Micro Biome

I Love Carrots

Soil Food Web

Aussie favourites at Glastonbury 2013 & 14, Boomtown & BOOM Festivals propagating the secret to growing abundance, improving life and reversing climate-change with energetic live mash-ups of vintage speakeasy-style electroswing wonk & ukulele quirk to Lettuce Turnip the Radish Beets & Rocket!

Formidable Vegetable Sound System - Yield

Forget Black Friday. Forget consumerism. Everything is now 100% off! At least according to the anti-consumerist utopian vision of Formidable Vegetable's new and completely 'off-brand' anthem celebrating the best things in life (which, incidentally are free!)

From electro-raver funk, award-winning children's music and Eurovision-style subversion at the United Nations to big-band garage rock, Formidable Vegetable's latest shape-shifting single pumps their ecologically pro-social message up to Eleven, as the world continues to be pulled deeper into the Anthropocene and hyper-capitalist dystopia. What can we mere mortals do? Black Friday is now Buy Nothing Day, so the solution may be as simple as: Just Buy Nothing!

Formidable Vegetable - Buy Nothing

A next-level experiment in ecological electroswing, Radish Beets is a creative collaboration of re-wonkified tracks from Formidable Vegetable Sound System's debut album, Permaculture: A Rhymer's Manual remixed by some of the world's finest electronic producers.

Patterns (Revegetated)

No Such Thing As Waste (Mr Moon Remix)

Energy (Bumble Remix)

Radish Beets

Download from Bandcamp

Get Together (griff's Unified Mix)

Many Many (Revegetated)

Download Album

The Edge (Spoonbill Remix)

Yield (Revegetated)

Change (Feat Jpod)

Spotify, Where Music Goes To Die

From the album 'Grow Do It' by Formidable Vegetable Sound System - Out Sept 2 2016 at: http://music.formidablevegetable.com.au

Written by Charlie Mgee
Produced by Spoonbill
Mal Webb - trombone, slide trumpet & gourd bass
Kylie Morrigan - violin
Alex Burkoy - electric guitar
Charlie Mgee - ukulele & vocals
Michael Barker - drums

Grow Do It

Stream/Buy

Mycelium Around Ya

From the album 'Grow Do It' by Formidable Vegetable Sound System - Out Sept 2  2016 at: http://music.formidablevegetable.com.au

Written by Charlie Mgee & Mal Webb
Produced by Spoonbill
Mal Webb - trombone, slide trumpet & gourd bass
Charlie Mgee - ukulele & vocals
Kylie Morrigan - violin
Michael Barker - drums

You Are What You Eat

From the album 'Grow Do It' by Formidable Vegetable Sound System - Out Sept 2 2016 at: http://music.formidablevegetable.com.au

Written by Charlie Mgee
Produced by Spoonbill
Mayuka Juber - baritone sax
Charlie Mgee - ukulele & vocals
Kylie Morrigan - violin
Michael Barker - drums
Alex Burkoy - bass, tiny guitar

Sweet P'tata

Download the track: http://music.formidablevegetable.com.au

Kimchi is the tasty entree to the forthcoming main course from Formidable Vegetable Sound System - 'Grow Do It'. A funkytown ecological electro-swing album about food, friends and fermented cabbage for kids of ALL ages!

Charlie Mgee: ukulele, vocals & kimchi farts 
Mayuka Juber: clarinet 
Mal Webb: trombone, slide trumpet & gourd bass 
Michael Barker: drums 
Spoonbill (Jim Moynihan): wonky beets & squishy phun 

All songs written by Charlie Mgee & Formidable Vegetable Sound System. 

Recorded at: Twisty Pole Studios - Rotorua, NZ, The JB Compound - Fremantle, WA, Casa-del-Mal - St Kilda, & Mt Lawley, WA. 

Produced by Spoonbill & Charlie Mgee. 
Mixed & mastered by Spoonbill in King Lake, VIC. 

