“Adagio” is the home of Meg McGowan and Graham King, collectively known as “Permacoach” on social media and throughout the Central Coast. Meg and Graham are regarded as permaculture innovators and teach permaculture in the alternative economy; students work in their garden in exchange for learning and pay no money. They are passionate about making permaculture accessible to everyone.
Meg has a regular spot with Scott Levi on ABC Central Coast and has served as the President of Permaculture Central Coast. She also writes extensively on permaculture, particularly on social media. Graham is a home builder and designer with a talent for applying permaculture ethics and principles to construction. If you have an open fire, wood fired oven or wood heater then ask him about his energy efficient wood cradle for cutting firewood.
Meg and Graham’s home, “Adagio”, is both a productive food garden and a demonstration/teaching site that they have continued to evolve over the last 28 years. Different areas have been established to help people imagine permaculture at any scale, from the sweeping gathering circle with espaliered fruit trees (two years ago, this was lawn!) to the pocket sized clothesline garden. You’ll also see their “cup cake beds”, developed by Meg and Graham as a plastic-free alternative to wicking beds. Made from upcycled products and regularly topped up with home made compost, these beds have inspired people across the world to create gardens that are rat proof, possum proof and bird proof using reclaimed and compostable materials.
Their system is highly productive without the need for chemical inputs or imported manures and yet they keep no domestic animals (other than two very spoilt cats). Learn from them about their methods for cooperating with nature to create deep, rich topsoil that guarantees great results. Stroll their forest garden, where the patterns observed in a natural forest have been used to create a stable, low maintenance system that draws down carbon, cools the environment and creates habitat for wildlife. It also grows a lot of food.
This extensive, three and a half acre property includes over an acre set aside as “zone 5”. Meg and Graham will explain why leaving at least one third of all privately owned land for other species is critical to the health of gardens and the planet.
Please note that this garden is only open on Sunday from 10.00am until 2.00pm. Meg and Graham will be hosting guided tours of the property at 10.30am and 12.30pm and will be available at other times to answer questions.
They will also be selling a selection of plants propagated from the garden with all profits donated to Morag Gamble’s Ethos Foundation, which supports people in some of the most disadvantaged places on earth to learn and practice permaculture. Please bring cash if you wish to purchase.
PARKING: There will be no parking available on the property. Please park on the OPPOSITE side of the road (this side is very boggy!) and walk in. Drop off is available for those with limited mobility or wheel chairs.
ACCESSIBILITY: This property is accessible to those with mobility issues. There is a long section of flat gravel driveway that joins two of the main garden areas and continues into the gathering circle. The forest garden can be accessed via a wide, brick pathway but includes some slopes rising to approximately 30 degrees.
