Djanbung Gardens: Robyn Francis's 32-Year IPM Tour & Lunch
By Robyn Francis
TL;DR: Explore a 32-year-old permaculture site in Northern NSW, learning practical, site-specific strategies for sustainable design and food production.
- Learn integrated pest management and rainwater harvesting.
- Discover perennial planting and composting techniques.
- Understand swales, keyline design, and biodiversity enhancement.
- Observe soil health, mulching, and polyculture crop rotation.
- Gain insights into subtropical challenges and fire resilience.
Why it matters: Understanding the long-term evolution of a permaculture system provides invaluable lessons for designing resilient and productive landscapes in challenging climates.
Do this next: Book your spot for the Djanbung Gardens tour to see mature permaculture in action.
Recommended for: Permaculture enthusiasts and practitioners seeking site-verified, practical insights into mature permaculture systems, especially those in subtropical climates.
Listed on International Permaculture Day, the Special Garden Tour & Lunch at Djanbung Gardens is a focused event on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, guided by permaculture designer Robyn Francis. This in-depth tour reveals the intricacies of a mature 32-year-old permaculture site in Northern NSW's subtropics, showcasing practical elements such as integrated pest management, rainwater harvesting systems, composting infrastructures, and productive perennial plantings tailored to local conditions. Participants receive detailed explanations of design decisions, evolution of the garden over time, and specific techniques for replicating features like swales, keyline design, and biodiversity enhancement. The session includes a light lunch with refreshments sourced from the gardens, promoting discussions on scalable implementations for home-scale or larger properties. Booking is straightforward via the 'Book Now' button, with advanced reservations required; pricing is $65 online in advance or $75 cash on-site after pre-booking by calling 0429 147 138. Dietary requirements must be specified during registration. This event delivers actionable intelligence for permaculture enthusiasts, including observations of soil health indicators, mulch layering methods, and crop rotation in polycultures, providing concrete, site-verified strategies that go beyond generic advice. It emphasizes real-world problem-solving, such as subtropical humidity challenges and fire resilience, making it valuable for practitioners seeking proven, location-specific insights to enhance their own designs.