TINY HOUSE LIVING - WILD HARVEST - EDIBLE FLOWERS - SLOW FASHION NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS - ROCKET STOVES - CROP SUCCESSION PLANNING - THE HOME ...
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ME
THE HO
ISSUE
TINY HOUSE LIVING - WILD HARVEST - EDIBLE FLOWERS - SLOW FASHION
NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS - ROCKET STOVES - CROP SUCCESSION PLANNING
Beekeeping Naturally
‘It’s not just about the honey’
Natural,
organic
Beekeeping
Courses
with Kenyan
Top Bar
Hives
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
16
86. KIDS PAGES
89. COURSE PROVIDERS DIRECTORY
96. CD & BOOK REVIEWS
FEATURE: 20
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
ABUNDANCE by Michael Hewins
38
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
52 by Joel Meadows and Dan Palmer
52: PROFILE: PHIL GALL, ARCHITECT
by Ben Buggy
EAT:
54. WILD HARVEST by Robyn Rosenfeldt
60. EDIBLE FLOWERS by Sarah Price
54
THRIVE:
62. SLOW FASHION
by Maude Farrugia
66. EASY-PEASY $4 SINGLET
DRESS by Annie Werner
68. HOW TO MAKE A BOOMERANG
BAG by Boomerang Bags 74 78
70
NURTURE:
70. INSPIRING TEENS TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY
by Dean and Annette Turner
DESIGN: 74. GARDENER’S HANDSCRUB
by Tabitha Emma
78. DESIGNING AN URBAN OASIS
76. THE ART OF FRUGAL HEDONISM
by Megan Norgate 3
by Annie Raser-Rowland
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
Editorial Assistant: Bethany Patch
Joel draws on a deep well of experi-
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: robyn@pipmagazine.com.au
the heart of matters. Joel has just fin- Advertising enquiries: advertising@pipmagazine.com.au
ished owner-building his permaculture-designed property and (02) 6100 4606 or download our media kit at
strawbale house which features impressive passive cooling, pipmagazine.com.au/advertise
Directory listings and classifieds enquiries:
heating, lighting and water strategies, rocket stoves for heating
hello@pipmagazine.com.au
and cooking, and a beautiful curved roofline that follows the Submissions: We would love to hear from you if you have ideas
path of the winter sun. When he’s not doing these things, Joel for articles. Contact us with the pitch before you write it.
makes sculptures of steel and wood, runs cider workshops, robyn@pipmagazine.com.au
is a cooker of food, an avid gardener, radio DJ and musician. Stockists enquiries: If you would like to stock Pip contact
hello@pipmagazine.com.au (02) 6100 4606
ANNIE RASER ROWLAND Contributors:
Boomerang Bags, Ben Buggy, Kirsten Bradley, Christine Carroll,
Amy Dowling, Tabitha Emma, Chris Evans, Maude Farrugia, Morag
Annie Raser-Rowland is a horticul- Gamble, Michael Hewins, Adam Hickman, Patrick Jones, Jade
turalist working at CERES nursery in Kavanagh, Tabitha Bilaniwskyj-Zarins, Beck Lowe, Ross Mars, Steve
Melbourne, and a ponderer and inves- Martin, Kerryn Martin, Joel Meadows, Megan Norgate, Dan Palmer,
Bethany Patch, Sarah Price, Annie Raser-Rowland, Robyn Rosen-
tigator of matters ecological, cultural, feldt, Sian Richards, Dean Turner, Annette Turner, Annie Werner
and culinary. She has made visual
Photographers and illustrators:
art for much of her life, but in recent Rohan Anderson, Laurie Benson, Kirsten Bradley, Emma Byrnes,
years has found herself distracted by Keren Dobia, Amy Dowling, Tabitha Emma, Chris Evans, Maude
a pressing urge to write. A swag of Farrugia, Morag Gamble, Patrick Jones, Frances Howe, Jade
Kavanagh, Jodie Lane, Knitionary Recipes, Ian Lillington, Beck
scribblings about consumption, our relationships to landscape Lowe, Ross Mars, Steve Martin, Kerryn Martin, Joel Meadows, Dan
and making meaning and ecstasy in a modern first world soci- Palmer, Sarah Price, Olive Rose, Robyn Rosenfeldt, Dean Turner,
ety have resulted, including two co-authored books: The Weed Annette Turner, Hiromi Yuasa
Forager’s Handbook: A Guide to Edible and Medicinal Weeds in
Pip Magazine is printed in Australia, by Printgraphics on FSC
Australia (Hyland House Publishing 2012) and The Art of Fru- and recycled paper and printed with vegetable inks.
gal Hedonism: a Guide to spending Less While Enjoying Every-
thing More (Melliodora Publishing 2016).
ADAM HICKMAN Pip Magazine is a published independently by Robyn Rosenfeldt.
PO Box 172 Pambula, NSW, 2549.
Adam’s been a builder for ten years, ABN: 14 513061 540
starting in the UK. Since moving to
Copyright: Pip Magazine is subject to copyright in its entirety. The
Australia three years ago he has been content may not be reproduced in any form without the permission
helping to run Agari Farm and teaching of the publisher and authors. Views expressed by the authors are
workshops all over Australia including: not necessarily those of the publisher. To the extent permitted by
law, the publisher disclaims any liability whatsoever in relation to
earthship, strawbale, mud brick, light advice, representation, statement, conclusion or opinion expressed
earth, super adobe, cob and tiny in Pip Magazine.
4 houses. He has also trained with some
of the best natural builders around the world. Now specialising
in roundwood timber framing and tiny houses, Adam provides
a friendly, ethical and holistic outlook for designing and
building a home.
