Have you ever wanted to grow your own nutritious produce at home, make your own cheese and bake delicious sourdough bread?
On 12 October from 10am, award-winning Sunshine Coast permaculture teacher Elisabeth Fekonia is giving a free talk at Noosaville Library to share her insights and practical achievements of grassroots living.
“You are what you eat is a well-known saying but have you ever thought of eating what you produce? Growing and producing your own food is fast becoming an ideal that many people are now striving for, especially as a greater awareness of organic food is becoming mainstream,” Elisabeth said.
During the past 30 years, she has created a chemical-free haven at her Sunshine Coast home, with a rich tapestry of livestock, edible gardens, bees and trees.
“We are about 70 per cent food self-sufficient on our 6 acres at Black Mountain and have been hard at it for over 30 years. During most of this time we have had quite a collection of milking cows, goats, pigs, chooks, turkeys, bees, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and worm farms,” she said.
“I think the reasons for growing and producing our own food are rather more complex than just avoiding chemically produced food.
“It’s more about lifestyle, getting in there and living at a grassroots level, physically pouring ourselves into looking after our own needs rather than being a consumer and giving responsibility for our health to others.
“The food we produce on our farm is far superior in nutrition and taste than something that comes from a shop shelf. This is because no-one else cares more than we do about the quality of the food we eat.”
Elisabeth has written four books, on year-round organic vegetable gardening and fermenting.
“My fermenting book includes cheese making and sourdough bread and this is my most popular book. I have written a vegan edition as well with vegan cheese recipes,” she said.
Elisabeth recently launched her fourth book, Growing and Cooking Tropical Vegetables in a food forest garden. The 146-page hardcover book covers everything from concept to cultivation, including soil preparation, plant selection and growing tips, plus there are more than 130 recipes to make sure you’re using every ingredient from your food forest.
During next month’s library talk, Elisabeth will also chat about her journey into the world of publishing.
“It was both a good and bad experience and I will discuss the pitfalls in my presentation.”
Bookings for the free library talk are essential. Book online now. Or book in person with staff at the counter of any of library branch, via phone 5329 6555 or via email libraries@noosa.qld.gov.au.
For anyone unable to attend the library presentation, Elisabeth’s books are all available online at www.permaculturerealfood.com.au.
