This week Linda Ross talks to Paul West, the star of Lifestyle Channel's (now SBS) series River Cottage Australia, who has swapped his bucolic Tilba home on the NSW South Coast for a city life in Thornbury, in Melbourne’s inner north.
In this episode Linda Ross talks to Paul West, the star of Lifestyle Channel's (now SBS) series River Cottage Australia, who has swapped his bucolic Tilba home on the NSW South Coast for a city life in Thornbury, in Melbourne’s inner north.
The chef-turned-sustainable-farmer married his partner Alicia in 2016 and moved south, along with their young sons, Otto and Bowie.
Fans of the show will be pleased to learn that West’s scene-stealing border collie Digger has also made the journey and is busy learning how to behave around busy city roads and make the most of a suburban backyard. “I don’t think he’s super happy but I still get him out and give him plenty of walks,” West says. “And we’re lucky, we live near Merri Creek, so there are plenty of places where he can get off lead.”
Since River Cottage Australia finished filming in 2015, the 36-year-old advocate of sustainable farming has been dabbling with television and radio jobs, as well as doing cooking demonstrations and tells Linda he is in the process of writing a book.
West says living sustainably begins with cooking at home. Start by eliminating processed and packaged foods and prepare fresh meals from scratch. Then, try growing your own vegetables – start small with some herbs or salad greens in a pot.
Ultimately, though, the move to Melbourne is a temporary one with the family planning to move back to their house in Bermagui, NSW, when Otto starts primary school.
Paul will be a special guest at the Queensland Garden Show 13-15th July 2018 on the Sunshine Coast (http://www.qldgardenexpo.com.au) where he will be on stage talking about his sustainable life goals.
Keep connected with us on Instagram or Facebook.