Practical Permaculture | Gardening and Intentional Living

Check out Botanical Bazaar festival here: ⁠https://bit.ly/3Rsvdfl⁠The Gold Coast's Premier Gardening and Sustainable living festival August 2nd and 3rd.  Pack your gumboots and curiosity — we're heading to Melliodora! In this episode of The Practical Permaculture Podcast, Alysse sits down with the incredible Su Dennett: community builder, local food champion, and one half of the dream team behind Melliodora, Australia’s iconic permaculture homestead.Together, they chat about what it really means to live simply in a not-so-simple world. From buying land and growing food to building deep connections with neighbours, Su shares her lived wisdom on relocalisation, resilience, and why slowing down might just be the ultimate act of resistance.Expect heartfelt stories about motherhood, identity, and navigating the chaos of modern life with a grounded, generous spirit. Su reflects on her roots, her cultural influences, the power of passing down knowledge, and how being a role model (even when it’s messy) helps shape future generations.You’ll hear: 🌾 Why local food systems are the heartbeat of healthy communities🏡 What it’s like to build a life at Melliodora💬 The importance of vulnerability, storytelling & real conversations🤝 Conflict resolution tips straight from decades of community living🥗 Why shared meals are magic—and not just for your bellyWhether you're permaculture-curious or already knee-deep in compost, this chat will leave you inspired to grow, connect, and rethink what “living well” really looks like.More about Su: Su Dennett is a permaculture elder and local food pioneer who’s been plating up change for the last four decades.She lives at Melliodora, the internationally recognised permaculture demonstration site in Central Victoria, alongside partner David Holmgren, permaculture co-originator, and a cast of goats, chooks, bees, orchards, gardens and exchange-based households.Su’s seasonal wholefood lunches are an institution, feeding up to a dozen people each day – and many more on tours and Permaculture Design Courses.In 2013 Su was added to Hepburn Shire Council's Women's Honour Roll for her fierce leadership in simple, low impact living. Connect here:https://hub.holmgren.com.au/lp/do-with-su/season-one/online-permaculture-series/https://www.instagram.com/retrosuburbiaofficialhttps://hub.holmgren.com.au/lp/do-with-su/zine/numero-uno/We live, work, and dream on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands. We acknowledge them as holding deep ecological knowledge and their ability to live sustainably in harmony with the land. They and other ancient cultures are roots of permaculture—working with nature, fostering resilience, and ensuring balance for future generations.

Check out Botanical Bazaar festival here: https://bit.ly/3RsvdflThe Gold Coast's Premier Gardening and Sustainable living festival August 2nd and 3rd. Grab your baskets and sense of adventure — we’re heading into the wild! 🌿🍄In this episode of The Practical Permaculture Podcast, Alysse chats with the delightful Chanterelle — professional forager, educator, and all-around wild food wizard. Together, they dive deep (sometimes literally!) into the art of foraging: from munchable mushrooms to backyard "weeds" that are anything but weeds.Expect stories about how Chanterelle got into foraging, the cultural roots of wild food traditions, and why dandelions and plantains might just be your new favorite snacks. They also unpack common myths (no, not all mushrooms are out to get you), essential safety tips, and how foraging can reconnect us with community, land, and ourselves.You’ll learn:How to ID beginner-friendly wild edibles 🌼Why “weeds” might be the most underrated superfoodsTools and tips for safe, sustainable foraging 🧺The joy of finding dinner growing in your backyardHow foraging workshops are keeping ancient wisdom aliveWhether you're a total newbie or a seasoned plant nerd, this episode will leave you itching to hit the trail — or at least your backyard — in search of your next wild treat.Connect with Chanterelle: https://www.instagram.com/the_foragers_plate/https://www.theforagersplate.com/https://www.theforagersplate.com/events-1We live, work, and dream on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands. We acknowledge them as holding deep ecological knowledge and their ability to live sustainably in harmony with the land. They and other ancient cultures are roots of permaculture—working with nature, fostering resilience, and ensuring balance for future generations.

Sustainable Holly, a Perth-based permaculture gardener and content creator who grew up on a New Zealand farm, shares her insightful gardening journey. She discusses thriving in Perth's arid climate, the importance of biodiversity in creating resilient gardens, and her unique seed-saving techniques. Holly inspires listeners to embrace gardening mistakes as part of the learning process and encourages experimentation with unusual plants. She also highlights the joy of growing your own food and connecting with nature.

Clancy Lester, a native bee ecologist passionate about Australian bees, shares insights on creating bee-friendly environments. He discusses the critical role of these pollinators in our ecosystems and how to support them through garden practices. Clancy emphasizes the importance of Indigenous knowledge in conservation, outlines nesting needs, and warns against pesticide use. He also highlights the mental health benefits of connecting with nature, encouraging listeners to engage with local ecosystems and learn from Indigenous perspectives.

A few people have asked "Where is Jo?" here is a little update of where Jo has been and how she will be involved in the Podcast going forward... We love you Jo!

We live, work, and dream on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands. We acknowledge them as holding deep ecological knowledge and their ability to live sustainably in harmony with the land. They and other ancient cultures are roots of permaculture—working with nature, fostering resilience, and ensuring balance for future generationsIn this episode, I chat about my journey of building a "sustainable" house, focusing on how we have looked at the build from a permaculture perspective.

We live, work, and dream on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands. We acknowledge them as holding deep ecological knowledge and their ability to live sustainably in harmony with the land. They and other ancient cultures are roots of permaculture—working with nature, fostering resilience, and ensuring balance for future generationsIn this episode, I chat about my journey of building a "sustainable" house, focusing on site selection, design choices, and permaculture principles. I share my insights on orientation strategies, thermal mass, ventilation, and water management. I also talk about how we have tried to balance sustainability with practical constraints and budget considerations. Stay tuned for part II next week where I talk about looking at building through a permaculture lens.

