Shenstone 2015

Shenstone

The house is the ultimate recycled house. Shenstone started life a century ago in the western suburbs of Sydney; it had its land reclaimed for a motorway and was then moved to the mid north coast eight years ago. Shenstone has solar PV panels, solar-heated hot water, double insulation, low-impact paint, and low emissivity windows. A wood-fired stove provides central heating in each room, and rain water is collected for use in the toilets and washing machine. Another large water tank outside the kitchen window collects water which is then used on the flourishing garden.

Shenstone is a good example of an urban farm. Right in the middle of the Wauchope township, the property has an organic, edible garden with chooks, established on permaculture principles. Organic waste is composted. From the front yard, side garden, and back yard, a surprising array of fruit and vegetables is produced.

During the course of a year, enjoy mulberries, mangoes, tamarilloes, pawpaws, quinces, medlars, apples, tropical pears, tropical peaches, peachcots, babacos, dragonfruit, pomegranates, custard apples, bananas, oranges, mandarins, lemons, and limes from our many fruit trees. We also have hazelnuts, macadamias and water chestnuts growing.

Growing on the vines along the fences are Isabella grapes, passionfruit, kiwifruit, and a variety of berries. Root crops flourish in the soil at Shenstone, including potatoes, three types of sweet potatoes, arrowroot, yukon, galangal, Jerusalem artichoke, turmeric, onion, garlic, and shallots. Rhubarb is a regular favourite and strawberries are harvested each year, and over the course of the four seasons, a wide range of vegetables are grown: beetroot, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, kale, broccoli, silver beet, radishes, and much more.