Practical Permaculture | Gardening and Intentional Living

• Melliodora Musings: Food, Family & the Future with Su Dennett

  Check out Botanical Bazaar festival here: ⁠https://bit.ly/3Rsvdfl⁠The 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 bellyWhether 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/retrosuburbiaofficialhttps://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.

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• Snackin' Off the Beaten Path A Forager's Tale with Chanterelle

  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 superfoodsTools and tips for safe, sustainable foraging 🧺The joy of finding dinner growing in your backyardHow foraging workshops are keeping ancient wisdom aliveWhether 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-1We 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.

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• The Joy of Growing Food and plants with Sustainable Holly

  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.

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• Big BEE energy - Meet Clancy "the bee guy"

  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.ausBluesky- https://bsky.app/profile/georgeclancylester.bsky.socialWe 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.

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• BONUS EP Where is Jo??

  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!

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