Deighton
CONTRIBUTORS
JODIE LANE Publisher / Editor / Art Director: Robyn Rosenfeldt
Designer: Grace West, North South Grace West
Co-founder of Fair Harvest Perma- Sub Editor: Bernadette O’Leary
culture in Margaret River, Western Social Media, Marketing and Events Manager: Maude Farrugia
Australia, Jodie has been dedicated Advertising Manager: Grant Webster
to permaculture, local food and com- Editorial Advisor: John Champagne
munity for the last twenty years. In Cover Art: Bronwyn Seedeen, Pattern Pie
2014 she was runner-up for the Rural Intern: Maria McConkey
Industries Research and Development Editorial enquiries email: [email protected]
Corporation’s (RIRDC) Rural Wom- Advertising enquiries: [email protected]
[phone]
en’s Award WA for her dedication to local food production.
Directory listings and classifieds enquiries:
She lives, works and plays at Fair Harvest with her partner
[email protected]
Dorothee Perez, where they grow food, run a weekly cafe,
Submissions: We would love to hear from you if you have ideas
host monthly Swap Shuffle Shares and teach live-in PDCs; for articles. Contact us with the idea before you write it.
and they’ve recently opened their farm for eco-weddings, [email protected]
g reat gigs and other events. See www.fairharvest.com.au Stockists enquiries: If you would like to stock Pip contact
[email protected] [phone]

JOHN CHAMPAGNE
Contributors:
Morag Gamble, Hayley Burgess, Tabitha Bilaniwskyj-Zarins, Patrick
Since completing his PDC in 1992, Jones, Steve Martin, Kerryn Martin, Nick Rose, Tammi Jonas,
Robert Pekin, Emma-Kate Rose, Kate Raymond, Jennifer Richards,
John has worked actively in many
Sharon Lee, Robyn Rosenfeldt, David Holmgren, Frances Howe,
areas related to permaculture: eco- Kirsten Bradley, Ross Mars, Maria McConkey, Adam Hickman,
village design and development; as a Gina Silis, Peter Silis, Jodie Lane, Kay Kerr, John Champagne,
Ian Lillington, Robin Clayfield, Ben Buggy, Dan Deighton,
consultant and bioregional strategist;
Charlie Mgee, Emily Gray, Dalee Pierce, Class 3/4 at Wulagi
and as President of SCPA – South East Primary, Sophy Millard, Bec Lowe, Ruby Woodger Rosenfeldt
Producers for fifteen years. He estab-
Photographers and illustrators:
lished Brogo Permaculture Gardens as Tabitha Bilaniwskyj-Zarins, Patrick Jones, Steve Martin,
a business and property with his partner Sharon, which is Kerryn Martin, Tammi Jonas, Lou Ridsdale, Kirsten Bradley,
James Samuel, Michelle Dupon, Dan Palmer, Richard Telford,
a twenty-two-year-old living testament to both good design
Frances Howe, Dr Jocelyn, Kevin D Brown, Common2us,
and ethical living. John regularly teaches PDCs throughout Brendan Hutchens, Adam Hickman, Gina Silis, Peter Silis, Bettina
south-east Australia and Asia, and is the current convener Richter, Harry Rose, Maxor Tamor, Syn-Ti Ng, Bruce Pascoe,
Kay Kerr, Cara Edwards, Morag Gamble, Australian Camera, Taj
of Permafund. His dream is to retire gracefully as an organic
Scicluna, Dan Deighton, Oz Thomas, Dalee Pierce, Sophy Millard
avocado farmer. See www.permaculturedesign.com.au and
www.permacultureaustralia.org.au/permafund Pip Magazine is printed in Australia, by Finsbury Green on FSC
and recycled paper and printed with vegetable inks.

GRACE WEST
Grace is a Melbourne-based illustrator,
graphic designer and book designer
who grew up in Albury NSW. She loves Pip magazine is a published independently by Robyn Rosenfeldt.
PO Box 172 Pambula, NSW, 2549.
drinking coffee, going on adventures,
ABN: 14 513061 540
and most of all escaping the computer
to sketch in her notebook. This March, Copyright: Pip Magazine is subject to copyright in its entirety.
Grace is releasing her first book, Colour The content may not be reproduced in any form without the
permission of the publisher and authors. Views expressed by
Your Australia. This colouring book for
the authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. To the
adults communicates her love of Australia, its flora and fauna, extent permitted by law, the publisher disclaims any liability
plus architecture and iconic landmarks. Since graduating with whatsoever in relation to advice, representation, statement,
conclusion or opinion expressed in Pip Magazine.
a Bachelor of Visual Arts, Grace has worked as an in-house
designer at Penguin Books and Smudge Publishing, crafting
her love for all things design and print. North South Grace
4
West is her online nom de plume–you can check out her
work at www.gracewest.com.au or follow her on instagram
@northsouthgracewest.
