Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Better Homes and Gardens Australia

The word ‘eco’ sometimes gets a bad rap. It can sound a bit lofty or all-or-nothing, like caring about the environment automatically means overhauling your entire life. And sure, some people go all in and that works for them. For most of us, it’s simply about being a little more conscious of the choices we make, and how small shifts – inspired by clever ideas or learning from others – can bring benefits that go well beyond the environmental. Here at BHG, we’ve focused on ways these little changes can save you money, help you make the most of what you already have, spend less time on chores, and even find new ways to connect meaningfully with your community. That’s exactly what this issue is all about. We’re not here…

Zucchini slice is one of the most-loved recipes for our readers (and in the office!). I set myself a challenge to give this classic a money-saving twist without losing its simplicity and tastiness. There’s always some pumpkin in my fridge, so it felt like the perfect place to start. Instead of tossing the seeds and peelings, they’re roasted into crunchy, golden snacks, so nothing is wasted. The pumpkin adds extra colour but cooks through easily without any extra prep. And to finish it off, we’re putting that last dollop of yoghurt in your fridge to good use with a zingy sauce that takes this humble slice up a notch. SARAH’S ZUCCHINI AND PUMPKIN SLICE Preparation time 25 mins Cooking time 35 mins Serves 8 750g kent pumpkin 1 bunch flat-leaf…

This Father’s Day, skip the socks and give Dad something truly special – homemade gourmet treats made with love. Get creative and reuse empt y jars from your kitchen to store them in. It’s a simple, sustainable package and looks great, too. Then pop on a cute label and your homemade mixes are ready for gifting. INDIAN-STYLE FISH RUB Preparation time 10 mins Cooking time 1 min Makes ⅓ cup Put 2 tablespoons coriander seeds and 2 tablespoons cumin seeds in a small frying pan over medium heat. Stir constantly for 40 seconds or until fragrant. Cool. Use a mortar and pestle to grind seeds finely. Stir in 2 teaspoons turmeric, 2 teaspoons medium-hot curry powder, 1 teaspoon ground ginger and 1 teaspoon ground chilli. Place in a screw-top jar…

Ever seen an old piece of furniture on the side of the road and wondered what you could do with it? This is where Geneva Vanderzeil shines. She sees the potential in overlooked things and turns them into something beautiful. Here she shares timber restoration tips as well as three projects from her recently released book, New Again. Be inspired by her wood scrap transformation, a furniture flip and a mosaic marvel. HOW TO KNOW IF A TIMBER PIECE IS WORTH RESTORING Material Start by examining the type of wood used in the furniture. Hardwoods are generally of higher quality and tend to be more durable than softwoods such as pine. Look for furniture with a solid wood construction rather than veneers or particle board, as solid wood lasts longer…

SCAN ME Scan to shop these items. Snooze & stash Combine form and function with this Ballina bed that features end drawers and a storage bedhead. It’s crafted from durable acacia timber, with a beautiful natural grain. Ballina two-drawer bed, $2199, from Harvey Norman. Snack in STYLE These bowls are the cottage charm you never knew you were missing. The raised design with ripening red strawberries is sure to add some whimsy to your mealtimes. Wild Strawberry bowls, 12.5cm wide, $14.95 each, from French Knot. PATTERN PLAY Put a glass in your side table, not just on it! This Reid side table, 50cm tall, will delight you with its stunning streaks of colour, $449, from Domayne. COTTON CRUSH Sheridan’s new collection is all about embracing spring fever! This Kiari design…

Founder and owner of eco brand Seed and Sprout, Sophie Kovic is living the dream – and the brand – with her off-grid tiny house bush retreat. Sophie has built a tiny home getaway in a permaculture community just outside of her main home in the Byron shire. “I wasn’t looking to build at all,” she explains. “I was looking for a nice property somewhere with some water.” When Sophie missed out on a house she wanted in a permaculture community, she instead bought a plot of land on the same property owned by Geoff Lawton, a well-known permaculture teacher. “I had fallen in love with the idea of being part of that community because I’d watched Kiss the Ground [a film about regenerative agriculture], and that just inspired me.”…