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 effect
a permaculture magazine, those choices create.
living in the country on a We are all on different parts of this journey, with different
property with an evolv- levels of awareness, and different priorities and life situations
ing permaculture design, that affect 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 defi- effect 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 affinity 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 first 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,
a gradual opening up and a growing awareness of what effect
COVER ARTIST:
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
morag@ethosfoundation.org www.our-permaculture-life.blogspot.org
NEVER ENDING FOOD, MALAWI, AFRICA
Never Ending Food is a permaculture demonstration and education
organisation working to help address malnutrition holistically, im-
prove children’s access to healthy food and promote food sovereign-
ty. It’s led by Stacia Nordin (a dietician) and Kristof Nordin (a social
worker) who have been in Malawi since 1997.
The Nordins moved to Malawi to help with HIV prevention through
the US Peace Corps. They learned quickly that to address malnutri-
tion they would need to improve the quality and diversity of food, and
to do that they needed to improve soil fertility. That’s when they came
across permaculture. They now help to teach permaculture across
Malawi, supporting communities and schools to set up abundant and
sustainable food systems. Their own house is a demonstration plot,
where people can visit to learn about their approach. The Nordins
believe that permaculture has great potential to benefit nutrition and
health, increase income potential and make a significant difference to
living conditions.
Given Malawi’s year-round growing season, access to water and
large genetic base of local food crops, the local people have seen how
permaculture can help to create abundant gardens with a diversity
of food. And how permaculture farmers have, on average, better food
security, a more diverse diet and higher crop yield than conventional
farmers. By making simple and affordable improvements to family
farms, Malawian families can increase their overall household food
security significantly.
For more information see www.neverendingfood.org
See: www.ekukhanyeni.org
SUNSEED DESERT TECHNOLOGY, ANDALUSIA, SPAIN
Sunseed is a pioneering permaculture centre and community in the drylands of
southern Spain. Celebrating its thirtieth anniversary in October 2016, Sunseed con-
tinues to be a hands-on centre for learning about arid permaculture, green energy,
eco-construction and low-impact living.
Places such as Sunseed are crucial in such environments. They offer young people
in particular a chance to experience what it means to live and work in community,
to become hands-on with appropriate technologies and natural building, and to learn
dryland management and how to grow food successfully.
This intentional community is focused on sustainability education and practical re-
search. A transient population of volunteers, interns and researchers regularly join
the core members in the off-grid ecovillage of Los Molinos del Río Aguas. Together
they work and learn to explore, demonstrate, develop and share ways to live more
sustainably.
Around the village there are many working examples of appropriate technology,
6 natural building and permaculture gardening. Throughout the area are gardens with
herbs, flowers, vegetables, tree fruits and nuts. These are fed by Sunseed’s own
compost systems and ancient Moorish irrigation channels.
Volunteers and visitors are welcome. For more information see www.sunseed.
org.uk.
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 offers 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-flowing, natural learning environment. The campus is
filled 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 offers 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 five 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 effect 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-
efitting over 110 000 people. By 2020 it is estimated that thirty-five 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
AUSTRALIAN 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 find
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 COVERS
Based in Byron Bay, eco-friendly de-
sign company iBark have developed the
world’s first 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 EARTH SKINCARE RANGE
Skin of the Earth is a skincare range that offers 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 inflammatory, 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: smilinsiany@hotmail.comSELJAK BLANKETS
Seljak Brand, based in Tasmania, makes recy-
cled wool blankets using offcuts from the fac-
tory floor – seventy per cent recycled merino
wool, a thirty per cent blend of recycled alpaca
and mohair, and polyester for strength. The
Seljak Original Fringe blanket is a luxurious
utility blanket; durable for outside use, yet soft
2017 KITCHEN GARDEN
enough for the home. CALENDAR
Seljak Brand diverts waste from landfill and
restores value to this beautiful Australian re-
source for your cosiness. What’s more, for
every ten blankets sold, Seljak Brand donates
one to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in
Victoria.
The Seljak Original Fringe blankets are avail-
able from www.seljakbrand.com.au and at a
small selection of retailers in Australia and
New Zealand $179. Twelve months of seasonal produce and recipes
2017 PIP MAGAZINE
KITCHEN GARDEN CALENDAR
Twelve months of seasonal produce and recipes from
some of Australia’s finest producers and food creators;
including Grown and Gathered, Milkwood, Good Life Per-
maculture and many more. With stunning photography
and a recipe for each month this calendar will take pride
of place on your kitchen wall. www.pipmagazine.com.au/
shop $14.95.
GOOD LIFE PERMACULTURE
SAUERKRAUT TEA TOWELS
One of Good Life Permaculture’s education tea
towels, this ‘delicious and nutritious sauer-
kraut’ variety is not only educational (it shows
you how to make your own sauerkraut from
scratch!), but also beautiful and useful. The
guys at Good Life Permaculture love creating
art that is educational and inspiring, but even
better when it serves a practical purpose.
Each printed image is designed and drawn
by the team at Good Life Permaculture in
Hobart, Tasmania, and is printed with wa-
ter-based ink on an oatmeal-coloured fabric.
All Good Life Permaculture tea towels are
made from one hundred per cent organic cot-
ton and manufactured in India. 9
The delicious and nutritious sauerkraut tea
towel is available from the Pip website: www.
pipmagazine.com.au/shop $20 plus postage.NOTICEBOARD
To place your event here, email hello@pipmagazine.com.au
SUSTAINABLE HOUSE DAY
11 SEPTEMBER 2016
Some of Australia’s most environmentally progressive
STUDY PERMACULTURE IN 2017 homes will be on show at Sustainable House Day on Sun-
day 11 September 2016.
