Tees Homegrown - The Soil to Soul Ecosystem

03/10/2025

29/09/2025

The Secret Life of True Wellness: From the Soil to Your Soul

G'day, home growers! We’ve spent a fair bit of time yarnin' about the bustling life in our soil and the magic of fermentation. We've seen how a living soil, teeming with microbes and fungi, gives us the most nutrient-dense food. And we've seen how a living gut, nurtured with fermented foods, is the key to our own health.

It all comes back to one simple, permaculture principle: everything is connected. The health of our garden, the food we eat, and the health of our bodies are all part of the same grand, beautiful system. When we look after one part, we look after the whole.

This is the very essence of 'True Wellness.' It's not about quick fixes or fads; it's about a holistic approach to life that's in harmony with nature. It's about using natural farming and living ferments like Tee's Homegrown Living Fermentations to grow the best possible food. And it's about making smart, chemical-free choices for our bodies.

For me, that's where the two worlds meet. The principles of permaculture that guide my garden also guide my health. It's about ensuring my body is getting the same kind of clean, natural, and potent goodness that I want for my plants. A brand like Shaklee, which is all about creating products that are based on the best of nature, fits right into this philosophy. It's about a full-circle approach to health that's both good for the earth and good for you.

Want to learn how to live a life that’s healthy from the ground up, inside and out? Let's have a yarn.

[Insert a link to your online notes or a new workshop on chemical-free living, or your Shaklee

https://au.shaklee.com/en_AU/teetee/

28/09/2025

G'day, team! What a cracking week it's been in the garden. Between getting the beds ready and watching those seeds pop up. with all that work I have worked up a real sweat. And that leads us to this week's ripper product highlight, which is all about fuelling your body for the hard work of a true-blue homegrown life.

This week, we're talking about protein, and my pick is the Shaklee Life Shake.

Now, fair dinkum, a protein shake might not sound like it belongs in a conversation about digging in the dirt, but stick with me. We spend all that time making our soil teeming with life, using things like Tee's Homegrown Living Fermentations, so it can grow the most nutrient-dense food on the planet. But even with the best garden, it's not always easy to get all the protein, vitamins, and minerals your body needs, especially on those big workdays.

That's where this Life Shake is a game-changer. It's not your average workout powder. It's a proper, nutrient-rich shake packed with a whopping 20 grams of ultra-pure, non-GMO protein, plus a heap of fiber and 23 essential vitamins and minerals. It's plant-based, too, with protein from things like GMO FREE soy, chia, and pumpkin seeds, so it aligns perfectly with a natural, chemical-free way of living.

Think of it as looking after your body in the same way we look after our soil. We feed the soil with the best stuff to get a great harvest, and we feed our bodies with the best stuff to get the energy we need to enjoy it. It's a complete, easy-to-use solution for making sure your body is as healthy as your garden.

If you're keen to learn more about how this can give you a boost, you can find all the details on my Shaklee site.

https://au.shaklee.com/en_AU/teetee/

28/09/2025

The Secret Life of Your Plate: The Keto-Friendly Garden

G'day, home growers! We've seen how a living soil gives us nutrient-dense food, but let's take that a step further and get a bit more personal. For those of you on a keto journey, you know it's all about making smart choices, and that starts in the garden.

The best keto foods are often the ones you can grow yourself. Think about all those leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and herbs that are the backbone of a low-carb diet. When they come straight from a garden built on permaculture principles, they're not just food—they're medicine.

When you grow these foods using ferments like Tee's Homegrown Living Fermentations, you're ensuring they are absolutely packed with the vitamins and minerals that a keto diet needs. You're not just planting a seed; you're cultivating a powerhouse of health that's free from chemicals and full of life.

And for those days when the garden's not giving you everything you need, we can turn to a brand that's all about a similar commitment to health and nature. Shaklee has a fantastic range of products that can support your keto lifestyle, ensuring your body is getting all the nutrients it needs to perform at its peak.

It's a full-circle approach: we look after the earth, the earth looks after our food, and our food looks after us. It's the ultimate 'True Wellness' journey.

Want to learn how to grow a garden that's perfect for a keto lifestyle? Or maybe you're keen to chat about the right supplements to support your health journey? Get in touch.

https://au.shaklee.com/en_AU/teetee/

27/09/2025

The Secret Life of Your Gut: Fermentation for Health

G'day, home growers! We've spent a fair bit of time down and dirty with our garden ferments like Tee's Homegrown Living Fermentations, and you know how they create a bustling, healthy life in the soil. Well, the very same magic happens inside us!

Your gut is its own bustling ecosystem, full of good bacteria that are absolutely vital for your health. Just like the soil food web needs a diverse range of microbes to thrive, so does your gut. And one of the best ways to nurture this inner garden is through fermented foods.

