We chat with Good Life Permaculture director, Hannah Moloney, about the key lessons she’s learned throughout her permaculture journey and her best piece of advice for those new to self-reliant living.
Dedicated permie, Hannah Moloney of Good Life Permaculture featured in the very first issue of Pip Magazine, all the way back in 2014.
In our special 20th Issue – out May 6th _ we catch up with Hannah Moloney seven years on, and find out where her permaculture journey has taken her and what she’s learnt along the way.
Where were you on your journey seven years ago when we featured you in Pip Issue 1?
I was in the early stages of establishing Good Life Permaculture in southern Lutruwita (Tasmania). My partner Anton and I were just starting to set up our garden and retrofitting our old house in urban Nipaluna (Hobart), which is where we still live and are developing.
Where are you now?
Good Life Permaculture has gone from strength to strength; we’re still teaching and rolling out as many community projects as possible.
We make fun educational, organic tea towels and have a strong landscape-design thread in our business.
Our property is very different to when we first arrived. It’s so alive, productive, colourful and beautiful. We still have more dreams and schemes to implement here, but it’s already heaven.
We now have a daughter, Frida Maria, who is a fierce and delightful firecracker. Oh, and my hair’s turned various shades of pink – a reflection of me remembering how to not take life so seriously.
What are your greatest achievements?
In recent years I have some shiny examples like being a semi-regular guest presenter on Gardening Australia and writing a book which is due out in spring. These things are the stuff of my personal dreams and I am beyond grateful and deeply stoked.
But the things that makes my heart swell is applying my individual actions and voice to the collective effort of supporting meaningful climate action and justice. I do this with any spare cash, by voting for progressive policies, by speaking up through my work and by supporting First Nations communities. All completely ordinary and critical stuff anyone can do.
What are some of the biggest lessons you have learned along the way?
Rather than competing with others in business (and life), lift each other up – the more people doing work in this area, the better. Support one another in any way possible.
Radical hope; the world has some big challenges, the climate emergency being our most pressing one. Instead of becoming lost in a dark spiral of gloom, choose radical hope – act with optimism in the face of uncertainty.
What’s the single best piece of advice you could give someone wanting to follow a similar path?
You know that feeling in your belly/heart/bones? Don’t disregard it. Practise listening to it and, if possible, do what it says. Also, have a crack. Stop waiting for someone else to do “the thing” and just try doing it yourself.
What do you like about Pip?
Pip’s been remarkable in helping to raise the bar in permaculture. It’s engaged, educated, clarified and inspired people on permaculture and living the good life wherever they are. I always learn little practical tips and really love reading about what’s happening around the world. The colouring-in section is also a welcome delight!
Pip Magazine’s special 20th issue
You can read the full version of this article in the new issue of Pip Magazine, where we catch up with other interviewees like Hannah Moloney, who featured in the very first issue of Pip and find out where their permaculture journey has taken them.
Subscribe to Pip Magazine this month, and you’ll also go into the draw to win a Dutch Cargo Bike Tern HSD P9 folding e-bike valued at $5,450!
The Tern HSD P9 folding e-bike is easy to handle, easy to share, extremely comfortable and carries a whole lot of cargo. All of this in a compact design that’s shorter than a standard bicycle.