AT CQUNIVERSITY This is a great opportunity for thousands of people to
visit some of Australia’s leading green homes. Sustain-
Australia’s Graduate Certificate in Permaculture able House Day gives visitors a chance to inspect first-
Design at CQUniversity provides practical respons- hand houses that have been designed, built or renovated
es to the growing global need to adapt sustainably with sustainability in mind as well as the opportunity to
to social and environmental changes. talk to owners and receive unbiased advice. To register
The first of its kind in the world, the graduate your home or find homes in your area go to www.sus-
certificate provides benefits such as the flexibili- tainablehouseday.com
ty to study by distance education with residential
schools hosted by industry partners offering practi-
cal learning experiences.
Applications are open in August for commence-
ment in Term 1, 2017.
Visit www.cqu.edu.au to enrol. For more infor-
mation, contact Dr Keri Chiveralls, at k.chiveralls@
cqu.edu.au.
‘DYNAMIC GROUPS, DYNAMIC LEARNING’
TEACHER TRAINING, CREATIVE FACILITATION &
GROUP LEADERSHIP COURSE
with Robin Clayfield 20–26 August 2016
Crystal Waters Permaculture Eco-Village
Celebrating over 23 years of training permaculture teach-
MAKING PERMACULTURE STRONGER ers globally
Fully catered, six-day residential course. Only one in Aus-
Making Permaculture Stronger is a new project tralia this year
making waves in the global permaculture commu- Many leading permaculture teachers have trained with
nity. Starting with the idea that, like anything, per- Robin and incorporate ‘Dynamic Groups’ skills into their
maculture has room for improvement, this project courses
is opening a space for high-calibre collaborative Contact: robin@earthcare.com.au
inquiry into areas of permaculture that have the po- www.dynamicgroups.com.au
tential to be made even better. The initial focus has
been a series of posts looking at the way perma-
culturalists define and understand design process.
10 Initiated by Dan Palmer (founder of permablitz.net
and VeryEdibleGardens.com), you can check it out
and get involved here:
www.MakingPermacultureStronger.netAPC13 (AUSTRALIAN PERMACULTURE
CONVERGENCE) AND EXPO, PERTH, WA
2–5 OCTOBER 2016
2 Oct Expo. Open to the public. There will be a number of
talks, presentations and workshops highlighting different as-
pects of permaculture.
3-5 Oct. Convergence. Concurrent sessions on various
themes. Keynote Speakers Anni Macbeth and Rob Hopkins.
PDC required.
Permaculture Tours–Thursday and Friday 6–7 Oct. Two
one-day and two two-day tours.
Courses running before and after.
Food Facilitators Training Course with Robina McCurdy.
Future Scenarios Workshop with David Holmgren.
Advanced Principles Course with David Holmgren.
Urban Permaculture Facilitators Training with Robina Mc-
Curdy.
Advanced Teaching Course with Rosemary Morrow and
Robin Clayfield.
Advanced Design Course with Graham Bell and Ross Mars.
Guest David Holmgren.
www.apc13.org
IPC INDIA 2017. 26 NOV–2 DEC 2017
Hosted at Hyderabad, Telangana State, India by Aranya Ag-
ricultural Alternatives.
The theme of the IPCIndia2017 is ‘Towards Healthy
Societies’ with special emphasis on women as agents of
change in building sustainable communities.
The hosts have over 1000 permaculture gardens and
hundreds of farms to demonstrate good permaculture
projects in India.
Vandana Shiva will be invited to be a keynote speaker at
this conference and Robyn Francis has promised to help
teach the PDC leading up to the Conference. PDC hold-
ers and teachers with expertise and specialised knowledge
who can guide and supervise interns and volunteers will
undertake the responsibility of a viable project with the help
of students on the farm in areas such as: chicken tractor,
keyhole vegetable beds, biochar, dry toilets, banana circles,
wind breaks, water harvesting, greywater and blackwater
management and/or any other areas of their choice. Visit 11
www.ipcindia2017.org for more info.P E R M AC U LT U R E
PLANT
PUMPKIN
Words and photo by Beck Lowe
BOTANICAL NAME: Cucurbita spp., for example C. maxima, or mulched heavily. Watering is best done direct to the soil
C. pepo and C. moschata as wet leaves can make plants vulnerable to fungal diseases.
COMMON NAMES: pumpkin, winter squash (USA) There is a quite bewildering array of cultivars available: differ-
ORIGIN: Central America and Southern USA ent shapes, sizes and colours, as well as big variations in fla-
DESCRIPTION: a fast-growing annual vine producing abun- vour, sweetness and texture. Tougher skinned cultivars tend
dant leaf-mass and large edible fruits. to keep better, but will be harder to cut. Very large-fruited
cultivars can be fun to grow, but the fruit quality will be low.
PERMACULTURE USES For those with less room, there are bush cultivars available,
• A particularly useful food plant. Can be cooked in sweet such as Golden Nugget, which fit more neatly into the vegie
or savoury dishes – roast pumpkin and pumpkin soup are garden. Pumpkin vines can also be grown onto shed roofs,
classics. The seeds are edible, containing good amounts or up fences or established trees to save space. They can be
of zinc among other nutrients; some cultivars have hull- used to create a shady summer area when grown on a trellis.
less seeds, making them easy to eat. Flowers are edible,
shoots and young leaves can be added to stir-fries or PROPAGATION
steamed; and the whole vine can be chopped and slow- Pumpkins will grow in almost any climate and can be planted
cooked in soups and stews. year round in warmer, frost-free areas. Dry months are better
• Seeds are also used medicinally. for growing in tropical areas as hot, wet weather can lead to
• Many cultivars can be stored for months. fungal problems. In cool or frosty areas seeds can be started
• Cut into chunks, pumpkins make a great stockfeed for in spring in a greenhouse and transplanted out – a large pot
goats, cows and even chickens. should be used, as they will outgrow it rapidly! In other areas
• Lush growth and spreading habit make the plant an ex- seed can be planted straight into the ground.
