Popes Produce

Popes Produce Chemical free locally grown produce that follows permaculture principles. We are a family run enterprise in the Woonona area.

Popes Produce is an urban market garden growing seasonal produce in a suburban backyard. We base our practice on permaculture principles, making sure we nourish the soil, enhance biodiversity in order to grow healthy produce which in turn grows happy healthy humans.

First event for the new calender !!!For all of those looking support their fruit tree being their most productive….Join ...
26/06/2025

First event for the new calender !!!

For all of those looking support their fruit tree being their most productive….

Join our resident human fruit bat Ben, who will run through with you what to prune on which tree (they all have their nuances!) for optimum fruiting.

It’s hands on so this event is limited to 7 folks participating & of course - we’ll provide Popes Produce hospitality of morning tea to keep everyone powered up.

Bookings via link in bio;)

Rest is OK.We get a little tired sometimes, a little overwhelmed, or just hit plain old saturation.Making space is a goo...
20/06/2025

Rest is OK.

We get a little tired sometimes, a little overwhelmed, or just hit plain old saturation.

Making space is a good thing. We’re not nearly as useful to anyone (let alone ourselves) if the human doing wears out.

A human just being is restorative. That’s when all the good ideas come through & your soul smiles.

Enjoy the weekend.

Unwittingly, your summer salad bowl (currently visiting London) may well be better travelled than you.Devastated to have...
13/06/2025

Unwittingly, your summer salad bowl (currently visiting London) may well be better travelled than you.

Devastated to have chopped into my avocado too hungry to have tested ripeness first. Not ripe enough to do anything with, disheartened I’d spoilt my chance of enjoying it. Especially since it had travelled from Peru to meet me.

Tomato time - so far offerings come from Morocco, the Netherlands & some more expensive ones grown in the UK.

The neighbourhoods I’ve cruised through so far have an amazing amount of diversity. Organic food is available readily. As it’s warming up, you may have early figs from Spain or possibly Italy. Oranges from Egypt.

Rainbow bright produce stacked high to lure folk in. Sun isn’t so damaging here, so no fruit slushies by midday.

Definitely a journey working out what’s for dinner.

Last offering before I take a little break for a month.Offering bouquets of fennel, leek, parsley, lime, lemon, handful ...
26/05/2025

Last offering before I take a little break for a month.

Offering bouquets of fennel, leek, parsley, lime, lemon, handful of red veined sorrel for $15 - available for pick up this Thursday. Brilliant for pots of soup, roasting, jars of chimichurri and chasing away winter sniffles.

Dm if you’re keen & I’ll send further details ;)

These are some mighty ridiculous times right now.Flooding rains, insane droughts creating pandemonium far & wide across ...
22/05/2025

These are some mighty ridiculous times right now.

Flooding rains, insane droughts creating pandemonium far & wide across the country.

So how do we continue to grow diversity & resilience & not just curl up in a ball?

Local systems are a good place to start.
Diversity plays a big role. Got to spread the eggs & skills across a few baskets.

Here we plant to spread the load. 13 different citrus trees, producing a yield from March until around October - maybe later depending on weather.

We share & trade across the neighbourhood.
Never know exactly what kind of yield to anticipate, the Meyer lemons are vulnerable to all sorts- having very thin skins but oh so juicy! Have yet to discover a way to preserve finger limes - the oils in the skin can really mess with some techniques. Constantly lessons to be learned & skills to build.

And then the Tahitian limes are on the throw down making harvest soo much easier. Who knew they go turn yellow they’re actually at primo ripeness?

Stay curious, hold hope close, embrace biodiversity to know what’s needed with what’s available.

Popes Produce to grow in spring! Forming up some collaborations for greater diversity in our nourishing local food syste...
16/05/2025

Popes Produce to grow in spring!
Forming up some collaborations for greater diversity in our nourishing local food system - stay tuned.

In my aunt’s home, the kitchen was dominated by a massive timber table & the room infused with essence of Aga. As a kid,...
15/05/2025

In my aunt’s home, the kitchen was dominated by a massive timber table & the room infused with essence of Aga.
As a kid, I’ve no idea what we ate, but that woodsmoke equaled delicious in my mind.
You always felt welcome at that table.

