Crafting gardens for sustainable living.
Servicing the Hunter Valley, Central Coast, and beyond.
With a wealth of knowledge and a dedication to sustainability, we specialise in crafting spaces that seamlessly blend productivity, sustainability, and aesthetic appeal. From quaint country gardens to vibrant vegetable patches, flourishing food forests, and more, our aim is to help you bring your garden or property vision to life.
Join us at our permaculture learning workshops and educational events, tailored for gardeners of all ages and levels of experience. Alternatively, opt for private one-on-one consulting or mentoring sessions, where we come to you. Our holistic approach to garden design encompasses the patterns and the details, complete with bespoke hand-drawn illustrations that capture the essence of your dream garden.
Whether you're a novice embarking on your gardening journey or a seasoned green thumb seeking fresh inspiration, we're here to help you along the way.
Naturalistic
Design
Naturalistic garden design is an approach that seeks to emulate the beauty and spontaneity found in the natural world, creating landscapes that appear harmoniously integrated with their surroundings. This style of gardening aims to capture the essence of wild landscapes while maintaining a deliberate and thoughtful design, famously achieved by designers such as Dan Pearson and Piet Oudolf.
Drawing inspiration from the local ecology, we use both introduced and native plants to promote biodiversity. Elements such as meandering paths, informal plantings, and the use of natural materials contribute to the overall impression of a landscape that has evolved organically over time.
Naturalistic garden design encourages a more relaxed and immersive experience for visitors, fostering a connection to the natural world and an appreciation for the beauty of the changing seasons. It represents a departure from formal and structured gardens, offering a refreshing and more sustainable approach to landscaping that resonates with the inherent beauty of the environment.
Permaculture Design
Are you intrigued by the idea of creating a sustainable and harmonious ecosystem right in your own backyard? Welcome to the world of permaculture, a design system that aims to mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature to create resilient, productive, and regenerative landscapes.
Derived from the words "permanent" and "agriculture," permaculture is more than just a gardening technique; it's a holistic philosophy that encompasses sustainable living in every aspect of our lives. Developed by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970s, permaculture encourages us to work with nature rather than against it, fostering a balance between ecological, social, and economic elements.
Some of the Key Principles of Permaculture:
Observation: The first step in permaculture is keen observation of your surroundings. Take note of climate, topography, water flow, and existing flora and fauna. Understanding these elements lays the foundation for effective design.
Design with Nature: Draw inspiration from natural patterns and ecosystems in your design. For example, planting a variety of complementary crops that work together, known as companion planting, helps increase overall resilience and reduces the need for external inputs.
Use Renewable Resources: Embrace renewable resources and energy-efficient technologies. Permaculture encourages the use of solar power, wind energy, and rainwater harvesting to minimize our ecological footprint.
Waste as a Resource: In permaculture, there's no such thing as waste – only resources. Composting, recycling, and reusing materials are integral to the permaculture mindset.
Integrate Rather than Segregate: Create connections between different elements in your design. For example, integrating livestock with crops can create a self-sustaining system where each element supports the other.
Embarking on a permaculture journey may seem daunting at first, but with each step, you'll be contributing to a more sustainable and interconnected world. As you cultivate your garden, you'll find yourself not just growing plants but cultivating a way of life that respects and restores the balance of the Earth's ecosystems.