Peter Matthiessen, writer – farewell & thanks

May 26, 2014 Journal

I’VE READ ONLY one book by Peter Matthiessen, and that was some time in the 1980s. It was his tale of wandering in search of the fabled Himalayan…

Rebuilding the Foodshed — the book

April 27, 2014 The alt.food movement

THERE's a lot in Philip Ackerman-Leist's book, Rebuilding the Foodshed, but don't expect to come away from reading it with a formula to go and create a viable…

Science commentators clash on communication

April 7, 2014 Citizen journalism

IF WHAT an article in The Conversation claims is true, then I’m surprised. Surprised that someone of Tim Flannery’s standing appears to know so little about effective advocacy…

The Organ Pipes Track — sunshine and ice

February 16, 2014 A Tasmanian journey

A Tasmanian journey… “WHAT’S THIS?”. Fiona holds out her hand as if to catch whatever it is that has started to fall from the sky… small, soft flakes…

Booklets a waypoint in permaculture history

February 16, 2014 Permaculture

SOMETIMES, useful things come at small scale. So it was with the 'Useful' series of booklets produced for those establishing permaculture systems ...

Forgotten islands

February 1, 2014 A Tasmanian journey

A Tasmanian journey… LIKE THE AUTHOR, when I lived in Tasmania I too felt the allure of the Bass Strait islands. Unlike the author, changing circumstances prevented me…