I’ve no idea if my uncle grew all the veg, but he seemed to spend a lot of time in the backyard, tending quails, pigeons, chickens & would disappear into the shed at the farthest point from the house.

Another aunt had a reputation as a great cook, but I remember the love & stories.
She cooked & preserved & there always seemed a little more to share or put away for later.

Grow stuff, feed people, stay curious, make stuff and do it with love.

Other places will share statistics & the details of the larger food system (& to be honest - that system seemed pretty cooked)

Here we share about our experiences of building stuff, growing adventures, maintained required to keep the flow, community happenings.

Collaboration will get us way further than competition.

Find out what’s happening in your local neighbourhood, get involved in whatever capacity works for you - keep it local & keep it real.

What a fabulous way to round out the week.Meeting with Illawarra market gardeners Kerryn , Grant & Tim (Otford) Robert...
09/05/2025

What a fabulous way to round out the week.

Meeting with Illawarra market gardeners Kerryn , Grant & Tim (Otford) Robert (Warrawong) & yours truely.

It’s an initiative to discuss opportunities for collaboration, share experiences in various fields & how we can come together to provide nutritionally dense produce for our communities across the broad expanse of the Illawarra.

Market gardens provide land services engaging biodiversity - by keeping soil happy, we grow grea food & keep people well nourished.

In an area where land is valued for what you can build on it, not as much how we can support nature supporting us - it seems the job of growing food to feed our region can happen ‘somewhere else’.

These market gardens are shining the light on education & training, growing soil, biodiversity, offering onsite engagement for all ages, basically - grounding people, all through growing great produce & showcasing insights how we can all take a step into a more sustainable Illawarra.

Start where you are. Support local.
Stop & say hi.

Thanks for the photos Grant!

08/05/2025

Compost supports healthy plant growth

Compost not only provides nutrients, but also improves soil structure and soil health – which assists in numerous aspects of facilitating better plant growth.

~Sponsored by the NSW Government through the NSW Environment Protection Authority ~

Imagine a recessed area in your backyard, then daydreaming into reality an earth covered building that disappears into t...
01/05/2025

Imagine a recessed area in your backyard, then daydreaming into reality an earth covered building that disappears into the landscape.

Well this is exactly what Ben has created! Years in the planning- making sure every material used is either reclaimed/ repurposed or has the best eco credentials for accessible materials.

Oh, add that we had no vehicle access, so it was by the grace of our neighbours sharing their driveway this project actually came to fruition. (They have lifetime invites to backyard gatherings ;)

Many a party has been hosted here, the mud brick walls & double glazed doors make mighty fine insulation - for both audio & temperature!

There’s even a little herb garden just off the deck for that fresh leafy zing at mealtime.

Luckily there’s surf nearby which keeps Ben a happy lad.
The proof though is in the sleeping though, the guest book filled with lovely experiences.

Curious? Follow the link in bio.

To all the remarkable, powerful, courageous, curious, generous, loving women I admire, have had the privilege to collabo...
08/03/2025

To all the remarkable, powerful, courageous, curious, generous, loving women I admire, have had the privilege to collaborate with and call my friends - Happy International Women’s Day.

Here’s to carving our own paths, growing & tending our own forests of support generating the oxygen we all need to thrive.

Please add more friends that are this for you - I’ll get the ball rolling…..

Shoutout to Samantha Arnull, who I first met in our forest weaving. She spoke with so much love for a mentor who’s bequeathed her studio contents, knowing they would be cherished and put to full use. Deep thinking, curious and a powerful lady advocating for the right to live your true artistic path.
Super chuffed Samatha has made time to facilitate an experimental drawing session next weekend at Art Camp. (Link in bio)

.berbel .austin

Address

Woonona, NSW

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9:30am - 11:30am
Wednesday 9:30am - 11:30am

Telephone

0432960284

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Popes Produce posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Popes Produce:

Shortcuts

Share

Category