Practical Permaculture | Gardening and Intentional Living

In this inspiring episode, Alysse sits down with Susan to explore the world of fruit trees and community gardening. Drawing from over 15 years of hands-on experience, Susan shares her journey of cultivating a thriving community orchard, offering practical advice on planting tips, pruning techniques, pest management, and promoting soil health.Learn how cross-pollination affects fruit production, why grafting can expand your harvest, and how urban gardening spaces can support healthy ecosystems. Whether you're just getting started with a bare root tree or managing an established orchard, this episode delivers essential knowledge for both beginners and seasoned gardeners.🌳 Key Takeaways:Community gardening fosters connection, education, and sustainability.Successful fruit tree care involves managing pests, diseases, and proper pruning.Healthy soil is the foundation for strong tree growth and productivity.Cross-pollination is vital for many fruit trees to produce abundant fruit.Grafting allows multiple fruit varieties to grow on a single tree.Start with good planning—location, tree type, and soil prep matter.Community orchards thrive with shared support and long-term vision.Growing fruit trees requires patience and consistent care.🎧 Tune in now to gain expert insights and step-by-step guidance on building your own fruitful gardening journey—right in your backyard or shared community space!✅ Subscribe for more gardening tips and orchard insights!👍 Like this podcast if you found it helpful💬 Comment with your favorite fruit tree or tip you’ve learned🔔 Hit the subscribe to get notified when new episodes drop🔗 Connect With Us:Practical Permaculture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/practical_permaculture/Website: OrchardPeople.comPodcast: https://podcast.orchardpeople.com/Courses: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/Books: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/books

In this episode, we chat with Tianda, founder of the uForage and a busy mum on a mission to reshape how we share food. Tianda shares her journey as a parent and entrepreneur, and how witnessing food abundance in her own community sparked the idea for uForage — a platform designed to connect people through local produce, reduce food waste, and improve food security.We dive into:The challenges of food insecurity in modern communitiesHow the app helps users find and share local, wild, and surplus foodWhy keeping the platform accessible and free is at the heart of its missionPlans to expand with foraging education and preservation tipsThe vision of building stronger, more sustainable food networksWhether you're into sustainability, tech for good, or just curious how local food sharing works, this conversation will inspire you.📝 Key Takeaways:Tianda is a regular mum balancing family life and entrepreneurshipuForage is an app that connects people to local food sourcesInspired by the abundance many communities already haveTackles food insecurity and food waste head-onCategories include wild food, leftovers, and homegrown producePay-what-you-can model ensures accessibilityFocused on community, education, and sustainabilityConnect with Tianda https://uforage.com.au/ or https://www.instagram.com/uforageapp/ 🎁 LIMITED OFFER – Get $50 OFF a comprehensive water testUse code PRACTICAL at 👉 mywaterscore.com.auLink: http://bit.ly/44osI54Like, comment, and subscribe for more. Acknowledgement-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.

Want to test your water?Get $50! off your first comprehensive water test at ⁠⁠mywaterscore.com.au⁠⁠ with code "PRACTICAL" visit the site here: http://bit.ly/44osI54Tuck yourself into a shady spot or stroll through the garden — today we’re heading to the Northern Rivers to hear how one homesteader is turning challenge into abundance. 🌳🫖In this episode of The Practical Permaculture Podcast, Alysse connects with Alex, a passionate homesteader and agroforestry advocate, about her journey transforming a drought- and bushfire-affected block into a thriving, diverse ecosystem.From the early days of traditional veggie gardening to the deep dive into tree-based systems, Alex shares how climate challenges sparked a shift in mindset — and planting method. The two dive into the real-life learning curve of growing food in changing conditions, and how biodiversity and self-sufficiency became cornerstones of Alex’s permaculture path.You’ll hear about:🌱 Transitioning from garden beds to agroforestry🔥 Building resilience after drought and fire🌿 The joy (and nourishment) of foraging and wild foods🐓 Integrating animals into the ecosystem🌾 Seasonal eating, edible weeds, and growing with the land🌳 Alex’s work at Daley’s Nursery and her favourite food forest picks🤝 Why community, education, and connection matter more than everWhether you’re deep in your own permaculture project or just starting to dig in, this episode is packed with grounded wisdom, lived experience, and the kind of inspiration that gets your hands back in the soil.Connect with Alex:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dreamsofgreenWebsite: https://dreamsofgreen.com.au/FREE Consult: bit.ly/dreamsofgreenAcknowledgement-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. In this episode of The Practical Permaculture Podcast, Alysse chats with the ever-thoughtful Hampus — a Swedish sportsman-turned-permaculture enthusiast who swapped snow for sun and now digs deep (literally!) into the soils of the Hunter Valley, Australia.Together, they explore what it’s like to begin the permaculture journey from scratch: think backyard experiments, kid-powered composting, and big dreams of off-grid living. Hampus shares his path from athlete to earth steward, how moving across the globe sparked a new connection to the land, and why teaching kids to grow food is one of the most radical acts we can do.Connect with Hampus:Instagram: @hampustheorganicgardenerWebsite: www.hampustheorganicgardener.comWe 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 farm boots we are heading west! In this episode of The Practical Permaculture Podcast, Alysse sits down with Pascale and Troy — a dynamic duo who swapped sailing the WORLD for life as full-time land stewards in South West WA. From navigating waves to wranglinggoats, their journey into homesteading is packed with wisdom, grit, and a whole lot of heart.Together, they dive into the realities of regenerative living: managing animals, milking goats, and using pigs to transform weedy pastures into lush grazing land. It’s not just about food — it’s about ethics, community, and learning howto work with the land instead of against it.You’ll learn:🐐 Why goats are the MVPs of weed control🐖 How pigs can help regenerate pasture — and what it’s like to process your own meat🥛 What it takes to dive into small-scale dairy (hint: more patience than you think)🌽 How their approach to food preservation has changed over time🫶The joys and challenges of raising animals with kids on the land🌏 Why caretaking land means more than just "owning" itWhether you’re dreaming of ditching the city or knee-deep in your own homestead project — this episode is a real, grounded look at sustainable farming, family life, and finding purpose through self-reliance.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.

