Permaculture for kids

HEATHCOTE Library hosted a talk about permaculture by local author Beck Lowe last weekend.

Lowe co-authored Our Street with David Holmgren and project managed Holmglen’s book Retrosuburbia.

“We were thrilled to welcome Beck Lowe to Heathcote Library for the Permaculture with Kids author talk,” library services officer Emily Alexandra said.

“It was a fantastic opportunity for families to learn about sustainable living in a hands-on, engaging way.

“Books like Our Street and Retrosuburbia are incredibly popular in Australia, internationally, and in our library.

“They inspire people of all ages to think about how they can live more sustainably, and it’s wonderful to see so much interest in permaculture within our community.

“To have an expert of Beck Lowe’s calibre here in Heathcote is such a privilege. Her knowledge and passion for permaculture resonates.

 

“Permaculture can help build stronger, more connected communities.

“In a town like Heathcote, where we value our natural environment and local networks, applying these principles can help us create more resilient neighbourhoods, support local food production, and enhance our shared spaces.”

Lowe has lived in Heathcote for 27 years and has goats, chickens and pigeons as well as an orchard and vegetable garden.

She teaches permaculture principles in Castlemaine, Violet Town, Melbourne and Ballarat, and would be open to running a course in Heathcote if there was enough interest.

“Permaculture is a different way of thinking,” she said. “For example, a weed might be an edible plant.”

When asked about her favourite plant, Lowe said feijoas are one of them.

“Feijoas are great in our climate,” she said.

“They are hardy, easy to grow, and the fruit is delicious.”

Lowe said the book Our Street is the children’s version of Retrosuburbia.

 

“It explores how suburban life changed between the 1950s to 2020s, and provides a positive vision of the future,” she said.

“It is a useful book for parents and educators to help inspire children with positive solutions for sustainable and resilient living, whilst reflecting on Australian history.”

Ms Alexandra thanked Lowe for her insights on permaculture and said it was wonderful to be able to host a local author.

“We want to celebrate Heathcote’s local authors and elevate them to show our support and give the community the opportunity to do the same,” she said.

“Events like this highlight how we can work together to make Heathcote an even more fun, prosperous, and thriving community both now, and in future generations.”