Non-Toxic AND Poetic: Persimmoned timber decking to hide the air conditoners

Cecilia Macaulay with Kaki shibu persimmon at Fuji Eco-Park Japan November 2007
Here I am using Kaki shibu, or bitter persimmon juice for the first time, to marinate my mushrooms. The mushrooms are timber, and the astringency of persimmon juice has been used for centuries by the Japanese to preserve wood, fishing nets, and other precious perishables.

The color deepens over 10 days, as the wood gets 'pickled'.

Here is persimmon juice come all the way to Elwood, Australia, to be part of our newly-completed Amazing water reclaiming Permaculture courtyard. The air conditioner and water heater rest in the shade of willow fencing and recycled timber deck, all tastefully finished in non-toxic, satiny persimmon juice. What was once a blot on the landscape is now a place for trays of delicious things, as food and wine is ferried from kitchen to courtyard table.

Here is the x-ray view: Water heater and air conditioners, their days of nakedness now at an end. Shaded from Summer sun, so they work more efficiently. This was an unasked- for Permaculture blessing, discovered as the landscape man researched how much ventilation they would need to work well under cover. I just wanted them out of sight, and moving them was too expensive.
I love the micro- garden that the Landscaper cut out of the bricks, so a lilac-flowering creeper can cover the willow, and blue-flowering rosemary release fragrance as you brush by. He thoughtfully arranged it to be irrigated with the waste 'white water' emitted from the heaters and coolers. Mechanical beings and Natural beings, taking care of each other.

The process all started with astringent persimmons, somewhere in Japan. Someone fermented them, and then the obliging guys at Fuji Eco-Park sent over a batch just for us.


Radiant Permablitzer Pauline Farrugia planes the discolored surface of some Recycled Blackbutt Timber (grown long ago in Western Australia) The markings are like a semi-precious stone, but it stains easily if unprotected.

Raimond Barbaro, Permablitz treasure, OnGuard

Raimond working with quiet passion, deep into the night.

What would we have done without Raimond? Thank-you for beautiful work, accompanied by your of witty wise conversations and observations. I will be thinking of you in your new life in Singapore, surrounded by an abundance of panting, willing airconditioners.

And of course, thank-you Permablitz, and all the creative, enthusiastic people that turned up to make the design real.