Issue 22

The summer issue of Pip is packed full of inspiration and information on a diverse range of earth-conscious topics. We ask the experts how they trellis their tomatoes for the best-quality yields, take you on a tour of a tiny house on Magnetic Island and…

Beet kvass is becoming well known among the fermented drink offerings now, but Sharon Flynn from The Fermentary in Daylesford, Victoria, loves this darker, more beer-like version made from bread.

There are so many variables when it comes to working out the best technique for trellising tomatoes. We can learn a lot from people who grow them for a living.

Turning a challenging piece of land into a productive permaculture patch doesn’t need to be as daunting or as difficult as you might think. Successful design starts with providing honest answers to the right questions.

Patricia Ellis has devoted her life to teaching Aboriginal language and culture. Not only helping Indigenous Australians reconnect to their heritage, but also teaching non- Indigenous people ways to develop a deeper connection to Country and a genuine respect for the oldest culture on earth.

Sweet pepper, bell pepper or capsicum, regardless of what you call it, this versatile vegetable is a firm favourite in households worldwide. As easy to grow in pots as they are in the ground, and with many varieties to choose from, capsicums are a delicious…

For a yoga teacher with a passion for permaculture, building a tiny home from recycled materials became the perfect way to connect with her family and community.

Laksa is a delicious medley of flavours originating in Malaysia and South-East Asia. Full of fresh ingredients, many are medicinal and most are easy to grow, especially if you live in a tropical climate.

Whether it’s for pizzas, bread or slow-cooked roasts, earth ovens are delightful to use and made from natural and breathable materials.

Patches and brooches are fun to make and a colourful way to express yourself or your feelings. They can be made from just about anything, be sewn or pinned on a bag, on a cushion or worn proudly on your chest.

Solanum melongena – solanum is Latin for nightshade, melongena is Greek for ‘sprung from a fruit tree’.

With just enough money to pay for compost and mulch, plus a generous donation of land, Justin Hartley established the thriving and popular Duck Foot Farm: the first notill, small-scale and land-share farm in the Southern Highlands in New South Wales.

The upheaval of the past two years has had many people contemplating making a change. Whether it be a tree change, a career switch or something personal, it can be tricky to translate that hope into reality.

Where we use and review products that nourish us and the planet

Native to Europe, Asia and northern parts of Africa, wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis), also known as field mustard or charlock, is one of the tastiest and most versatile weeds in the brassica family.

Pulling weeds out of your garden is one thing, but disposing of them once out of the soil in a way that ensures they don’t reshoot can sometimes be a struggle. Turning them into a weed tea gets rid of them for good while producing…

Soil never wants to be bare, so whether you use your plants as a living mulch or cover the soil around your plants, always ensuring you don’t have exposed or bare soil reduces degradation. There are times though when a thick layer of mulch is…

Birthday celebrations can be a haven for single-use plastics. Between balloons, tableware, decorations and gifts, the landfill created in a single day may far exceed what you’d otherwise create, but often and understandably justified by their once-a-year occurrence.

The moon’s phases and its associated gravitational pull has a significant effect on the behaviour of tidal oceans, so it’s easy to understand how the moon can have a similar effect on the moisture in our soils and plants. By planning what you sow to…

In the Mayan highlands on the shores of Lake Atitlán of Guatemala is the Instituto Mesoamericano de Permacultura. It was created in 2000 by a group of Indigenous Maya Kakchiquel people dedicated to reclaiming native seeds and traditional Indigenous knowledge systems, and have chosen to…

The books and films inspiring you to make a difference

Our kids’ patch winners for this issue are Hettie & Poppy Knight from Raworth, NSW, you’ve won a copy of the 2021 book Bee Detectives, written by Vanessa Ryan-Rendall and illustrated by Brenna Quinlan.

We’d love to see if we’ve inspired you to embark on any projects. The letter of the issue will receive a limited-edition Pip magazine print featuring archival inks on textured, 300 gsm rag paper. Email your letters and photos to editorial@pipmagazine.com.au

Each year, Pip recognises the individuals and organisations who are digging deep to create important and positive change. From scores of nominations, and after long and robust conversations, Pip is delighted to announce the people and organisations who best represent permaculture’s three key ethics of…

Every year, Australians throw away around 350,000 km of wrapping paper. Why not opt to use reusable wrap this festive season which can form part of your gift for friends and loved ones. With a large range of festive and decorative designs printed on 100…

We have all been spending a lot more time at home lately. And it has given us an opportunity to become more familiar with our local spaces. Whether that be our own gardens, if we have them, our verges, our local parks and, if we’re…