Watts Permaculture Case Study

The Story

Goshen & Katrina were looking for a small family home within walking distance to schools, transport and shops. In 2008 they found a renovated, 1950’s brick-veneer home on 1,000m² of land only 3 minutes walk from the high street. The block had been almost entirely cleared as the previous owner’s intention was to build units, but luckily these plans fell through, and the potential for an immense permaculture garden was immediately apparent to the new owners!

The renovation was (unfortunately) not very eco-minded, no insulation, gas central heating and a very hot westerly aspect to the new ‘sunroom’.

Some changes were made (low-hanging fruit); like solar system, ceiling insulation, decommissioning the central heating and installing an efficient gas wall-heater and passive solar heater. Other changes included replacing down-lights with just two compact fluro globes, and plumbed in a water tank to toilets and laundry. It’s not an eco-home, but allowed for comfortable living on a much reduced energy budget.

With such a blank canvas for the garden, the hunt was on for materials from the word go. Recycled bricks, used pavers & wood of all sizes and shapes were collected and stockpiled. Mulch, straw and trailer loads of stable manure were collected for the garden.

Major infrastructure installed included additional decking area with a 5,000lt bladder tank underneath, additional water tanks, paving and central plunge-pond (on a budget). A custom built glass house – built with the help of Goshen’s dad in 2010 (at the same time of the arrival of their son Asher), and the ‘anti-aviary’ completed the major infrastructure and contributes significantly to the productivity of the site and the well-being of the people involved with it.

Challenges have included multiple battles with various invasive grasses, heavy clay soil, drainage and difficulties directing water flows on a flat site.

Permaculture features prominently – with nearly all recycled materials, water flows, rainwater harvesting, chickens & guinea pigs, food forest area, and multiple compost systems operating simultaneously.

Resilience

 

Although connected to mains electricity, water and gas (all used responsibly of course); small investments have been made in resilience and backups for these major functions. There is 3000lt of clean tank water in a shade-house that isn’t connected

to a pump. Indoor fire and a rocket stove outdoors could be utilised for heating and cooking, and small solar panels & rechargeable batteries – for what extent power is actually required in case of an outage.

Waste

 

All garden and kitchen waste is composted, especially with the help of the chickens, worms and guinea pigs. Recycling is put out around once a month, and the general waste bin rarely more than every third week.

  • The gardens are maintained on rainwater for 11 months of the year on average.
  • Inputs: Straw, odd bag of manure, chicken feed, coffee grounds from café, lawn clippings from contractors.
  • 32 varieties of herbs & dozens of edible weeds
  • 37 fruit & nut trees
  • 6 varieties of berries
  • Areas under production: 100m² (intensive / veg garden); 250m² (food forest & perennial style permaculture); Potential for much more…

Current & Future Plans

 

In 2013, Goshen closed down his own retail business, with the proceeds enabling the family to be debt free.

In 2015, “Watts Permaculture” was officially launched, with multiple (if still very small) income streams from plant and produce sales, permaculture design and some permaculture landscaping work. Katrina works in Geelong on a part time basis, allowing the permaculture business to establish without pressure of supporting an entire family.

 The potential to earn an income from permaculture in an urban setting is being explored, including the recent addition of a mini market garden in a land-share arrangement, supplying veg boxes and produce to a local restaurant or two. Services are in high demand, and the future looks bright.

Visit: wattspermaculture.com.au

Summary + Statistics

Retrosuburban Real Estate Checklist ratingprior to retrofitting; 135, currently; 183 (5 suns)
Location: Belmont, Geelong, Victoria Small City (pop. 180,000)
Rainfall: 457mm
Soil: Heavy clay, with shallow loam
Build: 1950’s brick-veneer on stumps
2016 Property Value: AU$450,000
Household: Family of 3: mother, father and 1 child (6yo)

Land Size: 1000m²
Floor space: 150m²
Roof area: 164m² + 40m²
Water tank storage: 11,500lt
Tank water use: 200lt p/d summer
Mains water use: 153lt per day
Power: 1.1kW Grid-tied solar. Annual Power exported: 820kWh
Annual Power imported: 1,550kWh
Av. Power produced: 4kWh p/d
Av. Power used: 6kWh p/d
Annual Gas used: 25367 MJ
Food production: Majority of vegetables, fruit and eggs
Waking hours at home: 75% One adult works part time, other at home.

Site Plan

More Case Studies

Rabea-and-Steve-in-garden-featured

Small Rental Unit Case Study

In late 2017, we relocated to Melbourne after a 4 year stint abroad in Germany and began renting in the Western suburbs and later moved our ideas with us to a more suitable rental property earlier this year. Whilst we would love to buy the right piece of land in...

Read More
plummery-kat-with-produce

The Plummery Case Study

When Kat Lavers moved into The Plummery in 2008, the run down old house required substantial repairs but was well-located with plenty of potential. She wanted to design and implement a permaculture system and experiment with urban food production strategies.

Read More
Case-Study-Sharehouse-feature-1500

Sharehouse Case Study

In 2011, Theo Kitchener and Roger Sharp envisioned a permaculture and appropriate technology demonstration sharehouse to show how much could be done in a rental in the suburbs. They wanted somewhere affordable where they could settle in and stay long term, with a large garden, close to a...

Read More
Connor & Martha feature

Connor and Marta Ryan Case Study

Marta and I first met in Daylesford in 2017. We were “SWAPs” with the incredibly inspiring “Artist as Family” and quickly grew in love with each other, this region and the beautiful people who inhabit it. We returned about a year and a half later, married and pregnant. Despite having...

Read More
Case-Study-Ecoburbia-feature-1500

Ecoburbia Case Study

Just what is it? It’s an alternative infill development, an urban farm, a demonstration sustainable house, an educational opportunity, a community hub and most importantly – a benevolent dictatorship! We bought our new home at 16 Livingstone Street in April 2013. The 1970’s Italianate house sits on a quarter acre...

Read More
Teresa-and-Jakes-Feature

Gething Crescent Case Study

In 2000 Teresa and Jake were looking to relocate to Adelaide and they purchased an old bungalow in Bowden. Bowden is an inner city suburb approximately 3km from the GPO with interesting industrial and heritage influences.

Read More

Retrofit your Life from the inside out!

Enter your details below to get the free PDF and juicy tidbits via email on how to get the most out of Chapter 25.

Pin It on Pinterest

Subscribe to the
RetroSuburbia Newsletter

Our newsletter is filled with all kinds of permaculture goodness, just like our compost!