Photo by Katrina Button 

Music copyright © 2016 ORiGiN Music Publishing. 
For use/licensing, please visit: www.originmusic.com.au


Kimchi

Download/Stream

Trees Eat Us All

Singing makes it better when you've got a broken heart.

Earth People Fair

Singing Makes It Better

Human

Plant Some Trees

Dad's Dunny

Fresh off the cob with buttery retro-flavoured good vibes all round, Formidable Vegetable’s new single Grow a Garden is a pop gem with smooth beats, cutting edge production and an unshakably infectious hook.

Featuring Mal Webb & Kylie Morrigan on horns and strings, Alex Burkoy  (Tinpan Orange, The Cat Empire) on guitar, Charlie Mgee and Carlien Jeanne on vocals and produced by Melbourne sonic-artisan, Spoonbill, Grow a Garden sounds like it should be the new theme-song for Gardening Australia. 

A love song for anyone into fresh homegrown produce, Grow a Garden will warm the hearts and minds of every aspiring backyard-farmer, get you boogieing in your overalls and leave you with the kind of satisfaction that comes with eating a fresh-picked strawberry.

More info on Formidable Vegetable at: http://formidablevegetable.com.au/one-page-press-kit/

Grow a Garden

Download on Bandcamp

Official music video: https://youtu.be/ZIQlS_VrNkQ

Featuring the remote Gascoyne River's Yagu Wila Choir and Charlie Mgee on ukulele & vocals, salsa-flavoured beats from Lord Dazastah of legendary Aussie hip-hop outfits Downsyde & AB Original, an orchestra of strings and horns concocted by Mal Webb & Kylie Morrigan and sophisticated electronic production from Melbourne producer, Spoonbill, this is Formidable Vegetable’s slickest track to date.

Earth People Fair is a manifesto to finding a sense of ‘home’ from the perspective of someone who has often felt out of place. Coming from a more personal angle, Formidable Vegetable singer-songwriter, Charlie Mgee shares a desire to more deeply understand and know true connection to country, a concept most familiar to indigenous cultures around the world. As a descendant of colonisers, he recognises the challenges this poses, but still feels it to be of incredible importance in order to find our place in the world so we can ultimately give it (and ourselves) the care it so desperately needs.

Partly inspired by Bruce Pascoe’s book ‘Dark Emu’, Mgee points to an urgent need for Australians to start recognising and adopting more sustainable land use in an ecologically-fragile country, attempting to draw links between traditional indigenous practices and more modern systems of permaculture as a way for its more recent inhabitants to try and adapt to the increasingly harsh conditions we all face.

What kind of crazy are you? A wonky-fresh collaboration between Australia’s eco-swing collective, Formidable Vegetable and UK glitch-funk producer Father Funk, featuring Grammy award-winning family rapper Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Everybody’s Crazy is an international co-creation of funk-tastic proportions bringing home the fact that we’re all a little bit tapped in some way of other.

Everybody's Crazy - Father Funk Remix (feat. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo)

Grow a Garden - Stickybuds Remix

Permaculture principle 1: Observe and Interact - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The beginning of the design process.
-------

"Charlie is spearheading a new and exciting form of musical activism. He is becoming one of the most important voices in a global cultural movement 
that began right here in Australia." 
- Harry Angus, The Cat Empire 

Permaculture: A Rhymer’s Manual from Western Australia's Formidable Vegetable is the first of its kind. An album of ethical, ecological edu-tainment designed to spread the word of sustainability without making you want to tie-dye your shirt or go out and buy a djembe.
Permaculture is basically a way to get ourselves out of habits of self-destruction and into one of abundance and prosperity.
After recognising a desperate need for people to stop talking about sustainability and start getting off their asses, WA permaculture troubadour Charlie Mgee grabbed his ukulele and came up with 12 songs covering each of the principles of permaculture from David Holmgren’s book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. 

