“DON”T CHUCK US AWAY BECAUSE WE ARE OLD! “ A SEED STORY.
With our vegetable seeds, cucumber has the longest viability. I have kept them in storage at room temp for 11 years and they have still grown well.
Our Local native seeds don’t have public records of their “best before” dates. However after 35 years of growing them I usually have a reasonable idea as to when various species loose vigour with age or get too old.
I am preparing for another nursery season — with thousands of pots waiting to be filled with native seed — I began the familiar task of sorting through my seed collection. The intention is to clear out older batches and replace them with fresh seed. Unless species have an after ripening period, fresh seed is usually more vigorous and germinates quicker.

I reach for the Alyogyne seed box — it is our local native hibiscus.

Inside, included two old seed batches from 2005 and 2006. Twenty and twenty-one years old. I had kept them because every few years, when I tested them, they quietly proved their worth again. Still, this season I assumed it would be their final trial.

It wasn’t.

They germinated in five days, alongside fresher seed — with the same strength, the same intent to grow.

It’s a gentle reminder that age does not necessarily equal decline.

It’s hard not to see the parallel. In our families, our communities, our workplaces — how often do we rush to replace what is older, assuming newer must be better?

Every morning, my first job is to check thousands of plant pots, to see who has germinated over night? Every morning I am continally in awe as I discover more seeds springing to life. “Bringing seeds to life is a good life.“

If you need any native plants grown to order, contact us now. They will be ready for planting toward the beginning of winter May-June.

MB: JOHNNY: 0458 381628
Drylands Permaculture Nursery
Geraldton. ... See MoreSee Less

The Murchison Settlement calls..
Thursday we ran a Native Plant ID and Propagation Workshop at the Murchison Settlement with their local staff. This place is progressing way past an oasis, it is oozing with history, environmental stewardship and community connections along with catering for tourists, travellers and local service people.

Thanks to Community Manager, Bec Fogarty for organising this workshop. The Settlement is a fabulous outback space with only 250mm annual rainfall (although this year has been very dry), a thriving community garden, small nursery and wonderfully engaging staff.

They are lucky enough to have ground water to use for their gardens hence its desert oasis signature.

I look forward to see our freshly collected and planted local native seeds bursting out of their pots. Growing plants in high temperatures over 40C is always a challenge so let’s hope weather is kind this season.

And finally — a big thank you to my offsider, Nan Broad, for her support, great company, and capturing the spirit of the day with her workshop photography. 🌱 ... See MoreSee Less

Native Tubestock Orders Now Open! 🌱

Drylands Permaculture Nursery is now taking orders for next season’s native tubestock! We’re currently out seed collecting, so if there’s something specific you’re after, now is the perfect time to let us know — we’ll do our best to include it in the grow.

With over 30 years of experience growing quality native plants for our region, here’s what we offer:
• Local provenance seed collection — we track origin & ecological suitability
• Plants climate-adapted to the Mid West & Murchison
• Strong root systems grown in quality 120 mm × 50 mm forestry tubes for better establishment & survival
• Reliable guidance on species selection and planting design

Plants will be available from around 1st June.
Pricing varies with species and quantity — retail tubestock is generally between $5.50 and $8.80, with discounts available for orders over 500 plants.

If you want us to grow your seed, let us know and we can advise you on how to collect it.

We are open by appointment, so please call Johnny to arrange a visit:
📞 0458 381 628
📍 333 David Road, Waggrakine

When you arrive, please park by the big blue mailbox and walk in. Please close the gate behind you — we have animals inside, and we want to keep the rabbits out!

🌿✨ Local people, local plants, local wisdom.
Grow with us this coming season! ✨🌿 ... See MoreSee Less

“Spring has Sprung” and so are our deciduous fruit trees.
We are releasing our pomegranate range with 8 varieties available. Griffith, Wonderful, Veles PG 10, Wright, Gulosha Azerbaijani, Gulosha Rosaveya, Mrs Nash and Jetiver. Their fruit all have different flavours, sizes, fruiting times, colours, degrees of acid/sweet balances and seed softness.

We also have large Black Mulberries, Custard Apples, Moringa available. Plus Pineapples, grafted African Marula and two Brazilian cherries
For those still looking for some local forest tubestock, ask us about our left over stock now our seasonal orders have gone out. These are mainly low growing garden natives.

If you are interested in visiting the nursery, please call 1st Johnny on 0458 381628.

Please park by the big blue mailbox and shut the gate after you walk in as this is a farm and we have animals inside and need to keep the rabbits out.

333 David Road, Waggrakine.
Local people, local plants, local wisdom ... See MoreSee Less