Read issue 17 as a flipbook

In the pursuit of self-sufficiency, many of us dream of living on a country property with livestock, chickens, an orchard and a large vegetable patch. The reality is that most of us live in suburban settings, with small yards and…

Almost everyone loves blueberries, a fruit as delicious to eat fresh as baked in muffins. This versatile little powerhouse fruit has a reputation for being super good for you, too – high in antioxidants (particularly anthocyanin, responsible for…

Daryl Taylor lost his home in the firestorm that destroyed most of Victoria’s Kinglake in February 2009. On that day, 173 lives were lost and more than 3500 buildings destroyed. Following the fires many people left the community….

Heating your house, heating water and cooking are major users of energy in your home. Using wood to create some or all of this energy use can be one of the simplest ways to increase your household self-sufficiency. It’s efficiency…

Does what we eat affect the health of the planet? With agriculture producing an estimated 15 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, you could say it makes a significant difference to the planet’s health.

While we are told that eating less meat or eating a plant-based diet…

Loaded with enzymes and probiotics, raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) is an essential item on your cooking and medicine shelves. Raw ACV can be expensive to buy, but making your own is simple and very cheap. ACV can…

Local food networks have proven their ability to deliver the goods during recent waves of climate shocks and panic buying. With Australia’s food system failing to calibrate in time, to ensure everyone has equal access to the basics when they…

Samuel Ralph and Emily McMullen first became aware of permaculture design six years after moving into their suburban Hobart home. With renovations to their home finished, they turned their attentions to the garden on their 700 sqm block.

‘What we had was a weed scape and…

‘I will never forget the day that Poppy lit the first fire on country in front of me… “I’m gonna light the grass now, like the old people used to do,” Poppy said loudly and proudly.

He walked over to the stringybark country and ripped off…

Indoor plants are a quick and easy way to bring your garden and the beauty of nature into your home. They can visually appeal, with variegated leaves and sometimes stunning floral displays that are unique to indoor plants….

Mara Ripani is living the dream. Not just the fantasy of anyone who is bored with the daily grind of city living, but her own dream – to live her life cooking, growing, sharing and connecting over food.

Mara and her husband Ralf, an environmental engineer,…

Steeking may not only revolutionise the way you knit, but it also offers a great way to upcycle or reconstruct knitted garments, tailor them to your needs, and save them from landfill or eternal damnation in your darning…

As Australians face a warming climate, it is increasingly important that we consider water management that works with nature to keep moisture in the land we steward. This is equally necessary for large rural properties, smaller gardens and…

Our Kids’ Patch winner for issue 17 is Alexander from Rutherglen, aged 2 years. Congratulations! You’ve won a copy of Grow Do It, the CD from the Formidable Edible Sound System.

Next issue we are giving away a set of six permaculture stickers by the talented…

Permayouth is a new space for young permaculture people (11–16 yo) to connect, teach and inspire each other. The Permayouth are dedicated young people who care about the future of the planet. They want to make a positive difference in the world through their everyday…

The Good Car Company exists to de-carbonise transport by making electric cars affordable. By focusing on the import of quality secondhand electric cars from Japan and elsewhere, this company is delivering affordable, zero-emission transport, utilising vehicles that are in their ‘second life’.

In 2019, The Good…

To place your event here, email editorial@pipmagazine.com.au

RETROSUBURBIA

Permaculture co-originator, David Holmgren, has launched his bestselling book, RetroSuburbia: the downshifter’s guide to a resilient future, published as a pay-what-you-feel online book. His decision is in response to the latest health and economic crisis, that has galvanised enthusiasm…

How do I repair burnt soil?

After fire, there remains copious amounts of ash on the ground and this contains potassium carbonates and elements such as phosphorus and magnesium. This is beneficial to all gardens at the rate of one shovelful per square metre. Dig in…

Email your letters and photos to editorial@pipmagazine.com. au. We’d love to hear what you think of Pip and if you’ve embarked on any projects as a result of our articles. Each issue, one published entrant will receive a limited edition…

As the days become shorter and we head into winter, your hens will loose feathers that will be replaced by new ones. This is called ‘moulting’. During this change, hens will often take a break from egg-laying; as their reproductive…

The unusually named pigface (Carpobrotus glaucescens, or carpobrotus rossii), also called karkalla, sea fig or sea bananas, is a succulent groundcover found in most parts of temperate coastal Australia. Its flowing green leaves and bright pink flowers are…

The Irish strawberry tree (Arbutus Unedo) is named for the plant’s prevalence in Ireland, although it grows across much of Europe, and the resemblance of its fruit to (you guessed it) strawberries. A member of the heath family,…

Pisum sativum var. sativum – pisum means pea; and sativum means cultivated, in Latin.

Origin

One of the most ancient old-world vegetables, the garden pea can be traced to the Bronze Age. It was domesticated in Europe and later in southern Russia, Armenia, northern India, Pakistan and…

July: Beetroot, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, peas, radish.

August: Artichoke, asparagus (crowns), beetroot, cabbage (summer varieties), capsicum (undercover), chilli (undercover), eggplant, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radish, rocket, spring onions, strawberry (runners), sunflower, thyme, tomato (undercover), melons (undercover).

September: Artichoke, asparagus (plant cloves), basil (undercover), beans…

This practical manual by Elizabeth Haywood is a great introduction to the world of zero-waste sewing. Zero-waste sewing is making clothes without wasting any fabric. The pattern pieces are designed to completely fit within the dimensions of the fabric; there are no offcuts and no…

What a crazy year 2020 has been. As I write this in May, we’ve faced the worst bushfires on record, affecting hundreds of towns and communities across Australia. Now a global pandemic continues to have a devastating effect across the globe. Although our lives have…