How to dry fruit
How to dry fruit Fruit drying is a rewarding way to preserve your summer harvest. Like many preserving techniques it is simple to do (one of the simplest) and the results are extremely satisfying. By the end of the season,…
Herbaceous perennial plants, what are they, how to care for them and their role in organic gardens
One day you may find yourself falling in love with plants and gardens and in the process discovering an entirely new language. Many plant nursery websites have a category called perennials, dedicated to plants that live for more than two…
How to create a living fence
This article first appeared in Sanctuary Magazine, the 55th edition (with a few changes made here for my blog). A big thank you to editor Anna Cumming for commissioning this piece for I really love writing about the things I…
Book Launch and Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop!
With Author Jade Miles and Graftsman Charlie Showers at ORTO Farm, Blampied. An exciting event with these wonderful humans! From Black Barn Farm in Stanley, Victoria. Jade’s recently published book “Future Steading: Live like tomorrow matters” is a truly delicious,…
TOUR: building with straw, establishing a wetland, keeping chickens and making all things
Every year we host a tour or two, to talk with you about all that we have done, all that we have learned. Our home and farm stay are built from straw. Our land had not a single tree and…
Beautiful youuu
I host many volunteers on our permaculture property. Mostly in their 20’s. This post is dedicated to all young people and all my past, present and future volunteers. Beautiful you. About to turn 20 or 20 something. Just finishing high…
Spring and fertility
Well you know all about it. Like me your year has been challenging and strange. For me it has been quite a change. Normally every weekend we have up to four couples visiting and staying at our farm stay. They…
Greenhouse and Propagation
All year round our greenhouse keeps our household protected and in comfort. It serves multiple functions: a place for drying clothes all year round. A pocket of warm air to heat the passive areas of our house such as the…
Why I built a wetland rather than a dam
It never occurred to my partner Ralf and I to build a dam – it was always going to be a wetland. The sale of our home in Melbourne in 2015 afforded us the chance to act on our dream….