Some may recognise Karri as one of the
friendly faces behind the coffee machine
at Aldinga’s Goodness Coffee Co.
Along with a knack for making a mean
latte, Karri has a talent for anything she
turns her hand to; whether it be in the
kitchen, the veggie garden, or in her
cozy bedroom adorned with plants and
pastel prints.
Karri has lived in the Aldinga Arts EcoVillage for the past twelve of
her twenty-one years and has always been interested in biodiversity.
Although, that affinity may have been inevitable for someone named
after the native Acacia pentadenia: commonly known as karri wattle.
Unlike many of her peers who have fled to Adelaide or interstate
cities, Karri’s idyllic locality has firmly planted her feet in its soil. After
completing her schooling at Tatachilla Lutheran College in 2015, she
began volunteering at the Village Greens, an organic market garden
based in the EcoVillage. Karri then spent ten months travelling and
volunteering in farms across Europe, and returned home in the latter
half of 2017 to resume her work at Village Greens, though this time as
a part-time employee during summer.
Village Greens is a one-acre plot that grows salad greens, colourful
heirloom produce and over forty different types of vegetables.
Produce ordered through its website is picked and delivered on
Wednesdays and the rest goes to the Willunga Farmers Market each
Saturday. Although Village Greens isn’t certified organic, managers Nat
Wiseman and Lucy Chan are passionate about organic practices and
sustainable agriculture that ‘grows great food and great communities.’
As well as being a great source of local produce, Village Greens’ use
of common land encourages young people to get involved in farming.
The unique opportunity provided to those who are interested in
agriculture, but lack financial capital to acquire property, is just one of
the reasons Karri appreciates Village Greens. She also loves being able
to step outside, walk around the corner, and spend her summer days
pulling and planting with neighbours and friends she’s grown up with.
Her face beamed as she showed me photos of carrots that look like
aliens and strawberries sprouting seeds. ‘When you pull out carrots
that are hugging each other and potatoes shaped like hearts ... it’s so
beautiful,’ she tells me. ‘I just love vegetables.’Karri is also starting a goat cooperative with her friend Phoebe
Paterson de Heer. They’re planning to introduce two does with kids to
the Village. It will be an experience, rather than a commercial pursuit, in
managing their own agricultural project with a small production of dairy
products. Karri sees goats as an ethical dairy source, as does produce
more milk when they’re left with their kids. She’s also on a mission to
reproduce an ‘amazing’ goat gouda she once tried in New Zealand
and hasn’t been able to find since.When Karri’s not in her overalls, kneeling over a patch of beets, you
might find her at the University of Adelaide studying a degree in
Environmental Policy and Management. Karri did admit to me that sheKarri’s idyllic locality
Story by Annabel Bowles. Photography by Poppy Fitzpatrick.