Your home is full of objects waiting in the wings for their second act. From clever upcycling ideas to simply finding a use beyond chucking it into the bin, these ideas come direct from our team – so they’re tried and tested! Ready to see things differently? Here’s how the BHG team reinvents and reimagines the everyday, one onion peel or old T-shirt at a time. In the garden 1 Eggshells for tomatoes I like to wash and save eggshells to crush into a fine powder and sprinkle on the soil when planting tomatoes. While it can take a while for the calcium to break down, I’ve been able to grow abundant cherry tomato plants that have tripled in size since using this technique – and what’s more, in the…

Can you turn pet poo into plant power? When it comes to composting, pet waste isn’t what usually comes to mind, but maybe it’s time it did. While dog and cat poo can’t go straight into the garden, with some careful management to kill pathogens and parasites, it can enhance soil fertility and benefit plants instead of ending up in the bin or flushed down the loo. Dedicated dog waste composters are available, including the in-ground EnsoPet Poo Composter or Tumbleweed Pet Poo Worm Farm, but put them well away from vegies, fruits and herbs you might eat. You can add biodegradable and unscented kitty litter – the paper, corn, rice or wood-based varieties – to your compost, but avoid this if your pet is ill or on medication. Rabbit…

Bringing the outside in is about more than adding a splash of green to your interiors, It’s a bona fide movement. Biophilic design is an approach rooted in connecting people with the natural world. It enriches our living spaces by bringing us closer to nature. And indoor plants don’t just look nice – Australian research from RMIT highlights that having multiple, varied indoor plants significantly improves wellbeing by reducing stress, enhancing mood, and boosting concentration and memory by up to 20 per cent. An indoor greenhouse can create a living sanctuary where greenery thrives. Pick up an old glass cabinet, a paintbrush and some potting mix, and join the re-greening revolution. Choose tropical or humidity-loving plants for your indoor greenhouse, such as: • Heart-leaf philodendron • Pothos • Ferns •…

SCAN ME Scan this QR code to shop these items. Fragrant frills Romantic by name and nature, easy-care Dianthus ‘Romance’ looks especially bewitching in containers, rockeries or as a low-growing border or edging. It boasts masses of highly scented, salmon-pink double blooms and is heat tolerant once established. Apply a slow-release fertiliser in early spring and deadhead to prolong flowering. From Plant Growers Australia, pga.com.au. DOUBLE UP HI HONEY! Studio Milligram’s Bubble Aqua Vase has a neat trick. One way up the opening is large, but turn the empty vase upside down and there’s another smaller opening you can use for little posies. Made from borosilicate glass, the vase is 14cm high and wide, $79.95, from Backyard Botanist. PLANT PUNK Talking trees? Take a quirky look at the world of…

SCAN ME Scan the code to shop these releases. TOP READ SEA CHANGE by Jenny Pattrick, Bateman Books NZ, $37.99 This “charming story of survival” has been one of the most uplifting books I’ve read this year. It follows a community on New Zealand’s Kapiti Coast after a tsunami takes out most of the small town. A quirky collection of villagers defy the order to retreat. It’s up to reclusive Lorna, blind Toddy, young Eru and their newfound family to save what’s left. It’s not the story you’d expect. Jenny Pattrick has built a tale about the importance of staying kind in the face of adversity. The characters’ warmth and kindness to each other will have your heartstrings thrumming. Their fierce love for their home will inspire you. And as…

YOUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY Amazon amazon.com.au Backyard Botanist backyardbotanist.com.au Benjamin Moore benjaminmoore.com.au Bloomingdales Lighting bloomingdales.com.au Bunnings bunnings.com.au French Knot frenchknot.com.au IKEA ikea.com.au Inartisan inartisan.com Rugs for Good rugsforgood.com.au Satara satara.com.au Target target.com.au The Seed Collection theseedcollection.com.au Shop Your Garden, page 32 Shopping details Amazon Stainless Steel garden tools, $8.99. IKEA Vattenkrasse watering can (0.9L), $12. Flavourful Gifts for Dad, page 40 Shopping details French Knot Marlow lattice rattan bowl, $34.95. Greenhouse Effect, page 148 Project supplies Bunnings Cabot’s 1L WalnutWater Based Interior Stain, $69.90. Intergrain UltraClear Satin Exterior Timber Varnish 1L, $67.95. Adoored Angle Plate Leg Furniture Accessory 2 Pack, $2.46. Adoored 125mm Pine Square Tapered Furniture Leg, $7.24. Shopping details Benjamin Moore Eco Spec Interior Latex Paint in Eggshell Finish in 507 Grecian Green, on walls, $137.50 for a gallon…