EDITORIAL
After reading Nick Rose’s supplement our own vegetables through local producers
book, Fair Food; Stories from (Borja Valls profile, page 42) and share and swap what we
a Movement Changing the grow ourselves (Su Dennett profile, page 58). There are cer-
World (UQP 2015), I knew it tainly alternative realities to the mass food production model.
was going to be the theme Sadly, our current reality negatively affects community
for this issue. Fair Food is wellbeing. With the majority of people buying food from the
central to what so many of supermarket duopoly, such multinational companies are giv-
us are striving for: food that en ultimate power to dictate the price they pay farmers. This
is produced in a way that makes it difficult to pay workers fairly, and harder for farmers
supports not only our bod- to support their families.
ies, but the producers who The necessities of producing food on the scale that is re-
grow it and the wider com- quired by these large supermarkets means that quantity often
munity as well. supersedes quality and farmers may feel they have no choice
Fair Food goes beyond but to use chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
growing our own vegeta- In this issue I have brought together a collection of ideas
bles. It’s about creating sys- and stories about people working hard to create a Fair Food
tems that help build community, such as farmers’ markets future. Stories that remind us of how much positive change
and community-supported agriculture. You may not always we can make through our choices in purchasing our food, and
grow everything you want to eat yourself, but you can sup- why it is worth going out of our way to support the producers
port people within your community to grow it for you. directly, or maybe even become a Fair Food producer our-
Ideally in each of our bioregions (‘Bioregions: our spirit of selves and provide for our local community.
place’, page 68) we can provide for the community that re- I hope you enjoy reading this issue, and that you find the
sides within it. It is not efficient or practical for most people stories as inspiring as I have.
to be totally self-sufficient as individuals, but collectively it
is possible. We can support the local sourdough baker, buy Until next time,
our meat from local farmers (Tammi Jonas profile, page 32), Robyn
COVER ARTIST: BRONWYN SEEDEEN
Melbourne-born illustrator Bronwyn Seedeen created Pattern Pie Illustration and Design. With a
love of patterns and fabrics, her work is all about creating unique illustrations and designs using
texture and colour. Influenced by stripes, op shops, chocolate and tea-parties, Bronwyn loves to
create colourful, fun, contemporary designs to be enjoyed by all. Since graduating with a Diploma
of Illustration, her work has appeared in magazines, books and advertising, on greeting cards and
other products. She has worked in animation, graphic design and freelance illustration. Clients
include Child magazine, City of Boroondara, Nuovo Group, La Trobe University, Swinburne Univer-
sity, Ideal Corporate Accessories, and now the amazing Pip magazine. See www.patternpie.com
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PERMACULTURE AROUND THE WORLD
Words by Morag Gamble Photos courtesy of projects
PERMACULTURE HELPING VULNERABLE CHILDREN
–EKUKHANYENI RELIEF PROJECT,
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
The Ekukhanyeni Relief Project was started in 2003 to support vul-
nerable children in communities affected by severe poverty and HIV/
AIDS. Ekukhanyeni has created fifteen childcare centres, which in-
corporate permaculture gardens, to help care for over 600 children
in informal settlements around Johannesburg.
Ekukhanyeni* identified that, because of poverty and illness, families
were fragmented and parents had diminished capability to provide for
their children’s wellbeing. They wanted to help the children, who had
no access to good food, care or formal education. While some of the
children involved are orphans, the parents of others go away to work
all day and the children are left to fend for themselves in the slums.
Ekukhanyeni’s community-led approach creates centres to nourish
and educate the children, but the food cultivated and services provid-
ed also support the communities around the centres.
* Ekukhanyeni means ‘home of light and hope’
See: www.ekukhanyeni.org
SIYAKHANA PERMACULTURE FOOD GARDEN,
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
The Siyakhana Permaculture Food Garden is one of Johannes-
burg’s best and longest-running urban-permaculture garden ex-
amples. The two hectare garden was started in 2005, and produc-
es organic food and herbs for hundreds of disadvantaged people
in the inner city. The garden has transformed an ugly urban area
into a vibrant demonstration, education and urban permaculture
research centre. It also demonstrates ecological technologies.
