Innholdsfortegnelse for 16.2 i Good Organic Gardening

In a world that moves at a relentless pace, where we’re constantly pulled between screens, schedules and stress, the garden offers a quiet refuge. It’s more than just a patch of green. It’s a sanctuary for the soul and a powerful ally in the journey toward sustainable living. GARDENS ARE LEADING THE PUSH TO SUSTAINABILITY As the wave of sustainability is on the rise, gardens are at the forefront. Increasing numbers of homeowners are embracing re-wilding, allowing nature to reclaim its space. Wild gardens, which were once thought of as unruly or untidy, are now a shining example of the benefits of mental wellbeing, biodiversity and environmental gain. Re-wilding is not new. Humans lived harmoniously with the Earth for centuries, cultivating their own food, gathering wild foods and respecting the…

CLIMATE SHOCKS HIT COST OF LIVING A new report by the Australia Institute has found direct connections between the climate emergency and the current cost-of-living crisis. The report identifies insurance, food and energy costs as three areas where the climate crisis is directly driving up costs. It goes on to say that these combined have accounted for more than a fifth of the consumer price inflation since 2022. In relation to food, prices have risen by 20 per cent since 2020, with climate-related disruptions wiping out harvests and making it harder for some regions to grow food. Insurance costs have soared due to an increase in natural disasters and energy costs remain high due to the reliance on fossil fuels and underinvestment in renewables. The impacts of the climate crisis…

Rosella, a type of hibiscus grown for its edible, slightly sour flower calyces and leaves, is often listed as a native plant as it grows across northern Australia. While naturalised, it’s probably of African origin and thought to have been introduced here before European settlement, perhaps from Indonesia. Its Australian common name may be a corruption of roselle or red sorrel, names used in other parts of the world. GROWING AND HARVESTING As rosella is native to tropical regions it does best in warm, frost-free climates, grown from seed sown as the soil warms in late winter to spring. The plant grows as a shrub to around 2m high, flowering in summer and autumn with single yellow or white hibiscus flowers. After flowering, the calyces at the base of the…

‘OUR BODIES ARE ASSAULTED EVERY DAY WITH OUR MODERN LIFESTYLES AND IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE EATING FOOD WE KNOW IS FREE OF HARMFUL CHEMICALS.’ Ashby and Caitlyn Pither are the owners of Barrabup Organics in Nannup in the southwest of Western Australia, around half an hour from Busselton and 280km south of Perth. Producing herbal teas, oil extracts and certified organic garlic, the farm comprises 38 acres including a 40-tree orchard plus two acres and a greenhouse for intensive farming. While Ashby works fulltime on propagation, harvesting and drying of herbs, packing tea blends, infusing oil blends and doing the local markets, Caitlyn takes care of online content, managing orders, marketing and financials and works part-time as a consultant. Both grew up in small country towns with backgrounds in broadacre…

Ginger is thought of as a spice as it is mostly bought as a powder, but it is also available as a fresh root. For fresh ginger, grow your own or look for the knobby root in the greengrocer or supermarket. Peeled and grated, it adds tang to Asian-inspired dishes such as stir-fries. Fresh ginger can also be preserved in syrup. Ginger is a very attractive plant with long leafy cane-like growth and flowers. It also has health benefits including the treatment of seasickness. Edible ginger (Zingiber officinale) is just one of the ginger plants you may like in your cooking. A close relative is galangal (Alpinia galangal), also used as a spice but with a hotter flavour. Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) and turmeric (Curcuma domestica) are other close relatives of…

Kale is the leafy green some people love to loathe but this nutritious, easy-to-grow wintery veg is just misunderstood. It’s so packed with vitamins — and hardy enough to withstand frosts — it should be a staple in your cool-season garden. If you reside in the “loathe it” camp, try blanching kale before finely chopping and freezing it in cubes so you can add it to soups, stews and curries. Removing the sometimes stringy and tough central vein will also make the leaves more palatable. Kale can be enjoyed raw but, to soften the leaves, massage salad dressing into them before adding any other ingredients. Originally cultivated in the eastern Mediterranean over 2000 years ago, kale was considered a staple crop by the Romans and has remained popular throughout Europe…

