My background is in broadacre farming, having worked as jillaroo, stockman, woolclasser, farm secretary and rural journalist for several years before marrying a farmer. We ran an extended family property for 9 years, before our 4 children and myself moved to our current 15 acre property.

While we were progressive farmers continually extending our education, I felt there was still something missing within our farm management and our people care. It was participating in an Introduction to Permaculture course when my youngest child was a baby, that the light came on. What a relief! Permaculture was the answer to my years of questioning current farming practices.

Activities since that time have centred around developing our home property into a permaculture demonstration site, including a solar passive house, hazelnut and mixed orchards, a food forest, a market garden, and incorporating chooks, ducks, horses and milking cows. In recent years the farm has contributed to generating enough on-farm income to help support my family's simple lifestyle and to continue to home educate my children.

Sharing permaculture learning and experience is a priority and a passion for me. I am currently president of Permaculture Tasmania after several years of facilitating PDCs, organising workshops and exhibitions, consulting and teaching 'Introduction to Permaculture' courses.

As for the future, I look forward into being part of a Tassie team of teachers moving permaculture education forward in Tasmania...and of course playing on my farm!

Delving into Regenerative Agriculture