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.
At last – an Australian fuel efficiency standard

At last – an Australian fuel efficiency standard

The Australian Government plans to introduce a Vehicle Efficiency Standard, which is expected to come into effect from January 2025. This standard will bring Australia into line with Europe, the USA and Japan. The Coalition proposed a similar standard in 2016 and...

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Five reasons why you should plant Billy Buttons

Five reasons why you should plant Billy Buttons

Summer is full of amazing flowers - dahlias, alyssum, chamomile, sweetpeas, cosmos, grevilleas, banksias, echinaceas, zinnias, marigolds and so the list goes on. Sunflowers are a long-time favourite summer stunner, but I reckon Billy Buttons are also at the top of my...

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Growing exceptional mustard greens

Growing exceptional mustard greens

While some mustard greens are widely used (especially in Asian cuisine), most are not well known in Australia. This is a pity as they are healthy, tasty, quick growing, and definitely best when harvested fresh from the garden. Just as mustard has quite a bite, so do...

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Banyule Community Gardens Network

Banyule Community Gardens Network

Banyule City Council has taken the initiative to explore setting up a Community Gardens Network. This has been welcomed by community gardens across Banyule. The Community Gardens Network met on February 2 for the first time on Zoom. Sustainable Macleod was represented...

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March garlic hint

March garlic hint

March is the time to prepare your beds for planting in March or April depending on garlic varieties chosen. Choose a site with full sun which is well drained. If not well drained or the soil is heavy, build a raised bed. Do not grow garlic where you have previously...

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The joy of thornless berries

The joy of thornless berries

Do you love berries but groan at the price, despair at how quickly they can become mouldy and dislike being pricked as you harvest them? The answer may be to grow a thornless variety - you'll have an abundance of berries at no cost and harvesting them will be a joy...

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Getting to net zero with rooftop solar

Getting to net zero with rooftop solar

The Australian government has a target of 82% renewable energy by 2030. In 2022, 32% of energy was renewable. Clearly, a very significant increase in renewable energy is needed if the 2030 target is to be met. Large scale projects, such as the 20 projects which are...

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The ‘devil bird’ has arrived

The ‘devil bird’ has arrived

In the mid-2010s when I lived in Indonesia, I learnt the distinctive call of the Eastern Koel (Eudynamys orientalis). The Eastern Koel (also sometimes known as the Common or Pacific Koel) migrates from eastern Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to Australia’s...

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