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What does this title mean?! Well… i’m on about vegetables called Artichokes. In the vegetable world there are three kinds i’m aware of so far, all rather distinctly unrelated to each other! Globe Artichokes (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) – cultivated from a type of thistle with the core of the young flower buds eaten, steamed …

Artichokes – The Perils of the Common Name… (in this case, delicious peril!) Read More »

Due to the discomfort large mammals like humans experience from thorny plants, the numbers of such plants incorporated into gardens have declined. This is particularly the case around suburbia where there is less remnant bushland and general growing space. There are a number of thorny fruiting plants out there and in addition to their excellent …

Prickly Plants – Turning the thorn IN your side into the thorn AT your side. Read More »

Tree Frog Permaculture in partnership with Every Voice Counts is going to be running regular Saturday morning educational tours of the new Demonstration Permaculture Garden in Mandalong (NSW). The idea is to provide an avenue for affordable education on garden sustainability in such a way that you can ‘choose your own adventure’ so to speak. …

EVC Mandalong Permaculture – Grow your green thumb. Read More »

I was wandering the garden a couple of weeks ago and looking across the yard to a young Melaleuca, noticed shiny black blotches on one of the lower branches. As I approached it became apparent they were clusters of large shiny black flies gathering on patches of blood and a half-mouse carcass suspended at around …

Brutal Benefits – Butcher Birds Read More »

Preface: I like a holistic approach to life and that means looking at all of life’s aspects. Commonly overlooked is ground 0, otherwise known as the inside of your head, but more accurately as your state of mind. Considering this is an area that will undoubtedly affect all other aspects of one’s life, I think it’s always …

Ground Zero: Permaculture of the mind – Lantanaism Read More »

Neighbours throughout history have generally had strongly mutualistic relationships due to elements of co-reliance. Mutual help was often needed in a survival sense, ie; trading/sharing foodstuffs, tools, skills etc. As western society has modernised, increased prosperity and the availability of a welfare safety network have resulted in reduced neighbourly dependence. Also the balance between privacy …

The continued importance of neighbours in contemporary society Read More »

Originating in Central America, the Yam-Bean (Pachyrrhizus erosus) is a climbing perrenial plant of the legume family. The plant prefers warmer weather but will tolerate more temperate climates as far south as Sydney and Adelaide, temporarily dying back to its tubers over winter. Each plant can produce up to 5 root-swellings or tubers beneath the …

Yam Bean or Jicama – A tasty and versatile Permaculture crop. Read More »

We are holding a free sustainability workshop for homes and small businesses. Bring your questions and problems in the fields of Sustainable Timbers, Permaculture/organic gardening, Energy Efficiency, Passive Design, Home Sustainability, Land Management, Efficient and cost effective design solutions, flora and fauna, forest management, material selection, small business sustainability, water efficiency, hot water and home heating options etc. Date: Saturday 2 …

Hunter Sustainability Designers and Consultants Workshop Read More »

Following are impacts I can expect to see on myself, my business and the local community if the 4th Coal terminal project goes ahead: An additional 41 coal trains per day through Newcastle and Maitland will increase dust related health problems like asthma and other respiratory ailments as well as the increase in the accumulation …

Tree Frog Objects! Read More »

Cotton fibres for cloth are produced from the fluff around the seeds of the Cotton plant, Gossypium tilaceae, a member of the Hibiscus family. It needs long growing season for good yields and has high water requirements. Hemp fibres are from the stems of the hemp plant, each fibre is many times the length of …

Cotton Versus Hemp and other fibres in Australia Read More »