Permaculture students from the Byron Community College recently spent two days transforming the courtyard behind Mullum’s Punch & Daisy cafe, using the permablitz component of the course to turn a bare courtyard into an urban food landscape.
The cold grey weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the eager students, who were in full blitz mode halfway through day two.
With an aim of ‘bringing permaculture to the streets’, the college had approached local businesses that could offer a site with public exposure in order to promote urban permaculture.
Students spent a month designing and planning the area prior to installation.
Seasonal produce
Co-ordinating the interests of various stakeholders was a key part of the design process, which included the landlord, Punch & Daisy cafe, site manager and social enterprise, Responsible Cafes.
The cafe’s kitchen requested low maintenance and seasonal produce to include on the menu with an abundance of easily harvested herbs.
Alongside annual vegetables are edible flowers and native species, Midgen berries and Davidson plums.
These will provide an edgy point of difference in cafe menu specials when in season.
Key features of the design include recycled-pallet planter boxes with bicycle wheel trellis as well as hanging-pallet gardens fixed to side fences.
Waste reduction elements include green waste composting and a reusable cup initiative led by Responsible Cafes.
Low-cost ideas
The project aims to inspire cafe customers by demonstrating a diversity of small, low-cost ideas for urban food landscapes.
This great community partnership provides a valuable contribution to the local food movement.
The college is running another government-subsidised short permablitz six-week course, starting August 6.
For those interested in enrolling, contact the college on 6684 3374 for more information.
Eligibility criteria applies for the subsidised places.
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