This PermaBee offers a great chance to meet like-minded people, learn new skills and get inspired with what’s possible like food forest gardens, animal habitats, vegetable gardens and more!
Permaculture is a design systems approach to living harmoniously with nature. The foundational principles emulate practices that are akin to Sustainability, Regenerative Agriculture and Zero Waste. The 3 ethics of Permaculture are Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPERTY:
The Winona Sustainable House and Garden features original buildings dated back to 1914 and pre-20th century. The owners of this property have lived here for almost 40 years. Over this time in response to environmental issues worldwide they have worked hard to progress zero waste and sustainability practices as a way of life.
Around 2 decades ago the owners Keelah and Ahlek participated in a Permaculture Design Course. This experience inspired them with the help of friends and working-bees to establish growing food and managing chickens.
Since 2003 the Winona Sustainable House and Garden has been open for tours like Solar House Day, Sustainable House Day, Permaculture Day and Sydney Edible Garden Trail. The property boasts a 23,000L rainwater tank, a two phase reed bed grey water treatment system, solar hot water, solar power and a dry composting toilet (Rotaloo) accessible from both upstairs and downstairs.
In recent years the garden has received much appreciated hard work by the cottage tenants who take great interest and delight in experimenting with better ways to utilise each area of the garden guided by Permaculture design principles. The garden currently features veggie patches, banana groves, fruit trees, ponds, composting, worm farms and chickens.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE DAY:
Please arrive early for a 9am start. Bear in mind parking can get difficult in this area particularly on weekends, though less at this time of the year. Morning tea will be at 11am. We will end the day with lunch at 1pm. Please bring a dish to share for lunch. We ask you to plan carefully to avoid single use packaging.
Bring your tools: While some tools will be provided, having more is always a good idea. Have them clearly labelled so not to confuse them with others.
- Long handled shovels for digging.
- Buckets for moving soil, rocks and water.
- Gardening gloves.
- Clothes you can get wet and dirty
FAMILIES WELCOME. Bring along those budding sustainable gardeners!
While many veggie patches have been formed with nutrient dense compost and protective netting from animals, the key ingredient that has lacked is access to water. This is where we will be working to install a wicking bed system. In this type of garden, once plants get established they’ll be able to access water when they need it, this also supports them to be more resilient. Alongside the mission of this property we’ll be able to conserve up to 80% of water used than if we were to water from above the soil. We’ll be repurposing some material that would have otherwise gone to waste.
Alongside a neighbouring fence we experience large volumes of water from rain events. This is where the beginnings of a swale has been formed to slow down water and encourage absorption into the soil. In another area there is an abundance of rocks of various sizes. We shall combine the two by making a dry creek water bed.
The few ponds we have onsite while wonderful and functioning as is, could do with some love and care. There may be additional tasks like weeding and pruning. We’ll see on the day.
Book your free space here (limited availability):