If you ever wondered what the true indicators of a cool man are it is simple 1. wearing camel toed gumboots and owning it, 2. being able to carry off high heeled thongs. That describes Matteo the Melliodora WWOOFER (or MIAOWER as they prefer, not being certified organic and all) and Rick Tanaka who did the Japanese translation of the Design Principles (also being involved in the management of Nick Cave probably helps too).

Glamourous permaculture footwear aside (don’t get me started on the hats now), we anted our way along the hills of Hepburn one by one and two by two. Weeds that are not weeds (poor old man willow, will they ever give you the credit you deserve?) and weeds that definitely are and how to control them (that’s you blackberry) past us by. We scrabbled our way to the hilltop and the whole patchwork was shaken out in front of us. Wild apples and native cherry ballarts creating rich humus beneath, giving way to plantations topped with the tips of e wind turbines waving too far for my poor eyes to see, then native forest blushing with blossoms beyond.