With an all-star cast of Australian musicians including Mal Webb, Alex Burkoy (Tinpan Orange/Juila Stone), Michael Boase (Nicky Bomba’s Bustamento), Loren, Freya Hanly, prodigious 19-year old Harry Jakamarra from Broome on banjo and WA’s own 10 piece live electro-swing band Ensemble Formidable, the album is filled to the brim with tracks of truly grooveworthy proportions with styles ranging from ‘energy-descent electro-swing’ and ‘climate-change reggae’ to ‘peak-oil polka’.

In just three short months, Charlie Mgee has already busted out live shows of permaculture songs at internationally acclaimed festivals including Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), Eclipse 2012 (Cairns), Folk, Rhythm & Life and Rainbow Serpent (VIC) and has shared the stage with class-acts such as Nicky Bomba’s Butamento, Spoonbill and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

After a massive turnout to a follow-up permaculture workshop resulting from an especially cranking gig at Eclipse 2012 Festival, Charlie reflects on his ultimate goal for the project: 

“Right now, music is one of the most effective tools we have to communicate ideas on a mass scale and I think I’m really just starting to recognize the power that that can have with regards to introducing people to ideas on how to live more sustainably. I’ve had people that I wouldn’t have thought would be into sustainability in a million years come up to me going: “Man, this sounds awesome! I’m gonna check out this permaculture stuff!” It’s really reaffirming for what I’ve set out to do.”

With included info on the permaculture principles covered as well as chord charts and lyrics to learn the songs on ukulele, the album has been designed to achieve everything from permaculture teaching resource to ukulele lesson to general morning dance routine.

In a world gone hectic, now really is the time to start growing abundance everywhere, starting at the front door. While we’re at it, you might as well Lettuce Turnip the Beet!  (...that would be Rad-ish.)

Permaculture: A Rhymer's Manual

Look Around

Permaculture principle 2: Catch and Store energy - make hay while the sun shines ...and don't forget to pass it round!
------------

"Charlie is spearheading a new and exciting form of musical activism. He is becoming one of the most important voices in a global cultural movement 
that began right here in Australia." 
- Harry Angus, The Cat Empire 

Permaculture: A Rhymer’s Manual from Western Australia's Formidable Vegetable is the first of its kind. An album of ethical, ecological edu-tainment designed to spread the word of sustainability without making you want to tie-dye your shirt or go out and buy a djembe.
Permaculture is basically a way to get ourselves out of habits of self-destruction and into one of abundance and prosperity.
After recognising a desperate need for people to stop talking about sustainability and start getting off their asses, WA permaculture troubadour Charlie Mgee grabbed his ukulele and came up with 12 songs covering each of the principles of permaculture from David Holmgren’s book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. 

With an all-star cast of Australian musicians including Mal Webb, Alex Burkoy (Tinpan Orange/Juila Stone), Michael Boase (Nicky Bomba’s Bustamento), Loren, Freya Hanly, prodigious 19-year old Harry Jakamarra from Broome on banjo and WA’s own 10 piece live electro-swing band Ensemble Formidable, the album is filled to the brim with tracks of truly grooveworthy proportions with styles ranging from ‘energy-descent electro-swing’ and ‘climate-change reggae’ to ‘peak-oil polka’.

In just three short months, Charlie Mgee has already busted out live shows of permaculture songs at internationally acclaimed festivals including Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), Eclipse 2012 (Cairns), Folk, Rhythm & Life and Rainbow Serpent (VIC) and has shared the stage with class-acts such as Nicky Bomba’s Butamento, Spoonbill and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

After a massive turnout to a follow-up permaculture workshop resulting from an especially cranking gig at Eclipse 2012 Festival, Charlie reflects on his ultimate goal for the project: 

“Right now, music is one of the most effective tools we have to communicate ideas on a mass scale and I think I’m really just starting to recognize the power that that can have with regards to introducing people to ideas on how to live more sustainably. I’ve had people that I wouldn’t have thought would be into sustainability in a million years come up to me going: “Man, this sounds awesome! I’m gonna check out this permaculture stuff!” It’s really reaffirming for what I’ve set out to do.”

With included info on the permaculture principles covered as well as chord charts and lyrics to learn the songs on ukulele, the album has been designed to achieve everything from permaculture teaching resource to ukulele lesson to general morning dance routine.

