In this episode of the Baseworks Transmission Podcast, Patrick Oancia sits down with Palisa Anderson in a park in Montreal, sipping wine and diving into her multifaceted journey as a restaurateur, organic farmer, mother, and movement practitioner. Palisa shares the story of her family’s legacy with Chat Thai, a renowned Thai restaurant group in Sydney, Australia, and her transformative shift to regenerative farming at Boon Luck Farm. From her roots in Sydney to her global experiences in cities like Tokyo, she discusses how her work in food, farming, and movement intertwines with her philosophy of intentionality, community, and resilience. The conversation explores cycles in nature and life, the challenges of sustainable agriculture, and the importance of grounding oneself in the present while planning for a sustainable future.

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About Palisa:

Palisa Anderson is a visionary in Australia’s culinary and agricultural scenes, leading the Chat Thai restaurant group, founded by her mother Amy Chanta, while pioneering organic farming at Boon Luck Farm. After a decade abroad in Hong Kong, New York, and Tokyo, she returned to Sydney in 2010, expanding Chat Thai into a multifaceted empire while cultivating rare produce, including 30 types of eggplant and sticky rice corn, on her 130-acre farm. As a passionate advocate for sustainability and Thai heritage, her writings in The Guardian and other publications, along with her book Boon Luck Farm, explore food, culture, and permaculture, with her innovative farm-to-table approach and personal connection to the land. Her background as a movement educator, combined with her ongoing commitment to various movement practice disciplines, her entrepreneurial activities, and her family- and community-oriented focus, gives her a unique perspective on how different domains of the human experience intersect and inform one another.

Show Notes

• Chat Thai Restaurants: Learn more about Palisa’s family-run Thai restaurant group, a Sydney institution for over 35 years: Chat Thai
• Boon Luck Farm: Explore Palisa’s regenerative farming venture, supplying fresh, organic produce to Chat Thai and other local restaurants: Boon Luck Farm
• Permaculture Principles: Discover the principles of permaculture that guide Palisa’s farming practices: Permaculture Principles
• Regenerative Agriculture: Conservation and rehabilitation approach to food and farming systems: History and origins.
• Nikki Elwin: Mixed modality movement teacher in Byron Bay: Byron Yoga Shala
• Biodynamic Farming: Learn about biodynamic agriculture, which Palisa incorporates into her farming approach: Biodynamics Australia
• Byron Bay Farmers Market: Understand the vibrant local food culture that inspired Palisa’s move to Byron Bay: Byron Farmers Market
• Palisa’s Writing: Read Palisa’s articles on food, culture, and sustainability: The Guardian
• Palisa’s 1st Book: Boon Luck Farm
• Palisa’s TV Series: Palisa Anderson’s Water Heart Food
• HarperCollins Australia: Stay tuned for Palisa’s new book, set for release in 2026: HarperCollins Australia
• Baseworks: Explore the movement and cognition practices that connect Palisa’s story to Patrick’s work: Baseworks
• Gregory David Roberts Quote: “The contours of life are shaped by adversity“: From the book Shantaram

Chapter Breakdown

• 00:00:00 – Introduction to Baseworks and Palisa Anderson
• 00:01:01 – Palisa’s Background: Chat Thai and Boon Luck Farm
• 00:03:37 – The History and Ethos of Chat Thai Restaurants
• 00:05:25 – Sourcing and Seasonality in Thai Cuisine
• 00:07:32 – Transition to Organic Farming at Boon Luck Farm
• 00:09:44 – Discovering Byron Bay’s Farming Community
• 00:12:21 – Embracing a Sustainable Farming Lifestyle
• 00:16:43 – Scale and Diversity of Boon Luck Farm
• 00:19:08 – Regenerative Farming Practices and Soil Health
• 00:23:33 – Market Gardening and Crop Rotation
• 00:27:10 – Nutrient Density and Organic Farming Challenges
• 00:30:28 – Biodiversity and Mimicking Natural Ecosystems
• 00:35:45 – Cycles in Farming and Personal Life
• 00:39:37 – Facing Agricultural Disasters and Resilience
• 00:41:17 – Impact of Cyclone Debbie on the Farm
• 00:53:26 – Family Dynamics and Limiting Technology Use
• 00:57:32 – Teaching Kids Mindfulness and Presence
• 00:59:14 – Physicality of Farming and Movement Practices
• 01:03:08 – Integrating Movement Modalities for Longevity
• 01:06:06 – Defining Healthy Aging and Community
• 01:11:20 – Building Community in Byron Bay
• 01:17:05 – Balancing Wanderlust and Rootedness
• 01:19:47 – Food Sovereignty and Self-Sufficiency
• 01:27:59 – Intentionality and Future Planning
• 01:31:11 – Upcoming Book on Farming and Philosophy
• 01:34:03 – Closing Thoughts and Future Collaborations

This conversation was recorded in Sir Wilfrid Laurie Park in Montreal, Canada, on July 17, 2024.