Popes Produce

26/05/2025

Popes Produce very last harvest for autumn 2025 -
For further information-
https://mailchi.mp/3e7858915230/summer-of-abundance-preview-18162487

26/05/2025

Last offering before I take a little break for a month.

Offering bouquets of fennel, leek, parsley, lime, lemon, handful of red veined sorrel for $15 - available for pick up this Thursday. Brilliant for pots of soup, roasting, jars of chimichurri and chasing away winter sniffles.

Dm if you’re keen & I’ll send further details ;)

22/05/2025

These are some mighty ridiculous times right now.

Flooding rains, insane droughts creating pandemonium far & wide across the country.

So how do we continue to grow diversity & resilience & not just curl up in a ball?

Local systems are a good place to start.
Diversity plays a big role. Got to spread the eggs & skills across a few baskets.

Here we plant to spread the load. 13 different citrus trees, producing a yield from March until around October - maybe later depending on weather.

We share & trade across the neighbourhood.
Never know exactly what kind of yield to anticipate, the Meyer lemons are vulnerable to all sorts- having very thin skins but oh so juicy! Have yet to discover a way to preserve finger limes - the oils in the skin can really mess with some techniques. Constantly lessons to be learned & skills to build.

And then the Tahitian limes are on the throw down making harvest soo much easier. Who knew they go turn yellow they’re actually at primo ripeness?

Stay curious, hold hope close, embrace biodiversity to know what’s needed with what’s available.

16/05/2025

Popes Produce to grow in spring!
Forming up some collaborations for greater diversity in our nourishing local food system - stay tuned.

15/05/2025

In my aunt’s home, the kitchen was dominated by a massive timber table & the room infused with essence of Aga.
As a kid, I’ve no idea what we ate, but that woodsmoke equaled delicious in my mind.
You always felt welcome at that table.

I’ve no idea if my uncle grew all the veg, but he seemed to spend a lot of time in the backyard, tending quails, pigeons, chickens & would disappear into the shed at the farthest point from the house.

Another aunt had a reputation as a great cook, but I remember the love & stories.
She cooked & preserved & there always seemed a little more to share or put away for later.

Grow stuff, feed people, stay curious, make stuff and do it with love.

Other places will share statistics & the details of the larger food system (& to be honest - that system seemed pretty cooked)

Here we share about our experiences of building stuff, growing adventures, maintained required to keep the flow, community happenings.

Collaboration will get us way further than competition.

Find out what’s happening in your local neighbourhood, get involved in whatever capacity works for you - keep it local & keep it real.

09/05/2025

What a fabulous way to round out the week.

Meeting with Illawarra market gardeners Kerryn , Grant & Tim (Otford) Robert (Warrawong) & yours truely.

It’s an initiative to discuss opportunities for collaboration, share experiences in various fields & how we can come together to provide nutritionally dense produce for our communities across the broad expanse of the Illawarra.

Market gardens provide land services engaging biodiversity - by keeping soil happy, we grow grea food & keep people well nourished.

In an area where land is valued for what you can build on it, not as much how we can support nature supporting us - it seems the job of growing food to feed our region can happen ‘somewhere else’.

These market gardens are shining the light on education & training, growing soil, biodiversity, offering onsite engagement for all ages, basically - grounding people, all through growing great produce & showcasing insights how we can all take a step into a more sustainable Illawarra.

Start where you are. Support local.
Stop & say hi.

Thanks for the photos Grant!

08/05/2025

Compost supports healthy plant growth

Compost not only provides nutrients, but also improves soil structure and soil health – which assists in numerous aspects of facilitating better plant growth.

~Sponsored by the NSW Government through the NSW Environment Protection Authority ~

01/05/2025

Imagine a recessed area in your backyard, then daydreaming into reality an earth covered building that disappears into the landscape.

Well this is exactly what Ben has created! Years in the planning- making sure every material used is either reclaimed/ repurposed or has the best eco credentials for accessible materials.

Oh, add that we had no vehicle access, so it was by the grace of our neighbours sharing their driveway this project actually came to fruition. (They have lifetime invites to backyard gatherings ;)

Many a party has been hosted here, the mud brick walls & double glazed doors make mighty fine insulation - for both audio & temperature!

There’s even a little herb garden just off the deck for that fresh leafy zing at mealtime.

Luckily there’s surf nearby which keeps Ben a happy lad.
The proof though is in the sleeping though, the guest book filled with lovely experiences.

Curious? Follow the link in bio.

10/04/2025

01/04/2025

When times feel washy, challenging & there’s constant momentum, sometimes you just need to plant yourself.

Sometimes when going out for a meal between meetings & commitments is too much - a veranda picnic with mates is the solution. Foraged through the backyard supermarket for all the supplies supplying the vibrancy we needed.

There’s that little kid sense of wonder & achievement when harvesting a happy bunch of carrots. You’ve no idea until they’re out of the ground what’s been going on for several months.

A little cheer goes out when harvesting the first few sweet potatoes planted a while back, in an underutilized pathway.

We’ve planted a teeny veggie patch right outside Cuttlefish Cottage so guests can enjoy the freshest flavours right a point of assembling their meals.

And even though my season is over, there’s always enough to share with friends needing a bit of extra love from the great outdoors.

🌈

08/03/2025

To all the remarkable, powerful, courageous, curious, generous, loving women I admire, have had the privilege to collaborate with and call my friends - Happy International Women’s Day.

Here’s to carving our own paths, growing & tending our own forests of support generating the oxygen we all need to thrive.

Please add more friends that are this for you - I’ll get the ball rolling…..

Shoutout to Samantha Arnull, who I first met in our forest weaving. She spoke with so much love for a mentor who’s bequeathed her studio contents, knowing they would be cherished and put to full use. Deep thinking, curious and a powerful lady advocating for the right to live your true artistic path.
Super chuffed Samatha has made time to facilitate an experimental drawing session next weekend at Art Camp. (Link in bio)

.berbel .austin

05/03/2025

So one of the most gentle, kind hearted people I know has generously made time in her schedule to facilitate a session in our Art Camp next Saturday.

I first met Michele Elliot when I participated in an embroidery workshop (hosted by .first.aid a little while back) & I wanted to sign up to everything she was involved with for her calming, indulgent aunt energy who just sees the best in everyone. Quick to laugh, enjoy the moment & get elbows deep into anything that captures her heart.

Couldn’t be happier for Michele to be demonstrating & guiding us through flower pounding at Art Camp.

Stay tuned for more details on the awesome line up !