Think about it: sauerkraut from your homegrown cabbage, pickles from your cucumbers, or even a simple brew of kombucha. Fermenting your harvest doesn't just make it last longer; it turns it into a powerful elixir for your gut health. It's the ultimate full-circle journey, from a living soil to a living gut.

This is a key part of the holistic, true-blue lifestyle we're all about. It's about taking the same principles of working with nature and natural ferments, working with microbes and living systems and applying them to our own bodies.

Want to learn how to ferment your own homegrown harvest and give your gut a massive boost? It's a simple skill with huge rewards.

Workshops coming soon as part of our Store the Harvest Series.

26/09/2025

The Secret Life of Your Garden: From Soil to Supplement

G'day, home growers! We've spent a bit of time down and dirty in the soil, getting to know the secret life of your garden. We've seen how a thriving soil food web is the key to healthy, resilient plants. But what's the point of all that hard yakka if you're not getting all the goodness out of what you grow?

The nutrients in the food we eat don't come from nowhere. They come from the soil. A soil that's rich in life, full of microbes, fungi, and all the things we've been talking about, grows food that's richer in nutrients. It's the ultimate 'farm to fork' story.

But let's be fair dinkum, it's a busy world. Not every day is spent harvesting from the garden, and not every meal gives you everything you need. This is where a holistic approach comes in. We look after our soil with things like Tee's Homegrown Living Fermentations to grow the best food possible and turn dead dirt into healthy living vibrant soil. And we look after our bodies by supplementing with the best nature has to offer.

It's all one big system. The health of the soil directly impacts the health of the plants, which in turn, impacts the health of our bodies. It's about 'True Wellness' for both the earth and for us.

For me, that's where I bring in a bit of extra support from my mates at Shaklee. They've got a ripper range of products that are based on the same kind of natural principles we use in the garden. It's about ensuring you're getting all the good stuff your body needs to thrive.

Want to learn how to live a life that's healthy from the ground up? Let's get started.

[Insert a link to your online notes or workshop signup here or your Shaklee website]

26/09/2025

A True-Blue Guide to Weeds, Part 8: The Soil & Wellness Duo

G'day, homegrown team! We've been having a yarn about how weeds are our most valuable teachers. Today, I want to introduce you to two more weeds that tell us a story about our soil's health, and are also an absolute goldmine for our own well-being.

1. Purslane (The Water-Wise Succulent)

What it's telling you: If you've got a patch of purslane, it's a clear sign of dry, compacted soil. As a succulent, it's built to store water, and it will pop up in the harshest conditions to protect the bare ground from erosion. It’s nature’s way of saying, "This patch needs a hand."

The Permaculture Lesson: I don't see purslane as a nuisance; I see it as a natural mulch. I'll let it grow to cover the soil, and when I'm ready to plant, I'll simply chop-and-drop it. It returns all that stored moisture and organic matter to the soil, leaving a perfect, protected bed.

2. Wild Lettuce (The Land Healer)

What it's telling you: This tall, prickly plant is a common sight in disturbed soil, especially in areas that have been overgrazed or compacted. It's a pioneer plant that will break through hard ground and establish itself to get a foothold in a tough spot.

The Permaculture Lesson: Wild lettuce is nature’s way of preparing the soil for other plants to move in. Its roots work to bust through compacted soil, and its tall stalk provides shade for smaller plants to get started beneath it. It’s a great example of how a plant that seems like a problem is just doing a job to heal the land.

🌱 Edible & Medicinal Uses
Both of these plants are not just good for your soil; they're packed with goodness for you, too.

Purslane

Edible Uses: Purslane is a delicious, crunchy succulent that's packed with nutrients. It's one of the few plants that contain a significant amount of Omega-3 fatty acids. I love adding it to a salad for a bit of crunch and a tangy flavour.

Recipe: My favorite Purslane Salad is super simple. I'll just mix fresh purslane leaves and stems with diced tomato, cucumber, red onion, and a simple lemon and olive oil dressing. It's a quick, free, and incredibly healthy side dish.

Wild Lettuce

Edible Uses: While the young leaves can be eaten in a salad, they quickly become bitter as the plant matures.

Medicinal Uses: Wild lettuce has been used in traditional folk medicine for its calming properties. It contains compounds that are believed to have a mild sedative effect. A simple tea can be made from the leaves to help with sleeplessness.

The more I observe my gardens, the more I learn. It's all about working with the natural systems, and my workshops on Tee's Home-grown Living Fermentations are the perfect way to give your soil that extra boost it needs to fight for you.

https://teeshomegrown.square.site/

In the Kitchen: Turning Weeds into a Feast

🌱 Purslane Recipes
Purslane is a fantastic, crunchy succulent that's packed with goodness, including Omega-3 fatty acids. Its mild, tangy flavour makes it a brilliant addition to so many dishes.

