Category 11

Editorial

Robyn Rosenfeldt

Hey Pipsters,

Preparing this issue of Pip for you has been an inspiring experience. In the process of interviewing people, photographing them and editing the articles, I always learn so much and get really excited by all of the great things people are doing.

After talking to Jodie Vennitti (A Year From The Garden, page 32) about her challenge to only eat fruit and veg from her garden for a year, I wanted to push myself a bit further so I too could do this. I eat loads from my garden but not everything. Setting myself a challenge makes me really think about what I grow and how, and makes me evaluate the design and systems I have in place.

And after going out to Emily Stokes’ place to take photos of her milking her cow (Dreaming of a House Cow, page 28), I was so impressed by all that she’s doing on her property. I love the idea of having a house cow and milking her every day, but in reality it just wouldn’t work for me right now. But it is great to dream about the prospect of doing it one day when my life is slightly less busy.

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Introduction To Biodynamics

biodynamics

Biodynamics is a method of organic farming that views the entire farm (or garden) as an organism. Biodynamics utilises a closed-loop system where growers aim to produce everything needed by the farm on the farm itself. While this sort of system is used in other organic farming methods including permaculture, biodynamics also incorporates other unique practices. These include the use of specially formulated ‘preparations’ to nourish the soil, planting and harvesting with reference to influences of the solar system and working with natural forces to revitalise their land.

As in permaculture, biodynamics treats soil fertility, plant growth and livestock care as a holistic system. Each part is interconnected with all of the others and the health and wellbeing of each part is important for the successful running of the farm as a whole. With its emphasis on local production and distribution, closed-loop systems and sustainable, ecologically sound practices, biodynamics is a farming method that integrates well with permaculture.

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Do-Nothing Pest Management

Do you feel like you’re constantly battling pests in your garden for your fair share of the harvest? Do you wonder what you can possibly do to grow more food? As strange as it may sound, a ‘do-nothing’ approach to pest management might just be what you are looking for.

Don’t be mistaken; do nothing pest management is not about being idle or lazy. Rather, it is a carefully considered and interconnected way of thinking and gardening that respects natural cycles, the principles of ecology and the power of diversity. This is a permaculture approach to pest management; a thoughtful whole systems design.

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Your Complete Guide To Manure

manure

Manure is an amazing waste product that can transform the health and vitality of your garden. There is a lot of information out there about using manures in the garden, but it can be confusing. Which type should you use for what, do you need to compost it, where can you find it?

Let’s cut the crap: manures are faeces, the end result of different animals’ culinary consumption. Which animal, what they eat and how they process their food is what makes the difference. All manures are beneficial, but practically speaking, the best manure is the one that’s easiest and/or cheapest for you to access.

This article is not discussing human, dog or cat faeces. Although these can be valuable waste products when safely composted, they need special attention and should not be used directly on edible plants. Using manure from chickens, horses, sheep, cows, rabbits, alpacas and pigs however can yield great results in the garden.

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In The Garden: July – October

map of aussie

• July: Beetroot, lettuce, mustard greens, onion, peas, radish.

• August: Artichoke, asparagus (crowns), beetroot, cabbage (summer varieties), capsicum (undercover), chilli (undercover), eggplant, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, parsnip, peas, potato, radish, rocket, spring onion, strawberry (runners), sunflower, thyme, tomato (undercover), melon (undercover).

• September: Artichoke, asparagus (plant crowns), basil (undercover), beans (after frost), beetroot, broccoli (summer variety), capsicum (undercover), carrot, celeriac, celery, chicory, chives, chilli, coriander, cucumber (undercover), dill, eggplant (undercover), endive, fennel, horseradish (crowns), Jerusalem artichoke (plant tubers), kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard greens, parsnip, peas, potato, pumpkin, zucchini (undercover), radish, rhubarb (crowns), melon (undercover), silverbeet, spring onion, strawberry (runners), sunflower, corn (after frost), tomato (undercover), turnip.

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Book Reviews

Small Farm Success book

This book is for anyone thinking about giving up their day job and taking the step towards making a living as a farmer. Andrew Campbell and Anna Featherstone left the city ten years ago and did just that. They moved to the country and bought their own farm that they live off today.

This book is a guide to the ins and outs of running a farm as a business and making it work. With lots of practical advice from choosing your farm, planning, value adding, right through to marketing, this book will help you navigate the complexities of farming as a business.

There are interviews with 25 farmers from across Australia, all sharing their stories and insights. So whether you are just dreaming of taking the plunge or are already doing it, take a look through this book to see if it’s the right thing for you.

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Kids’ Patch

kids

Is the garden your happy place? Do you like to go out there to play, explore, look at the flowers, pick some vegies, get your hands dirty? We love seeing Pip kids having fun in the garden and enjoying nature’s bounty.

Our Kids’ Patch winners for issue 11 are sisters Fleur and Arabella from Swan View in WA. Congratulations! You’ve won a Kid’s Garden Trowel and Fork set from Ryset.

Next issue we’re giving away a copy of The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew it Was None of his Business. To be in the running, parents can email a photo through to editorial@pipmagazine.com.au along with your child’s name, age and suburb.

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Save your seeds: Fennel

BOTANICAL NAME: Foeniculum vulgare. Translates to common (vulgare) little hay (foeniculum), the latter of which refers to the shape of fennel leaves.

ORIGIN: Thought to have originated in Italy, fennel was a favourite food and medicine of the Romans.

DESCRIPTION: There are at least two main types of fennel. There is a huge difference between the pungent, roadside weedy fennel and the much-loved, sweet garden Florence fennel, which is also called Finocchio, and has large, swollen stem bases.

Check with your Italo-Australian connections for fennel seeds such as Cantino and Carosella.

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Eat your weeds: Fat Hen

A weed loved equally by humans and hens, Fat Hen (Chenopodium album), also known as Lamb’s Quarters, is valued for both its culinary and nutritional benefits. An inoffensive texture and flavour makes it the perfect entry level weed for novice foragers. Fat Hen can be found in most climates but grows best in temperate zones.

Foraging And Harvesting

Plants are upright with multiple stems. The tiny flowers form in clusters at the tips of mature plants and can be green/blue through to grey, often with a magenta tinge.

When foraging Fat Hen, look for sage coloured rhomboid leaves with a white dusty film, in particular on their undersides. The alternative common name ‘white goosefoot’ gives you some idea as to the shape of the leaves, as they’re said to look like a webbed foot (this is more clearly exaggerated when the plant is going to seed).

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Pip Permie Of The Year 2018

aaron

This is our inaugural Pip Permie of the Year Award. We started this award because we wanted to celebrate dedicated people making change in the world with permaculture.

NOMINEES

Callum Champagne, Che Hall, John Champagne, Karen Lenehan, Kat Lavers, Kate Venning, Kelly Ryder, Oscar Woods, Peter Axisa, Phil Shanny, Remus Avramides, Tania Brookes, Tom Speldewinde.

AARON SORENSEN (NSW)

WINNER

Interview by Robyn Rosenfeldt

Aaron Sorensen is our Pip Permie Of The Year for 2018. Aaron’s dedication to permaculture has made a huge impact in the schools he is involved with and the students he has taught. Aaron works with kids, teenagers and adults to teach them how to practically implement permaculture into their lives and gardens. Aaron is creating lifelong learning pathways for students from kindergarten to year 12 with career opportunities at the end.

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