In a world gone hectic, now really is the time to start growing abundance everywhere, starting at the front door. While we’re at it, you might as well Lettuce Turnip the Beet!  (...that would be Rad-ish.)

Energy

Permaculture principle 4: Apply Self-regulation and Accept Feedback - Learn from mistakes. Start listening to what the planet is telling us. We're getting more feedback than ever and it's time to wake up to it's limits!
-----

"Charlie is spearheading a new and exciting form of musical activism. He is becoming one of the most important voices in a global cultural movement 
that began right here in Australia." 
- Harry Angus, The Cat Empire 

Permaculture: A Rhymer’s Manual from Western Australia's Formidable Vegetable is the first of its kind. An album of ethical, ecological edu-tainment designed to spread the word of sustainability without making you want to tie-dye your shirt or go out and buy a djembe.
Permaculture is basically a way to get ourselves out of habits of self-destruction and into one of abundance and prosperity.
After recognising a desperate need for people to stop talking about sustainability and start getting off their asses, WA permaculture troubadour Charlie Mgee grabbed his ukulele and came up with 12 songs covering each of the principles of permaculture from David Holmgren’s book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. 

With an all-star cast of Australian musicians including Mal Webb, Alex Burkoy (Tinpan Orange/Juila Stone), Michael Boase (Nicky Bomba’s Bustamento), Loren, Freya Hanly, prodigious 19-year old Harry Jakamarra from Broome on banjo and WA’s own 10 piece live electro-swing band Ensemble Formidable, the album is filled to the brim with tracks of truly grooveworthy proportions with styles ranging from ‘energy-descent electro-swing’ and ‘climate-change reggae’ to ‘peak-oil polka’.

In just three short months, Charlie Mgee has already busted out live shows of permaculture songs at internationally acclaimed festivals including Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), Eclipse 2012 (Cairns), Folk, Rhythm & Life and Rainbow Serpent (VIC) and has shared the stage with class-acts such as Nicky Bomba’s Butamento, Spoonbill and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

After a massive turnout to a follow-up permaculture workshop resulting from an especially cranking gig at Eclipse 2012 Festival, Charlie reflects on his ultimate goal for the project: 

“Right now, music is one of the most effective tools we have to communicate ideas on a mass scale and I think I’m really just starting to recognize the power that that can have with regards to introducing people to ideas on how to live more sustainably. I’ve had people that I wouldn’t have thought would be into sustainability in a million years come up to me going: “Man, this sounds awesome! I’m gonna check out this permaculture stuff!” It’s really reaffirming for what I’ve set out to do.”

With included info on the permaculture principles covered as well as chord charts and lyrics to learn the songs on ukulele, the album has been designed to achieve everything from permaculture teaching resource to ukulele lesson to general morning dance routine.

In a world gone hectic, now really is the time to start growing abundance everywhere, starting at the front door. While we’re at it, you might as well Lettuce Turnip the Beet!  (...that would be Rad-ish.)

Limits

Permaculture principle 6: Produce no Waste - In nature, there is no such thing as waste, only stuff in the wrong place! Heed this mantra and become a master of nutrient cycling!

-----

"Charlie is spearheading a new and exciting form of musical activism. He is becoming one of the most important voices in a global cultural movement 
that began right here in Australia." 
- Harry Angus, The Cat Empire 

Permaculture: A Rhymer’s Manual from Western Australia's Formidable Vegetable is the first of its kind. An album of ethical, ecological edu-tainment designed to spread the word of sustainability without making you want to tie-dye your shirt or go out and buy a djembe.
Permaculture is basically a way to get ourselves out of habits of self-destruction and into one of abundance and prosperity.
After recognising a desperate need for people to stop talking about sustainability and start getting off their asses, WA permaculture troubadour Charlie Mgee grabbed his ukulele and came up with 12 songs covering each of the principles of permaculture from David Holmgren’s book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. 

