Dar’ali Journal
Before Dar’ali | Life at Dar’ali
goodbye garden
After three years it’s time for a new beginning. The fruit trees are thriving, the soil is rich… and the lessons learned are coming with me. Curious what comes next?
early autumn chaos
Six months in, the garden’s transformed into a lush green maze, with the swale quietly doing its work. Watering is barely needed, and pigeon peas are thriving alongside the trees. It’s been a joyful experiment - messy, surprising, and full of life. Come see how much has grown!
sticks and seeds
Sticks piled deep, seeds tucked away, and a secret path soon to appear - my garden’s quietly transforming. Find out how I’m turning bare patches and sandy soil into growing ground.
seeds with love
The soil’s warm, the seeds are ready, and the urge to scatter them freely is there. This season, I’m mixing green manures with flowers, dreaming of veggies, and waiting for a swarm to find the hive I’ve finally placed in the perfect spot.
vermiculture (worm poo)
Pigeon peas, a growing hedge, and a thriving worm bin - slow, steady work in the front garden that grounds me in the city.
spring renewal
Spring is here and the garden plan is coming together. A new swale, veggies up top, trees below, and the chickens are getting a new home.
to swale, or not to swale...?
As the weather warms earlier than expected, I’m questioning whether the swales in my front yard are the best use of energy or if I should instead focus on enriching the sandy soil, caring for the existing plants, and shifting my efforts to create a more private backyard space. 🌿☀️
swales in a suburban garden
I’ve started building swales in the front garden, though I’m now exploring whether a Hugelkultur system might be a better fit for my small urban space.
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!
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.
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!

