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Another year is coming to a close. On behalf of the Permaculture West Committee we wish you all a very safe, enjoyable festive season and happy holidays. We look forward to exciting progressions in the new year with a major event in the planning stages for 2019 - Stay tuned in January for a survey to see what that event could involve!
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Birak -
First Summer (Season of the Young)
December - January
Birak season sees the rains ease up and the warm weather really start to take hold. The afternoons are cooled by the sea breezes that abound from the southwest. This was the fire season, a time to burn the country in mosaic patterns.
An almost clockwork style of easterly winds in the morning and sea breezes in the afternoon, meant that traditionally this was the burning time of year for Nyoongars.
They would burn the country in mosaic patterns for several reasons including fuel reduction, increasing the grazing pastures for some animals, to aid in seed germination for some plants and for ease of mobility across the country.
As for the animals, there are many fledglings now venturing out of nests, though some are still staying close to their parents. Reptiles are looking to shed their old skin for a new one.
With the rising temperatures and the decreasing rainfall, it's also time for the baby frogs to complete their transformation into adulthood.
Read more here
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Principle #7
Design From Patterns To Details
“Can't See The Forest For The Trees”
By stepping back, we can observe patterns in nature and society. These can form the backbone of our designs, with the details filled in as we go.
Every spider’s web is unique to its situation, yet the general pattern of radial spokes and spiral rings is universal. The proverb “can’t see the forest for the trees” reminds us that the closer we get to something, the more we are distracted from the big picture.
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This month's Permaculture Principle is summarised beautifully by the Formidable Vegetable Sound System's tune......
Patterns! <-- Listen free here and have a little jig to this super addictive tune!!!
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Exploring opportunity
‘Looking up at the canopy, it appeared as if the trees were talking to each other.’ These Blackwoods (Acacia melanoxylon), in southern Tasmania, have become giants by exploring opportunity. The main structure of the trees is long established. The canopy incrementally redesigns itself as old branches die and new spaces become available, without infringing on their neighbours. Forest research has found that many tree species collaborate, trading nutrients via fungal networks.
(Sourced Information & Photograph): Website: Permaculture Principles --> link
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Photo taken by Richard Telford at Peoples Park in Strahan, Tasmania, Australia
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First Diploma Graduates in WA!
The first group of Western Australian graduates of the new Diploma of Permaculture are quite unique. They are also the first graduates from anywhere in Australia. Of the five that started only Martina Hoeppner, Rod Hughes and Lisa Passmore completed the course. They spent this last year meeting once or twice a month, working on designs and reports, assignments and strategic plans for community groups, schools and individuals.
As you can imagine with any accredited training course, there has been a huge array of units and topics, and we have covered soil erosion and sediment control, plant tissue and soil analysis, soil improvement techniques, field research on community values, managing projects, natural building materials, permaculture structures, strategic planning, and providing specialist advice to clients. This training has enabled them to complete several in-depth Permaculture designs and reports for two community garden groups, a primary school, and private rural and urban properties.
Dr Ross Mars, who developed the permaculture accredited training courses in WA, was thrilled to perform their final assessments recently and send these champions for permaculture out into the world. Lisa and Martina will be teaching these types of courses next year and Rod is now manager of City Farm. Who knows what 2019 will bring.
Written by Ross Mars
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From Left: Rod Hughes, Lisa Passmore, Martina Hoeppner, Ross Mars
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BEETROOT, CARROT & APPLE SALAD
400g raw beetroot
100g carrot
1/4 red onion (approx 45g)
1 green Granny Smith apple, cut into quarters, core removed
2-3 sprigs fresh coriander, leaves only, to taste
2 tbsp olive oil
Lemon juice (approx 1/2 lemon)
Pinch salt to taste
METHOD:
1. Place beetroot, carrot, red onion and apple into food processor on grate mode (or grate by hand)
2. Scrape down sides of mixing bowl with spatula. Add coriander, olive oil, lemon
juice and salt to taste.
Serve immediately! Tastes divine!
TIPS:
* For a different flavour, serve beetroot salad on a bed of spinach leaves
with crumbled goats cheese or feta and toasted pepitas or pistachio nuts.
* To sweeten your salad slightly add 1 tsp pomegranate molasses
What do you have growing in abundance in your garden at the moment with a recipe to boot? Send your share to us with a photo of your gardening produce and your recipe and if published you will receive a 12 month subscription to PIP Magazine! Entries close 17 January 2019!
news@permaculturewest.org.au
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CIII and Diploma Permaculture Courses in WA
Candlelight Farm, in conjunction with Skills Strategies International, are offering CIII and Diploma Permaculture courses starting in January (Diploma) and February (CIII), 2019.