With an all-star cast of Australian musicians including Mal Webb, Alex Burkoy (Tinpan Orange/Juila Stone), Michael Boase (Nicky Bomba’s Bustamento), Loren, Freya Hanly, prodigious 19-year old Harry Jakamarra from Broome on banjo and WA’s own 10 piece live electro-swing band Ensemble Formidable, the album is filled to the brim with tracks of truly grooveworthy proportions with styles ranging from ‘energy-descent electro-swing’ and ‘climate-change reggae’ to ‘peak-oil polka’.

In just three short months, Charlie Mgee has already busted out live shows of permaculture songs at internationally acclaimed festivals including Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), Eclipse 2012 (Cairns), Folk, Rhythm & Life and Rainbow Serpent (VIC) and has shared the stage with class-acts such as Nicky Bomba’s Butamento, Spoonbill and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

After a massive turnout to a follow-up permaculture workshop resulting from an especially cranking gig at Eclipse 2012 Festival, Charlie reflects on his ultimate goal for the project: 

“Right now, music is one of the most effective tools we have to communicate ideas on a mass scale and I think I’m really just starting to recognize the power that that can have with regards to introducing people to ideas on how to live more sustainably. I’ve had people that I wouldn’t have thought would be into sustainability in a million years come up to me going: “Man, this sounds awesome! I’m gonna check out this permaculture stuff!” It’s really reaffirming for what I’ve set out to do.”

With included info on the permaculture principles covered as well as chord charts and lyrics to learn the songs on ukulele, the album has been designed to achieve everything from permaculture teaching resource to ukulele lesson to general morning dance routine.

In a world gone hectic, now really is the time to start growing abundance everywhere, starting at the front door. While we’re at it, you might as well Lettuce Turnip the Beet!  (...that would be Rad-ish.)

No Such Thing as Waste

Permaculture principle 7: Design from Patterns to Details - Can't see the forest for the trees? Look to the bigger picture instead!
-----

"Charlie is spearheading a new and exciting form of musical activism. He is becoming one of the most important voices in a global cultural movement 
that began right here in Australia." 
- Harry Angus, The Cat Empire 

Permaculture: A Rhymer’s Manual from Western Australia's Formidable Vegetable is the first of its kind. An album of ethical, ecological edu-tainment designed to spread the word of sustainability without making you want to tie-dye your shirt or go out and buy a djembe.
Permaculture is basically a way to get ourselves out of habits of self-destruction and into one of abundance and prosperity.
After recognising a desperate need for people to stop talking about sustainability and start getting off their asses, WA permaculture troubadour Charlie Mgee grabbed his ukulele and came up with 12 songs covering each of the principles of permaculture from David Holmgren’s book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. 

With an all-star cast of Australian musicians including Mal Webb, Alex Burkoy (Tinpan Orange/Juila Stone), Michael Boase (Nicky Bomba’s Bustamento), Loren, Freya Hanly, prodigious 19-year old Harry Jakamarra from Broome on banjo and WA’s own 10 piece live electro-swing band Ensemble Formidable, the album is filled to the brim with tracks of truly grooveworthy proportions with styles ranging from ‘energy-descent electro-swing’ and ‘climate-change reggae’ to ‘peak-oil polka’.

In just three short months, Charlie Mgee has already busted out live shows of permaculture songs at internationally acclaimed festivals including Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), Eclipse 2012 (Cairns), Folk, Rhythm & Life and Rainbow Serpent (VIC) and has shared the stage with class-acts such as Nicky Bomba’s Butamento, Spoonbill and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

After a massive turnout to a follow-up permaculture workshop resulting from an especially cranking gig at Eclipse 2012 Festival, Charlie reflects on his ultimate goal for the project: 

“Right now, music is one of the most effective tools we have to communicate ideas on a mass scale and I think I’m really just starting to recognize the power that that can have with regards to introducing people to ideas on how to live more sustainably. I’ve had people that I wouldn’t have thought would be into sustainability in a million years come up to me going: “Man, this sounds awesome! I’m gonna check out this permaculture stuff!” It’s really reaffirming for what I’ve set out to do.”

