It has taken Graham and Annemarie Brookman 25 years to amass their knowledge of living sustainably. Learn how they combat climate change and practice self reliance at one of Australia’s most awarded permaculture homes by attending their Open Day at The Food Forest organic farm and learning centre at Gawler on SATURDAY 19 March
They use a fraction of the water and the energy that normally goes into producing a kilo of food, through intelligent garden and farm design, which includes rainwater catchment and recycling of domestic wastewater.
Other techniques on display include solar hot water, photovoltaic power and passive solar design; even building with straw bales, and there will be a builder, an architect and an engineer who specialize in straw bale construction to lead visitors around the display buildings.
Permaculture design will be explained and visitors will learn about drought-hardy orchards, organic gardening and compost making, food self sufficiency, how to keep chooks in the suburbs, how to reduce fuel usage and many other of sustainable tricks on the 15 hectare urban farm.
Visitors will be able to meet the management team which has been recognised in the Nature Foundation Awards as running SA’s top small business for Environmental Responsibility and Leadership. The Food Forest also runs intensive workshops on organic vegetable growing, free-range poultry, sustainable house design and permaculture.
The Open Day will be in two parts, with Strawbale Building Information from 10am sharp-1pm ($15) and Permaculture talks and inspections from 2pm sharp –5pm ($10). Visitors can also purchase a full-day ticket ($20) and bring a picnic lunch. Children under 16 free. Organic produce will be for sale.
Morning: Strawbale Building Info Session
10am sharp– 1.00pm. No need to book.
Inspect:
• The passive-solar strawbale studio, 3 rooms.
Curved strawbale garden walls
• Eco-gazebo
• Strawbale coldroom
• Homestead extension, 80sq metre, passive-solar
strawbale-stone-galv construction and photovoltaic system
•.Gallery with rock-art oxide decoration
. Historical machinery display shelter.
• Indoor/outdoor living area
See: Displays and slides of strawbale
construction.
Hear: How you can construct your own building
and what it might cost from Lance Kairl, SA’s most experienced strawbale
builder, architect Bohdan Dorniak and engineer Gerald Wittmann, who specialise
in strawbale design
Cost: $15.00 adults, children free. No
pets. Tea, coffee available.
Why not bring lunch and stay on for the whole
property walk in the afternoon which starts at 2pm. Whole day ticket $20.00
Please arrive at 10am as there is a sequential
program.
Afternoon:Permaculture Property Walk &
Talk
2pm sharp- 5pm. No need to book.
Our property tour will start with a brief introduction
to Permaculture, the design system for sustainability. We will then take
you on a walk inspecting revegetation work along the Gawler River,
vegetable gardens and poultry. We will have a look at the passive solar,
energy efficient buildings, solar hot water and photovoltaic systems, rainwater
catchment, compost toilet and reedbed systems. Then to the sanctuary where
native vegetation adds to the diversity amongst fig, apple, pear, carob
and pistachio orchards.
Cost: $10.00 adults, children free. No pets. Tea,
coffee available. Tastings and sales of organic produce will also be available.
Why not attend both events and bring lunch.
All day ticket $20.00
If attending only the afternoon session please
arrive at 2pm as this is a sequential tour.
The address: Clifford Rd, Hillier. Phone 85 226450
or 0407771985 see maps page for directions (Clifford Rd is in Adelaide
street directories)