Summer so far has been an exhausting haze of uncertainty and fear, measured by the growth of the Currowan bushfire. The family farm in Milton and my mother’s cottage in Lake Tabourie have repeatedly come under threat. The entire 100-acre farm that my siblings and I grew up on is now a charred, burned landscape.…
“Where do you live?” It’s a question I field often, and the answer has changed several times over the last five years. First, there was the caravan on my parents’ farm in Milton, then a tent in Tabourie, and finally, the back of my van, no fixed address. It’s been an exciting and rewarding experiment,…
Overalls. Nobody will think you’re weird because you live in a rural area, and if they do, that’s too bad for them. They’re missing out on the most practical and comfortable garment of all time. The only downside is that you will be carded everywhere you go because you look 12. Even Aldi. Oversize t-shirts…
Welcome to a potentially sporadic but informative series in which I, your resident hermit gay-mo, steer you towards excellent queer content. First up is the web series Carmilla. Carmilla is a re-imagining of Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1871 gothic novel of the same name (fun fact: it pre-dates Dracula by 26 years). The web series is…
Want to start a mushroom growing business, but worried that you need a crazy amount of infrastructure, time and money? Don’t worry. You can be up and growing with a simple, cost-effective system and a bit of ingenuity. Here’s how. 1. Get skilled up. First up, you need to skill up. Milkwood Permaculture’s Gourmet Mushroom…
A book I read as a child has stuck with me. Gorgeously illustrated, it showed how families lived all around the world – what they ate, where they slept, what they wore, even their unique festivals. In only a turn of the page, it was possible to jump from a boy drinking yak milk on…
If you were passing through Gerringong this time last month, you might have caught a glimpse of what, on first glance, looked like a cult descending on the quiet seaside township. Laden with home-cured meats, freshly harvested vegetables, just-baked bread and local raw milk, 200 people converged on the Gerringong Town Hall with uncontestable chipperness.…
This year, TEDX Sydney was all about unusual food that pushes our dinner plate boundaries. The Rebel Food event curated by Jess Miller definitely delivered. You’ve probably seen the BuzzFeed article documenting what was on offer to attendees (if not, check it out here). There were bugs (cricket muesli, ant butter, mealworm sprinkles) unusual meats (crocodile and boar…
People live in inspiring ways, all around us. Ways that are simple, rich with meaning, and that defy the cultural assumption of project home bliss and its accompanying mortgage shackles. A friend’s family have a secret hideaway of a home down south, in a glade by a river. It’s been home to their family for over…
Everyone has life-changing, pivotal moments. It happened in a cottage in the woods below the Malvern Hills. I entered a world of quiet, self-sufficient industry. My bag was investigated, superfluous items discarded or donated. Food was grown or scavenged. Every week, we did the rounds, collecting boxes of over-ripe tomatoes, blemished eggplants, too-knobbly celeriac, slightly…
The period between Christmas and New Year is typically one of reflection. A week of limbo and absent responsibilities. A time to just slow down and savour the simplest of things. A good meal. Waking up without an alarm. Beach. Afternoon naps. It’s increasingly becoming a time when we assess our fulfilment in life, too.…
Our worlds can be defined in many ways. Our tax bracket; chosen profession; sexuality; knowledge of pop culture. These external definitions shape us and even dictate how we spend our time and talents. Are we acting like other people our own age? Dressing the same? Are we ‘successful’ enough? Our lives are a complex, constantly…
Welcome to Humus and Hummus, home to a queer, mushroom-growing writer hermit named Marita. Things you will find here:
-shrooms + veg + fruit growing
- a love for Vinnies and foraged goodness of the edible variety
- quirky adventures in Australia (and surrounds)
- occasional tirades about the Australian food system
- my donkey Mindy
Summer so far has been an exhausting haze of uncertainty and fear, measured by the growth of the Currowan bushfire. The family farm in Milton and my mother’s cottage in Lake Tabourie have repeatedly come under threat. The entire 100-acre farm that my siblings and I grew up on is now a charred, burned landscape.…
Hi there! I’m still here shrooming along, but I’ve made the decision this year to down-scale production and spend more time in the shroom lab, which is why I’ve been missing in action at the farmers’ markets. Although I really miss seeing your smiling faces on the regular, I just can’t do it all! But don’t…
“Where do you live?” It’s a question I field often, and the answer has changed several times over the last five years. First, there was the caravan on my parents’ farm in Milton, then a tent in Tabourie, and finally, the back of my van, no fixed address. It’s been an exciting and rewarding experiment,…
Come celebrate the launch of ‘Emergence’, the second book in the Kindred Ties trilogy, at Pilgrims Cafe in Milton, NSW. It’s completely free, and everyone is welcome! There will be delicious vegetarian food and drinks, and books will be available for purchase and signing on the night. You can RSVP via the Facebook Event Page…
Guys, I’m a tad excited to reveal the book trailer for Emergence, Book 2 in the Kindred Ties series. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. My book has a real trailer! Thank you so much to the incredible team at Harbour Publishing House – I feel so lucky to work with such a talented group of…
My first book, ‘Convergence’ is nearing its first birthday – one whole year out in the world! It’s book one in a brand spanking new Australian speculative fiction trilogy, Kindred Ties. Thank you so much to everyone who has read and loved ‘Convergence’; your feedback has been incredible. If you haven’t read it yet, here are…
Picture this: it’s just after 9am on a Monday morning, and the Baptist Church is thrumming with over 130 gardeners from our local area. Tables laden with flowering plants, sub-committees, and sign-up sheets line the walls. A tea and biscuit service is prepared with military precision. Every member is bedecked with an engraved name tag, smiling and radiating the sort…
Overalls. Nobody will think you’re weird because you live in a rural area, and if they do, that’s too bad for them. They’re missing out on the most practical and comfortable garment of all time. The only downside is that you will be carded everywhere you go because you look 12. Even Aldi. Oversize t-shirts…
Welcome to a potentially sporadic but informative series in which I, your resident hermit gay-mo, steer you towards excellent queer content. First up is the web series Carmilla. Carmilla is a re-imagining of Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1871 gothic novel of the same name (fun fact: it pre-dates Dracula by 26 years). The web series is…
I didn’t realize I was gay until I hit my early twenties. I went to Catholic and Anglican schools in small towns. I paid attention during sex-ed. While it wasn’t all damnation and spontaneous conception, the possibility of being LGBTQI+ simply never came up. It was as if the majority of adults had decided…