A 20-year-old plot using permaculture principles, including hot composting, crop rotation and moon planting

A magnificent example of how a closed circuit of recycling, water collection, solar power, and permaculture principles can sustain a lifestyle, this twenty-year-old garden has been lovingly shaped under the watchful eyes of Kate and Alistair. Over the years, it has evolved into a thriving and self-sufficient patch, grounded in knowledge, creativity, and resilience.

Having studied the Berkeley method of hot composting at Burnley Horticultural College in Melbourne, they create the rich “fuel” that feeds their productive soil. This is supported by worm farms and a commitment to Moon Chart Planting, aligning growing cycles with natural rhythms.

The garden features six main raised beds, managed through crop rotation to maximise seasonal harvests. Around these are permanent beds of potatoes, asparagus, artichokes, and berries, while no fewer than 32 fruit trees—some espaliered—add to the diversity. To protect these precious crops, bespoke netted frames have been constructed, ensuring minimal losses from birds, possums, and other pests.

Over more than two decades, Kate and Alistair have fine-tuned specific systems to ensure peak production. Challenges such as possums, root intrusion, and ageing garden structures have been met with practical solutions and thoughtful adaptations, reflecting their deep understanding of the land they tend.

Cooking and preserving are natural extensions of the garden. Having once run a highly successful, hatted restaurant interstate, the couple now channel their skills into celebrating and sharing their harvests. Visitors can explore further via rootsrecipesandreasons.com

Beyond scheduled talks, Kate and Alistair will be available throughout the weekend to discuss preserving techniques and ways to make the most of a home-grown harvest. Around the garden, 10 QR-coded signs link directly to Kate’s stories, offering an enriching, interactive experience that weaves together the botanical, cultural, and culinary significance of plants.

This garden is more than productive—it is a living classroom and an inspiring model of sustainable living, showing how knowledge, care, and passion can create abundance for decades.