With included info on the permaculture principles covered as well as chord charts and lyrics to learn the songs on ukulele, the album has been designed to achieve everything from permaculture teaching resource to ukulele lesson to general morning dance routine.

In a world gone hectic, now really is the time to start growing abundance everywhere, starting at the front door. While we’re at it, you might as well Lettuce Turnip the Beet!  (...that would be Rad-ish.)

Patterns

Permaculture principle 9: Use Small and Slow solutions - Slow and steady wins the race! Start weening yourself off the oil-fuelled caffeine/sugar-high of the last century and start working at a more natural pace. Good things take time.

----

"Charlie is spearheading a new and exciting form of musical activism. He is becoming one of the most important voices in a global cultural movement 
that began right here in Australia." 
- Harry Angus, The Cat Empire 

Permaculture: A Rhymer’s Manual from Western Australia's Formidable Vegetable is the first of its kind. An album of ethical, ecological edu-tainment designed to spread the word of sustainability without making you want to tie-dye your shirt or go out and buy a djembe.
Permaculture is basically a way to get ourselves out of habits of self-destruction and into one of abundance and prosperity.
After recognising a desperate need for people to stop talking about sustainability and start getting off their asses, WA permaculture troubadour Charlie Mgee grabbed his ukulele and came up with 12 songs covering each of the principles of permaculture from David Holmgren’s book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. 

With an all-star cast of Australian musicians including Mal Webb, Alex Burkoy (Tinpan Orange/Juila Stone), Michael Boase (Nicky Bomba’s Bustamento), Loren, Freya Hanly, prodigious 19-year old Harry Jakamarra from Broome on banjo and WA’s own 10 piece live electro-swing band Ensemble Formidable, the album is filled to the brim with tracks of truly grooveworthy proportions with styles ranging from ‘energy-descent electro-swing’ and ‘climate-change reggae’ to ‘peak-oil polka’.

In just three short months, Charlie Mgee has already busted out live shows of permaculture songs at internationally acclaimed festivals including Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), Eclipse 2012 (Cairns), Folk, Rhythm & Life and Rainbow Serpent (VIC) and has shared the stage with class-acts such as Nicky Bomba’s Butamento, Spoonbill and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

After a massive turnout to a follow-up permaculture workshop resulting from an especially cranking gig at Eclipse 2012 Festival, Charlie reflects on his ultimate goal for the project: 

“Right now, music is one of the most effective tools we have to communicate ideas on a mass scale and I think I’m really just starting to recognize the power that that can have with regards to introducing people to ideas on how to live more sustainably. I’ve had people that I wouldn’t have thought would be into sustainability in a million years come up to me going: “Man, this sounds awesome! I’m gonna check out this permaculture stuff!” It’s really reaffirming for what I’ve set out to do.”

With included info on the permaculture principles covered as well as chord charts and lyrics to learn the songs on ukulele, the album has been designed to achieve everything from permaculture teaching resource to ukulele lesson to general morning dance routine.

In a world gone hectic, now really is the time to start growing abundance everywhere, starting at the front door. While we’re at it, you might as well Lettuce Turnip the Beet!  (...that would be Rad-ish.)

Small & Slow

Permaculture principle 10: Use and value Diversity - Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Variety is the spice of life. Create polyculture rather than monoculture.
-----

"Charlie is spearheading a new and exciting form of musical activism. He is becoming one of the most important voices in a global cultural movement 
that began right here in Australia." 
- Harry Angus, The Cat Empire 

Permaculture: A Rhymer’s Manual from Western Australia's Formidable Vegetable is the first of its kind. An album of ethical, ecological edu-tainment designed to spread the word of sustainability without making you want to tie-dye your shirt or go out and buy a djembe.
Permaculture is basically a way to get ourselves out of habits of self-destruction and into one of abundance and prosperity.
After recognising a desperate need for people to stop talking about sustainability and start getting off their asses, WA permaculture troubadour Charlie Mgee grabbed his ukulele and came up with 12 songs covering each of the principles of permaculture from David Holmgren’s book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. 