Are gypsum and lime good for soils? Yes! Both are a major source of calcium, which improves the health of soils and plants. Calcium is required for cell structure so is an essential building block for life. Both gypsum and lime improve soil health, but in different ways, so application depends on the problem. For example, which breaks down clay, improves soil structure and raises pH? When can either or both be harmful and can they be applied together? GYPSUM Gypsum, or calcium sulphate (CaSO4) , originates from sedimentary rock and is formed by the evaporation of water containing sulphates and calcium, such as saltwater. When the water evaporates, the minerals are left behind. Over time, they condense to form gypsum. Pros of adding gypsum • Improves soil structure in…

Train your chooks? It may sound dubious and you won’t be the only person who thinks chooks are too stupid to learn — especially compared to companion pets like cats and dogs — but most poultry owners impose rules and ensure the girls follow them. In effect, owners train their birds to meet simple but key management requirements. We’re not suggesting you teach circus tricks but rather develop a strategy where both you and the flock work together for an outcome. So why train? Saving time and frustration are attractive reasons. For example, it’s so easy when fowls happily return to their shed of an evening instead of roosting in a tree. Rescuing an errant tree dweller often requires a return visit after dark and, if you forget, there’s a…

VEGIES Prepping for warm-season crops: Start sowing tomato, capsicum and eggplant seeds in trays indoors or in the greenhouse. + Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions before transplanting. + Prepare garden beds by digging in aged compost to build nutrient-rich soil. Succession planting and maintenance: Continue sowing quick-maturing crops like radishes, lettuce and rocket for ongoing harvests. + Plant asparagus crowns in well-drained, rich soil to establish well for spring growth. + Check alliums for fungal diseases and remove any affected plants. Frost and pest protection: Use recycled plastic bottles or mini cloches to shield young seedlings from unexpected cold snaps. + Set beer traps or scatter crushed eggshells around plants to deter slugs and snails. + Monitor brassicas for little green caterpillars and aphids, applying…

As an editor who gardens, not a horticulturist, and who learns a lot by trial and error, I’ve become reasonably confident in growing vegies — even though I still have my failures. Not so with fruit. My citrus often have some problem or other, I’ve failed a few times with passionfruit and even had difficulties with strawberries. I did manage to successfully graft a couple of varieties onto a pear twig, which grew into a vigorous triple-variety tree, but sadly we sold that property before it ever cropped. At that same property, I was successful with pomegranates and olives, but we only picked enough unsullied apples to bake a few apple crumbles. The problem I probably fear most with fruit is the dreaded fruit fly as we live in a…

Roses are usually grown for their beautiful flowers — but if the flowers are not picked or dead headed, these popular ornamentals turn into productive plants that produce fruit high in vitamin C. Rose seeds form in the rose hip, or hep. This small, round green fruit ripens to orange or red in autumn and persists through winter. It is the flesh surrounding the small seeds and is full of nutrients. Rose hips look like small apples, which isn’t a coincidence. Apples and roses are closely related and both are in the plant family Rosaceae. This isn’t a fruit to eat like an apple, though. Instead, rose hips are cooked and strained to make cordials and tonics. Vitamin C from wild-growing rose hips was particularly important in the UK during…

Despite what some Sydneysiders might think, the New South Wales Central Coast isn’t all just beach houses and dormitory suburbs. Though just minutes away from the vast shopping centres and commercial strips of Erina, Kerrie and Graeme Anderson’s three-acre rural property is half rainforest with a creek winding through it. Around three-quarters of an acre is under cultivation, with large established ornamentals and a significant area of edible gardens including annual vegetables and herbs and perennial edibles such as fruit and nut trees. Kerrie teaches permaculture, organic gardening and sustainability for councils, in community and from her home garden. She also taught at TAFE for 14 years until fairly recently. And she practises what she preaches. “YOU COULD ALMOST SAY I’M A FIRST-GENERATION VEGETABLE GARDENER.” Kerrie began edible gardening when…

