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About Kathleen McCann

Permaculturalist Kathleen McCann comes to About Regional under the banner of “growing food.”

Kathleen started her business Luscious Landscapes in response to concern for the future of our natural environment and the sustainability of human life.

She offers a different approach to garden and landscape design by using techniques and practices that stem from permaculture design models.

Permaculture is a world-wide movement of designers, teachers, & grassroots activists working to restore damaged ecosystems & human communities.

It is inspired by practical techniques and principles from the study of natural systems which can be applied to our own backyards for growing food and people.

Its aim is to create systems that will sustain the present as well as future generations.

Kathleen’s connection with the South Coast of NSW goes back some 40 years or more.

She has always had a garden, but it was a course with Brogo master John Champagne in 2004 where the permaculture die was cast and set.

Kathleen continued her studies in permaculture practices over the next few years and is now a qualified permaculture teacher. She regularly delivers workshops and training courses on all things permaculture and garden throughout south east NSW.

More at http://www.lusciouslandscapes.com

All Articles

Gardening in dry times – tips from Perma-Queen Kathleen McCann
Community

Gardening in dry times – tips from Perma-Queen Kathleen McCann

Everything is so dry. We are now living (and some of our most beautiful plants and animals only just living!) in very difficult conditions in South East NSW. What can we do to help keep our plants alive and our vegetable gardens healthy and hearty? Here are a few go-to techniques and idea that have helped me ride out dry...
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Kathleen’s Bega Valley Tiny House Adventure – part 1
Community

Kathleen’s Bega Valley Tiny House Adventure – part 1

It all began with a friend who was totally besotted with the trend of tiny home designs. The popular Youtube/TV series - Living Big in a Tiny Home, was feeding his addiction, soon I was watching and dreaming as well. The dye was cast and now I am on my own tiny house journey. Most of my peers are middle-aged...
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What to do when your dunny blows over!
Environment

What to do when your dunny blows over!

We had big winds at my place recently - 150kms/hr according to BOM, so strong that it blew over my wonderous tardis of an outdoor drop pit toilet. It had stood proudly in that spot for nearly 20 years. This small and important building was solidly built and must weigh at least half a tonne if not more....didn't matter though...
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No rain and now the wind! Help your veggie plot survive the dry
Community

No rain and now the wind! Help your veggie plot survive the dry

In these drying times, we often think its the lack of rain that is the reason behind our failing garden, but it is the wily wind that pulls out most of the moisture from our plants and soils. We are now facing stronger warmer winds from the west, so what strategies can be put in place to lessen these effects?...
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Bamboozled by modern times – GO CAMPING!
Opinion

Bamboozled by modern times – GO CAMPING!

We are all inundated with talk of drought, changing climates, tougher times ahead. How are you feeling about all that? Are you coping with all that is being asked of us? Are you feeling overwhelmed and confused? Tired and exhausted? Is the worry of it all getting you down? What can you do to get back that feeling of control,...
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Reducing the need for toilet paper, your next step in a zero waste life
Environment

Reducing the need for toilet paper, your next step in a zero waste life

Have you ever thought about how much toilet paper is used throughout the world each day and how many trees are going into making it? Yes, there is recycled paper, but sales are still not high enough to keep our native forests from being chipped. One tree produces about 200 rolls, 45 kg of toilet paper and about 83 million...
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“There are so many ways to compost in your backyard” – Kathleen McCann
Community

“There are so many ways to compost in your backyard” – Kathleen McCann

Just about everything organic is compostable. From food scraps, waste paper products, old clothes (natural fibres of course) even dead animals and manure from all things (even us!). Composting is a fantastic way to return valuable resources back to your garden or paddock. Here are a few of my tried and trusted methods for reclaiming all that waste. Dig it...
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Kathleen McCann and her garden still ‘growing’ 12 months after bushfire
Community

Kathleen McCann and her garden still ‘growing’ 12 months after bushfire

Editors note: This Monday marks the one year anniversary of the Reedy Swamp, Vimy Ridge, and Tathra Bushfire. Sixty-five homes were lost on March 18, 2018. A number of community events are planned to mark the occasion. Sharing stories from that day has proven to be much needed and effective. The Stories of March 18 group recently hosted a writing...
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Bushfire Hazard Reduction – a permaculturalist’s view on pile burns
Opinion

Bushfire Hazard Reduction – a permaculturalist’s view on pile burns

Everyone likes a good bonfire. Most of us have grown up with the idea that a big bunch of burnables in a gigantic pile is great family entertainment. It was once, but now with the drying out of our forest lands and hotter weather extremes, pile burning has become an issue. When you pile burn, two things happen - carbon...
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Spring is supposedly just around the corner, actually it’s here! By Kathleen McCann
Environment

Spring is supposedly just around the corner, actually it’s here! By Kathleen McCann

Are you set to get into spring and all that it entails - making your garden ready for the next few months of warming conditions? In some gardens on the south coast, plants (as well as animals and birds!) have already begun their explosion of flowers, perfume, and accelerated growth. What to do? Well, hopefully you've survived the challenge of...
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Put the kettle on, it’s time to get in the garden. Kathleen’s autumn-winter checklist.
Environment

Put the kettle on, it’s time to get in the garden. Kathleen’s autumn-winter checklist.

The colder months are here and our region really feels it. Life retreats only planning to stir with the first rays of spring, but don't you retreat from your vegepatch or orchard, there are things to be done and still food to grow. First a bit of observance - with a cuppa and sitting in the sun in the middle of...
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The big dry – how to help your garden survive with plants up to the challenge
Environment

The big dry – how to help your garden survive with plants up to the challenge

Everything is crispy, trees are turning up their toes and dust is now the common ground cover. How on earth can we keep a productive vegetable patch and prevent fruit trees from losing their crop in these extreme dry times? Part of the answer - grow plants that are up to the challenge. Heat tolerant plants for the vegetable garden:...
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Veges galore – What is the secret to an abundant garden?
Environment

Veges galore – What is the secret to an abundant garden?

It's all about the base, 'bout the base, 'bout the base...the garden bed base that is. If you want to grow luscious healthy, strong and abundant vegetables, herbs and flowers, you are going to need good quality soil. As well as good soils, a vegetable bed needs aeration, sunshine, water and lots and lots of food - if you want...
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Don’t panic! Use bio-diversity in your climate change garden
Environment

Don’t panic! Use bio-diversity in your climate change garden

Some call it the quickening, some call it sprinter but I call it a bit bloody weird this weather hey! It’s getting warmer and wetter, which has the feel of the sub-tropics along many parts of the far south coast of NSW, so have you thought about growing food that may not traditionally belong in your climate zone? In Permaculture...
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