In conversation with Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettit

Poster for In Conversation Event with Mayor Pettit and Michael Mobbs   It would be great to share food, stories and conversation with Freo folk  when Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettit and I discuss my new book, Sustainable Food; Monday 17 December 630 for 7 pm. No reservations so just turn up with your appetite and curiosity – see you there, Michael  Read More

Sydney’s new ecovillage going ahead

Narrara ecovillage land Lyndall Parris, the driving force behind the Narrara ecovillage about an hour or so north of Sydney, NSW, wrote to me last week with news of the project and here is what she said:   “Since signing the contract to purchase the land on 26 September there has been much activity. We have formed a Board of Directors, a Steering team and 6 Working teams (Development,... Read More

New bee hive in Dulwich Hill, Sydney

Last week, after splitting the native stingless bee hive at my Chippendale place we took the new hive to Judy’s place at Dulwich Hill. New Dulwich Hill hive – tied together ’til bees wax the three compartments together The bees in both hives  have had a couple of big meetings outside the hive, forming a swirling circle about a metre in diametre where they discuss... Read More

WIRES needs your bugs

WIRES need us – our bugs, that is WIRES are experiencing a 27 per cent increase in wild critters needing their care.  Causes of the dramatic increase are diverse – habitat loss, climate change . . . But the rescued critters need to eat – maggots, worms, bugs . . . and so WIRES need us to give them what spare bugs we have.  Read More

Lazy gardeners like perennials

As a practising lazy gardener I’m drawn to plants that self- seed, keep growing year after year and look after themselves without me. Lis’s Thai-inspired spaghetti and vermicelli-like squash salad So I enjoyed listening to Lis Bastian describe the perennials in her garden at Blackheath, NSW, recently and asked her to write out a list of them; here’s what Lis sent... Read More

Chippo book launch and bee hive split

The bees, eggs and honey of the hive during the split   Sitting with Auntie Fran in Peace Park Native Stingless Bee Hive before the split These photos are by Jessica Perinia, photographer of nature and editor of my books. Last Sunday Auntie Fran Bodkin and I sat under a tree in Peace Park, Chippendale with about 30 others to talk about our beautiful country and to hear Fran... Read More

Tentative and decisive tent plans

Planning continues for living in a tent in inner Sydney. The tentative tent plans are mainly the Where to pitch? part. First off I’m planning a short stint in a community garden where there’s food growing to go and fellow gardeners to share the fun and join me on my to-be-built pallet verandah. Anyone who has a site they think may work is very welcome to contact me here... Read More

Ask me to garden for you?

Passion fruit, Myrtle St road garden Would you like me to garden for you?   If, “Yes”, then email me here on my website.   I’ve decided to garden for others in inner Sydney who wish to grow food, create an urban farm or to grapple with the garden they have in some way.   When you email please let me know what your situation is and I’ll give... Read More

Kids garden in the roads

Kids harvesting tucker from road gardens Last week some 5 and 6 year old kids from a local child care centre came a-gardening with me and their parents and carers in Chippendale’s streets. They harvested lemon grass, nasturtium flowers and leaves, lemon tea tree, bay leaves, caffre lime leaves and, more than that, some ancient connections with food.   Marie, child care... Read More

ebook version of Sustainable Food

There are ebook copies of Sustainable Food and sellers who have the ebook are: Ebooks.com… Ebrary Netlibrary Read How You Want– Australian Site Google Overdrive Just a thought, M  Read More