Trendy Aussie--Green-thumbed

The British use to call someone a green thumb when he is horticulturally gifted. Australians in general are green thumbs as they love to keep their gardens neat and tidy. By the by, the term "green thumb" now has a new meaning to it.

Annette and her grown-up son have rented a quarter-acre block with a farmhouse in rural Victoria which supplies their daily needs for food. She believes what they eat is the healthiest, "I use only organic farming methods because chemical products can only harm the soil as well as man's health." 

 "We have garlic, cauliflower, kidney beans, peas, potatoes,  pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, oranges and nectarines.  If the weather permits, I plan to have apricots, plums, lemons and papaya this year." She also gives away part of her crops to some poorer neighbours and makes jams and pickles with the surplus.

Annette started out farming her own vegetables as well as rearing animals like chickens, geese and goats 25 years ago.  She sows in accord with the season and the seeds are saved from crops of the previous year.  While not planting the same thing on the same soil each season as it will tip over the nutrient balance in the soil, she will plant a few things together to confuse pests and use the organic methods passed down from her mother and grandmother to weed and get rid of pests.

It was when a friend later told her that what she had been practising was "permaculture" that she came to know of the existence of such a system and the theory and techniques which simulated nature.  This method of farming is in fact a philosophy of life.

Annette learned it the proper way.  "I took a one-year permaculture course in 2009.  It taught me practical and sustainable methods to reduce water waste and be energy efficient in preparing the soil and planting seeds."  She intends to enroll in some training programmes as she aims to qualify as a lecturer to be able to teach others to practise and know about the art of permaculture.

Very Edible Garden is a Melbourne-based company offering permaculture training and designing service.  Its CEO, Adam Grubb, thinks it is more than organic gardening.  It incorporates sustainable ways to diminish the harm to the soil and the environment.  "The core is to learn from nature," Grubb remarks.  "It simulates nature's mechanisms.  Once such a garden is established, not much time is required for daily management."

"We teach people to use permaculture to design their own garden which includes planting vegetables and fruits and rearing poultry."  Chicken raising is almost indispensable in permaculture because "chickens are good helpers to clear out food remains, weeds or pests.  Their excrement is good fertilizer too," Grubb says. "Whether it's for better quality food, health, sustainable living or more money saving, more and more people are interested in permaculture."

Permaculture strengthens community bonding.  Permablitz is the name given to groups developed out of it.  Group members are basically volunteers interested in permaculture who get together irregularly to exchange experiences and to help establish edible gardens.  Grubb explains, "Starting from 2006, there are more than 100 permablitz  

groups in Melbourne now."  "It is sort of like a garden party.  Anyone interested in permaculture can join in."

The municipal government of Whitehorse hosts a sustainable living week around March and April annually. Permablitz groups actively participated to help in setting up a sustainable garden for demonstration.  Sustainability Officer Katrina Hawkins expresses appreciation, "Permablitz is a fantastic way to improve the environmental sustainability of one resident's garden but will also encourage local enthusiasm about getting outdoors, highlight the benefits of a healthy diet and teach locals easy ways to do all of this."

Gardening allows one to return to nature.  May it be flower planting or vegetable growing, Australians' green thumbs give them a new way to enjoy a self-contained and health-sustainable life.

Background

"Permaculture" takes its reference from "permanent", "agriculture" and "culture".  It is an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that is modeled on the relationships found in nature.  Developed by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in 1974, it draws from other disciplines including organic farming,  agroforestry, sustainable development and applied ecology and aims to  create stable, productive systems that provide for human needs.

Source: newlandmagazine.com.au