In this episode of Practical Permaculture Podcast, Alysse sits down with Clancy Lester, a passionate native bee ecologist, to dive into the fascinating world of native bees! 🐝✨Clancy shares how these tiny pollinators are essential to our ecosystems and how YOU can support them right in your own backyard! From creating bee-friendly habitats to understanding the impact of pesticides, Clancy provides simple, actionable tips for anyone wanting to make a difference. 🌸💚We also explore the power of Indigenous knowledge in conservation efforts and how connecting with nature can improve mental health. 🌱💆‍♀️This episode is packed with insights on:How to create the perfect environment for native bees 🏡🐝The fascinating behaviours of bees that’ll make you love them even more 😍Why biodiversity and community engagement matter now more than ever 🌏The mental health benefits of spending time in nature 🌳🧠Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just getting started, Clancy’s practical advice will inspire you to take action and support your local pollinators. Tune in, get inspired, and let’s keep the buzz alive!Connect with Clarence: Website - https://nativebeehotels.com/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-clancy-lester/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/beesandblossoms.aus/Tik tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@beesandblossoms.ausBluesky- https://bsky.app/profile/georgeclancylester.bsky.socialWe 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.

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 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 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.

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 weeks chat, Phil Dudman shares his journey into gardening and permaculture, discussing the importance of community, the practicality of urban gardening, and the design elements that contribute to a successful garden. He emphasises the learning process through experience, the joy of gardening as a lifestyle, and the benefits of growing food in small spaces. Connect with Phil; https://www.growyourfood.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/phildudmangardening/ Takeaways Gardening fosters connections within the community. Urban gardens can be highly productive and efficient. Phil's garden produces 75% of their fruit and vegetables. Designing a garden involves observation and adaptation. Failures in gardening are valuable learning experiences. Gardening is a lifelong journey of learning and practice Community gardening enhances the gardening experience. Aesthetics play a crucial role in gardening. Never give up; you're often closest to success when you feel like quitting. Common mistakes include starting too big and neglecting daily care. Patience and practice are key to becoming a better gardener. -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.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 generations. In this episode of the Practical Permaculture Podcast, Alysse sits down with horticulturist and gardening expert Sabrina Hahn to chat about all things gardening! They dive into the impact of climate change on gardening practices, why biodiversity is crucial for healthy ecosystems, and some must-know tips for keeping your soil in tip-top shape. Sabrina shares her journey in horticulture, including the importance of community-driven urban greening projects and how gardening can be a fun, playful experience for anyone. They also talk about common mistakes new gardeners often make (and how to avoid them), plus the role of biochar in boosting soil health. Before wrapping up, Sabrina offers some encouraging words for new gardeners—reminding us all that even small efforts can make a big difference in our local environments. Takeaways: - Climate change and its effects on gardening - The role of biodiversity in building healthy ecosystems - Tips for soil health that anyone can try - The importance of understanding your local climate when selecting plants - How you can make a difference in your local community through gardening If you're looking for practical tips and a little gardening inspiration, this episode’s got you covered! Tune in now! 🌱 --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.com.au/--

In this episode of the Practical Permaculture Podcast, Alysse and Koren explore the multifaceted world of urban permaculture, discussing its challenges, opportunities, and the importance of community connections. The conversation also highlights the significance of rest and work-life balance, as well as the need to redefine wealth and happiness in a modern context. Koren and Alysse explore the intersection of budgeting, bartering, work-life balance, and permaculture principles. Koren shares her journey towards a sustainable lifestyle, emphasising the importance of clear communication, intentional rest, and the practical application of permaculture in urban gardening. Kind Koren at: Website: ⁠korenhelbig.com⁠ Instagram: Instagram.com/koren.helbig⁠ Newsletter: ⁠korenhelbig.com/newsletter⁠