iwi aets ee re and FULL OF ECO-FRIENDLY ADVICE AND IDEAS.At Plants Plus we have a passion for gardens and love giving advice to gardeners who share our passion. a oo eS It doesn't matter if your starting a garden = * from scratch, setting up a veggie patch Sd ‘ or just giving an established garden a makeover, talk to our experienced and friendly staff to ensure you get it right the first time.ezyGrow Save water and grow a garden anywhere with ezyGrow's cleverly designed raised garden beds. Visit our website to find out more about our innovative garden system and get involved in our exciting giveaways! B for Water Water | PROUDLY DESIGNED AND MADE IN AUSTRALIA ‘OO Yee 7, Valve Water flows through the soil Into the hollow reservoir and keeps Plants wet for longer cand saves water =. WWW.EZygrow.com.au 1300 EZY GROW 1300 399 476 | (07) 4154 4659 info@ezygrow.com.au A ean"] aU AC He ATMS Cm Ame tes tne War, eer aNNere Eun onaeen Incl, Royal Horticultural Society Certificates (UK accredited) eee ACU ee ores Environmental Management and more. COURSES OFFERED we To see more, visit www.acs.edu.au ACS DISTANCE EDUCATION ACS courses are also available through a range of ole nama eee UCU An extensive range of quality ebooks are available for purchase and download from www.acsbookshop.comNI Ten Top Tips For Sustainable Living... 7 Make a Clean Break with Eco-retreats 34 Building @ Community of Influence 48 Creative Recycling in the Garden. 50 Comn Rooftop Garden Ndurishes the Soul. Garden “Growing Brassicas in the Cooler Months sso 10 Introducing Chickens to Other Pets... Organically Controlling Weeds... Citrus Fruits Home Grown Goji It’s Autumn Bulb Planting Time! Growing Vegies in a Hot House in Autumn. 54 Planting Guide for Autumn : 58 Secrets to Growing Mandarins... sn 4 Growing and Using Spices Profle Milawa Cheese Company a" Ox tt pourself Recycled Pallets to Ladder Stand 60 Fo the table Edible Bouquet _ 44 Custard : 76 Pickling. sneTBNouris Keoftqe Carden hes the Soul community gardens are often important hubs oftheir local area, and the spectacular rooftop garden ‘at The Wayside Chapel in Potts Point Sydney, is no exception, Anot for profit, ‘organisation, Wayside has been offering nnon-judgemental help and support to disadvantaged people for more than 50 years. Unlike most community gardens, individual plots are not hired out to local residents - everyone is welcome to share the garden, and all the produce is used in Wayside’ projects. Opened in 2011 as part of Wayside’s +38.2 million green space redevelopment. the rooftop garden was purpase built boasting the best of sustainable architecture and design to create the smallest possible carbon footprint Located an the fourth floor, the garden ‘spans an impressive 200 square metres, with incredible views of Kings Crass and the Sydney CBD, and, ance you are init younotice how quiet itis for such a busy ‘area, Created as a community space and to teach living and vocational skill, the garden has been a resounding success, both with its produce and how itis having a wonderfully positive impact on many people, ‘The garden is often bathed in sunshine; however it can become very windy. More ‘than 30x 500 litre pots house at least 50 different types of fruit, herbs and vegetables, including lemons, oranges. limes, basil parsley, lemongrass, avocados, tomatoes, lettuce, beetroot, onions, strawberries, beans, eggplant, snow peas ‘and flowers. The infrastructure includes ‘wo rainwater tanks, crip irrigation, wormfarms, a compost system, solar panels and a bustling bee-hive with around 50,000 worker bees at each of the four hives hive supplying more than 30 kilos of honey cach year Sustainability is @ core mission ofthe garden. Wayside prepares some 10,000 grade kitchen, and food scraps from the es and café go into the rooftop worm farm and compost bins, enabling the worm juice ané compost to fertilise the garden. Harvest fram the garden (organic fut, vegetables and herbs) is used to create nutritious meals at the café, and is also used in the cooking classes that are run for the Day 2 Day Living (D2DL} and Wayside Youth programs and the Aboriginal Proje: The garden is primarily tended by the D2DL program participants, who live with long-term mental health issues. They enjay weekly gardening classes which highlight sustainable living and gardening skills. Many of these people have never had their own garden, and feel enormous pride and ownership when tending the soil. Every week new seedlings are planted and product is. harvested, all under the friendly eye of skilled volunteers. An impartant part of the classes is learning to talk and share with those who garden alongside them, rejoicing when plants grow from the seeds they have planted, and learning how to cope when things don't go to plan, such as hail or heavy rain destroying a cherished crop. Wayside’s Vocational Programs Coordinator Rebecca McKenna explains the success of the garden. "Gardening. helps to reduce social isolation and HOMEGROWN. 7,‘8 HOMEGROWN ives people valuable roles to play in the community. At Wayside, we know that almost everyone who walks through the door believes they are the only one ta have lived through ther circumstance. Reducing isolation through community is ane of the greatest gifts of the garden. Every Thursday, there are 20 or so people inthe garden nurturing and tending to the plants ~ all the while they are learing about produce, sustainability how to cook with fesh ingredients and to take responsibility for something bigger than themselves. When people find themselves inthe company of others and are busy getting their hands crty, they start to move towerds health all on their own? Enthusiastic D2DL program participant Alan Claremont explains what the garden means to him. “The gardens ahaven. A lot of hard work has gone int it and i's agreat litle place to get away and relax ‘he garden has come to life over the last couple of months. enjoy seeing it grow and the ittle vegetables are great. ve had abite ofthe odd lettuce lea and theyre full of flavour | was homeless there for a while as living on the trains and got myself into a lot of trouble and was in dire