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Hello Dearest Reader. <waving hand emoji with dirty fingernails>
Greetings from Tree Elbow where we have been busy with late summer labours. In accordance with the Djaara six seasons it is Wi and Kurnmil time, and so we’ve been filling up the wood store and the cellar, getting out into the forest each Monday with the Forest & Free kids, writing a new song, and planning two up coming house & garden tours.
Our song, News of the world, shows a little of the spirit here, or as our mate David Holmgren might say, ‘Revolution disguised as gardening.’ We hope you enjoy our latest musical missive. Here’s the video clip that accompanies it,
and here is the audio-only version (for low bandwidth, gallantly frugal friends).
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A number of readers have requested we run some more tours, so before we bunker down for winter we are going to open up our home and garden once again. Twice. You are warmly invited to book a place on one of them.
House & garden tour details
Dates: Saturday April 5, 10am – 4pm and Saturday May 3, 10am – 4pm. The School of Applied Neopeasantry, Tree Elbow University, Daylesford, beautiful Djaara Mother Country. Address supplied with booking.
Topics covered include: community-sufficiency, household economies, replacing fiat with compost, subsistence resilience, access to land, ecological economics, permacultural neopeasantry, fermentation for both thrift and health, organic food that low income households can afford, green gym (or active economics), children in the household biome, transitioning to a non-reliance on predatory capitalism, future proofing by skilling up, food-medicine and active disease prevention, trading fear for empowerment, self-care, unintentional communities and neighbourhoods, and composting ideology with joyous sleeves-rolled-up pragmatism.
The tour includes: Sharings from Meg, Patrick and (likely) Woody; morning tea and a neopeasant lunch.
Cost: $100 per person, $85 concession.
Who is it for: The day is informationally dense so we request 12 year olds and up only, please (babes in arms are most welcome). Participants will need to navigate uneven surfaces and at times rough terrain.
To book: Please message us to book or ask any questions – we@artistasfamily.is
We look forward to welcoming you into our home.
Artist as Family
Beautyful and inspiring,like always!🌞🌱🐦⬛💛
Aw, thanks Christiane!
Love this, song and clip, just beautiful 🌼
Thanks Tara! ❤️
Hello , I’d like to book two people for your open day on May 3 2025.. I can’t get to a computer ATM, maybe this afternoon.
No worries Jantina, you’ll just about fill all the places now.
What a delightful family hymn to the celebration of real life. I love the honesty, even, of coddling moth in your apples! 😅
Thanks Dianne! Sending love to you and José!
Such a beautiful life you’re living! Thank you for sharing it. I’m a bit too distant to come for a tour (Canada!), but oh, how wonderful that would be!
Thank you Melanie, enjoy your spring!
So wonderful to get an update on the happenings at Tree Elbow. And that you are all doing well. Such a beautiful song thank you for sharing. Looking forward to hear more about Lilly Pilly.
Thanks Gerda! Lilly Pilly is currently nestled in Meg’s lap. She is a happy soul and hopefully about to begin her ratting duties as the winter draws close and the rodent realm start to inhabit the cellar.
Beautiful music, voices , sentiments and visuals.
Thanks Susan!
Wow this song is just amazing. Things are stirring within me. The guitar sounds especially beautiful in this song. Thank you, I’m inspired, uplifted, touched.
Aw, thanks Carillo. Thanks for your love, brother.
Wow, such a beautiful song Blue Wren, Magpie and Woody (apologies don’t have your forest name). Loved the video.
Thanks Black Cockatoo! Woody’s bush name is Blackwood!
I’ve missed you! Wish so much I could come on your house and garden tour. Is there any chance you could do an online open day?! Love, as ever, from Scotland
Thanks Lottie, our tours don’t really translate to the virtual realm. They are mostly about connecting with people and story in real time. We do have forthcoming online material that appears in some of the tour, however. So we look forward to sharing that.
Thank you for such an uplifting song! I always get so much positive energy and inspiration from you just when I need it! I would also be super happy with an online tour or any format where we could learn a little bit on the topics you mentioned. Greetings from Germany!
Thanks Ania, we’re glad our new song uplifted you! As we replied to Lottie, our tours don’t really translate to the virtual realm. They are mostly about connecting with people and new story in real time. We do have forthcoming online material that appears in some of the tour, however. So we look forward to sharing that.
Love the new song. Surely you have enough for album. And then you could tour it. You could call the album songs for the simple life.
Thanks Kathryn, we do love writing and singing songs together as a family.
How lovely and inspirational! And yay, can’t wait for the tour – sent an email already to secure 2 spots. See you soon!
Wonderful Belinda! We look forward to meeting you.
Your music brought tears to my eyes. I’m hoping to bring my PDC students to one of your tours
Oh, that’s a sweet response. Thank you Delldint! We’d love to host you and students as part of a tour. Just a heads up, both days are filling steadily.
Wonderful song and video. So nice to see and hear you and see what you get up to. One day I’d love to visit you guys and take in a tour. xx
Thanks Kate! We enjoyed being on your farm tour a few years back. Love to you all.
Wow, so good to hear the real and good news of the world. We might be coming to dark ages, but it’s express in your music and video how to shine against that. Well, another tour I could not go because I’m in Portugal. I understand that your tours can not be translated to virtual, but ´m expecting the video of happen films. Can you guys tell me if there’s a release date? Thank you very much for this, much love, Tiago
Thanks Tiago, glad you found some inspiration. The release date for the film is around June, we think. Sending with hugs, AaF
Beautiful 💛 thank you
Thanks Cláudia!
Hi lovelies- Just wanted to let you know I quoted Patrick after hearing someone quote him in the most recent episode of Catie’s podcast X Helen
https://helenlehndorf.com/2025/04/24/what-do-green-tomatoes-have-to-do-with-mutual-aid/
Hi there, I am booked in and have paid for the permaculture day tomorrow 3/5 but don’t have an address yet. Staying in Castlemaine. Please reply to my phone as I have no computer here.