CIII Permaculture is ideally suited to those who have undertaken a PDC and wish to broaden their knowledge, skills and understanding. The course is very practical-orientated and students learn about propagation, pest control, irrigation, construction, soils, site assessment, impacts of weather, organic crops, permaculture products and integrated plant and animals systems. Fifteen units are undertaken over one year.
The Diploma Permaculture is a course for those who wish to become designers and consultants. Twelve units are undertaken over a year or so, and include both rural and urban designs, managing projects, strategic planning, field research, managing soils and erosion, advising clients and using particular species in design work.
Both courses are undertaken on weekends, typically once a month at Candlelight Farm in Mundaring.
For information please contact Ross Mars on 0439971213 or email rossmars@waterinstallations.com, on behalf of Co-teachers Fiona Blackham, Martina Hoeppner and Lisa Passmore.
Looking at RPL for a Permaculture Qualification?
If you have undertaken a PDC some time ago and have been active in permaculture since that time, you might like to consider applying for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to obtain an Accredited Certificate. Ross Mars is able to assess anyone from CIII to Diploma Permaculture. The fees are about two-thirds the cost of actually undertaking the course over a year, and you decide how long you will take assembling the evidence and answering the particular questions that relate to specific units. Ask Ross to send you the unit list, and you can look up the details on the Govt website - training.gov.au. If you are satisfied that you can meet the outcomes for those units contact Ross about the process. rossmars@waterinstallations.com.
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Symphony of the SOIL - 9 February 2019
Public Event · Hosted by Merri Bee Organic Farmacy, Nannup WA
The key to vibrant plants which resist drought, heat, frost, disease and pest attack lies quietly under mulch in an aerobic living soil. The smallest things on Earth may also be the most powerful. Reinstating the ancient partnership between soil microbes, plants and animals could be the only way to reverse pandemics of chronic disease and catastrophic climate change, yet soil’s beneficial microbes can be quickly destroyed by fertilizer, ploughs and pesticides. Conventional farm soils are inert & the food shaped- objects they grow contain a quarter of the nutrients our grandparents ate (plus untold poison residues). Conversely, soil “probiotics” create the rare aromatic flavours in real food responsible for health. Probiotics can be bred up in wormery’s and compost heaps. Organic farmer Bee made compost for 40 years but in 2014 learnt to make quality compost from Dr Elaine Ingham. Suddenly the farm is more profitable. People too are thriving as they eat nutrient dense foods covered in friendly bacteria, we will see them under the microscope. Quality compost can be brewed into a tea to inoculate large acreages with the whole soil food web.Learn regeneration of the soil by many methods. See cell grazing in action, permaculture strategies, inspirational swales, hugekultures and food forests. Receive your 78 page manual when you register, and pre -read if you like. Our gut lining is integral to health and functions just like the soil. Good soil takes the work out of gardening so you can grow the food that transforms lives.
The amazing, the astounding SYMPHONY of the SOIL takes place at Nannup’s Merri Bee Farmacy this February 9th and 10th, 2019. Cost $385 plus GST and Eventbrite booking fee. Couples and car poolers discounts available!
More info: merribeefarmacy@gmail.com or via event details on Facebook
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A Slice of Organic Life
AUTHOR: Sheherazade Goldsmith (Foreword by Matt & Lentil Purbrick of Grown & Gathered)
Published: October 2018 (Updated Version)
A Slice of Organic Life is the perfect guide to a more organic and simple life, with projects for your garden, home, community and life, including a foreword by Matt and Lentil Purbrick (of Grown & Gathered). From growing and preserving your own food, to raising your own animals, making natural body products, reducing your household waste or joining a community garden, this book will help you enjoy the pleasures of organic, sustainable living.No matter where you live, you can always start making small changes towards a more sustainable life. For more info on the book click here
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Why not give yourself a gift that keeps on giving this year?!? A years subscription to PIP Magazine!
PIP Magazine Issue #12 is out now!
In issue 12 of Pip Magazine the focus is on the microscopic with articles on the soil food web and nurturing your microbiome hence the beautiful butterfly on the front cover!
Take a sneak peak at some of the top articles in Issue 12 here…or better still SUBSCRIBE! Remember that you can get a 10% discount on all new subscriptions, just use the voucher PCWEST10 at check out! #itsnotwhatyouknowitswhoyouknow !!!
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Know of a great workshop coming up? Or a permablitz near your place? Is your garden looking fabulous or are you’re just bursting to share photos of your community or school garden? Would you like to introduce your Permaculture business? Would you like to connect with local community gardens in your area?
Well we would LOVE LOVE LOVE! to hear from you!
And! Your input is what really makes this monthly eNews special and relevant to local readers here in Western Australia. Plus! It helps us showcase all the great stuff we’ve got going on to readers from other parts of the world too.
So! Don't be shy! Send your updates, sharing or questions today to: news@permaculturewest.org.au
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