Milkwood

Kirsten Bradley and Nick Ritar are permaculture educators and partners in love, work and parenthood. Through their business Milkwood, they share everything they’re learning about being in relationship with the land and enjoying its abundance. Having worked together as artists for many years, the couple now live with their son Ashar at Melliodora, an iconic permaculture homestead in southern Australia founded by the co-originator of permaculture David Holmgren and his partner Su Dennett. Teaching everything from mushroom cultivation to permaculture design, Kirsten and Nick seek to create flourishing, connected and resilient households and communities wherever they can. They reflect on how living at Melliodora is enriching their lives.

KIRSTEN BRADLEY AND NICK RITAR ON

HOW FARMING SHAPES AND ENRICHES THE HOME

Being with nature

Nick: I grew up on a very remote farm in far western New South Wales. It was 50,000 acres and an hour from a tiny country town. Later in life living in cities, Kirsten and I had an arts practice together, which was always