cellent living mulch, shading the ground and supressing Seed is easy to save: scoop it out, wash it (soaking for a
competing plants; it is particularly useful under establish- day helps) and ensure it is dry before storing. Pumpkins will
ing fruit trees. cross-pollinate with other cultivars of the same species, so to
keep a strain pure grow one cultivar of each species per year,
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS or hand pollinate flowers and seal them against other pollen
Pumpkins need plenty of water and have a high nutrient re- entering.
quirement. Otherwise they are very low maintenance and
easy to grow. They can be planted into a pocket of compost,
12R A R E B R E E DS
AUSTRALIAN GAME
Words and photos by Tabitha Bilaniwskyj-Zarins
If you want very hardy, impressive chickens for your system Like their softer counterparts, hard feather chickens come
or backyard, then the Australian Game or Australian Pit Game in standard and bantam sizes. The Australian Game and
breeds are definitely worth considering. Australian Pit Game are the only two Australian hard feather
chickens.
CHARACTERISTICS
Both the Australian Game and Australian Pit Game fowls are: ORIGIN
• hardy, compact and robust Both breeds have been developed from a mix of Old English
• easy to maintain and Asian birds. The Australian Game was originally known
• very good layers, particularly the Pit Game hens as Colonial Game. Both were bred for cockfighting by officers
(as good as Australian Langshans) of the early settlements. When this was banned, farmers in
• good table birds (see weights below) the Windsor, Hawkesbury and Hunter Regions of NSW contin-
• available in a variety of beautiful colours, including ued to develop the breeds for hardiness and table properties,
black/red, creel (speckled), pile (white) and duckwing and for exhibition.
(silver and gold) Even though the breeds’ origins were similar, they have
• easily quietened and usually very gentle, although very different physical characteristics. Australian Game birds
females can be feisty (take care when introducing new are tall, long legged and thickset. Australian Pit Game birds
stock). are short, solid and muscular. Both are hardy birds in the
Relative weights: Australian Game males over 5.45 kg, fe- orchard or in any permaculture system, providing both good
males over 4.75 kg, and bantam males 1.5 kg, females 1.2 kg; table and egg-laying properties.
Australian Pit Game males 2.7 kg and females 2.0 kg.
MAINTENANCE AND HOUSING
WHAT IS GAME POULTRY? Feed wheat to keep the feathers tight. Daily free ranging will
Game poultry is also known as ‘hard feather’. The most fa- supplement the diet and increase egg production. Exercise is
miliar chickens are ‘soft feather’ types, with flouncy soft, also important.
fluffy feathers, such as ISA Brown and Australorps. Hard Housing need not be too complicated: an indoor/outdoor
feather chickens are characterised by: feathers held close to section with roosting perches that is secure is sufficient. A
the body: a solid and muscular feel when held; and eagle-like surplus of male birds is easily housed in individual box pens;
heads. these are good for quietening the birds, and also for pairing
with hens to breed.
13E AT YO U R W E E DS
WILD RADISH
Words and photo by Patrick Jones
Wild radish Raphanus raphanistrum is a valuable winter and sicas: they vary in colour, including white, yellow, pink, cream
spring vegetable, in the brassica family. Whether the plant is and lilac; and they form in clusters at the ends of the stem
native to the Mediterranean area or Asia is disputed, but it is branches. The tap roots are generally small.
now a globalised wild food that is loved by foragers far and
wide.
The plant has various common names around the world,
including cadlock, jointed charlock, and runch. The botanical
name for wild radish derives from Greek, meaning to appear
quickly: its germination is rapid, although the plant recedes
if the soil remains undisturbed. Being a pioneer species, it
likes disturbed soil. Where it springs up may indicate acidity,
although it will grow in most soil types. It is a frost-hardy, te-
nacious plant. In a climate-changed future we may be eating
a lot more plants like this. USES
Wild radish grows in all Australian states – it suits tem- We eat a lot of weeds when our produce garden enters a pe-
perate and subalpine climates, and has also been found in riod of lower productivity over the winter months, and we al-
subtropical areas; it hasn’t naturalised in the Northern Terri- ways use wild radish when making hearty stews, bone broths
tory. While it can be a great food source, around four million and curries. We cook the leaves and stems well to soften and
hectares of it are sprayed each year in Australia with about reduce fibres, and harvest only the very young leaves for eat-
$40 million worth of herbicide according to the Herbiguide ing raw in salads, open sandwiches or juices.
website www.herbiguide.com.au. While it’s usually broadacre The tubers, although quite insignificant in size, taste just like
cropping farms that spray the plants, always be careful where cultivated radish tubers, and are useful to include in winter
you forage it – your gut flora doesn’t need any more residual soups, stews and salads. The flowers are also excellent in
pesticides. salads. The roots can be used to make anti-fungal extract.
The plant contains useful glucosinolates that help make min-
DESCRIPTION erals and nutrients more bioavailable. The plant is also an
Wild radish is sometimes a biannual but mostly an annual awesome green manure over the winter months, and bees
plant, with a much branched rosette habit. The leaves are love the flowers.
rough, grow quite large and are generally toothed. The stalks If you have a question about weeds for Patrick you can
can grow to one metre. The flowers are very typical of bras- email him at theartistasfamily@gmail.com
14S AV E YO U R S E E DS
MUSTARD GREENS
Words and photos by Steve and Kerryn Martin from the Lost Seed
Mustard greens Brassica juncea are a little-known leafy vege- the dried plant material in a tub and tread on the pods. Discard
table, typically grown over winter as they are quite frost-tol- any stems and pods, then screen and winnow the remaining
erant. They tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, and seed. Use a piece of felt to remove any of the finer, unwanted
are easy to grow. Both leaves and flowers may be used raw material: simply stretch it over a large, flat board, place that
in salads or cooked like spinach (which removes the hot fla- on an incline and roll the seed over it – any chaff will adhere
vour). With the onset of warmer weather these attractive to the board, leaving the seed at the bottom to be collected.
plants will quickly set seed, and produce hundreds of tiny
seeds per plant. TIP:
Use isolation cages if you want to save seeds of more than
LIFE CYCLE AND POLLINATION: one variety, or if you are worried about cross-pollination from
An annual – will produce seed in the first year. Both self– neighbours and can’t achieve the distance required to keep
and cross–pollinating: although self-fertile, plants will produce seed pure. Poly-pipe hoops set over metal star pickets and
more seeds if regularly visited by insects. Will cross with Chi- then covered with insect barrier mesh will give the required
nese mustard and other mustards. To ensure purity, grow va- height for the flowering stalks, and also keep out any unwant-
rieties at least 400 m apart. ed insects. To ensure good seed set, introduce insects into
the cage at flowering time. Blowfly pupae (maggots – yes,
HOW TO SAVE SEED: that’s right!) are the best option, as they don’t carry unwanted
Select from only the strongest plants: remove those that show pollen with them – either collect your own using rotten meat,
signs of disease, or which bolt early. Plants produce flowering or ask for ‘ready to hatch blowfly pupae’ at your local fishing
stalks to 1.2 m high, so they are best staked. Pods will mature bait store.
progressively on the one plant. As branches turn brown, cut
them, place them in a large paper bag and leave to dry in a cool, SEED STORAGE AND VIABILITY:
dry, well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight. Alternatively, Store dried seed in a cool, dry place away from direct sun-
when the majority of seed pods on the bush are brown and light. The seed may remain viable for up to four years.
dry, and the seeds rattle inside, harvest the whole bush, then
place it in a hessian bag and leave to dry. Seeds will be ready Find them at thelostseed.com.au
after one to five days, or when seeds become too hard to dent
with a fingernail. Dry seed pods are easily shattered and will
readily release their seed; otherwise rub pods between your
hands, causing them to break open. For larger quantities, place
15This page clockwise from top: Melliodora kitchen; Su milking the goats;
cheesemaking with goats milk; Su and David; the kitchen garden in summer;
kid goat. Following page clockwise from top left: harvesting honey; the
greenhouse in summer; the kitchen garden in summer.
Robyn Rosenfeldt
16U S E A N D VA L U E R E N E WA B L E
RESOURCES AND SERVICES
FEATURE
MELLIODORA:
THE ART OF PERMACULTURE LIVING
Words and photos by Kirsten Bradley
If you’ve studied, read or participated in any perma- sible water catchment looked good; and the site couldn’t be
culture-related activities in Australia (or far beyond), shaded out by neighbouring properties’ plantings.
then you’ll be aware of Melliodora, the outstanding Thirty years later Melliodora has made the most of the site’s
domestic-scale permaculture demonstration site sit- advantages, allayed the disadvantages as much as possible,
uated in the village of Hepburn, Victoria. and continues to evolve as a living permaculture system.
Melliodora is perhaps one of the best known sites in the
world which demonstrates permaculture design on a house- SELF-RELIANT AND CONNECTED
hold scale. But it just feels like a happy and healthy place, with: David and Su developed Melliodora with self-reliance in mind,
a garden full of nut, fruit and forage trees, berries, vegetables, but they also wanted to be connected to their community.
geese and goats; mudbrick homes; and lives worth living. ‘The principles of self-reliance and personal responsibili-
Founded by David Holmgren (co-originator of permacul- ty have been central to everything we’ve done, from being
ture) and Su Dennett and their family in 1985, this site has owner-builders and growing our own food, to homebirth and
progressed from a blackberry-covered hillside to a one hect- homeschooling’, David explains. ‘This is not driven by a desire
are settlement of self-reliance and low-energy living at its to separate ourselves from society, but a strong belief that it’s
best. through citizens taking more, not less, responsibility for their
There’s so much to take in: mudbrick passive-solar hous- own needs that the necessary social revolution to a sustain-
es; forest gardens; energy-efficient approaches to all aspects able society can be best initiated.’
of living; water-in-landscape design; and animal systems. It’s With this goal in mind, they have developed many integrated
hard to imagine the site before, as a scramble of brambles on systems at Melliodora. Organic waste from the house cycles
a bare hill. through chickens and compost systems, and back into garden
David and Su chose the site, on the edge of Hepburn village soil. The goats graze on brambles, pasture, public land and
rather than a more rural location, for a few reasons – as David woody trimmings from the orchard systems, turning cellulose
explains, ‘I didn’t want to become a chauffeur service, spend- into protein rich milk. The water that falls on the property
ing most of my time driving to and from town for soccer prac- is caught and stored in various ways, for drinking, irrigation,
tice, school, music and grabbing bits and pieces’. So finding potential energy and thermal mass. The orchards, nut groves,
land where most of life’s immediate needs were accessible by main crops and kitchen gardens all provide seasonal food sup-
foot or the local bus was a priority for this family. ply for the residents. An integrated Community Supported Ag-
In addition, the parcel of land that Melliodora sits on was riculture and wholefood co-op pickup point, run from the main
cheap. With a slightly west facing slope covered in brambles, garage, provides social glue and resilience.
a small seasonal creek running through it, and its location on
the edge of town, it was neither urban nor rural, and it need- HOUSE DESIGN
ed lots of work to make it pretty. In the 1980s the site didn’t As with any homestead, the ‘big house’ is the beating heart. A
impress most potential buyers. However, from David and Su’s smaller mudbrick/timbercrete cottage is further down the hill, 17
perspective there were many advantages: it bordered a public between the two dams; built for David’s mother Venie, it now
creek (later to become the Spring Creek Community Forest); houses another family. There is also a tiny wooden ’tea house’
they liked the community in the area and the climate; the pos- above the top dam.As an owner-builder project, the big house took David, Su derneath the earth floor, then channels it up through the cup-
and friends two years to complete, and is as unique as its board (and past the cooled food) and out through a flue above.
inhabitants. This is not set-and-forget living – although the This is a completely passive, food-cooling unit, powered by
house is well designed and built, it evolves as they live in it: the tendency of air to rise as it warms.
many small changes and improvements have been, and will Wire baskets in the cool cupboard contain everything from
continue to be, made as needed. homemade ferments of all kinds, vegetables, condiments, left-
over meals and homemade goat’s cheese. Thanks to tight-fit-
PASSIVE SOLAR ting doors, the cool cupboard’s internal temperature is kept
In the central Victorian climate getting passive heating and separate from the ambient kitchen temperature; its contents
cooling right makes a big difference to the energy inputs, and sit happily at an average temperature of 10 °C in winter, and
year-round comfort of a home. The big house faces north, a maximum of 17 °C in summer. A small bar fridge in the
to catch the low winter sun and draw it inside. Solar ener- kitchen keeps the fresh goats milk – from daily milking – at
gy warms the internal thermal mass of the house created by 4 °C; everything else is kept cool, but not cold. This is an ex-
mudbrick walls and floor. cellent compromise for an energy-efficient home-based food
In summer, with the higher sun angle, the line of the roof system.
shades the internal walls to prevent unwanted summer heat The house also boasts a cellar, full of preserves, storage
entering the house. The western side of the house has a large crops, food preparation gear and other things that need, or
pergola, covered in summer by extensive kiwi fruit and grape benefit from, being kept cool, but are not required daily in the
arbours to make a large, cool shady space which functions kitchen.
as an outdoor work, harvesting and living area. In winter, the The kitchen garden, although not often thought of as a food
leaves fall and allow sun and light in to the western side of preservation unit, is actually one of the best. If managed well,
the house. you can have fresh salad greens and other vegetables stored
in the ground or on the plant, and only harvest as you need
GREENHOUSE them! About ninety per cent of the vegetables needed for the
The big house also features a passive solar greenhouse, at- household at Melliodora are produced right outside the door.
tached to the north side, outside the kitchen. The greenhouse
is a multi-purpose space that brings considerable happiness WATER
and yields, in all four seasons. It is used as a heat collector, Melliodora’s water design represents a pragmatic approach to
growing space and mudroom. available resources. When designing the house, David wanted
In winter the greenhouse lets the low sun in and catches to make the most of the town-water connection as a backup
that solar energy to warm the internal garden beds, the mud- system for resilience, especially in the fire season because of
brick house wall and the kitchen. The garden beds are full of its excellent head pressure.
out-of-season greens and herbs, protected from frost by the A small rainwater tank behind the big house collects rainfall
clear roof and the slow heat bank provided by the mudbrick off a small section of the roof, and provides drinking water for
wall. This makes it easy to nip out for a few salad leaves or the house, through a separate tap in the kitchen.
herbs on a rainy winter day. The majority of the rain that falls on the house roof, and the
The end of the greenhouse, next to the kitchen door, func- roof of the second studio building on the property, collects
tions as a mudroom – providing a warm, dry place to get water in two large ferro-cement tanks that were built on site.
muddy boots on and off, store coats out of the weather, and This water is pumped by a solar pump to a header-tank uphill
transition from the outside to the inside of the house without from the house, and is used for washing dishes and people.
bringing half the garden soil in with you. Melliodora’s two dams spill from one into the other, via a
In summer the greenhouse is deep in large green leaves: series of silt traps and small ponds. Dam water is pumped
cucurbits, tomatoes and other vegetables, rising high to shade by a solar pump up to a second header-tank, and used for
the greenhouse roof and the house wall beside it. irrigating vegetables, fruit and nut trees across the property.
Overhead misters keep the greenhouse pleasantly humid The top dam’s catchment includes hard surfaces from the
on dry summer days, and also provide a valuable moist buf- surrounding township, and fills quickly in a short downpour.
fer-zone for the house as part of Melliodora’s fire plan. The second dam fills from the property itself, and from the
overflow of the dam above. In turn, when the system is full,
ENERGY EFFICIENCY the excess water spills passively down to Spring Creek, next
Apart from these design features, Melliodora has many other to the property.
examples of low-tech, energy-efficient living, including power
generation, water harvesting, food preservation and storage, HOME ECONOMY
18 not to mention the home office that allows integrated low-en- Every aspect of Melliodora is set up with the household econ-
ergy livelihoods. omy in mind, rather than the monetary economy. Self-reliance
One of the simplest low energy solutions is the cool-cup- is key, and the house and its integrated and surrounding sys-
board in the kitchen. This draws cool air from the cavity un- tems are designed accordingly.FEATURE
The food needed is grown, raised, collected or milked, as David talks about his aspiration of ‘living in place’ – of a life
best as can be managed. Some foods are plentiful, some are spent learning the local country, the signs and systems, the
not, most are highly seasonal, and no foodstuff is assumed. climate, the ground. Of not always going far away, to other
The menu changes daily, and markedly, throughout the year. things. Of giving thanks for what is, and adapting to what is
Ideas gaining popularity now, such as no-waste living, have not. And designing; always designing. It’s a style of living, and
been a given in this house for decades. There’s no rubbish a possible future, for all of us to consider.
bin in the kitchen: paper is used again, or stored, or compost- Thanks to David and Su for their insights and help. There
ed; all jars and tins are re-purposed; all organic scraps are are many great resources available that break down, in detail
eaten by something on site. Meals are made at home, and and step-by-step, the design, construction, and establishment
taken along when adventures await beyond. Everything that’s of this special place. If you’re interested, start with ’Melliodora’
needed and can be sourced second hand or from junkyards, Hepburn Permaculture Gardens: a Case Study in Cool Climate
is. There’s no left-over packaging in this house. Permaculture 1985–2005 (Holmgren Design Services 2005),
The small amount of plastic that does make it into the house a fabulous and detailed overview, available in hard copy and
is usually re-purposed to wrap and package wholefoods to be ebook form. Head to holmgren.com.au for this and other re-
sold at the weekly co-op. It all goes around. sources, both digital and print, on Melliodora, permaculture
Heating energy is sourced from the sun, and from sticks design, designing for bushfire and much more.
collected on the property or at neighbouring places. Things
that break, are fixed, if they can be. Things that break easily, Kirsten Bradley runs Milkwood, an Australian permacul-
or cannot be fixed, are generally not brought into the system. ture skills enterprise that has just taken up residence in
It’s in these ways, plus many other small and large habits the studio at Melliodora.. She pickles whatever she can
19
and behaviours and systems, that the home economy at Mel- get her hands on, and writes hopefully useful things at
liodora functions. Very little money is needed for daily life. www.milkwood.net
Much living, doing and making, gets done instead.Rammed Earth Australia
Robyn Rosenfeldt
Jess Ahlemeier
Clockwise from above left: Rammed earth walls;
Mudbrick interior; Strawbale interior; Light Earth
wall; Cob house.
Viva Living Homes
Viva Living Homes
20U S E A N D VA L U E R E N E WA B L E
RESOURCES AND SERVICES
FEATURE
YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO NATURAL
BUILDING MATERIALS
Words by Adam Hickman
Whether you’re thinking of becoming an owner-build- in building any home are usually labour and fixtures, such
er or retrofitting your home, you might be wonder- as kitchen, bathroom and internal fit-outs. For example, a
ing which building materials will ensure an effective, straw bale house built by a natural builder can cost anywhere
beautiful and natural home. Some important factors to between $1800–2000 m2, with the bales only accounting for
consider are: which resources are available to you lo- fifteen to twenty per cent of the cost. However, you can re-
cally (both on your property and in your area); cost of duce costs by downsizing, sourcing your materials locally or
materials; thermal properties sought – passive solar from your property, using recycled materials, and inviting the
design, thermal mass and insulation – and how these community or volunteers to take part in building workshops
interact with each other; embodied energy involved; at your place.
and the ease of material construction. With an intro-
duction to these factors, you will be better equipped THERMAL PROPERTIES
to begin choosing the materials that best suit your When assessing thermal properties, passive solar design,
climate and house design. thermal mass and insulation are major considerations. In an
Australian climate, holding and storing heat and cold effec-
LOCALLY SOURCED MATERIALS tively, by using insulating materials on the external walls and
Research your local resources – keep an eye out for timber thermal mass internally, can create an ideal environment for
mills (for free/cheap offcuts), dense forest, high-clay soil, self-regulated temperature control.
quarries for stone, salvage yards, building-grade strawbale Passive solar design is one way to harness the sun’s en-
manufacturers, and any excess subsoil from building sites. ergy for the heating and cooling of living spaces. This design
Practise sustainable building methods. practice aims to create a self-regulated temperature within
If you’re planning to use earthen materials, test the clay the home, instead of installing non-renewable systems such
content in your own subsoil first. If you have a clay content as gas heating and air conditioning. This involves consider-
of around twenty-five per cent, techniques such as cob, light ation of the orientation and internal layout of the house and,
earth (straw clay), rammed earth and mudbrick would be per- most importantly, the choice of building materials and their
fect options in your design. strategic placement. By constructing a passive solar design
Another great local resource is trees. Many native Aus- you are investing in lower energy bills and using the naturally
tralian hardwoods are suitable for building; ironbark, tallow- occurring thermal properties of your materials. With an un-
wood, Victorian ash, blue gum and spotted gum are some. derstanding of passive solar design you can begin to choose
Once you’ve identified the species and its properties (such building materials.
as strength and durability), the timber can be used for post Thermal mass stores, and releases or absorbs, heat. When
and beam construction, or milled for weatherboards, cladding, a mass stores heat from a source (such as a fire or the sun),
floor joists and furniture. it slowly releases that energy back into the room once the
ambient temperature drops below the mass temperature – 21
COST sometimes delaying the heat flow through the home by up to
For many people, cost is the deciding factor in the choice of twelve hours (lag). Materials that have a high thermal mass
building materials. Some people assume that natural build- include brick, stone, cob, mud bricks, concrete and water. You
ing is cheap, but this isn’t necessarily true. The major costs can use these materials for internal structure and to buildKeren Dobia
Jess Ahlemeier
Hempcrete Australia
Clockwise from below: Mudbrick home; Hempcrete;
Timber framing by Evergeen Homes; Cob walls.
