before dar’ali | life at dar’ali
re-designing the garden
The garden has been left to grow wild over winter, in both beautiful and challenging ways. As spring approaches, I’m planning a redesign guided by permaculture principles: installing swales to manage water flow, relocating the chicken coop, and making better use of the shady and sunny areas with native plantings. It’s time to prepare for the seasons ahead so check out the latest photos and follow along as the transformation begins. 🌱🌧️🐝
growing in containers
Inspired by a verge find, I turned some old drawers into seedling containers - oiled for weatherproofing and reinforced with metal brackets. A great way to give new life to discarded materials!
permaculture design course at ‘Bandusia’
I recently completed a Permaculture Design Course at Bandusia with the Sydney Permaculture Institute. As part of the course, I created this brief outline of the core principles of permaculture covering everything from energy-efficient planning to diversity, biological resources, and the edge effect.
winter rain
The winter rain has kept the garden thriving — green, vibrant, and producing food. Check out the pics!
February downpours
With late summer rains, sunshine, and a steady supply of compost, worm castings, and chicken manure, the garden is finally thriving. It still has a way to go, but it’s beginning to feel grounded - like it’s truly finding its feet.
expanding worm farm
Inspired by Alys Fowler’s The Thrifty Gardener, I built a new worm farm from a repurposed garden box — just a hardwood base and a hinged lid turned it into a stylish, functional piece that’s feeding the garden for next to nothing.
composts and worm farms
Building healthy soil has become my main focus, with a tumbler compost and worm farm working side by side to feed the garden. Through layers of scraps, seaweed, straw, and patience, I'm learning that good compost takes time — but it’s the heart of a thriving, sustainable garden.
hot summers
Australia’s harsh summers and sandy soil have challenged my dream of a lush, UK-style garden. After failed irrigation and endless mulching, I’m learning to adapt - leaning into permaculture, rethinking plant choices, and reshaping the garden to suit the land, not the other way around.
permacultured rabbits
Two beloved rabbits became part of our garden ecosystem.
the first spring
Guided by sun and permaculture, we’re turning our front yard into a thriving mix of fruit trees, veggies, herbs, and flowers — a garden that’s both beautiful and edible.
our own place
A move to the wild west side of town brings new soil, a blank slate, and unexpected lessons from UK gardener Alys Fowler. With sandy ground, a few hardy plants, and a permaculture mindset, I'm learning to grow a garden that feeds both body and spirit.
the saanen goats
Who said you can’t have goats in the city? We bought two Sannen dairy goats to help clear some weeds on our big urban block and learnt a lot along the way. Read what happened!
front yard veggies
Another move and a new garden bed design, this time in the front yard. Take a look at our European inspired permaculture veggie garden.
garden by the sea
Starting a communal garden in our new place near the ocean, take a look at how we boosted the soil for a successful veggie patch.
growing in small spaces
After a year in regional Queensland we've moved back to the city for work and to be closer to family, and into a garden flat. Check out the start of our journey growing in small spaces.
Jon - keeper of the bamboo
Through the fence at the end of the property and just a little way from our house there's an incredible bamboo forest.
our first garden
With very little knowledge or know how, our first garden illustrates one of the 12 principals of permaculture: obtain a yield!
5 November 2005 - a beginning: living in a nature corridor
Where it all began! Read about how our journey towards self-sustainability started when we moved to a straw bale house in the Noosa hinterland.