In this episode of the Pip Podcast, Robyn Rosenfeldt sits down with Heidi Marika, naturopath, medical herbalist, and author of Wildcraft and From the Wild. Heidi shares her passion for reconnecting with the plants growing all around us and how they can be used for food, medicine, and healing—both for us and the environment.

Together, Robyn and Heidi delve into the overlooked abundance of wild plants and the importance of re-learning what our ancestors knew. Heidi opens up about her childhood spent foraging, her journey back to wild plant medicine, and why these "weeds" are so vital in times of uncertainty and change.

In this episode, Robyn and Heidi discuss:

* Why wild plants contain more nutrients than cultivated vegetables.

* How to safely identify and use plants like dandelion, plantain, and nasturtium.

* The role of wild plants in healing the soil and our bodies.

* Practical tips for foraging greens and incorporating them into your diet.

* How to make simple remedies like salves, teas, and fire cider.

* The deep sense of connection and belonging that comes from working with wild plants.

This episode is a fascinating and empowering conversation about unlocking the potential of plants that many of us overlook. Whether you’re curious about foraging, wild food, or finding connection to place through nature, Heidi’s insights will inspire you to explore the food and medicine growing right under your feet.

To learn more about Heidi and her work, visit our show notes here: https://pipmagazine.com.au/content-type/podcast/

Check out Heidi's "Wild Plants - Health benefits, medicinal properties and how to forage them" article in Issue 35 of Pip here: https://pipmagazine.com.au/wild-plants-health-benefits-medicinal-properties-foraging/

You can explore Heidi’s books Wildcraft and From the Wild here: https://www.murdochbooks.com/browse/book/Heidi-Merika-From-the-Wild-9781761500091

For more tips on growing food, foraging, composting, and living more sustainably, subscribe to Pip here: https://pipmagazine.com.au/subscriptions/

We like to honour the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded, who are the Walbunja people of the Yuin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present, and to any First Nations people listening today.

In this episode of the Pip Podcast, Robyn Rosenfeldt sits down with Nat Mendham, artist, creator, and founder of the Radical Postcard Club. Nat shares her journey of embracing a slower pace of life, finding balance between creative pursuits and parenting, and staying connected to nature’s rhythms.

Together, Robyn and Nat explore the challenges of navigating burnout, work-life balance, and sustainable living in a fast-paced world. Nat opens up about her experiences during the Covid-19 lockdown, how she’s been setting boundaries, and the transformative power of rest and adaptability.

In this episode, Robyn and Nat discuss:

* The Radical Postcard Club and the role of physical artifacts in a digital world.

* The concept of "radical rest" inspired by dormancy and hibernation in nature.

* Strategies for managing burnout and setting healthy boundaries.

* Observing the environment before making big changes in the garden.

* Lessons from the Permaculture Design Course and creating adaptable designs.

* Designing low-maintenance gardens and compost systems that integrate with daily life.

* Finding calm and balance through rituals like gardening and embracing the philosophy of 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman.

This episode is a reflective and inspiring conversation on how to live in harmony with nature, design systems that support well-being, and prioritise what truly matters. Whether you’re exploring permaculture, seeking rest, or redefining balance in your life, Nat’s insights offer practical and thoughtful guidance.

We want to give you a quick heads-up about this episode. Unfortunately, there are some parts where the sound quality isn’t up to our usual standard. This was something we didn’t notice during the recording and couldn’t resolve afterward.

That said, the conversation is full of valuable insights and stories from Nat that we think you’ll enjoy. Thanks for your understanding, and we hope you find this episode as inspiring as we do!

If you would like to read more about Nat, visit our show notes here: https://pipmagazine.com.au/episode-45-nat-mendham

You can contact Nat through her website here: https://www.nataliemendham.com.au/

Pip articles contributed by Nat include:

* Observe & Interact - Designing your permaculture dream: https://pipmagazine.com.au/observe-and-interact-permaculture/

* Radical Rest - Follow nature’s lead and allow yourself to slow, rest and recharge: https://pipmagazine.com.au/radical-rest/

To learn about how to to grow food, ferment, preserve, reduce waste, compost and more, visit Pip here: https://pipmagazine.com.au/

We like to honour the traditional owners of the land on which the podcast was recorded who are the Walbunja people of the Yuin nation. I would like to pay my respects to the elders past and present and any who are listening today.

In this episode of the Pip Podcast, Robyn Rosenfeldt sits down with Jade Miles, CEO of Sustainable Table, public speaker, author of FutureSteading, and host of the podcast of the same name. Jade is also a heritage fruit farmer and mother of three, balancing multiple roles while staying true to her values of sustainability and community.

In this candid conversation, Robyn and Jade explore the realities of juggling a full life, from managing a farm to leading a national organisation, all while trying to live in alignment with their principles. Jade opens up about the challenges of balancing her work in environmental advocacy with her deep commitment to family life and local food systems.

In this episode, Robyn and Jade discuss:

* Challenging the perception of ‘doing it all perfectly’ as working parents.

* The benefits of buying food in bulk and fresh food swaps.

* The importance of collaboration and co-parenting in navigating the demands of daily life.

* Balancing the desire to "do it all" with the reality of limited time and energy.

* The power of stepping back to reflect when things feel misaligned and identifying your superpower.

* The importance of rituals and self-care in staying grounded, including Jade’s personal sit-spot practice, spending time in nature and finding moments of stillness.