With an all-star cast of Australian musicians including Mal Webb, Alex Burkoy (Tinpan Orange/Juila Stone), Michael Boase (Nicky Bomba’s Bustamento), Loren, Freya Hanly, prodigious 19-year old Harry Jakamarra from Broome on banjo and WA’s own 10 piece live electro-swing band Ensemble Formidable, the album is filled to the brim with tracks of truly grooveworthy proportions with styles ranging from ‘energy-descent electro-swing’ and ‘climate-change reggae’ to ‘peak-oil polka’.

In just three short months, Charlie Mgee has already busted out live shows of permaculture songs at internationally acclaimed festivals including Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), Eclipse 2012 (Cairns), Folk, Rhythm & Life and Rainbow Serpent (VIC) and has shared the stage with class-acts such as Nicky Bomba’s Butamento, Spoonbill and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

After a massive turnout to a follow-up permaculture workshop resulting from an especially cranking gig at Eclipse 2012 Festival, Charlie reflects on his ultimate goal for the project: 

“Right now, music is one of the most effective tools we have to communicate ideas on a mass scale and I think I’m really just starting to recognize the power that that can have with regards to introducing people to ideas on how to live more sustainably. I’ve had people that I wouldn’t have thought would be into sustainability in a million years come up to me going: “Man, this sounds awesome! I’m gonna check out this permaculture stuff!” It’s really reaffirming for what I’ve set out to do.”

With included info on the permaculture principles covered as well as chord charts and lyrics to learn the songs on ukulele, the album has been designed to achieve everything from permaculture teaching resource to ukulele lesson to general morning dance routine.

In a world gone hectic, now really is the time to start growing abundance everywhere, starting at the front door. While we’re at it, you might as well Lettuce Turnip the Beet!  (...that would be Rad-ish.)

Many Many

Permaculture principle 11: Use Edges and value the Marginal - The 'fringes' of any system are often where the most interesting, innovative and productive things take place. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space!
----

"Charlie is spearheading a new and exciting form of musical activism. He is becoming one of the most important voices in a global cultural movement 
that began right here in Australia." 
- Harry Angus, The Cat Empire 

Permaculture: A Rhymer’s Manual from Western Australia's Formidable Vegetable is the first of its kind. An album of ethical, ecological edu-tainment designed to spread the word of sustainability without making you want to tie-dye your shirt or go out and buy a djembe.
Permaculture is basically a way to get ourselves out of habits of self-destruction and into one of abundance and prosperity.
After recognising a desperate need for people to stop talking about sustainability and start getting off their asses, WA permaculture troubadour Charlie Mgee grabbed his ukulele and came up with 12 songs covering each of the principles of permaculture from David Holmgren’s book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. 

With an all-star cast of Australian musicians including Mal Webb, Alex Burkoy (Tinpan Orange/Juila Stone), Michael Boase (Nicky Bomba’s Bustamento), Loren, Freya Hanly, prodigious 19-year old Harry Jakamarra from Broome on banjo and WA’s own 10 piece live electro-swing band Ensemble Formidable, the album is filled to the brim with tracks of truly grooveworthy proportions with styles ranging from ‘energy-descent electro-swing’ and ‘climate-change reggae’ to ‘peak-oil polka’.

In just three short months, Charlie Mgee has already busted out live shows of permaculture songs at internationally acclaimed festivals including Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), Eclipse 2012 (Cairns), Folk, Rhythm & Life and Rainbow Serpent (VIC) and has shared the stage with class-acts such as Nicky Bomba’s Butamento, Spoonbill and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

After a massive turnout to a follow-up permaculture workshop resulting from an especially cranking gig at Eclipse 2012 Festival, Charlie reflects on his ultimate goal for the project: 

“Right now, music is one of the most effective tools we have to communicate ideas on a mass scale and I think I’m really just starting to recognize the power that that can have with regards to introducing people to ideas on how to live more sustainably. I’ve had people that I wouldn’t have thought would be into sustainability in a million years come up to me going: “Man, this sounds awesome! I’m gonna check out this permaculture stuff!” It’s really reaffirming for what I’ve set out to do.”