Simple Purslane Salad: I love adding it to a salad for a bit of crunch and a tangy flavour. I’ll just mix a handful of fresh purslane leaves and stems with some diced tomato, cucumber, red onion, and a simple lemon and olive oil dressing.

Sautéed Purslane: I'll quickly sauté a bunch of purslane in a pan with some garlic and olive oil. It’s a bit like spinach and makes a cracking side dish.

Purslane Smoothie: For an extra nutritional punch, I'll toss a handful of fresh purslane into my morning smoothie. It adds a fresh, green flavour without being overpowering.

🌱 Wild Lettuce Recipe
A word of caution: while wild lettuce has been used in traditional folk medicine, it's not a common food source due to its bitterness. Its best use is as a simple tea. Always be sure of your identification before you consume any wild plant.

Wild Lettuce Tea: I'll take a few fresh leaves and steep them in a cup of hot water for about 5-10 minutes. It has a slightly bitter, earthy taste. I'll often add a bit of honey to make it more palatable. This tea is used in traditional remedies for its calming properties.

This is the beauty of a natural life. The same plants that are healing our soil can be used to heal and nourish our bodies. It's all part of the same beautiful system.

25/09/2025

The Secret Life of Your Soil: The Grand Finale - The Living Soil Food Web

G'day, home growers! We've had a squiz at the microbes, the fungal networks, the tiny protozoa, the mighty nematodes, the bustling earthworms, and the shredding arthropods. Today, let's look at the grand masterpiece they all create together: the Living Soil Food Web.

This isn't just a random collection of critters; it's a perfectly balanced, self-sustaining ecosystem that has been working for billions of years. It's a series of intricate relationships where every organism has a role to play. The plants feed the microbes with their root exudates, the microbes feed the protozoa and nematodes, and the larger insects and earthworms work as the ultimate composters and engineers.

The whole system is a living, breathing thing, and it's the very heart of a true permaculture garden. When you work to nurture this web of life, you're not just growing plants; you're building resilience. This means less pests, fewer diseases, and bigger, healthier harvests that are packed with flavour and nutrition.

This is exactly why I'm so passionate about living ferments. Products like Tee's Homegrown Living Fermentations aren't just a garden booster; they're an investment in the entire soil food web. They help you build this living ecosystem from the ground up, making your garden a productive, self-sufficient powerhouse.

Want to become a master of the soil food web? My workshops will give you the practical skills and knowledge to brew your own ferments and see the magic happen for yourself.

https://teeshomegrown.square.site/

Let's get that soil working for you.

25/09/2025

A True-Blue Guide to Weeds, Part 6: The Soil pH & Drainage Crew

G'day, homegrown team! I've been loving our deep dive into the language of weeds. It’s an absolute game-changer when you realise they're not pests but messengers.

Today, we're going to read the story that two more common weeds are trying to tell us about our soil’s acidity and drainage.

1. Sorrel (The pH Indicator)

What it's telling you: If you've got a patch of sorrel in your garden, it’s a clear sign that the soil is running a bit on the acidic side. Sorrel thrives in these conditions where most veggies struggle to grow. It's a living indicator that your microbial community might need a nudge.

The Permaculture Lesson: This is where we bring in our own brews. We don’t do amendments; we build the soil from the ground up. I would use a brew of Tee's Homegrown Living Fermentations, packed with indigenous microbes, to stimulate the soil life and restore balance. These microbes, the ones native to your area, are the true pH adjusters. A living, healthy soil will naturally regulate its own chemistry. You can also make a Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) from the sorrel itself, which can be part of the bio fermentation mix to get things buzzing.

2. Horsetail (The Compaction & Drainage Signal)

What it's telling you: This tough old plant is a survivor and a clear signal of compacted soil and poor drainage. Its deep roots are working hard to break up the hardpan, telling you that your water is hanging around too long.

The Permaculture Lesson: Horsetail is a dynamic accumulator with a superpower: it draws up silica from deep in the soil and stores it in its stems. I use it as a resource. I'll harvest it and add it to my compost heap or turn it into a compost tea. That silica is a fantastic natural plant strengthener that can even help fight fungal diseases. The real long-term fix, though, is with the living microbes. The indigenous microbes in my ferments will create glomalin, a sticky protein that binds soil particles together, improving aeration and drainage naturally without ever needing to dig or till.

🌱 Garden & Fermentation Uses
Both of these plants aren’t just soil indicators; they're valuable inputs for our bio fermentations.