THAI PORK STIR-FRY Preparation time 20 mins Cooking time 15 mins Serves 4 1 iceberg lettuce ½ cup sweet chilli sauce Juice of 2 limes 2 Tbsp fish sauce 1 Tbsp brown sugar or grated palm sugar 100g vermicelli noodles 1 Tbsp vegetable oil 3 large eschalots, thinly sliced 1 lemongrass, white part only, finely chopped  2 cloves garlic, crushed  500g pork mince ¼ cup mint leaves ¼ cup Thai basil leaves  1 long red chilli, thinly sliced diagonally  Lime wedges, to serve STEP 1 Holding the lettuce in both hands, bang its root firmly on a flat surface. Twist root to remove. Put lettuce in a large, deep bowl and cover with cold water to loosen leaves for easy separation. Drain. Line four serving bowls with lettuce ‘baskets’.  STEP…

Dress up your DIY Father’s Day gifts with our nifty labels. You’ll have a present that looks all class at half the cost! Just scan the QR code on this page for a downloadable file you can then print out on an adhesive label sheet. Or photocopy this page, cut out a label and attach it to your jar. (Mod Podge is good for sticking paper to glass.) Your little jar of love will look as good as it tastes. SCAN ME Scan this QR code for labels to print.…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 GRAHAM ROSS Join me as I visit this delightful garden on BHG TV, Friday, September 19, at 7pm on Channel 7. For more garden tips go to bhg.com.au There’s an exuberance and sense of liberation in a garden where the emphasis is on doing things naturally. Wild Meadows Garden in the village of Little Hartley, on the western side of the Blue Mountains, is on a gentle slope that 14 years ago was a cattle paddock. Despite the incline, there are no hard surfaces. No walls, no retainers, no constructed paths, no steps – no rigidity. Instead, it’s 1.2 hectares of soft, curved garden beds that create a rich tapestry of colours and textures. They’re linked by open lawns that balance the profusion of…

Water gives life to gardens, but you can’t always rely on the weather to deliver the goods when you need them. Instead of letting rainwater run into the drain, you can collect and store it to ensure your garden is hydrated and green throughout the drier months. Rainwater is free from chlorine and is naturally oxygenated, making it better for most plants than tap water. Once you set up your rain barrel, watering your garden is basically free. PICK YOUR VESSEL Source a sturdy, watertight container. Check local marketplace sites online and look for recycled wine barrels, vintage metal bins or terracotta or concrete urns – the bigger the better. If you want a new container, a plastic rubbish or metal bin will also do the job. CHOOSE THE RIGHT…

SPICED SALMON WITH POTATO SALAD Preparation time 10 mins Cooking time 10 mins Serves 1 5 baby new potatoes 1 Tbsp finely chopped parsley, plus sprigs to serve 1 Tbsp finely chopped coriander, plus sprigs to serve Pinch chilli flakes ½ tsp ground allspice 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger 1 Tbsp lime juice 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil Sea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season 200g skinless, boneless salmon fillet  2 Tbsp Greek-style yoghurt  1 green onion, chopped finely  Mixed green salad, lime wedges, to serve STEP 1 Boil, steam or microwave the potatoes until tender. Cover to keep warm. STEP 2 Combine the parsley, coriander, chilli flakes, allspice, garlic, ginger, lime juice and oil. Season. Pour half the herb mixture over…

Do you have a shed full of random bits of wood, glass jars with missing lids, or odd pieces of bedding sets? If you’ve been hanging onto things in the hope that one day you might just use them for something, well, today is that day! Our curated collection of ideas unlocks a world of possibilities. Timber Whether it’s left over from a project, or an old piece of furniture, we’re pretty sure dads around Australia have a go-to box of ‘bits of wood’ that are just waiting for their time in the spotlight (the wood and the dads). • Make shelves with hardwood rescued from old furniture frames. • Screw two wooden pallets together and paint it to make a rustic coffee table. • Sand and finish timber offcuts…

Milton’s tips for Libra season (Sep 23 to Oct 22) Libra is the sign of beauty, in colour and form, with an emphasis on delicate art shades. Venus, ruler of Libra, corresponds to pink colours, and flowers compatible with Libra include hyacinths, oriental lilies and begonias. With spring unfolding, now is the time for Librans to reset their garden with assorted vegies ready for the season ahead, especially ‘Purple King’ beans, peas, cucumbers, lettuce and spring onions. It’s no surprise Librans enjoy dishes that balance sweet and savoury flavours. Try salmon with herbs and grilled lemon, Mediterranean salad with goat’s cheese, or fresh avocado and prawns with a squeeze of lemon, topped with pineapple and mango. ZODIAC SIGNS The 12 signs of the zodiac are divided into four groups –…

Cat Ba National Park in Vietnam WHAT: Cat Ba National Park has rainforests, beaches, caves and limestone hills. It’s home to one of the world’s rarest primates, the golden-headed Cat Ba langur, so conservation efforts are vital. WHERE: On Cat Ba island, the gateway to Ha Long Bay in north-east Vietnam. It’s usually visited by tourists on daytrips from cruises. WHEN: March to May, and September to November, to avoid the wet season. TRY: Hike the Ngu Lam trail to the peak of the island for amazing views. SCAN ME Don’t forget to wear comfortable walking shoes when you hike! Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland WHAT: Vatnajökull National Park is a sight to behold, with Europe’s largest glacier, mountain ridges and the black sands of Skaftafell. WHERE: This huge park…

When you have extra offcuts of fabrics lying around in the craft room (like I do!), beeswax wraps are the perfect way to give them a second life. They can then be used to cover jars and wrap odds and ends of food, pack sandwiches in kids’ lunchboxes or create gift packs that friends and family will love. Any old cotton fabric will do. EASY STEPS TO MAKE YOUR OWN BEESWAX WRAPS STEP 1 Cut clean cotton fabric into desired sizes. Cut fabric with pinking shears to prevent fabric from fraying. STEP 2 Preheat the oven to 150–180°C (300–350°F). Place the fabric on a lined baking tray and sprinkle the beeswax pellets over the fabric evenly. Use less wax to avoid stiffness; you can always add more if needed. STEP…

Once, your beauty product just had to be up to the task. Now, buyers also want their hair, skin and make-up to be free of nasties and eco-friendly. In fact, close to 50 per cent of Australians say that sustainability is an important factor when shopping, according to recent research from the Monash Business School. What is clean beauty? The term clean beauty refers to cosmetic items that are free from ingredients known to be potentially harmful, and whose brands prioritise ethical and sustainably sourced ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. Clean beauty can include all types of products, from purely natural to high-end cosmeceuticals. Buyer beware There are no regulations governing claims and labelling. So, if a product claims to be ‘clean’ or ‘natural’, do your research. Look at the ingredient…

Have leftover veg? Make your own fabric dyes. See page 170. Editor Megan Osborne Creative director Scott Cassidy Managing editor Sophie Al-Bassam Chief sub-editor Jo McKinnon Digital editor Tahni Mesann Design director Monique Larracy Senior designer Carol Tang Garden editor Jenny Dillon Senior food editor Sarah Murphy DIY editor Tiff Bancroft  Stylist Nonci Nyoni  Creative projects editor Geneva Vanderzeil  Senior content producers Jade Coull, Rachel Iorfino  Editorial & production assistant Jada Susas  Enquiries (02) 9282 8000 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS  Beauty editor Annie Millar  In your garden Tony Fawcett  Moon guide Milton Black  Better pets Caroline Zambrano  Better finance Andrea Black  Better books & experiences Rachel Iorfino ADVERTISING  Head of commercial, home & lifestyle Rhyl Heavener  Advertising enquiries (02) 9282 8000, advertising@aremedia.com.au TELEVISION  Host Johanna Griggs  Presenters: Pets Dr Harry Cooper  Gardening…

Letter of the month As a loyal reader and long-time fan of your magazine, I love all things handmade and am unable to throw away anything made by my family. I have recently discovered a knitted sun and moon outfit made by my stepmother for my then baby son, Nicolas, in June 1999 from a BHG pattern. Nicolas was 10 months old with blond hair and blue eyes. My grandson Jack has inherited the outfit. I have included a photo of both Nicolas and Jack in it. I hope this brings a smile to your face. I am so proud of this unique knitted outfit! –Toni CONGRATULATIONS Thank you for all your support over the years! We loved seeing this fantastic outfit passed down from your son to your grandson.…

I found this cabinet at the Logan Recycling Market for $6. I loved the shape of it but the timber was damaged in places. Instead of moving on, I realised it would be the perfect piece to create a folk-inspired flower design. Every damaged timber item has a silver lining. Easy steps to painting a floral cabinet Here’s how STEP 1 Remove all hardware from the cabinet, including handles and knobs. STEP 2 Lightly sand the cabinet using a sander or medium-grit sandpaper to dull any existing finish. Wipe away all sanding dust with a damp cloth. STEP 3 Apply painter’s tape to mask off any areas you want to keep paint-free, such as inside edges or hardware holes. STEP 4 Apply a thin, even coat of primer to the…

Avo and tomato on toast, a crisp apple, berry smoothie, a handful of nuts or even some honey. What do these all have in common? Bees! Bees help with the pollination of so much of the food we rely on, but also the flowering plants all around us. Australia is home to a plethora of native bees. There are 1717 currently known species from five bee families, and it’s estimated there are more than 2000 species across the continent. Relationships between plants and pollinators – bees, birds, butterflies, beetles and bats – have developed across millions of years. In Australia, we have Dianella (native flax lilies), Hibbertia (guinea flowers) and Solanum which are all buzz-pollinated. This means they need native bees such as Lipotriches (Nomia bees), Amegillas (blue-banded bees) or…

Recently featured on BHG TV, Dr Laura Ryan renovated her inner-city semi in Sydney’s Newtown into an off-grid, low-impact sustainable home with a water harvesting system and incinerating loo. Even her furniture and design elements are repurposed, recycled, or come from sustainable sources. Laura had a longstanding passion to create a sustainable home, but there’s a good reason she called it The Impossible House. The planning turned out to be the hardest part. It took six(!) years of planning and then two years of building to remodel the home. Laura made a website that detailed her journey and can be used as a resource by others who want to do the same – go to theimpossiblehouse.com.au. “The most important thing is finding the right people,” Laura says. “There are the…

Alex Elliott-Howery loves a pickle. When she noticed her neighbours’ backyard trees laden with fruit, she knocked on their doors to take the excess and feed her “obsessive love” for pickling. She joined forces with partner James Grant to open Cornersmith cafe in Marrickville in Sydney in 2012, and also ran pickling workshops. The cafe is now closed, but Alex still sells her popular pickles online, has written four books and runs workshops on seasonal eating and reducing food waste. Her latest book, Pocket Pickler (Murdoch Books, $29.99), is packed with recipes for pickles, relishes and other delights. You, too, can waste less, pickle more and enjoy every bite. BHG: What’s the best beginner pickle? AEH: Quick pickling is the easiest. Go with a crunchy vegie that doesn’t have too…

SCAN ME Scan this QR code to shop these items. COOL TOOLS Share an enviro-friendly take on kitchen tools with a Sarah Urban Eco-Conscious Kitchen Basics Gift Box. The 16-piece kit includes durable utensils crafted from timber and glass and a Healthy 101 recipe card set. It’s ready to gift, with the option for a personalised card, $139. COMING UP ROSÉ Natural wines magically capture that zing of sun and soil. Mon Tout Strange Love Rosé is made with grapes sourced from organic vineyards across Western Australia. It’s unfiltered, with minimal sulphur, $33. SUPER STORER You can keep food fresher for longer with the Urban Ethos two-litre square container. It’s stackable, airtight and made from plastic collected from coastline communities that have no effective recycling in place, $18. JARS OF…

