Join us to revisit a permablitzed garden!

Right now, if we were to follow the seasonal cycles of the Gariwerd people, we would find ourselves in the middle of Petyan, which is the season of wildlife and wildflowers. It’s when the days are warmer, although the weather can be tempestuous, and the bush bursts into life. Looking around, that’s a very apt description of what’s going on!

In our backyard, we have a broody chook sitting on a clutch of eggs, broad beans by the bucket-load, the beginnings of our tomatoes and summer crops, and the beehives are buzzing with activity. It’s a wonderful time of year – a time of new growth and new beginnings.

Last weekend saw our first Permablitz in a while, and it was a cracker! New team member Natalie got loads of great pics, and shared some of the day on Instagram, but we’ll share the full report with you soon.

To celebrate the wildflowers that are now blooming through the bush, we’d like to dedicate this song of the month to reggae-rock band Wildflower, and their song Galiwin’ku.

Permablitz News

We're revisiting a permablitz - and we want you to join us!

Two years ago Meg, Felicity and Kaitlyn saw their design realised in a permablitz at Jim’s place in Fairfield. And this Sunday, we’re looking forward to returning so we can see how the design has withstood the many seasons of growing in between.

As many of you know, one of the permaculture principles is apply self-regulation and accept feedback. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

We’ll be taking a tour of Jim’s garden with a view to find what elements worked and what didn’t. It’s a great opportunity for anyone who’s ever participated at a blitz to see how it looks in the years after the guests have done all the work on the big day.

To join us, click here!

A warm welcome our new team members!

Permablitz recently put out the word that we were looking for someone to help out with our social media, and we were blown away by the response.

We’re very proud to be joined by such an incredibly talented group! There’s Ronella, a farmer market volunteer extraordinaire who is about to explore permaculture farms in Borneo… Natalie, a passionate gardener, social media whiz, and has just had her writing published by The ABC… Alex, videographer, triathlete and currently working on his PDC… and last (but certainly not least) there’s Donna — permaculture education specialist and content writer who’s taught many a class at CERES, Edendale and more.

And if you’re wondering about the pic – it’s because they’re a cool bunch of kids at heart. And because we recently discovered that a group of goats is called a trip. Which is awesome.

Hero of the Month

Azolla

In the heat of the day, our bees love landing on the azolla to get to the water beneath

If you want a water feature that you can eat, feed to your chooks, helps the bees access the water AND protects your fish from the birds – you can’t go past azolla.  Eaten by Aborigines of Australia for millenia, it is only now finding popularity in global cuisines.

Beets and Pieces

Melbourne car-park turned urban farm has grown 300kg of produce for people in need

Produce grown in the urban farm in Port Melbourne. (photo by William Hamilton-Coates)

An urban farm project in Melbourne, powered by coffee compost and food waste that would otherwise go to the landfill, has successfully reached its target and grown around 300 kilograms of vegetables and herbs for people in need.

The farm, spread across two empty car spaces in Port Melbourne industrial parking lot, was originally intended to be a 12-month experimental project run by Cirrus Fine Coffee, Biofilta and Australian Ecosystems.

But having already generated 360 kilograms of produce in under eight months and donated more than 90 per cent of food grown to OzHarvest, the farm will now remain functioning on-site indefinitely.

Read the full article at SBS.com.au

Nature strip plantings to be allowed in Knox

If you live in the Knox area, you’re now allowed to plant out your nature strip. WIN!

You’ll need to get a permit (it’s free) and follow some common-sense rules, but overall it’s a positive move.

Read the full details in Leader Community News

Renegade gardeners take fight to councils in race to beat the heat

Serena Everill from Pascoe Vale South, a northern suburb of Melbourne, tends to her kerbside vegetable garden (photo by Natalie Vella)

While some people started their nature strip garden without council approval, there are a handful of councils throughout Victoria that now support planting edibles on the nature strip.

Our very own new Permablitz Collective member Natalie wrote this article for the ABC all about the complexities of planting on the verge – and it’s a cracker!

Give it a read at ABC News.

In the Garden

October is possibly the best time of year to be a gardener – there is a CRAZY amount of seeds and seedlings that you can start thinking about planting now that the ground is beginning to warm up. It’s also the last chance to remove dead winter growth, and to dig up and divide perennial plants, and you can plant evergreen shrubs and trees – including citrus trees!

Remember: some seeds do better starting off in punnets, some in pots and some in the ground. To get the best from your seedlings be sure to check the best methods first! If you’re not sure how to get your seeds started, you can check out these fine guides from Sustainable Gardening Australia or Gardening Australia. In fact, given it’s still quite cold overnight, check out Gardening Australia’s guide to creating a simple hothouse to kickstart those seedlings along.