tiny house living - wild harvest - edible flowers - slow fashion natural building materials

100 Pages·2016·10.94 MB·English

TINY HOUSE LIVING - WILD HARVEST - EDIBLE FLOWERS - SLOW FASHION
NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS - ROCKET STOVES - CROP SUCCESSION PLANNING
THE HOME
ISSUE
Beekeeping Naturally
‘It’s not just about the honey’
Natural,
organic
Beekeeping
Courses
with Kenyan
oT p Bar
Hi ves
Spring and Summer courses
1
Bermagui NSW | Melbourne | Canberra
www.beekeepingnaturally.com.au
CONTENTS
6. PERMACULTURE AROUND THE WORLD
by Morag Gamble
8. PIP PICKS
10. NOTICEBOARD
12. PERMACULTURE PLANT: PUMPKIN
by Beck Lowe
13. RARE BREEDS: AUSTRALIAN GAME FOWLS
by Tabitha Bilaniwskyj-Zarins
14. EAT YOUR WEEDS: WILD RADISH
by Patrick Jones
15. SAVE YOUR SEEDS: MUSTARD GREENS
by Steve and Kerryn Martin
86. KIDS PAGES
16 89. COURSE PROVIDERS DIRECTORY
96. CD & BOOK REVIEWS
20
FEATURE :
16. MELLIODORA: THE ART OF PERMACULTURE
LIVING by Kirsten Bradley
20. YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO NATURAL BUILDING
MATERIALS by Adam Hickman
26. APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY: THE WAY
FORWARD by Joel Meadows
31. LIVING TINY
by Sian Richards and Adam Hickman
36. RESILIENCE AFTER EARTHQUAKES IN NEPAL
by Christine Carroll and Chris Evans