With included info on the permaculture principles covered as well as chord charts and lyrics to learn the songs on ukulele, the album has been designed to achieve everything from permaculture teaching resource to ukulele lesson to general morning dance routine.

In a world gone hectic, now really is the time to start growing abundance everywhere, starting at the front door. While we’re at it, you might as well Lettuce Turnip the Beet!  (...that would be Rad-ish.)

The Edge

Permaculture principle 12: Creatively use and respond to Change - Impermanence is the only thing on which we can truly rely. The best we can do is use it to our advantage by designing for change.
---

"Charlie is spearheading a new and exciting form of musical activism. He is becoming one of the most important voices in a global cultural movement 
that began right here in Australia." 
- Harry Angus, The Cat Empire 

Permaculture: A Rhymer’s Manual from Western Australia's Formidable Vegetable is the first of its kind. An album of ethical, ecological edu-tainment designed to spread the word of sustainability without making you want to tie-dye your shirt or go out and buy a djembe.
Permaculture is basically a way to get ourselves out of habits of self-destruction and into one of abundance and prosperity.
After recognising a desperate need for people to stop talking about sustainability and start getting off their asses, WA permaculture troubadour Charlie Mgee grabbed his ukulele and came up with 12 songs covering each of the principles of permaculture from David Holmgren’s book, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. 

With an all-star cast of Australian musicians including Mal Webb, Alex Burkoy (Tinpan Orange/Juila Stone), Michael Boase (Nicky Bomba’s Bustamento), Loren, Freya Hanly, prodigious 19-year old Harry Jakamarra from Broome on banjo and WA’s own 10 piece live electro-swing band Ensemble Formidable, the album is filled to the brim with tracks of truly grooveworthy proportions with styles ranging from ‘energy-descent electro-swing’ and ‘climate-change reggae’ to ‘peak-oil polka’.

In just three short months, Charlie Mgee has already busted out live shows of permaculture songs at internationally acclaimed festivals including Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), Eclipse 2012 (Cairns), Folk, Rhythm & Life and Rainbow Serpent (VIC) and has shared the stage with class-acts such as Nicky Bomba’s Butamento, Spoonbill and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

After a massive turnout to a follow-up permaculture workshop resulting from an especially cranking gig at Eclipse 2012 Festival, Charlie reflects on his ultimate goal for the project: 

“Right now, music is one of the most effective tools we have to communicate ideas on a mass scale and I think I’m really just starting to recognize the power that that can have with regards to introducing people to ideas on how to live more sustainably. I’ve had people that I wouldn’t have thought would be into sustainability in a million years come up to me going: “Man, this sounds awesome! I’m gonna check out this permaculture stuff!” It’s really reaffirming for what I’ve set out to do.”

With included info on the permaculture principles covered as well as chord charts and lyrics to learn the songs on ukulele, the album has been designed to achieve everything from permaculture teaching resource to ukulele lesson to general morning dance routine.

In a world gone hectic, now really is the time to start growing abundance everywhere, starting at the front door. While we’re at it, you might as well Lettuce Turnip the Beet!  (...that would be Rad-ish.)

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After a sold-out Australian national tour, Formidable Vegetable are back with some all new freshly-boosted electro-funk full of positive ecological action that the whole neighbourhood can get down to as they launch their new album 'Micro Biome'. 

With accolades from the UN and having toured to over 20 countries, Formidable Vegetable inspire folks from 5 to 95 to grow their own food, restore their own biosphere and live a better life with irresistibly funky home-scale solutions to the many problems of the world. 

From the local farmers market to massive festivals such as Glastonbury, Formidable Vegetable are as at home on stage alongside the likes of Radiohead, Dolly Parton and The Rolling Stones as they are in their own garden.

Official Website: http://www.formidablevegetable.com.au

Formidable Vegetable

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