JULY 2025 In most climes, July is the dead of winter and time to grow and cook those nourishing, warming brassicas and root vegies, along with peas and leafy greens. AUGUST 2025 August feels like spring is around the next corner, so it’s time to prepare your garden for spring plantings and to start summery crops from seed, preferably your own. New moon First quarter Full moon Last quarter When the moon is waxing from new to full moon, it is increasing light and drawing sap flow upwards. During the waning from full moon back to new moon, light decreases and sap is drawn downwards. This movement of sap flow has an influence on how well new plants will grow. There are four phases, each lasting seven to eight days.…

Aleafy clump of rhubarb is an asset in any edible garden as it’s easy to grow, attractive and versatile — yet it’s one of those foods that divide the population. People either love it or hate it or they sit in a third group: those who’ve never eaten it. For those who haven’t tried rhubarb, or think they won’t like it, don’t eat it raw. For the best flavour, cook it with a splash of water and a little sugar or honey or bake it with a drizzle of honey. Then use cooked rhubarb in desserts (rhubarb crumble), cakes, muffins or eat it with custard or yoghurt. It’s also a delicious addition to your breakfast cereal. Rhubarb has an interesting backstory as it is classified as a fruit even though…

The common garden spade is more than just a tool for scooping and moving materials — it’s designed for precision work that a shovel simply can’t match. Shovels have a curved, broad blade with a pointed or rounded edge, making them better suited for scooping, moving and lifting loose materials like soil or gravel. Their longer handles provide greater reach and the capacity to lift larger amounts of material with each scoop. A spade, by comparison, typically features a flat, rectangular blade with a straight edge, making it an excellent cutting tool. Its shorter handle provides better control for precise tasks. Common uses include edging to create crisp boundaries around lawns, borders or garden beds; digging in confined spaces where a shovel might lack precision; dividing plants such as perennials…

IN SEASON JULY FRUITS Apples, avocados, bananas, cumquats, custard apples, dates, grapefruit, kiwifruit, lemons, limes, mandarins, nashi, olives, oranges (navel), papayas, pineapples, pomelos, quinces, rhubarb, strawberries, tangelos VEGIES Asian greens, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, fennel, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, okra, onions, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkins, shallots (eschalots), silverbeet, spinach, swedes, sweet potato, turnips, witlof IN SEASON AUGUST FRUITS Apples, avocados, bananas, cumquats, grapefruit, kiwifruit, lemons, limes, mandarins, olives, oranges (blood, navel), pawpaw, pineapples, pomelos, rhubarb, strawberries, tangelos VEGIES Asian greens, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, fennel, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, okra, onions, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkins, silverbeet, spinach, swedes, sweet potato, turnips, witlof SEASONAL TIP Easy, luscious quince dessert For poached quince, combine 2 peeled and quartered quinces, 400g sugar,…

NATURALLY BOOST YOUR ORGANIC VEGIE GARDEN A thriving organic vegie garden starts with healthy soil. Veggie Mate enhances microbial activity and replenishes essential minerals, creating nutrientrich soil for strong, productive plants. Veggie Mate and Break Down improve soil structure, helping it to retain moisture while naturally suppressing weeds. Better soil means healthier plants, stronger roots and fewer pests and diseases. Earthlife’s 100% natural products work in harmony with nature, supporting long-term soil health and sustainability. By improving nutrient availability and encouraging beneficial microbes, Earthlife products ensure your vegies are packed with flavour and nutrition. Whether you’re growing leafy greens, root vegetables or fruiting plants, Earthlife provides the natural foundation for a thriving, chemical-free garden. Call 1800 819 003 to learn more or visit Earthlife.com.au! SMALL TREES, BIG FRUIT: A BACKYARD…

SHARING THE WARMTH OF ‘DISTRICT HEATING’ Unlike other European cities that rely on buying natural gas, Stockholm has built a shared network for low-carbon residential central heating and hot water. The Swedish capital employs “district heating”, a method of pooling local heat sources in a shared “central chimney” or boiler then using networks to transport clean heating energy to individual homes and buildings. With such a system, energy adviser Ulrika Jardfelt told The Guardian, “You could manage the combustion in one place, have proper purification of the flue gases and get better air quality centrally.” The greenness, or otherwise, of the systems depends very much on the inputs, she explains. If you use gas, they’re not that green. But this network maintains a low carbon footprint by using inputs such…