GROW:
38. CROP SUCCESSION PLANNING: PLANTING FOR 38
ABUNDANCE by Michael Hewins
43. PROFILE: JULIE FIRTH: DRYLANDS
PERMACULTURE FARM by Ross Mars
2 44. GROWING FRUIT AND NUT TREES FROM SEED
by Beck Lowe
BUILD:
46. PERMACULTURE PROPERTY
DEVELOPMENT by Maude Farrugia
49: ROCKET STOVES
by Joel Meadows and Dan Palmer
52
52: PROFILE: PHIL GALL, ARCHITECT
by Ben Buggy
EAT:
54. WILD HARVEST by Robyn Rosenfeldt 54
60. EDIBLE FLOWERS by Sarah Price
THRI V E :
62. SLOW FASHION
by Maude Farrugia
66. EASY-PEASY $4 SINGLET
DRESS by Annie Werner
68. HOW TO MAKE A BOOMERANG
74 78
BAG by Boomerang Bags
70
NURTURE :
70. INSPIRING TEENS TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY
by Dean and Annette Turner
74. GARDENER’S HANDSCRUB
DESIGN:
by Tabitha Emma
78. DESIGNING AN URBAN OASIS
76. THE ART OF FRUGAL HEDONISM
by Megan Norgate
by Annie Raser-Rowland 3
84. DESIGNING CHICKENS INTO THE
VEGIE GARDEN
by Robyn Rosenfeldt
CONTRIBUTORS
Publisher / Editor / Art Director: Robyn Rosenfeldt
Design and Illustration: Grace West, North South Grace West
JOEL MEADOWS Sub Editor: Bernadette O’Leary
Joel draws on a deep well of experi- Editorial Assistant: Bethany Patch
Proofreader: Peter Ascot
ence (as an energy auditor, sustain-
Social Media, Marketing and Events Manager: Maude Farrugia
able transport consultant and environ-
Advertising: Grant Webster and Aliza Levy
mental educator among other things)
Editorial Advisor: John Champagne
which he combines with a rare knack
Cover Art: Bronwyn Seedeen, Pattern Pie
for explaining technical issues in a clear Shop Manager and Admin: Felicie Vachon
and engaging way that cuts straight to Editorial enquiries email:
EDITORIAL
I was asked recently what of a whole range of topics. For example, after putting togeth-
brought me to the place er the article on SLOW FASHION (page 62) I am even more
I am in today: the editor of aware of the clothes I buy, or don’t buy, and the ripple efect
a permaculture magazine, those choices create.
living in the country on a We are all on diferent parts of this journey, with diferent
property with an evolv- levels of awareness, and diferent priorities and life situations
ing permaculture design, that afect how close to our ideal we can live. I still struggle
teaching permaculture, with making the right choices all the time; and with three
growing food, eating well kids, and a whole range of external demands, I don’t always.
and trying to bring up my However, I am empowered to make informed decisions, to do
kids to understand and re- my bit to create the world I do want.
spect the planet. It’s good to aim high, to aspire to live in the best way pos-
It made me stop and sible. We can look up to people like David Holmgren and Su
think: haven’t I always Dennett, and how they live their life at Melliodora (MELLIO-
been this way inclined? DORA: THE ART OF PERMACULTURE LIVING, page 16). We
I’ve always felt a connec- can inform ourselves as best we can, so that we know what
tion to nature, but I def- efect our actions have; and we can always think about – and
nitely wasn’t brought up as question – the choices we make in our daily lives.
the daughter of activists or living on a commune: I grew up in I hope each issue of Pip Magazine gives you information
middle class, suburban Melbourne. and inspiration to help you make informed choices in your
So what caused me to choose the life I have right now? life.
When did I start to have this afnity with the earth, and want-
ing to do the best for her? Was it annual camping trips im- Happy reading.
mersed in nature? Was it watching my dad garden when I
was a child, and growing my frst carrots? Was it getting ar- Robyn
rested for protesting against uranium mining? Was it the feel-
ing of belonging I had among others who felt the same way?
Was it setting up my own garden and growing my own food?
Was it completing my permaculture design course?
Well, it was all of those things. It has been a slow evolution, COVER ARTIST:
a gradual opening up and a growing awareness of what efect
my actions and choices have, not only on the planet but on BRONWYN SEEDEEN
other humans and society in general. www.patternpie.com
I’ve been learning constantly since I started Pip Magazine;
with each issue I gain a greater awareness and understanding
5
PERMACULTURE AROUND THE WORLD
Words by Morag Gamble Photos courtesy of projects
A SCHOOL IN A PERMACULTURE FARM, GREEN
SCHOOL, BALI, INDONESIA
The Green School, with its towering wall-less bamboo class-
rooms surrounded by permaculture gardens, is cultivating a
new generation of eco-leaders.
The school began in 2008 with ninety students. Eight years
later it has over 380 children attending, including many lo-
cal students, and ofers a natural, holistic and student-centred
education from pre-kindergarten to Year 12. The school con-
tinues to receive international acclaim for the education revo-
lution it is inspiring.
The beautiful and impressive bamboo structures provide
a free-fowing, natural learning environment. The campus is
flled with a diversity of food in its many permaculture gardens,
nursery, medicinal gardens and food forests. In addition, the
Kul Kul Farm, within walking distance, also grows food for the
school and ofers training. 
The school is an inspirational place to visit. Imagine how
amazing it would be to go to school there, with visitors such
as Vandana Shiva and Jane Goodall. Green School Australia
anyone?
Volunteers and visitors are welcome. For more information
see www.greenschool.org.
SACK GARDENING IN SLUMS, KIBERA, KENYA, AFRICA
Sack gardening is changing the lives of many people in the slums of
Kibera, just fve kilometres from Nairobi’s city centre. With a population
of around 170 000, Kibera is the largest slum in Africa and one of the
largest in the world. Sixty  per  cent of Nairobi’s population are slum
dwellers, living on just six per cent of the land. There is little space,
limited electricity, scarce fresh water, poor toilet facilities and HIV is
rampant.
Urban agriculture had less efect on food security here, because of
the lack of land and the cost of food; around half the residents have no
work, while others exist on less than one dollar a day. Most children
eat only one proper meal each day. However, since the introduction
of sack gardening in 2008, by French NGO and humanitarian organi-
sation Solidarités Internationalis, things have improved. The initiative
began as a way to support jobless youth after a spasm of post-election
violence in 2008, and provided them with healthy food at the same
time.
Solidarités Internationalis provides free seedlings, advice and as-
sistance to people who want to take advantage of the public space in
slums. The sacks contain soil and animal manure, and use small rocks
for drainage. Both the tops and sides of the sacks are used for grow-
ing, and there are now thousands spread throughout the slums. Kibera
farmers grow a range of vegetables and leafy greens, including kale,
spinach, onions, tomatoes and arrowroot.
Sack gardening is now supporting 22 109 households, directly ben-
eftting over 110 000 people. By 2020 it is estimated that thirty-fve to 7
forty million urban Africans will depend on urban agriculture for their
food, and strategies such as this will help people to feed themselves.
Visitors and volunteers are welcome in Kibera. For more information
see www.solidarites.org/en.
PIP PICKS
AUSTR ALIAN MADE AUSSIE HO MI, ASIAN HANDHELD HOE
Unlike western gardening tools, the Aussie Ho Mi is an ergonomic hand-held hoe
which uses a more comfortable and natural action and is based on a traditional
Korean design.
This tool is lightweight and perfectly balanced. It rotates easily in the hand from
the sharp pointed working edge, to the equally sharp wide edge. Dig, weed, cultivate,
ridge, plant, scalp–this tool will do everything. Once you start to use it, you will fnd
yourself hooked!
Handcrafted  in Australia by artisan tool makers F.D Ryan, the Aussie Ho Mi is
made from high carbon steel, heat-treated for maximum strength and sharpened to
a knife edge. With care, your Ho Mi will last a lifetime.
Available on the Pip website.
www.pipmagazine.com.au $30
IBARK IPHONE COV ERS
Based in Byron Bay, eco-friendly de-
sign company iBark have developed the
world’s frst sustainably produced iPhone
case. Each case (available for iPhone
6/6S) is made from Australian hardwood
and a non-GMO corn starch resin, mak-
ing it 100 per cent non-toxic and 99 per
cent biodegradable. The cases are light-
weight, ergonomic and water-resistant.
The phone covers are priced between
$44.95 and $49.95 and are available
online at www.ibark.com.au/, with free
shipping within Australia.
SKIN OF THE E ARTH SKINCARE R ANGE
Skin of the Earth is a skincare range that ofers products that are
100 per cent organic and Australian. They are made from locally grown
and wild harvested medicinal herbs and contain no harmful chemicals.
All Skin of the Earth products are non-toxic, natural and perfect for
sensitive skin.
Healing balm ($20): is a fantastic multipurpose skin healing balm for
all skin types, particularly great for psoriasis. It contains herbs with an-
tibacterial, anti infammatory, anti-fungal and wound-healing properties.
Peppermint Tooth powder ($12): is a traditional clay-based alternative
to toothpaste. It contains magnesium and calcium, is anti-fungal and re-
8 moves any heavy metal residue in the mouth from eating processed foods.
Coconut Deodorant ($8): is a balm alternative to roll-on deodorant. It is
gentle on sensitive skin, antibacterial and deodorising.
For orders contact: