Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue#6.2 i Good Organic Gardening

TO THE ISSUE If you’d visited the home of my late mother-in-law, Joan, you’d have had barely an inkling that she grew any food, except for a few well-established fruit trees and a lush grapevine that covered the carport down the back. She had beautiful flowers everywhere in her spacious garden, but hidden among them was a spinach plant here and a rhubarb plant there; tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, beans, peas — oh, and lots of strawberries — all practically out of sight. Joan never planted a row of anything or rotated crops; someone gave her a seedling or cutting and she stuck it in the dirt wherever it would fit. Things sprouted as volunteers and parsley dotted itself around the place. So what’s better: planting in rows in dedicated…

Aloe vera is known as the first-aid plant because it is a soothing aid for cuts, burns and other wounds. The plant is reported to have antimicrobial, antibiotic, antioxidant, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory actions among a range of other beneficial effects. The gel in its leaves has been used for a comprehensive list of complaints: as a pain and allergy inhibitor; for inflammatio n; to close cuts for cell regeneration and healing; to penetrate skin to reach tendons, muscles, joints and the lymph system; for abscesses, abrasions, acne and bed sores; for burns, including sunburn, canker sores, chapped lips, dry skin, dermatitis, herpes, nappy rash, heat rash, insect bites ... the list goes on. Researchers have found that aloe vera gel can penetrate seven layers of skin and can do it…

Rubus idaeus You’ve never truly tasted a raspberry till you’ve eaten one freshly picked from your own garden. Gardenharvested raspberries are fragrant, plump and juicy — a delicious explosion of sweet and sour on your tongue. Raspberry plants are woody perennials with cane-like stems that can be grown in rows in a sunny spot, or as an informal hedge or decorative border. Grow a selection of summer and autumn fruiting varieties and you’ll have fruit from December through to April. Now is a great time to plant raspberries because both garden centres and mail-order nurseries stock virus-free, bare-rooted canes right through winter. If you want fresh raspberries for Christmas, grow ‘Sandford’ in the garden as it produces a rich crop of berries from early December onwards. ‘Chilliwack’ is another heavy…

WHAT IS BIOCHAR? If you are going to go to the trouble of making biochar, you should know what it is and understand the benefits it will bring to your soil. Biochar is basically a biologically stable or non-degradable form of charcoal. It is created by baking plant matter at high temperatures (200–700°C) and at low oxygen levels in a process called pyrolysis. This removes everything but carbon from the plant matter and solidifies the carbon into charcoal. The remaining charcoal is resistant to degradation by microbial and plant enzymes, making biochar stable in soils for thousands of years. Biochar is therefore carbon-rich and provides significant soil-improving qualities. It has been shown to: • Increase nutrient availability in soil (fertiliser combined with biochar is 60 per cent more efficient) •…

“Do you like turnips?” a neighbour down the road asked as I was wandering past with my dogs. “We are over them,” she told me as we went around to the back garden so she could harvest a few turnips for me to take home. When I saw the size of the turnips she was pulling from her well-filled vegie patch, I wasn’t surprised to hear that her family had had enough. They were enormous! I lugged home the bonus turnips and set the largest on the kitchen scales. It weighed in at a hefty 1kg. After serving the turnips mashed, roasted and in soup for several meals, I turned what was left into several jars of tasty turnip chutney. Getting started If you want to try this generous root…

Serves 4 Ingredients • 1 bunch watercress, washed & spin-dried • 400g peas, blanched • 200g free-range streaky bacon (nitrite-free if possible) • 2 tbsp fresh mint, roughly chopped • 100g fresh broccoli sprouts • 50g walnuts (activated if possible) • 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds to garnish Vinaigrette Place ingredients in a jar and shake well: 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil Pinch Celtic sea salt Method 1. Pan-fry bacon until crispy and chop into small pieces. 2. In a large bowl, combine watercress, peas, walnuts, broccoli sprouts, mint and bacon pieces and add just enough dressing to evenly coat the salad. 3. Transfer to platter and garnish with pomegranate seeds and a few extra walnuts if needed.…

Leeks are surprisingly easy vegetables to grow. They are related to onions, chives, spring onions and elephant garlic (see page 13). Leeks are planted from spring to autumn in most areas and are an excellent crop to have in the ground for winter harvesting. Grow leeks as a dry-season crop in the tropics and subtropics by planting them in autumn. A few rows of leeks provide an easy-to-use, mildly onion-flavoured vegetable to be chopped and added to all sorts of dishes. Leeks are particularly tasty lightly sautéed as a basis for soups and casseroles. Leeks don’t just taste good — they provide healthy amounts of vitamins and minerals, too. They are rich in vitamins A, B, C and K as well as minerals, including calcium. Getting started Leeks can be…

GREAT BRITISH COOKING By Carolyn Caldicott & Chris Caldicott, Allen & Unwin, RRP $29.99 World’s shortest cookbook? OK, now we’ve got the obvious joke out of the way, it’s time to re-evaluate what the British kitchen has given the world — and, indeed, what the world has given to British cooking. Empire has its rewards. Beyond toad-in-the-hole, shepherd’s pie, Cornish pasties and Yorkshire pudding (all recipes included in this book), much of what we regard as traditional Brit cuisine comes from former colonies: the Indian curry powder in kedgeree, tomato ketchup from Malaya, potatoes from the New World in bangers and mash. Chef and food stylist Carolyn and photographer Chris serve up 60 recipes of the Old Dart’s greatest culinary hits, from breakfast bubble-and-squeak through to ploughman’s lunch and a…

ECO DEATH WISH What better topic to contemplate in the cool of winter, when nature sleeps, than our inevitable demise. Death is the natural end to life, so you might as well have a say in what happens to your body. As an organic gardener who values an eco-life, why not think about how to green up your earthly exit? Do you want to be buried or cremated? That’s the question people generally ask. Your answer might depend on how it’s done. Eco-friendly options are booming — from biodegradable coffins and “aquamation” to tree-sprouting bio-urns. In our culture, death tends to be hidden and not spoken about, but I came face to face with it in the Indian city of Varanasi, where Hindus believe it’s auspicious to die and be…

VEGETABLES COOL & TEMPERATE Despite the cooler conditions, cold winds can dry soil, especially in containers and raised beds. Combat slower growth with regular watering and liquid feeding and you’ll be harvesting winter crops including cabbages, sprouts and leafy greens such as rocket and soft-hearted lettuce. Red-leafed lettuce varieties perform well during winter. Plan for spring by sowing broad beans and spring onions. This is also time to plant perennial vegies such as asparagus and rhubarb, which are planted from crowns. TROPICAL This is a bountiful time of the year in the tropics, but keep all crops watered, especially leafy vegies. If these want for water, they are likely to become bitter as they change from leafy growth to flowering. Regular water and fortnightly liquid fertiliser encourage tender growth. While…

Serves 4 as a side Ingredients • 1kg small turnips • 1½ cups water • 2 tbsp butter • 1 tbsp lemon juice • 1½ tsp coconut sugar • ½ tsp Celtic sea salt • Fresh thyme sprigs for garnish Method 1. Peel turnips, then cut in half lengthways. 2. Arrange turnips in one layer in a 12in heavy skillet and add enough water to reach halfway up turnips. 3. Add butter, sugar and salt, cover and boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. 4. Remove lid and continue cooking until water has evaporated, stirring occasionally until golden brown. 5. Add lemon juice. 6. Transfer to serving dish and d rizzle with the rest of the lemon glaze and a sprig of thyme.…

Did you know? Okra is native to areas around Ethiopia where it has been cultivated for perhaps thousands of years. As well as being related to ornamental hibiscus, it is also related to cotton. Most of the okra bought in Australia is sold in tins imported from overseas, so growing your own makes sense financially and to ensure you are eating a nutritious organic product. Okra is grown for the swollen, green, ribbed pods that form after the flower is fertilised. The long, tapering, finger-like shape of the pods gives okra its common name of “ladies’ fingers.” When the pods are cooked, they become mucilaginous or gluey, which helps to thicken as well as flavour soups, stews and gumbos. Hibiscus connection When okra flowers, it’s easy to see it is…

Serves 4 Ingredients • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 large garlic clove, crushed • 100g or 2 small leeks, washed & finely diced • 6 cups homemade bone broth or chicken stock • Small bunch kale, washed & shredded • 200g leftover roast chicken pulled into bite-sized pieces • Coconut oil • 50g leek sliced into shoestrings for garnish Method 1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over a low heat. Add the garlic and sauté for one minute, then add the diced leeks, salt and pepper and sauté until soft and transparent. 2. Add the bone broth or stock and bring to a gentle simmer. 3. Add the kale and chicken and continue cooking for about 5 minutes. 4. In a shallow frypan add coconut oil to…

Q I’ve always been a bit put off buying bare-rooted trees because I don’t know how to plant them. Do you have any tips? A You’ll find lots of bare-rooted roses, deciduous fruit trees and ornamental trees in your garden centre this winter. Buying bare-rooted is a great way to get a reasonable-size tree for less money, so if you’re looking to create an avenue of trees or establish an orchard, now is a great time to do it. Planting isn’t difficult, but there are a few simple things you need to consider to get good results. Bare-rooted plants don’t like to dry out, so I always prepare the area for planting before buying the tree so I can get it into the ground as soon as possible. If you…

VEGETABLES COOL & TEMPERATE Spring may be around the corner, but don’t go wild planting outdoors if you live in a cold zone. Late frosts and cold winds decimate early plantings of frost-sensitive crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins and zucchini. If you’re gripped by spring fever, sow seeds in containers, keep them warm and sheltered and let them grow up for planting out when the weather stabilises. Sow tomato seeds in punnets and keep them in a warm spot for early germination. If you live in a coastal area, it is safe to start off summer vegetables now. Or play it safe in all areas planting seeds or seedlings of peas, English spinach and kale, along with seeds of carrots and parsnip. Also plant seed potatoes now (in all…

It’s harvest time and the winners have been plucked from more than 7000 Good Organic Gardening readers, who submitted their votes to find the cream of the crop in the Good Organic Gardening People’s Choice Garden Idea Awards 2015. Good Organic Gardening has become the magazine of choice for organic gardeners and, in true people’s choice awards style, our engaged and passionate readers have given their support to the industry’s great ideas. These awards were promoted in conjunction with completehome.com.au, Australia’s largest online home and garden makeover portal. The Good Organic Gardening team is delighted to announce the category winners and would like to congratulate them as well as thank all who took part. A special thanks goes to all readers who voted. THE WINNERS ARE: Outdoor Sproutwell Greenhouses by…

The shortest day has passed, the daytime temperatures may be gradually starting to rise in your area, and the days are lengthening as we head into the last winter month. Soil temperatures will also be, hopefully, starting to rise. But what does this mean for the gardener? Time to get busy, that’s what! Busy getting your soil ready for the new season’s plantings and watching existing plants and gardens start to take off We’ve been talking about everything to do with soils for quite some months now and we have looked at a wide range of topics relating to creating and understanding how to maintain a good, healthy soil and great gardens. But really, what makes good soil? This issue, I thought we’d do an overview of how all these…

Serves 4 Ingredients • 8 okra, cut lengthways • 1 chorizo sausage, sliced on an angle • 8 small heirloom tomatoes • 200g haloumi • 2 tbsp fresh basil • Pinch Celtic sea salt • Pinch ground pepper • 2 tbsp coconut oil • Olive oil & vincotto (or balsamic glaze) to garnish Method 1. Combine the tomatoes, okra, salt and pepper and mix in coconut oil. 2. Heat the grill plate to medium (180–200°C) and arrange the chorizo slices, okra and tomatoes on the grill plate. Grill tomatoes for about 3–5 minutes or until they are about to pop, then remove. 3. Turn over the okra and chorizo and cook till tender, about 3–5 minutes more. 4. Add the haloumi slices and grill 2 minutes both sides until soft…

Makes 2 jars Ingredients • 1kg small turnips • 1 small beetroot • 2 tbsp rapadura sugar • ¼ cup coarse Celtic sea salt • 1 litre water Method 1. Wash turnips well, peel dark spots, slice off tops and bases. 2. Cut turnips and beetroot into slices. 3. Bring water to the boil and add sugar and salt. 4. Stir till they dissolve, then cool. 5. Layer turnips in sterilised jars. 6. Place beetroot between turnip layers. 7. Add water till turnips are well covered. 8. Close jars tightly and leave for 20 days before use.…

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT ... WELL, THE SAME GOES FOR YOUR PLANTS Yes, we have sandy soils in WA, but by adding Eco-Growth rock minerals and biology you can change that. Rock minerals don’t leach from your soil like salt-based fertilisers do; in fact, they can help turn sand into soil. So to build a healthy garden, choose plants that like your neighbourhood and plant with rock minerals, composted mulch and water. As your bigger plants grow, add an understorey of little plants to build an ecosystem. This will keep your plants and soil cool, reduce water use and create a sustainable home for beneficial microbes. Feed this ecosystem with highenergy liquid plant and microbe foods such as Eco-Vital. Make sure your soil is wettable and, if needed, apply…