Robyn Rosenfeldt
partition walls, which work well in winter, especially when EMBODIED ENERGY
positioned near a fire. Embodied energy is the total energy consumed by the pro-
Insulation stops or slows down the transfer of heat and cesses of extracting, processing, manufacturing and deliv-
cold. As a general rule, materials that are fibrous and contain ering building materials to your site. In natural building the
air pockets are good insulators. In Australia, building materi- embodied energy and carbon footprint (i.e. related carbon
als are given an R-value rating, based on the thermal conduc- dioxide emissions) of materials will depend on your location
tivity or resistance of the material. However, efficient design and what is locally available to you.
is about more than R-value, for example material used in the The ideal building material for low embodied energy would
walls may have a high R-value but the walls are just one el- involve little or no processing of the raw material, and all the
ement of the design – only fifteen to twenty-five per cent of energy inputs would be ‘borrowed’ from the earth. Cement,
22 heat is lost through walls. A strawbale wall has an incredi- the key ingredient in concrete, is extremely high in embodied
ble R-value of R10.0. Other good insulators (with an R-val- energy; however, it’s now one of the most common materi-
ue around R3.0) include sheep’s wool (expensive at around als used in conventional building. The main use of cement
$25 m2) and hempcrete. in buildings is in the foundations and floor. While it can bedifficult to avoid using cement when trying to adhere to per- the material into sections, usually a load-bearing timber frame.
mits and engineering specifications, there are ways to reduce
the use of cement, for example by using: urbanite (reused) Rammed earth
concrete; added natural materials such as crushed limestone Rammed earth is a mixture of gravel, clay, sand, cement and
(e.g. LimeCrete); rubble trenches; concrete strip footings with sometimes lime or waterproofing additives. It is most easily
an internal earthen floor; or by constructing timber posts and machine-compacted into removable formwork, resulting in a
frame on top of brick piers. water-resistant, load-bearing, long-lasting wall.
EASE OF CONSTRUCTION Timber
FEATURE
The diverse range of natural building materials makes for an Sustainable timber is a renewable material that absorbs car-
equally diverse range of construction methods. The key con- bon from the atmosphere while growing, and stores it for the
siderations to balance are: your ability to use unskilled labour; life of the building. Australia has many native hardwoods that
speed of construction; and weight of the materials. For ex- are great for building. Timber can be used sawn or left in the
ample, you could employ a carpenter to erect the structural round.
frame, which means your chosen infill for the walls doesn’t
need to be structural, allowing for additional unskilled labour HOW TO GET STARTED
(such as friends or family) to assist in the building process. It can be easy to set your heart on a specific style, so it’s im-
Strawbale wall installation would be a quick process with un- portant to remember that natural building techniques can be
skilled labour, while mudbricks – which are heavy for their adapted to different shapes and design parameters and, once
size – will take longer to install. rendered with lime and/or earth, can maintain a very similar
aesthetic. The important first step is to begin to look at your
MATERIALS [see further details in the table] own needs in a home. How do you spend time in a space?
Cob How can your home benefit your needs and lifestyle?
Cob is made from subsoil (sand and clay), water and a fibrous Research which materials are readily available in your area,
organic material, typically straw. For a strong cob mixture you from the natural world and recycled, as well as via websites
need around fifteen to twenty-five per cent clay, seventy-five such as Gumtree and Freecycle. Stay in tune with what your
to eighty-five per cent sand and one part straw. Always test budget allows, and think outside the box when considering
samples and different ratios for strength before building, as fixtures, fittings and labour alternatives.
natural materials are different from place to place. If you Most importantly, enjoy this empowering building process
can’t use subsoil from your property, try calling local land- as much as the goal. You can build a solid, beautiful and
scapers and building sites or look on community websites for breathable home with earthen, carbon-neutral materials. It’s
free subsoil. Cob is also extremely fire-resistant. about realising your needs, observing your resources, and ac-
knowledging local skills and community.
Mudbrick
Mudbricks are made by mixing subsoil and water, and sculpt- For further information and details of relevant
ing the mix into brick-shaped forms which are left to dry nat- courses go to:
urally. Sometimes straw and other fibres are added to reduce • Your Home: Australia’s guide to environmentally
the shrinkage in the drying process. Mud bricks are extremely sustainable homes at www.yourhome.gov.au
fire-resistant. • The Australian Timber Database at
www.timber.net.au
Strawbale • Viva Living Homes at www.vivahomes.com.au
Oat, rye, wheat and rice straw are commonly used materials • Huff ‘n’ Puff Strawbale Constructions at
for making strawbales, but not hay (which can germinate and www.glassford.com.au
break down in the walls). Use previously compressed bales • Agari Permaculture Farm at www.agarifarm.org
(building grade) rather than regular strawbales. • Earth Building Solutions at
www.earthbuildingsolutions.com.au
Light earth • Milkwood at www.milkwood.net
Light earth (also known as light straw clay or insulating straw • Rammed Earth Australia at
clay) is not structural but used as infill, and is best for retrofit- www.rammedearthaustralia.com.au
ting walls or cavities due to its great balance of insulating and • Evergreen Homes at www.evergreenhomes.com.au
thermal mass properties. It is made from loose straw, lightly • Hempcrete Australia at www.hempcrete.com.au
coated in a clay slip/slurry, which is tamped into formwork
between a post and beam structure. Once dry (two to four Adam Hickman owns and runs Evergreen Homes and
months), the walls are rendered with an earth or lime render. has been teaching natural building courses all over
Australia. He has two upcoming courses: a three
Hempcrete week strawbale round house with reciprocal roof in Ad-
23
Hempcrete is made by combining water, hemp fibre and a elaide and a one week home in Mornington Peninsula.
lime-based binder. It is both fire- and pest-resistant. Similar For more info visit agarifarm.org
to light earth, it’s an infill material: you use formwork to pack or contact adam@agarifarm.orgYou can also read
