Let’s look at your back garden and lifestyle

Permaculture… (It sounds difficult, but it is not)
Permaculture sees human civilisation for what it is – a mere strand in the web of life. By recognising this, we can co-exist more harmoniously with nature, fostering a more stable global eco-system. Philosophers Bill Mollison and David Holmgren articulated permaculture in the 1970’s. They succinctly encapsulated the concepts of a permanent diverse and flourishing human culture and food web. Permaculture is built on design principals that are inspired by observing ecological systems and emulating them. These principals and a wide range of practical applications are relevant to all types of horticultural pursuits, from balcony gardening to the quarter-acre block and from small farms to large commercial enterprises. Permaculture is an ingenious way of life whose time has come. It is now practised in 120 countries. – Jenny Allen/Smart Permaculture Design
“Plan for the future…….that is where you are going to spend the rest of your life”. – Mark Twain

“So, what is the difference between my current garden and a permaculture design garden?”

Traditional Garden

Maintenance issues/short and long term
Exposed to weather conditions which can cause problems
Minimal or no wild life & interesting native plant species
Provides minimal diversity & functions
Uses too much water or tends to flood in areas
Needs pesticides and poisons
Money pit
Provides no food or water options

Permaculture Garden (symbolic to nature)

Little or no maintenance
Cools in summer, warms in winter
Diverse in native plants and animals
Provides many needs & options
Strategies to save water & redirect potential flood areas
Natural pest management strategies using plants & herbs etc
Minimal money required
Short & long term food gardens & water storage

So, what can I do?

If you don’t have time to do a course in Permaculture, or money to hire a professional, I suggest you start by downloading some simple 2-3 minute information videos…….among other permaculture experts, Geoff Lawton has developed a range of short videos to explain how to manage everything from a small block in the Sydney suburbs, to a 10,000 acre farm in outback Australia…… It is a great start!!

Thank you.
Leanne Irvine/Owner/Custom Home Designs Pty Ltd

Evelyn & Jeremy, Eltham (North Vic)

Three things that we would recommend Custom Home Design for:
1) extremely professional with great communication;
2) their wealth of knowledge and experience in design and in the building industry and
3) attitude that goes above and beyond

We started our home design process sometime in August/September 2020, right smack in the middle of COVID lockdown, but regardless of that, the Custom Home Design team has maintained the highest level of professionalism and great communication throughout the process. The team always delivers what they promised to deliver and are on time with our meetings, which shows their commitment and passion to the work that they are doing. Most importantly, we also feel heard in the design of our house - Custom Home Design team really put in a lot of thoughts in the design with our best interests and managed to deliver a functional and beautiful home! The team has definitely given us a lot of comfort and confidence in the process, they were very patient with all our questions and concerns given that this is a new experience for us.

Custom Home Design team's wealth of experience and knowledge also really shined throughout the process and we have a wonderfully designed home that is also considerate of our budget. We really appreciate that the team has gone the extra mile and length to make sure that this is the house that we are happy with and that we can build - not just an expensive piece of plan.

We highly recommend Leanne and the Custom Home Design team for displaying a very positive attitude right from the beginning and have delivered above and beyond what we asked for. The process has certainly been fun, quick and exciting. We will definitely continue to recommend Custom Home Design to our friends and family who are building houses in many years to come!

Ronald

It is a rare blessing to see a [job] position detailed as thoroughly as yours; but more importantly I LOVED what I read about the person you are looking for: I believe it says a lot about your business and your ethics when you are that diligent and clear about the role, expectations and the kind of person to fit with your company culture. I could pull out snippets about key items highlighted with regards to not wanting a sales gun, but better to say I firmly believe more now than ever that there is no competition for what you are doing; Custom Home Designs should win all contracts by default.

Neville and Alison

The house is gorgeous and everyone who walks in the door loves it. It’s amazing how many people say “I want this” (should be good for resale!!)

Thanks for keeping in touch. Happy to have a visit anytime. Love your work!

Custom Home Designs is thorough and articulate which leaves you confident that you as a client were heard!

Irwin

It has been a pleasure to work through the design stages for my house at Allambie Heights with Leanne and Michael. My block has a very steep slope (11-13m) and many standard project home builders would not consider anything over 4m – even the ones that say they specialize in sloping blocks. In my initial discussions with Leanne, she said this was not a problem for herself and her team at CHD.