Bonnie Bickel has carved out a unique space at Hidden Valley workshops, where practical knowledge and sustainable living take centre stage. Over the last five years, Bonnie has transformed her property into a sanctuary for self sufficiency enthusiasts, offering workshops that combine efficiency and creativity with joy. From no-dig gardening to sourdough bread-making and basic building skills, Bonnie’s efforts have not only enriched her life, but have also empowered a growing community.
For Bonnie, her journey began with a desire to redefine gardening. “The point is how to mindfully and efficiently grow food,” she explains, reflecting on her childhood aversion to the constant weeding and digging in her mother’s garden. That experience, though uninspiring at the time, planted a seed of curiosity about how to make gardening both enjoyable and productive. “It’s about using your time efficiently and growing a wide range of food that makes you eat more vegetables – and enjoy them,” she says. “That should be the majority of our diet.”
Bonnie’s workshops emphasise practical methods for gardening, including systems that don’t require digging, and efficient crop rotation. “I’m constantly thinking about whether this is the most efficient way,” she shares, detailing her practices of minimising soil disturbance and maximising productivity. “Even when I harvest garlic, I just lever it out and firm the soil back down with my foot. It makes a huge difference with weeds – we have so few now.” For Bonnie, these small innovations exemplify the joy and purpose of gardening.
Her commitment to sustainability extends far beyond her garden beds. Bonnie’s studies of politics in her early twenties introduced her to the book The Subsistence Perspective, which profoundly influenced her worldview. “It’s about being inspired by subsistence communities and their way of life, based around home production and doing things for yourself, but also in a community setting,” she explains. “It’s not about working all the time. It’s about finding balance – living a grounded life that’s both productive and meaningful.”
This philosophy underpins much of what Bonnie does at Hidden Valley workshops. Her workshops – particularly those tailored to women – aim to fill gaps in knowledge and confidence. “If you don’t have parents who taught you these skills, how do you learn?” she asks. “YouTube only gets you so far, and it’s hard to know what’s trustworthy.” Bonnie’s classes range from simple projects like building plywood boxes, to more advanced techniques including pouring concrete slabs or framing walls. “People leave with more knowledge, and they’re more relaxed and confident,” she says. “It’s really rewarding to see someone go from being afraid of power tools to building something on their own.”
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants coming from as far afield as Hobart, Launceston, and Devonport to attend her workshops. While Bonnie primarily focuses on creating a supportive space for women, she acknowledges the broader need for accessible skill sharing. “Many women really appreciate a women’s space to learn, but I also want to help everyone,” she says. “It’s tricky – you never know why something sells or doesn’t. But there’s definitely a gap that needs filling.”
There are so many people who want to do it, but not having the knowledge is holding them back – because it’s scary when you don’t know, and you need someone to get you started.
Beyond the practical aspects, Bonnie’s workshops reflect her passion for beauty and balance. Her garden is a living example of this ethos, blending climbing roses and espaliered fruit trees with productive vegetable beds. “I’m trying to create a garden that’s balanced between production and beauty,” she explains. For Bonnie, the garden isn’t just about growing food; it’s a place of connection and creativity. “I like the romance of it,” she says, describing how she uses greenery to soften the imposing appearance of necessary structures like fences. “It’s about creating a vibe – a green-walled garden.”
The kitchen, too, plays a central role in her vision. Bonnie has honed her sourdough bread-making process into a streamlined system that fits seamlessly into her busy life as a mother of three. “There’s no point in making your own bread if it’s going to take all day,” she proclaims. Her method involves preparing a small starter, then creating a levain (the next stage along from a starter), and finally allowing the bread to ferment overnight before baking it in the morning. “You want bakery-quality bread,” she adds, “but it needs to fit into your life.”
Despite the bustling activity on her property, Bonnie welcomes the presence of others. “I’m not a very private person,” she laughs, explaining how her home serves as both a workshop venue and a source of inspiration. “The whole point is home building, and home. We’re not teaching professional builders; it’s about building in your own home, with your own tools.”
Her future plans include expanding her workshop offerings and building a guest hut to accommodate longer stays. “At the moment, we’re in a concrete bonanza,” she jokes, describing her current projects, which include an internal concrete wall, a low concrete wall for the deck, and a poured concrete barbecue. She’s also planning to build a kit shed to serve as an all-weather workspace for future workshops. “It’s been a little stressful not having an outdoor building space,” she notes, “so this will make a big difference.”
Bonnie’s expertise is rooted in years of hands-on experience. During her time on Bruny Island, off Tasmania’s southeastern coast, she worked with a kitchen maker crafting solid timber and plywood cabinetry, avoiding chipboard in favour of natural materials. It was there that she acquired her treasured Festool orbital sander, a tool she still relies on today. “I furnished my whole last house with solid timber furniture from tip shops, stripping it back with my sander and giving it a beautiful finish,” she recalls. Her work history reflects her commitment to quality craftsmanship and sustainable practices, both of which inform the workshops she now leads.
Bonnie’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by the community. She has cultivated connections with neighbours, who often lend a hand during working bees, and she is also a vice president of the local table tennis club in Deloraine. “I was looking for a sport that wasn’t too competitive and had a good vibe,” she explains. “Table tennis is great – it’s fun, good for your body, and perfect for all ages.”
Her work and community involvement stem from a deep sense of purpose. “It’s about more than just working all the time,” she reflects. “It’s about creating a life that’s meaningful and balanced.” Whether she’s sanding reclaimed timber into beautiful furniture, teaching a workshop on wall framing, or enjoying a family picnic at Pine Lake, Bonnie embodies the harmony she strives to create.
For Bonnie Bickel, Pine Lake holds a special place in her heart. Just five minutes from her Golden Valley home, the alpine area offers a serene escape, with its stunning scenery and tranquil beauty. “We go up there for picnics with our prosecco and cheese board,” she shares. The spot – though popular with tourists who often rush through – remains a place for Bonnie and her family to pause, appreciate nature, and enjoy a slower pace. “It’s a really special alpine area,” she beams. “It’s just lovely.”
As Bonnie continues to expand her offerings and share her knowledge, Hidden Valley workshops serves as a beacon of sustainability and empowerment. For her, the journey is as much about the people she inspires as it is about the skills she teaches. “It’s all those little bits of knowledge that come together,” she says, her enthusiasm shining through. “It’s about finding joy in what you do and helping others do the same.”
From the romance of wisteria-covered fences, to the practicality of no-dig gardening, Bonnie Bickel has created a home and a community where beauty, efficiency, and purpose thrive.