In a world constantly inundated with information, it’s hard not to feel completely overwhelmed when stepping into the realm of sustainability. And if you’re anything like me, you’re equally overwhelmed with how much waste we seem to produce simply by existing. This familiar feeling has a name – “eco-guilt” – and according to Anna Matilda, otherwise known as The Urban Nanna, it’s a feeling we shouldn’t run away from, as it might just push us to do something good. We first met Anna in our BHG Creator Awards, where she won our award for Permaculture Powerhouse. Permaculture, says Anna, is a “systems-based framework that has helped people live more ethical, eco-conscious lives.” But what does that actually look like? Anna’s debut book Everyday Permaculture (Hardie Grant Explore, $42.99) is about…

Using natural paint or responsibly sourced timber is a step towards sustainability when you’re building. But a much bigger problem with building is waste. Construction and demolition produces almost 40 per cent of Australia’s waste, or 29 million tonnes each year, according to figures released this year. And about a third of that ends up in landfill! BHG spoke with two people who are changing that narrative. Painting a picture of sustainability Circle Paints is a not-for-profit enterprise in Sydney with a mission to clean up the city’s paint act. The Circle Paints team collects leftover paint, processes it, then resells it at a fraction of the cost. This keeps paint out of landfill and provides an affordable option for renovators. Circle Paints’ stock represents 0.1 per cent of Sydney…

SEASON SPECIALS Colour up in readiness for a spring bulb explosion! PLANT NOW In each issue we give ideas, tips and planting advice for cooler, warmer, wetter and drier areas in each zone, so ask your local nursery which zone best matches your conditions. FLOWERS ALL ZONES Alyssum, amaranthus, aster, begonia, cosmos, dahlia, marigold, nasturtium, petunia portulaca, salvia and zinnia. ZONE 1–3 Balsam, celosia, gaillardia (top left), phlox, sunflower and torenia. ZONES 4–6 California poppy (bottom left), candytuft, lobelia and snapdragon. VEGETABLES ALL ZONES Asparagus, beans, beetroot, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, celery, choko, eggplant, lettuce, potato, pumpkin, radish, sweet potato, sweetcorn, tomato (top left) and zucchini. ZONE 1–3 Taro, okra (bottom left) and water chestnut. ZONE 4–6 Cucumber, onion, parsnip, pak choy and turnip. KEY TO CLIMATE ZONES “A flower does…

GO GREEN AND SAVE Follow these easy cost-saving tips for sustainable living. SUMMER-PROOF YOUR HOME Now’s the time to look into ways to improve your home insulation to keep the heat out and save money on cooling. That can be as simple as purchasing block-out curtains. Other smart solutions include adding external shading – even large potted plants can work – or fitting awnings or shutters to reduce heat gain. CONSERVE WATER Water is a precious resource, and costly. To reduce how much water you use, add low-flow fixtures to your shower and consider fitting a shower timer that cuts off the hot water at a preset time. A 12-minute shower with a flow rate of 12 litres per minute can cost more than $1.50 if you live in an…

Ryan Jenkins has been sharing the fun of tinkering for close on 20 years. He helped develop a ‘tinkering’ area in the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco, where visitors could use tools to play and put together different materials. He fell in love with the idea, and what started as a part-time gig grew into a career, arranging workshops and teaching other educators. He’s now packed 100 of those projects into a book, The Tinkering Workshop, which is as much fun for grown-ups as kids. BHG chatted to him about the place of play in science. BHG: Is play an important part of learning and innovating? RJ: Yes. We forget that to be an artist, scientist, engineer or designer, there is a lot of play involved.Whenever I talk with…

January–February Veganuary: January 1–31 Try plant-based eating for a month. Make it yummy with treats such as vegan banana bread in lunchboxes. Schools Clean Up Day: Last Friday in February Get the kids involved with cleaning up the school grounds or local park. March–April Clean Up Australia Day: March 1, 2026 Pull on some gloves and join a local event to tidy your area. Earth Hour: March 28, 2026 Millions of people around the world switch off their lights at 8.30pm to show their support of the environment. National Ride2School Day: March 20, 2026 Celebrate active travel by helping your kids bike or walk to school. May–July World Bee Day: May 20, 2026 Build a bee hotel (see page 64) to support native Aussie species. Plastic Free July: July 1–31…