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: @hampustheorganicgardener

Website: www.hampustheorganicgardener.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.

Check out Botanical Bazaar festival here: ⁠https://bit.ly/3Rsvdfl⁠The Gold Coast's Premier Gardening and Sustainable living festival August 2nd and 3rd.

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.

Show notes:

In this episode of The Practical Permaculture Podcast, Alysse sits down with the inspiring duo Ashleigh and Jarrod, who left the city, lived in a tent (WHILE PREGNANT!) to build a cozy, eco-conscious  built with hempcrete! (Spoiler alert —  it’s amazing.)

Join us for a chat about their journey through the highs and lows of building a sustainable home from the ground up. Navigating building codes and pushing for their non negotiable items (double glazing) Ashleigh and Jarrod share how they turned their permaculture principles into practical, livable reality — one step at a time.

Expect real talk about:
🌱 Why they ditched the conventional path for a greener one
🏗️ The world of hempcrete and climate-smart design
🚽 What it really takes to manage waste sustainably
🎓 Their passion for teaching others through tours and workshops

Whether you're dreaming of a sustainable build or just love a good back-to-the-land story, this episode will leave you fired up and full of ideas for building a home — and a life — that works with nature, not against it.

Connect with Ashleigh and Jarrod:

 www.thesimplepatch.com

https://www.instagram.com/thesimplepatch/

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" it

Whether 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. Mummas, time to tend to your inner garden — we’re heading into Zone 00. 🌸In this episode of The Practical Permaculture Podcast, Alysse sits down with the wise and wonderful Jodi Wilson— mother, author, and all-around matrescence maven — to explore the often-overlooked terrain of Zone 00: our selves. Together, they unpack the wild, tender journey of modern motherhood — from identity shifts and mental health to the sacred messiness of it all. Jodi shares how matrescence (think adolescence, but with nappies and deeper soul work) shaped her worldview, and why tending to our inner world is just as vital as caring for our gardens.Expect real talk, nourishing insights, and plenty of gentle reminders that yes — you are doing enough. 🌼You’ll hear about:🌻 How permaculture principles apply to your mind, body, and motherhood🛁 The power of rituals, boundaries, and slow living🤯 Why our culture kinda sets moms up to burn out — and what to do about it🌙 Practical ways to reclaim your joy, presence, and sanity💗 The surprising connection between self-awareness and sustainabilityWhether you’re a mama deep in the trenches or just craving a reset for your inner world, this episode will leave you feeling grounded, seen, and inspired to grow from the inside out. Connect with Jodi:Substack Practising Simplicity https://practisingsimplicity.substack.com/and Dear New Mum https://dearnewmum.substack.com/Book- Practising Simplicity https://yourbookstore.io/p/practising-simplicity-small-steps-and-brave-choices-for-a-life-less-distracted?barcode=9781922351708We 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/3Rsvdfl⁠

The Gold Coast's Premier Gardening and Sustainable living festival August 2nd and 3rd.  

Pack your gumboots and curiosity — we're heading to Melliodora! In this episode of The Practical Permaculture Podcast, Alysse sits down with the incredible Su Dennett: community builder, local food champion, and one half of the dream team behind Melliodora, Australia’s iconic permaculture homestead.

Together, they chat about what it really means to live simply in a not-so-simple world. From buying land and growing food to building deep connections with neighbours, Su shares her lived wisdom on relocalisation, resilience, and why slowing down might just be the ultimate act of resistance.

Expect heartfelt stories about motherhood, identity, and navigating the chaos of modern life with a grounded, generous spirit. Su reflects on her roots, her cultural influences, the power of passing down knowledge, and how being a role model (even when it’s messy) helps shape future generations.

You’ll hear: 

🌾 Why local food systems are the heartbeat of healthy communities
🏡 What it’s like to build a life at Melliodora
💬 The importance of vulnerability, storytelling & real conversations
🤝 Conflict resolution tips straight from decades of community living
🥗 Why shared meals are magic—and not just for your belly

Whether you're permaculture-curious or already knee-deep in compost, this chat will leave you inspired to grow, connect, and rethink what “living well” really looks like.

More about Su: 

Su Dennett is a permaculture elder and local food pioneer who’s been plating up change for the last four decades.

She lives at Melliodora, the internationally recognised permaculture demonstration site in Central Victoria, alongside partner David Holmgren, permaculture co-originator, and a cast of goats, chooks, bees, orchards, gardens and exchange-based households.

Su’s seasonal wholefood lunches are an institution, feeding up to a dozen people each day – and many more on tours and Permaculture Design Courses.

In 2013 Su was added to Hepburn Shire Council's Women's Honour Roll for her fierce leadership in simple, low impact living. 

Connect here:

https://hub.holmgren.com.au/lp/do-with-su/season-one/online-permaculture-series/

https://www.instagram.com/retrosuburbiaofficial

https://hub.holmgren.com.au/lp/do-with-su/zine/numero-uno/

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 superfoods

• Tools and tips for safe, sustainable foraging 🧺

• The joy of finding dinner growing in your backyard

• How foraging workshops are keeping ancient wisdom alive

Whether 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-1

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 here: https://bit.ly/3RsvdflGold coast Premier Gardening and Sustainable living festival August 2nd and 3rd.

In this weeks chat, Alysse sits down with Holly, the passionate permaculture gardener behind Sustainable Holly, to dive into her sustainable gardening journey. 🌱 From her childhood in New Zealand to her gardening adventures in the hot, dry climate of Perth, Holly shares how she’s adapted and thrived in the garden.In this episode, you’ll hear all about:🌼 Different garden challenges including climates and sizes – How Holly tackled the climate shift and the challenges of gardening in a hot, arid environment.🌿 The Magic of Biodiversity – Why having a variety of plants is key to a thriving, resilient garden (and how it looks way cooler too!).🍅 Seed Saving & Plant Identification – Holly’s unique approach to saving seeds and identifying plants, plus why letting nature run its course is often the best strategy!💚 Growing Food & Facing Fears – The joy of growing your own food, the fears beginners often face, and how to embrace mistakes as part of the learning process.🌸 Exploring Unusual Plants – Get inspired to experiment with lesser-known plants and how starting small can lead to big rewards in your garden.If you’re looking for a bit of gardening inspiration and want to learn more about how to create a garden that works with nature, this episode is for you!Tune in to hear how Holly’s hands-on experiences and creative approach to sustainable gardening can inspire you to dig in, experiment, and grow with confidence! 🌻🔗 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you loved this episode! Let’s keep spreading the gardening love! 🌿Connect with Holly:https://www.youtube.com/c/SustainableHollyhttps://sustainableholly.com/https://www.instagram.com/sustainable_holly/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 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.aus

Bluesky- https://bsky.app/profile/georgeclancylester.bsky.social

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.

A few people have asked "Where is Jo?" here is a little update of where Jo has been and how she will be involved in the Podcast going forward... We love you Jo!

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, I chat about my journey of building a "sustainable" house, focusing on how we have looked at the build from a permaculture perspective.