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Commenced:
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01/01/2006 |
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Submitted:
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02/02/2011 |
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Last updated:
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26/09/2020 |
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Location:
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131 Anambah Road, Maitland, NSW, AU |
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Phone:
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0249320443 |
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Website:
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www.purplepearfarm.com.au |
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Climate zone:
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Warm Temperate |
Purple Pear is a biodynamic farm offering food through a Community Supported Agriculture scheme and education in Permaculture, Biodynamics and Skills for Living Sustainably.
Purple Pear Farm is located on 14 acres in the Hunter Valley in NSW Australia and was established in 2006 using Permaculture design principles.
The market garden, that supplies more than twenty families with a box of food each week (and growing), is designed along the lines of the mandala garden as described by Linda Woodrow.
We have separate areas with olives, grapes and nuts and are building a food forest across a North east slope around a swale.
Two jersey cows provide milk and milk products such as cheese and yoghurt to the family and workers.
Power is solar with a 2.4 kw array grid interactive.
Composting toilets and reed bed systems are utalized to contain recources.
We offer three PDC's each year with varying formats to suit varying needs. We run an introduction and a foundation course in Biodynamics and we run day and half day workshops on skills for living sustainably.
Note: The various badges displayed in people profiles are largely honesty-based self-proclamations by the individuals themselves. There are reporting functions users can use if they know of blatant misrepresentation (for both people and projects). Legitimacy, competency and reputation for all people and projects can be evidenced and/or developed through their providing regular updates on permaculture work they’re involved in, before/after photographs, etc. A spirit of objective nurturing of both people and projects through knowledge/encouragement/inspiration/resource sharing is the aim of the Worldwide Permaculture Network.
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MemberA member is a permaculturist who has never taken a PDC course. These cannot become PDC teachers. Members may be novice or highly experienced permaculturists or anywhere in between. Watch their updates for evaluation. |
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Permaculture MatchmakerOne of these badges will show if you select your gender and the "I'm single, looking for a permaculture partner" option in your profile. |
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PDCPeople who claim to have taken a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course somewhere in the world. |
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PDC VerifiedPeople who have entered an email address for the teacher of their PDC course, and have had their PDC status verified by that teacher. Watch their updates for evaluation. |
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PRI PDCPeople who’ve taken a Permaculture Research Institute PDC somewhere in the world. |
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PDC TeacherPeople who claim to teach some version of PDC somewhere in the world. |
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PRI TeacherWith the exception of the ‘Member’ who has never taken a PDC, all of the above can apply to become a PRI PDC Teacher. PRI PDC Teachers are those who the PRI recognise, through a vetting board, as determined and competent to teach the full 72-hour course as developed by Permaculture founder Bill Mollison – covering all the topics of The Designers’ Manual as well as possible (i.e. not cherry picking only aspects the teacher feels most interested or competent in). Such teachers also commit to focussing on the design science, and not including subjective spiritual/metaphysical elements. The reason these items are not included in the PDC curriculum is because they are “belief” based. Permaculture Design education concerns itself with teaching good design based on strategies and techniques which are scientifically provable. PRI PDC Teachers may be given teaching and/or consultancy offerings as they become available as the network grows. |
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Aid WorkerThe individual with this badge is indicating they are, have, or would like to be involved in permaculture aid work. As such, the individual may or may not have permaculture aid worker experience. Watch their updates for evaluation. |
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ConsultantThe individual with this badge is indicating they are, have, or would like to do paid permaculture design consultancy work. As such, the individual may or may not have permaculture consultancy experience. Watch their updates for evaluation. |
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Community ProjectCommunity projects are projects that help develop sustainable community interaction and increase localised resiliency. |
A Tour of Purple Pear Farm- come have a look.
Internships with the PDC
Three Sisters visit the farm.
I have bean going to squash this corny story but it just has to come out.
The water tank stand.
renovation on the propagation house required a new and innovative stand for the tank.
Apologies for tardiness
I have come to realize that I have not shared with you the goings on at Purple Pear for some time.
Garlic & Onion Harvest
Weather did not suit but we got the crop in and now we ensure it keeps!!
Update - No Dig Beds
Thought you may be interested in revisiting the beds as production ramps up. Now and Then Pics.
No Dig Beds
The areas at the side of the mandala gardens is bought into production early using the no dig method by Ester Deans.
PDC under subscribed
Our Permaculture Design Course for October needs you.
Fruit tree guilds
The thirty fruit trees that are part of the Mandalas have a guild including plants and herbs to help them be the best they can be.
polyculture garlic
This is a secondary post on our garlic crop and how we bring it to harvest. I hope to explain in this post about the polyculture in a mono looking crop
Planting garlic
Does your garlic get inundated with rye and winter grass? It can take the shine off a plesent experience. A "trick" I learned some years ago on the PRI forum http://forums.permaculture.org.au has helped us and may help you too.
Planting, planting and more planting here at PP
After the extremely hot and dry summer we've had we are taking advantage of the beautiful Autumnal weather to do some serious tree plantings.
Our Island in the Sun - revisited
some rain has fallen here at Purple Pear and the duck pond is now filled so we have happy ducks.
Supacycled chook house.
A hen house made from the crate that solar panels come packed in - now that is recycling !!!
3 Cheeses in 3 Hours.
Skills for living sustainably bought "Cheese Making" and "Keeping a House Cow" to Purple Pear this weekend.
Poisonous Zuchinni
Pinched from my post elsewhere this is a warning for those who look on the humble zuchinni as harmless.
Biological control of pests.
At Purple Pear we do not abide killing. The control of pests is done with the assistance of beneficials.
Our Island in the sun.
We have had plenty of sun lately and very little rain. Turning this to an opportunity was easy. While the duck pond is empty, why not put in a Mollison inspired island. We may even call it Tassie.
Land share available.
Do you wish for land to grow food? Would you consider adopting a mandala garden? Do you live in or moving to the Hunter Valley NSW? We may have something for you.
Mandala Market Garden
This is for those who know that going around in circles will lead to productivity gains.
Animals - a part of the Farm Organism.
So much of what is right about Purple Pear Farm can be traced back to the animals that exert their influences on the farm.
Education Programme 2011
These are the topics we will cover at Purple Pear this year. Contact us for more information.