Sorrel: With its bright, tangy flavour, it’s a fantastic ingredient for an FPJ. It's also packed with vitamins. I'll take a handful of fresh sorrel leaves and ferment them with some unrefined sugar to create a nutrient-rich brew.

Horsetail: While not for eating, horsetail is a potent plant for brewing. I dry it and make a powerful compost tea. This brew is rich in silica, a natural plant strengthener. It's a brilliant way to fight off pests and diseases, and it's all a part of working with what nature provides.

The more I observe my gardens, the more I learn. It's all about working with the natural systems, and my workshops on Tee's Homegrown Living Fermentations are the perfect way to give your soil that extra boost it needs to fight for you.

https://teeshomegrown.square.site/

24/09/2025

The Secret Life of Your Soil: The Tiny Shredders - Arthropods

G'day, home growers! We've been looking at the soil's invisible workforce, but let's not forget the little fellas you can actually see. Today, we're talking about the arthropods, the mites, springtails, and other tiny insects that are the true recyclers of your garden.

These little critters are often overlooked, but they play a massive role in the soil food web. Think of them as the 'shredders' of the underground.

Here's why they are so vital:

Breaking it Down: Arthropods chew up and break down larger pieces of organic matter, like fallen leaves and plant debris. This creates more surface area for the bacteria and fungi to get to work on, speeding up the decomposition process.

Nutrient Cycling: As they move through the soil, they help to mix organic matter and nutrients. Their waste products are also a great source of food for the rest of the soil food web.

Population Control: Just like the protozoa and nematodes, many arthropods are predators. They help to keep the populations of other organisms in check, maintaining the delicate balance of the soil ecosystem.

A healthy soil is a busy soil, and the presence of these tiny workers is a sign that your system is thriving. My workshops on Tee's Homegrown Living Fermentations will show you how to create the perfect environment for this entire microscopic city to flourish, from the smallest microbe to the busiest arthropod.

https://teeshomegrown.square.site

Let's get that soil working for you

24/09/2025

A True-Blue Guide to Weeds, Part 5: The Nutrient indicators

G'day, team! What a yarn we've been having about how weeds are our most valuable teachers. It’s an absolute game-changer when you realise they're not pests but messengers.

Today, we're going to read the story that two of the most common weeds are trying to tell us about our soil’s fertility.

1. Stinging Nettles (The Nutrient Accumulator)

What it's telling you: That familiar sting is a clear sign that your soil is rich in minerals, particularly nitrogen and iron. Stinging nettles thrive in fertile ground and are a living testament to a healthy ecosystem.

The Permaculture Lesson: I don’t see them as a nuisance, I see them as a treasure. Nettle is a dynamic accumulator with roots that mine deep into the soil. I turn them into a powerful brew called a nettle tea (a simple, nutrient-rich ferment). This tea is a fantastic, nitrogen-rich liquid fertiliser that I use to give my plants a boost.

2. Fat Hen (The Rich Soil Indicator)

What it's telling you: If you've got a patch of fat hen, it’s a sure sign that you have very rich, fertile soil, often with high levels of nitrogen and organic matter. Fat hen is a pioneer plant that loves to grow where the ground has been disturbed but has plenty of nutrients.

The Permaculture Lesson: Fat hen is a champion of the 'no-dig' system. It creates a living mulch that protects the soil from the sun and helps retain moisture. Just like chickweed, it's telling me my hard work is paying off and that my soil is ready for whatever I want to grow.

🌱 Edible & Medicinal Uses
Both of these plants are not just good for your soil; they're packed with goodness for you, too.

Stinging Nettles

Edible Uses: Don't let the name fool you! Once the leaves are cooked or dried, the sting disappears, and they taste a lot like spinach. I love using them in soups or a simple tea.

Medicinal Uses: Nettle tea has been used for centuries to help with joint pain and as a spring tonic.

Fat Hen

Edible Uses: The entire plant is edible, and its taste is a lot like spinach. I love using it in salads, stir-fries, or as a cooked green. It's a fantastic, free source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium.

Recipe: For a delicious and easy way to use your Fat Hen, I simply steam it with a little garlic and olive oil. It's a perfect, free side dish that's packed with nutrients.

The more I observe my gardens, the more I learn. It's all about working with the natural systems, and my workshops on Tee's Homegrown Living Fermentations are the perfect way to give your soil that extra boost it needs to fight for you.

https://teeshomegrown.square.site

🌿 Bonus Recipe

Nettle Pesto

1. Blanch 2 cups of nettle leaves for a minute or two to remove the sting.
2. Drain the nettles and squeeze out the excess water.
3. In a food processor, blend the nettles with toasted nuts (like walnuts or pine nuts), garlic cloves, olive oil, and some parmesan cheese.
4. Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to finish it off.