We live, work, and dream on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands. We acknowledge them as holding deep ecological knowledge and their ability to live sustainably in harmony with the land. They and other ancient cultures are roots of permaculture—working with nature, fostering resilience, and ensuring balance for future generations.In this episode, Alysse chats with Alyce Alexandra about her journey from a cooking lover to a full-on permaculture enthusiast, diving into the world of food production, animal care, and sustainable living. Alyce shares how her passion for cooking turned into a commitment to permaculture, which is all about creating sustainable systems that work for both people and the planet. She explains how growing your own food can improve health and bring families closer together, plus how chickens, though a little destructive at times, can be total garden superheroes when managed right. A good chicken coop can actually boost food production, and goats? They’re perfect for tackling invasive plants like blackberries while keeping the ecosystem balanced. Alyce also talks about rescuing animals, especially chickens, and how they can thrive in a permaculture setup with some love and care. She emphasizes that taking care of animals is a lifestyle commitment, but it’s one that fits right into the rhythm of permaculture. Community support, she says, is key to keeping everything running smoothly. She gives some awesome gardening tips too, like how timing is everything when planting veggies (get it wrong, and you’re in trouble!), why small pots just don’t cut it for plant growth, and the importance of sun exposure. Pest control can be frustrating, but Alyce suggests a holistic approach to keep things natural and healthy. Gardening, she says, teaches patience and the ability to roll with the punches when things don’t go as planned. The conversation wraps up with a look at cool, innovative projects to make animal care more sustainable, and Alyce’s reminder that every garden environment is different—so embrace the challenges and find what works for you. The key takeaway? In gardening, design principles matter more than copying exactly what someone else is doing, so get creative and make it your own!To connect with Alyce:Website www.alycealexandra.com for blog posts on chicken city set up, plus free recipes and cookbooks and kitchenware my garden Instagram: @alycesediblegardenYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@alycealexandraYou have a limited time to enjoy 5% off the entire Australian medicinal Herbs range. Improve your health naturally with superior quality, Australian grown, medicinal herbs. Use the promo code PPP5% when purchasing from www.https://australianmedicinalherbs.com

We live, work, and dream on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands. We acknowledge them as holding deep ecological knowledge and their ability to live sustainably in harmony with the land. They and other ancient cultures are roots of permaculture—working with nature, fostering resilience, and ensuring balance for future generationsThis week, Alysse chats with Amy about her journey from hobby farm to urban life and now her next adventure in the beautiful Perth Hills. Amy shares the highs and lows living rurally, she shares her house build and we chat about her gardening journey. We also discuss preserving food. Where to start, things to thing about and what to avoid. Amy shares her tips for beginners on how to start small with food preservation, why it’s all about making things from scratch, and how every little step toward sustainability counts.Grab a cup of tea, get cozy, and get ready for a conversation full of inspiration and practical advice on living more sustainably! 🌱✨Connect with Amy: Website: www.mynonnalife.comEvents:  www.mynonnalife.com/events Instagram is: www.instagram.com/mynonnalife or Facebook is: https://www.facebook.com/mynonnalife/You have a limited time to enjoy 5% off the entire Australian medicinal Herbs range. Improve your health naturally with superior quality, Australian grown, medicinal herbs. Use the promo code PPP5% when purchasing from www.https://australianmedicinalherbs.comKey takeaways:Amy's journey into gardening began unexpectedly after moving to a hobby farm.She learned the importance of sustainability and working with nature through a permaculture course.The transition from rural living to urban lifeFinding the right property took years of searching and careful consideration.Cultural heritage plays a vital role in Amy's life and influences her cooking and gardening.Cooking from scratch and preserving food are central to Amy's lifestyle.Understanding different preservation methods is crucial.Freezing is an easy and effective preservation method.Fermenting offers unique flavors and health benefits.Pressure canning is essential for low acid foods.The Fowler's Vacola method simplifies the preserving processDon't be discouraged by mistakes in preserving; it's part of the learning process.

We live, work, and dream on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands. We acknowledge them as holding deep ecological knowledge and their ability to live sustainably in harmony with the land. They and other ancient cultures are roots of permaculture—working with nature, fostering resilience, and ensuring balance for future generations. This week, Alysse chats with Michael about all things gardening—especially the challenges of keeping plants (and yourself) thriving in the summer heat! They swap stories on irrigation, composting, and why dirt under your nails might just be the best therapy.Michael shares his journey from working in the disability sector to finding peace and purpose in horticulture. They also dig into (pun intended!) companion planting, urban gardening hacks, and the wild adventure of growing tropical fruits where they probably shouldn’t grow. Plus, natural pest management tips and why starting small is the key to a flourishing garden.Grab a cuppa, get comfy, and let’s get growing! 🌿✨Connect with Michael:- https://www.youtube.com/@Gardeningwithmichael- https://www.instagram.com/gardeningwithmichael/-You have a limited time to enjoy 5% off the entire Australian medicinal Herbs range. Improve your health naturally with superior quality, Australian grown, medicinal herbs. Use the promo code PPP5% when purchasing from www.https://australianmedicinalherbs.comtakeaways-Gardening can be a therapeutic outlet for mental health.-Summer gardening requires careful water management.-Mulching helps maintain soil temperature and moisture.-Building rich soil takes time and patience.-Irrigation systems are essential in hot climates.-Composting can enhance soil quality and reduce waste.-Mental health discussions are becoming more mainstream.-Gardening provides a sense of control and grounding.-Regular fertilisation is crucial for healthy vegetable growth.-Polyculture creates a mini ecosystem.-Natural pest management encourages biodiversity.-Creating a garden ecosystem supports wildlife.-Gardening is a learning journey; start today.