Permaculture in Action
Hidden away in the little town of Watsonville is a unique garden wonderland known as Back to the Bone Botanical Garden . The creation of Steve and Marijke Hancock , the garden illuminates the horticultural potential of this socalled ' dry and depauperate ’ terrain adjacent to the fertile Tablelands .
Originally from Sydney , much of Steve ' s early career was spent working on outback properties as a ringer . In the late 1970s when the country was in drought , he witnessed many farmers in hardship and the consequences on their health , well-being and families . As a result he decided to travel overseas looking for solutions and ideas for better land management practices that could be adopted in Australia to help prevent such hardship occurring .
He travelled to South and Central America and marvelled at how the farmers successfully provided for their families , rather than following the western concept of trying to provide for the whole country or the world market . Their focus on diversity and permaculture demonstrated a level of self-sufficiency that Steve found fascinating .
Whilst in Costa Rica Steve worked on several farms , including the cattle and cacao farm of his future wife Marijke , thus learning a new way of farming and its potential .
After marrying then working their way around the world , Steve and Marijke returned to Australia in 1992 . In 1997 they channelled their farming passion into Back to the Bone – a name derived from one of their sculptures which alludes to the idea that when the Earth ’ s unrenewable resources have been depleted , a literal return to horsepower will be necessitated .
The garden comprises a collection of plants for study and preservation as well as for domestic and commercial use The garden aims to demonstrate the land ’ s potential to the local and wider community , whilst experimenting to find the optimum plants for the arid conditions . Steve says " In order to address survival in the face of environmental , climatic , social and economic change , the garden has drawn on natural ecosystems and other sustainable designs in its development . Plants from diverse climatic zones are being co-planted to counter the effects of extreme climate fluctuations ."
Over the years Steve and Marijke have planted and recorded over 4,700 plants – a figure significantly increased by the
10 What ’ s On & Where To Go June 2018
Marijke and Steve Hancock . Photo : Steven Nowakowski
secondary generations . This remarkable garden features tropical trees and a range of useful plants in a rainforest microcosm along a creek , amongst the native vegetation all living in harmony . There is an array of wildlife that also calls the garden home .
In their spare time , Steve and Marijke create wonderful pieces of art and have exhibited in over 20 exhibitions across Far North Queensland . Inspired by the beauty of nature , the environment , wildlife preservation and their garden , they dream of retiring as artists and embarking on more travel . Their hope is that the right custodian for their little piece of paradise will surface so the research and study of this habitat can continue .