Mrs Broccoli (aka Bec Norman) is an urban gardener who is passionate about permaculture.
Worn out from years of working for ‘the man’ in England, Bec and her husband, Andy decided to exchange their stressful jobs for gum boots, a German translation handbook and enlisted to become WWOOFERS (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) on a permaculture farm in Austria.
Here they connected to the earth and life slowed right down. After a hard day’s work on the farm all that home-grown food tasted so damn good. Life on this idyllic Austrian permaculture farm inspired them to live a more purposeful, meaningful life and they headed back to Australia (with a baby on the way), with a mission to continue this deep connection to the earth and the people they love.
Their personal permaculture journey started on a small bare suburban block in Bendigo, Victoria. The block was flat, and the learning curve was steep; here they built a humble home and planted loads of fruit trees (33 to be exact), as well as vegetables, chooks, and medicine. It was a place where their children and community could thrive.
Bec and Andy learnt much from their dry, square patch of dirt in the suburbs; the soil, its inhabitants and what works (and doesn’t) in the thirsty drought-stricken local climate. Through a lot of sweat, tears and perseverance they lived a very full, and delicious life from their land.
During this time Bec created Mrs Broccoli. She appears regularly on ABC Local Radio as a gardening correspondent. Mrs Broccoli works with families, local community and school groups teaching them how to grow food, and to understand, value and respect the land.
For Bec and her family permaculture design is the simple solution to the climate and ecological crisis we are living in. Mrs Broccoli is here to make it easy and accessible to everyone, so we can all be a part of the solution.