Phillip Richards
I am a teacher and am passionate about organic gardening and farming. I believe in using permaculture principles of sustainability through design where possible and appropriate.
With my family, I moved onto a 100-acre block of gray, sandy, exhausted soil in the middle of Queensland. There was a good reason for choosing this block – it was cheap and almost worthless and covered with a dense wattle regrowth. Here we built a straw bale house and became almost self-sufficient.
We used only organic principles on this farm which we developed to see whether organic farming could pay. It did, but not a fortune.
In preparation for this adventure, I studied rural subjects at a Technical College.
Our farm Scrubby Bend became certified with the Biological Farmers of Australia and as crops came in, we started selling certified organic products though an agent in the Brisbane markets. We grew and sold a range of fruit and vegetables including chilies, patty-pan squash, pumpkin, lemons and peppers and zucchini.
We are now on a smaller place but still grow all our own fruit and vegetables
Latest Articles
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Organic Liquid Fertilizers
Effective and cheap liquid organic fertilizers and foliar sprays can be made at home. Use easily found materials.
Jul 25, 2007
- Phillip Richards
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Organics Reducing Climate Change
Organic farming lessens the effects of climate change. Urs Niggli of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) calls for increased support.
Jul 18, 2007
- Phillip Richards
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Growing Chinese Water Chestnuts
Growing edible and nutritious Chinese water chestnuts is a simple process which produces masses of this delicious aquatic vegetable.
Jul 12, 2007
- Phillip Richards
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Edible Chinese Water Chestnuts
Edible Chinese Water Chestnuts (Eleocharis dulcis), sometimes known as Matai, can be an excellent backyard or medium-scale crop.
Jul 12, 2007
- Phillip Richards
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Responsible Organic Gardening
Organics is becoming more than just growing a few vegetables in the back yard or choosing spotty and grotty fruit from the local market: .
Jul 2, 2007
- Phillip Richards
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Who Says It's Organic
Who oversees organic producers? How do we know our food is grown organically? There are national bodies but internationally IFOAM lays down the basic rules.
Jun 26, 2007
- Phillip Richards
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Organic Merino Wool
Interest is growing in the use of sustainably grown fibres for clothing. Organic wool production is in its infancy but is set to increase to fulfil growing demand.
Jun 12, 2007
- Phillip Richards
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Stay safe garden organically
Do you use pesticides on your pot plants? Beware you may be increasing your risk of cancer.
Jun 6, 2007
- Phillip Richards
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Easy Compost Making
Making good compost is an art and a science but by following some straight-forward suggestions, it becomes a simple process to make organic garden fertilizer at home.
Jun 3, 2007
- Phillip Richards
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Composting Hints
Composting need not be difficult nor make the organic gardener a neighbourhood pariah. Most problems can be overcome quite simply.
May 31, 2007
- Phillip Richards
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