Barellan Point, a rural residential suburb of Ipswich, just west of Brisbane, is home to Cameron, Louise and their two little boys, Max (6) and Jack (3), plus Frank the Labrador. Their acre of subtropical heaven is primarily Cameron’s project, which began in October 2023 with a completely unadorned block of lawn. Cameron works for Ipswich City Council as a program co-ordinator on nature-based projects like riverbank restoration, revegetation and conserving Ipswich’s natural areas. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, kayaking and working with petrified wood. CAMERON CAPTURES GREYWATER AND EVEN AIR-CONDITIONER WATER DURING SUMMER WHILE USING MULCH TO CONSERVE SOIL MOISTURE. But gardening has always been there. Both sets of grandparents were farmers and he vividly remembers visiting his mother’s parents on their Lockyer Valley farm when they’d…

Most people know it was the failure of the Irish potato harvest that led to one of history’s great famines and spurred the mass migration of millions to America, Canada and of course Australia. The catastrophic collapse of the staple crop in 1840s Ireland was due to a disease called potato blight — a fungus that still affects potatoes. The good news is that today’s potatoes have better resistance to blight than those Hibernian spuds but crop rotation is important to reduce disease problems — including blight — in this otherwise hardy veg. WHEN TO PLANT Potatoes are a long-growing crop that takes four to five months to produce a full-sized tuber. In warm, frost-free areas, start planting in mid- to late winter. As the leafy growth is susceptible to…

A crisp, fast-growing radish that’s been a staple in Asian cuisines for centuries, daikon is Japanese for “big root” — an apt description given its long, white, carrot-like shape. From fermented kimchi to pickles, from soups to salads, daikon is edible from root to tip and has a mild flavour that pairs well in many dishes. Beyond its culinary uses, daikon has also traditionally been grown by Chinese and Japanese farmers as a tillage radish to break up compacted soils and improve drainage. Whether you’re growing it for the kitchen or as a soil improver, daikon is a rewarding and easy crop to add to the vegie patch. IF YOU’RE USING DAIKONS TO BREAK UP POOR SOIL, BE PREPARED FOR SOME WEIRD AND WONDERFUL ROOT SHAPES. PLANTING AND CARE Although…

Mulching is an essential practice for Australian gardeners, helping to retain moisture, suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature and improve soil health. There are many types of mulch available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. As for the best one for your garden, that depends on your specific needs, including the climate where your garden is located and what you’ve planted in it. Organic mulches are excellent for improving soil health, while inorganic mulches provide long-lasting weed suppression and visual appeal. Understanding the pros and cons of each mulch type helps ensure you make the best choice for a thriving Australian garden. ORGANIC MULCHES Straw mulch (pea straw, sugarcane mulch, lucerne mulch) Pros • Breaks down quickly, improving soil fertility by adding organic matter to it. • Excellent for vegetable…

VEGIES Winter crop care: Continue harvesting winter brassica vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. + Remove spent crops and weeds to keep beds clean. + Check for signs of disease or pest damage and remove affected plants.  + Thin out overcrowded seedlings to ensure strong growth. Planting and sowing: Sow winter greens such as spinach, lettuce, rocket, and Asian greens. + Start planting alliums including onions, garlic and leeks.  + Begin succession planting of carrots and beetroot. + Broad beans and peas can still be planted in many areas.  + Prepare beds for spring planting. Protection from cold: Use cloches or row covers to protect delicate seedlings from frost. + Mulch around plants to retain soil warmth and moisture. + Consider building cold frames or mini…

Images and text from Pocket Pickler by Alex Elliott-Howery, photography by Alan Benson. Murdoch Books RRP $29.99. RESCUED APPLE CHUTNEY PREPARATION TIME: 15 mins COOKING TIME: 20 mins STORAGE: up to 1 month in the fridge MAKES: 1 × 500mL (2 cup) jar We used to make this chutney a lot when the kids were little, using up all the apples from the fruit bowl with only one little bite taken out. This recipe is a good way to rescue fruit that is floury, bruised or wrinkled. Try it with pears, plums or even pumpkin (squash). Change the spices to whatever you have in the pantry. INGREDIENTS • 3 tbsp olive, sunflower or vegetable oil• 1 small onion, thinly sliced• 1 tsp salt• 1 tsp brown or yellow mustard seeds•…

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