The garden is run by the Siyakhana Initiative for Ecological
Health and Food Security – a collaboration of people from Jo-
hannesburg’s University of the Witwatersrand. The Initiative en-
gages in research, consulting and programming in the areas of
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urban design, food security, nutrition, ecological health, capaci-
ty building and sustainable livelihoods. The model garden is the
cornerstone project. See: www.siyakhana.org
SUNRISE FARM, NEPAL – UPDATE
NATURE’S GIFT PERMACULTURE CENTRE, MALAWI
In Pip3, I wrote about the twenty-five-year-old Sunrise
Farm in Nepal, the working and educational farm near Nature’s Gift Permaculture Centre, based at the Kusamala
the centre of Kathmandu. Sunrise Farm was badly Institute of Agriculture & Ecology in Malawi, was founded in
damaged by the huge earthquakes in mid-2015. There 2009 as a demonstration and education centre, to show peo-
is a go fund me campaign to help rebuild the farm. ple how to address food security issues locally and sustainably,
See: gofundme.com/wr2cn5y4 and meet the food and nutrition needs of the local community.
The Centre gardens – including a market garden and natural
medicine garden – show how permaculture and agro-ecology
can be applied in the Malawian context.
The market garden, first planted in 2010, now has over 120
beds, with twenty-five different crops in rotation. On what was
once an equestrian training ground, the permaculture gardens
produce seasonal, nutritious, organic and diverse vegetables
and herbs, which are sold to restaurants, shops and locals
through a vegetable box scheme. This scheme is Kusamala’s
key project, and so popular that it has a permanent waiting
list. It demonstrates the viability of permaculture methods, and
provides great quality organic food for local people.
See: www.kusamala.org
THE LOCALISING FOOD PROJECT, NEW ZEALAND
The local food movement is taking off in New Zealand, with a diversity of projects flourishing on both
the north and south islands. This has been fuelled, at least in part, by rising food costs and increased
food insecurity resulting from natural disasters – earthquakes and floods.
In 2012–13 Earthcare Education Aotearoa embarked on a national ‘Localising Food Tour’ project,
initiated by permaculture educator Robina McCurdy. A team of volunteers travelled the country
connecting with people, and offering workshops, talks and other educational events to empower
communities to create local food resilience and healthy, enriching local food cultures.
The tour helped communities to develop food resilience action plans, and to learn practical skills.
Many new local food networks were formed, food gardens inspired, and seed banks formed. Along
the way, the team filmed over 200 existing projects, and is now developing five documentaries to
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share the inspiration. They hope that viewers may adopt and adapt some of the New Zealand-based
initiatives to build food resilience in other communities.
See: www.localisingfood.com
PIP PICKS
TOMATO PASSATA
Here is a product that you don’t have to buy but you can make
yourself and simultaneously create connections and community.
Nothing quite reminds you of summer than a bottle of preserved
tomatoes in the middle of winter. Gather your glut of tomatoes or
buy them in bulk from the market and get together with friends to
have a passata making day in your own backyard.
For those in Melbourne you can join in the Crowdsaucing day
with CERES Fair Food. Register for the event and saucing toma-
toes, grown by a local organic farmer, will be delivered to you at
your house, a community kitchen or someone’s backyard. CFF will
also provide you with sauce-making knowledge, how-tos, free de-
livery of the saucing tomatoes and labels.
Because ‘at the heart of everyone, there is a little Italian Nonna
yearning to get elbow-deep in tomatoes with friends, family and
even strangers. Getting together to turn tomatoes into sauce isn’t
just about the reward of home-preserved tomatoes in the cup-
board, it’s about belonging to a community and doing something
good.’
The big Crowdsaucing day is 30 April, 2016. ceresfairfood.org.
au/crowdsaucing/
SOIL FOOD WEB:
RADICAL EDUCATION CARDS
Take a look into the world beneath your feet using
these Soil Food Web: radical education cards, designed
by Taj Scicluna (The Perma Pixie)!
Each card delves into the different types of organ-
isms that live within the soil, and the animals and the
systems which keep them thriving in a diverse web of
interconnected nutrient exchange.
These cards were created to help facilitate a love
of micro-organisms and how they contribute to the
health of everything we see. Learn about the fascinat-
ing world of fungi, bacteria and nematodes (to name
a few), their characteristics, the interconnections be-
tween them, what they eat and how they damage or
improve soil quality and structure.
The set comes with instructions for Soil Food Web
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games that can be played, exercises that can be
worked on, and The Perma Pixie’s guide to increasing
the diversity of your Soil Food Web.
See: thepermapixie.com/ $33 + postage