The Grow It Local Podcast

Episode 10: How to Save Your Own Seeds with Kat Lavers
In this episode, Paul chats with Kat Lavers, urban farmer, educator, and passionate advocate for seed saving. From her small suburban block in Melbourne—affectionately called The Plummery—Kat grows around 450kg of food each year and has made seed saving a central part of her gardening practice.
Kat explains why saving seeds is one of the most powerful skills a gardener can learn. She demystifies common seed terms (heirloom, hybrid, GMO, open-pollinated), shares practical tips for saving seeds from beans, tomatoes, cucurbits, brassicas, and more, and reveals why preserving biodiversity is vital for resilient future food systems.
 
 
🧠 What You'll Learn
Why seed saving matters for food security and biodiversity



The difference between hybrid, open-pollinated, GMO, heirloom and organic seeds



Practical tips for saving seeds from beans, tomatoes, cucurbits, and brassicas



How to avoid cross-pollination and maintain strong genetics



Techniques for drying, storing, and protecting seeds from pests



How every gardener can help preserve agricultural heritage



 
 
🧰 Resources & Tools Mentioned
Seed Savers' Handbook – by Michel and Jude Fanton



Seed to Seed – by Suzanne Ashworth



Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties – by Carol Deppe



Local seed libraries and community seed exchanges



 
 
🔥 Quotes from Kat
"A seed is a baby plant asleep with its lunch."
"Every gardener is also a plant breeder – because choosing what to save shapes the next generation."
"Saving seeds isn't just thrifty, it's about protecting biodiversity for the future."
 
 
📚 About Kat Lavers
Kat Lavers is a gardener, educator, and permaculture designer based in Melbourne. At her award-winning urban permaculture property The Plummery, she produces most of her household's fresh produce year-round. Kat runs workshops on sustainable gardening and seed saving, inspiring others to build resilience and reconnect with the cycles of nature.
Follow Kat:
📸 Instagram – @kat.lavers
 🌐 Website – katlavers.com.au
 
 
✅ Subscribe & Support
Love the podcast? Don't forget to:
Follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts



Leave a review – it helps more growers find the show



Join our gardening community for seasonal tips, seeds and workshops 👉 growitlocal.com

 
 
 
🙏 Thanks to our Sponsors
This podcast is made possible thanks to our Local Government partners from across Australia and our friends at:
Backyard Farmer



Cyclone Tools



Pope

Episode 9: An Introduction to Permaculture – with Robyn Rosenfeldt
In this episode, Paul is joined by Robyn Rosenfeldt – permaculture practitioner, educator, and founder of PIP Magazine, Australia's premier publication on sustainable living.
Robyn introduces us to the 12 permaculture principles, explaining how they apply not only to our gardens but to our homes, families, and communities. With warmth and practicality, she shows us how permaculture is really about designing systems that mimic nature – making life easier for us and the planet.
 
 
🧠 What You'll Learn
What permaculture really means (beyond gardening)



The 12 permaculture principles explained in everyday language



How to design systems where plants, animals, and people support one another



Why observation is the first step before planting



Practical ways to catch and store energy (water, sun, and food)



Creating closed-loop systems to reduce waste



Using diversity and edges to build stronger ecosystems



Why starting small is the key to success



 
 
🧰 Resources & Tools Mentioned
PIP Magazine – Australia's permaculture and sustainable living magazine



Permaculture books by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren



Moon planting calendars and seasonal guides



 
 
🔥 Quotes from Robyn
"Permaculture is about mimicking nature – creating systems where everything supports each other."
"It's not just gardening. It's how you live in your home, your community, and the world."
"Sometimes it feels like common sense – but it's not so common anymore."
 
 
📚 About Robyn Rosenfeldt
Robyn Rosenfeldt is the founder and editor of PIP Magazine, a beautiful quarterly publication dedicated to permaculture, sustainability, and living lightly. She lives on the far south coast of NSW, where she grows food, raises chickens, and practices permaculture with her family.
Follow Robyn:

📸 Instagram – @pipmagazineau 
 🌐 Website – pipmagazine.com.au
 
 
✅ Subscribe & Support
Love the podcast? Don't forget to:
Follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts



Leave a review – it helps more growers find the show



Join our gardening community for seasonal tips, seeds and workshops 👉 www.growitlocal.com

 
 
 
🙏 Thanks to our Sponsors
This podcast is made possible thanks to our Local Government partners from across Australia and our friends at:
Backyard Farmer



Cyclone Tools



Pope

In this inspiring and info-packed episode, Paul is joined by permaculture educator and perennial plant advocate Morag Gamble shares her wisdom on how to grow more food with less effort by designing your garden around perennials.
Morag walks us through the beauty and benefits of perennial gardens—from soil regeneration to biodiversity, resilience, and ease of care. She unpacks how shifting from annual-based gardening to perennial-based systems can make gardening more peaceful, abundant, and sustainable. You'll also hear how her eco-village life at Crystal Waters influences her approach and how perennial gardens are the ultimate act of cooperation with nature.
This episode is brimming with practical tips, plant ideas, and philosophical reflections that will leave you itching to get outside and plant something that lasts a lifetime.
🌿 What We Cover:
What perennials are and why they matter in the garden



How perennial systems build soil and biodiversity



Designing gardens that feed people, animals, pollinators—and the soil



Morag's top perennial picks and planting strategies



Integrating chickens and wildlife into perennial systems



How perennial thinking reduces pests, supports resilience, and saves time



Using layers, mosaic planting, and composting in-place



Edible shrubs, teas, root crops, and self-seeding wonders



Designing edible "shrubberies," hedges, and food forests



Pot gardening and tips for those with limited space



Real talk on mistakes, soil love, and keeping things simple



🌱 Top Takeaways:
Perennials = Less Work, More Yield. Once established, they just keep giving.



