Blog
Our blog features a variety of gardening and growing tips on topics such as soil biology, wicking bed construction, composting, grafting, pruning, water-saving and irrigation. Plus we regularly post recipes to help you make the most of the ‘seasonal glut’ and tips on how to live in a more sustainable way.
What to plant in December in Melbourne
Plant in punnets It is too late to raise most summer vegies in punnets because, by the time they are big enough to fruit, the season will be almost over. The following quick growing vegies and herbs are the exception: lettuce, rocket, and salad greens mustard greens...
Urgent jobs in the garden for December
Check fruit fly lures for fruit flies. These are the males. If present, paint eco-naturalure bait onto branches or onto a piece of wood and place in tree. This kills both male and female fruit flies. Net your fruit trees with fine net, tying tightly at the base to...
Dealing with pesky possums in your garden
There’s no doubt possums cause all kinds of problems for gardeners. In fact, I’ve had possum problems in every garden I’ve had. At my old rental house in Northcote the Common Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) ransacked my lemon tree, herbs and roses. And rats...
Sustainable Macleod sustainable gift ideas
Here's a list of suggestions by members, for a very happy, sustainable Christmas! Vouchers for Sustainable Macleod membership or workshops - purchase here other memberships local restaurants - help them after covid! experiences online workshops plays from the...
Banyule Community Climate Action Plan
Banyule City Council has released the final version of the Community Climate Action Plan in response to the declaration of a climate emergency by the Council in 2018. The Plan is a companion to the Banyule City Council's Corporate Emissions Reduction Plan which sets...
Oyster and shiitake mushroom bulk buy
Order your mushroom kit Sustainable Macleod is doing a bulk order of shiitake and oyster mushroom kits from Aussie Mushroom Company. Robin is taking orders for oyster and shiitake mushroom kits. Both are $15 which is half price. We need an order of 10 of each and...
The Walking School Bus
The recent pandemic lockdown and the subsequent return of children to schools have highlighted the need for other ways of getting children to school. The return to school has brought with it a very noticeable increase in traffic around schools, and on roads in Banyule...
Growing salad greens
Top hints for growing salad greens use seed that is less than a year old germinate in the light keep seed well watered until rooted grow in well prepared soil containing compost and nitrogen. What are salad greens? Salad greens include hearting, butterheads, cos and...
Plant identity alert – Calamint
Identity alert! Calamint is being mistaken for oregano once again. Some years ago it was given away at the vegie swap incorrectly identified. The plant in the first photo is calamint; the second is oregano. Note the rounded tips and deeper veins of the calamint. The...
Sustainable Macleod blitzing fruit fly!
Sustainable Macleod has made a bulk buy of Fruit Fly Eco-lures; these are sure to make a tremendous impact on the Queensland Fruit Fly which arrived in Macleod from the Yarra Valley last summer. Orders for 105 lures have been placed, mostly by Macleodians. With a...
Pruning: Thinning vs heading cuts
Heading cuts on a loquat tree Thinning cuts and heading cuts When pruning fruit trees there are two types of cuts and they produce vastly different results. There are thinning cuts which are the preferred cuts and heading cuts which are used for only three purposes:...
What to plant in November in Melbourne
Seeds planted in October in punnets that have reached the 4-leaf stage can be pricked out and planted in potting mix in trays or pots. These can be planted in the garden late November. Plant in punnets Capsicum and chilli, cucumber, eggplant, endive, lettuce and all...