* The shift from individualism to building "huddles" or communities that foster resilience and collective action.

This episode is a thoughtful reflection on how we can each contribute to a more sustainable world while acknowledging our imperfections and limitations. If you're seeking inspiration on how to live a more grounded and connected life, this conversation is full of wisdom and practical insights.

This episode explores a thought provoking topic, something we often don’t talk about; death and what we do with our bodies after we die. I travelled to Bodalla on the NSW south coast to talk with Fiona McCuiag, from Walawaani Way Conservation Burial. She offers people the option to be buried in a way that is giving back to the environment and allowing our bodies to go back to the earth.

This is a beautiful episode that explores the taboos around talking about death, the ritual of a natural burial, the regeneration process, and what the future holds for Fiona and Walawanni Way. We also go into how natural burials honour our loved ones, and nurture the earth.

If you would like to read more about Fiona and regenerative natural burials, you can find the full story with photos here: https://grow.pipmagazine.com.au/fiona-mccuaig-natural-regenerative-burial/

You can contact Fiona through her website and earn more about what she offers here: https://www.walawaaniway.com/

We like to honour the traditional owners of the land on which the podcast was recorded who are the Walbunja people of the Yuin nation. I would like to pay my respects to the elders past and present and any who are listening today.

In this Pip Podcast, we chat with Amanda Reynolds, a Guringai Yuin woman. She’s an artist, storyteller, possum skin cloak maker, curator and a sharer of knowledge.

In our heart-warming conversation, Amanda honours her profound connection to Country and shares the cultural significance of symbols and designs in Indigenous storytelling and the ancient wisdom passed down through generations.

Amanda's storytelling weaves together symbols, designs, and the act of deep listening, offering an intimate look into the heritage that shapes her craft and the respect she upholds for her ancestors and the land.

Amanda shares anecdotes of solace found in the presence of kangaroos and wallabies, and the sanctuary her home provides for them. We reflect on the totem system's pivotal role in conservation and sustainable living.

These stories not only highlight the importance of living in harmony with Mother Earth but also stress the urgency of protecting our planet's natural habitats and advocating for the rights of all its inhabitants. Join us for this enlightening exploration of the resilience and joy within our communities, and the shared wisdom that binds us to every living being.

Amanda shares an invitation to slow down, tune in to the cycles of nature, and embrace the environmental responsibilities that come with being guardians of the earth. The episode underscores the timeless wisdom of listening to both elders and the land itself and the impact of our choices on future generations.

To find out more about Amanda and see the images we refer to in the podcast. https://pipmagazine.com.au/podcasts/pip-podcast-42-amanda-reynolds/

In this Pip Podcast, we chat to Alison about the diverse world of fungi and the importance of fungi in our ecological networks.

Once it was mushrooms attracting all the attention. They still are but the growing interest in mycelium and the notion of subterranean networks of fungi is changing not only how we understand fungi and forests, but life. Fungi provide a fundamental foundation to the forest and are a key to understanding how forests work.

Alison Pouliot is an ecologist, author and environmental photographer who focuses on the fascinating world of fungi.

In this Pip Podcast, we chat to Alison about the diverse world of fungi and its importance in our ecological networks. And explore how fungi can be used in many different and diverse ways – from foraging and consuming fungi to making clothing and packaging products to medicinal uses.

We hope you enjoy this episode and be sure to check out Alison’s article on fungi in Issue #28 of Pip Magazine. Subscribe to get your copy here: https://grow.pipmagazine.com.au/subscriptions/

As overconsumption continues to drive the climate crisis, Tasmanian building designer, Jane Hilliard, is quietly trumpeting the idea that less is actually more.

Jane Hilliard is on a mission to claw back the overconsumption rampant in the building industry. Swimming against the metaphorical tide that promotes ever-expanding McMansion-style developments, Jane champions the concept of ‘enoughness’ in her professional life and in her everyday life, too. 

In Jane’s own words, enoughness is about “working out what you need to be happy and healthy, without taking more than your fair share.” And when our homes are created with this in mind, the positive impacts radiate.

Robyn talks to Rod Angelo, The Happy Farmer, about making his business viable by turning waste streams into inputs that would otherwise have cost money.

Robyn Rosenfeldt speaks with Helena Norberg-Hodge about the localisation movement, and why we need to be creating stronger local food systems and stronger connections within our community.

Author and film maker, Helena Norberg-Hodge is the founder and director of the international non-profit organisation, Local Futures, a pioneer of the new economy movement, and the convenor of World Localisation Day.

Over the past few years, we have been experiencing increasing problems with our country’s supply chains that are leaving us with empty supermarket shelves and issues accessing fresh produce and other supplies.

To combat this, we need to be creating stronger local food economies, where the food we eat is grown within our local communities and not shipped in from across the globe.

How is it that food shipped from the other side of the planet is cheaper than the food grown locally? And why is food grown in one country shipped across the world to be processed, only to be returned and sold back to that country again?

It comes down to global supply chains and trade agreements that favour big business and industrialised agriculture, which make it almost impossible to survive as a small grower.

Creating local food economies increases not only our local food security but also our happiness, as it is connection and community that humans crave.

Norberg-Hodge shares her knowledge and experience of creating local food economies across the globe and ideas about how we can do the same.

To find about more about Helena’s work and the localisation movement go to www.localfutures.org

A discussion with Nick Rose about how we can feed our nation with local ethical food that will help our food security. Nick discusses how we can create change to create a more secure food system.