Start with the soil. Healthy soil means healthier, easier gardening.



Design for diversity. Multiple layers and mixed planting help with pest control, moisture retention, and abundance.



Work with nature. From chickens to wallabies, wildlife can be part of the garden ecosystem.



Grow to share. Take cuttings, gift perennials, and spread the garden love.



 
 
🔗 More from Morag:
 
Instagram: @moraggamble

YouTube: Our Permaculture Life 

Education & Courses: Permaculture Education Institute

 
 
 
🙏 Thanks to our Sponsors
This podcast is made possible thanks to our Local Government partners from across Australia and our friends at:
Backyard Farmer



Cyclone Tools



Pope

In this episode, Paul chats with Kate Flood, aka The Compost Coach, about breaking down the biggest composting myths and making composting feel simple, achievable, and rewarding.
Kate is passionate about helping households and communities turn waste into living soil. She explains how composting is both art and science, and why it doesn't need to feel complicated. From busting myths about citrus, onions, and paper to exploring hot composting, cold composting, and Bokashi, this conversation will equip you with practical tools to build confidence in your own composting journey.
 
 
🧠 What You'll Learn
Why compost isn't complicated (and how to keep it simple)



The four universal ingredients of compost: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and water



Why cold, slow composting can be just as valuable as hot composting



The role of compost activators like manure, comfrey, coffee grounds and Bokashi



How Bokashi works, and why it's a great way to process "compost no-nos" like meat and citrus



Aeration hacks (compost lungs, wood chips, and garden stakes) that save you from heavy turning



The truth about paper, inks, and PFAS in food packaging



Common compost myths—and why they shouldn't stop you from getting started



 
 
🧰 Resources & Tools Mentioned
Compost activators (coffee grounds, comfrey, manure, Bokashi)



DIY Bokashi bucket setups



Compost thermometers and the squeeze test



Aeration hacks: compost lungs, aged wood chips, and garden stakes



 
 
🔥 Quotes from Kate
"Composting is a living system – billions of microbes are waiting to be fed."
"Forget the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio – just remember the four essentials: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and water."
"If you've heard a compost myth that says 'you can't add X', remember: it all breaks down in nature."
 
 
📚 About Kate Flood
Kate Flood is The Compost Coach – an educator, author, and sustainability advocate. Through her workshops, writing, and hands-on community projects, she empowers people to turn food scraps and garden waste into living soil. Her book The Compost Coach is a practical guide to busting compost myths and building confidence at any scale. You can grab yourself a copy HERE
Follow Kate:
📸 Instagram – @compostable.kate
 
 
✅ Subscribe & Support
Love the podcast? Don't forget to:
Follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts



Leave a review – it helps more growers find the show



Join our gardening community for seasonal support, seeds and workshops 👉www.growilocal.com



 
 
🙏 Thanks to our Sponsors
This podcast is made possible thanks to our Local Government partners from across Australia and our friends at:
Backyard Farmer



Cyclone Tools



Pope

In this episode, Paul chats with the inspiring Hannah Churton, a passionate composter and educator who believes worm farming is one of the simplest and most powerful steps we can all take towards living more sustainably.
Hannah takes us inside the world of worm farms – how they work, why they matter, and how you can get started (or improve your setup) today. From troubleshooting common issues to harvesting rich castings for your garden, this conversation will leave you ready to put worms to work at your place.
 
 
🧠 What You'll Learn
Why composting with worms helps reduce food waste and greenhouse gases



The science behind vermicomposting (and why worm poo is garden gold)



What you can – and can't – feed your worms



The four essentials of every worm farm: food, water, air and temperature



How to harvest and use worm castings in your garden



Troubleshooting common worm farming problems (overfeeding, excess moisture, acidity, pests)



Why wormfarming is perfect for small spaces and urban living



 
 
🧰 Resources & Tools Mentioned
Worm farms (urban and backyard setups)



Carbon sources: newspaper, egg cartons, leaf litter, coco coir



Sifters and simple DIY harvest methods



Tips for managing fruit flies and balancing acidity



 
 
🔥 Quotes from Hannah
"Worm castings are the gold – they're what makes your garden thrive."
"Don't overthink it. Keep it simple, and the worms will do the work for you."
"Food, water, air, and temperature – get those right, and your worm farm will always come back to life."
 
 
📚 About Hannah Churton
Hannah is a composting educator, wormfarming advocate and workshop facilitator who helps people reduce their waste while building healthier soils. She has inspired countless households to start their own worm farms and experience the joy of closing the loop from food scraps back into the garden.
Follow Hannah on Insta  👉@the_worm_monger
 
 
✅ Subscribe & Support
Love the podcast? Don't forget to:
Follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts



Leave a review – it helps more growers find the show



Join our gardening community for seasonal support, seeds and workshops 👉  www.growitlocal.com

 
 
🙏 Thanks to our Sponsors
This podcast is made possible thanks to our Local Government partners from across Australia and our friends at:
Backyard Farmer



Cyclone Tools



Pope