straits; my oven fault. Wayside helped me. became involved in the garden and I feel completely at hme here? The D2DL participants were tiled wien their rooftop garden received aiighly Commended Award in the Community Group category atthe 2013 Green Lifestyle Awards, andin the same year Wayside's Ambassadar Indira Naidoo hosted a tour of the garden via Open Gardens Australia. It was also showcased inthe ABCs Gardening Australia program People inthe D2DL program also learn about the ifecycle of bees, from watching the bees fy in and out of the hives to harvesting the honey and eating it Program participants are encouraged to dress in safety gear and work withthe bees, taking the frames out of the hives and smokiag the bees to calm them down. This type of learning gives them much needed confidence and self-esteem, both individually and as par ofa team, Late last year saw the addition of 2000 native bees (Tetragonula Carbonari) tothe rooftop hives. These are tiny bees and can access flowers thatthe larger European bees cannot. The rooftop bees performjaa} Reed a valuable service, roamingina kilometre radius, and pollinating pl from Centennial Park to the den. Potts Pointhas @ mixed demographic, with extremely {and quiet oto sit an the cha the garden, Aseyaaesay oy By Adriana Fraser and John Mason ‘great variety from which to choose. You can plant seedings of mary bras toharvestinwinter or early spring, asin autumn, Harvesting You can progressively pick the new leaves of kale, Chinese cabbage and rocket as you need them (over quite a long period}, rather than harvesting the entire plant. Others though can only be harvested ance they are mature. or the edible parts are sufficiently developed ie, those witha swollen root or stem base (eg radish, turnip, kobrabi) or the flower head rocco and cabbage) ‘Some plants can last more than one picking for example Brussels sprouts can Continue to produce right through winter andinto spring in cooler area eg Victoria}Startharvesting small sprouts (these are the tastiest} from the bottom ofthe stem. Broccoli Aigh yielding plant that produces 2 continuous crop for many months each year; ance youremave the main head of broccoli edible side shoats will develop ~ these are net as large, but are just as delicious, Broccoli can be eaten cooked or raw or frozen for later consumption. Requirements: ‘High organic matter and well-drained, loose, cultivated sol * Likes sunny conditions. “Keep weed free, + Space 30-45em apart. Brussels sprouts Sprouts are continuously harvested over Calder manths ofthe year cool winter to grow well to crop wel they should be planted out in mid- summer ~a long term crop taking up to six months from planting to harvest. Eat cooked or raw and can also be frozen. High yielding. Requirements: *Cool to cold (ie. frosty) weather to adequately develop tight sprouts + Well aerated soil and frequent irrigation. + Full sun + Space 45cm inrows with 60-75em between rows. + Avoid severe frosts Cabbage Choose the right variety to plant forthe time of year - there are many cultivars available; some grovr in summer and athers Crtowraage your hide into (Bat growing storte winter. Eat raw (eg. coleslaw), cooked, pickled (sauerkraut), or batted. Requirements: + Loose, cultivated sol thats constantly moist + Avoid acid soils, space well to allow air movement between plants. + Plant small varieties 30 x 30cm apart larger 45 x 45cm apart. ae — oe Coe Cauliflower Early autumn plantings will mature Faster, ‘An even rate of growthis important for an optimum crop. It grows best in cooler climates. Diseases include phytophthara, root rot and viruses. Eat cooked or raw. Preserve with bottling or freezing arin pickles. Requirements: + Likes rich fertile well drained soll and good space to develop. + The optimum temperature while dering - vadishes are agree yl love axatching then grow! developing until harvest is 15 to 20°C + Final spacing should be 45 x 55cm. * Direct sunlight can cause yellowing, prevent by tying leaves over the curd, Kale Progressively pick the new leaves of kale young leaves are great in salads or wat until leaves are larger and str Fry or steam, odNot as prone to pests ~ aphids and downy mildew, canbe problematic if not planted in ideal conditions. Requirements: “Plant seeds out into the garden in cool ‘areas until the end of March. Dwarf varieties available too + Best in loamy open, moist and fertile soil, + Plant 30 6Dcm apart depending on the cultivar. + Kale swestens with frost. Kohirabi Harvest swollen stems when up to around 8cm (larger can become stringy. Leaves can be harvested and eaten continuously. Ifyou only harvest six leaves per plant -aplant canbe grown for several years. Eat leaves raw or cooked. Cook swollen stem. Root veg keep well for two to three weeks in the fridge Requirements + Grow as for cabbage. Pak choi Pak-choi and Bok-choy are easily grown in cooler weather; they generally bolt in hot conditions ideal early autumn vegetables. Pak-choi isa variety of Chinese cabbage with thicker and longer sstems than Bok choy. Progressively harvest the new leaves throughout the season, Requirements: Constantly moist well-drained sol + Growth ceases at temperatures below 10°C. + Prevent transplant shack sow direct, into garden, + Space 30- 40em apart. ‘Harvest at 6-12 weeks. Radish Radish is amongst the fastest and easiest of all vegetables to grow: and it canbe grown almost all year round, Requirements: ‘Most cultivars grow best at between 100 18°C, + Seed will germinate anywhere between 5 to 30°C; and plants grow between 1 to 35°C. + Sow seed direct, and progressive. harvesting can begin five weeks later, under ideal conditions Rocket Rocket is easy to grow ~ but best in ‘autumn; itbolts in hot conditions, Requirements: + Moist fertile soll + Sow seed directly into garden every two or so weeks during early to mid-auturm. + Progressively harvest the leaves, ‘Turnip and Swede These high yield vegetables are great for ‘growing in colder months of auturnn and winter as they bal ia warm temperatures {(\¢.go to seed before roots form), Use ‘as cooked vegetables, gaod in stews, in pasties, or sausage rolls Requirements: * Grow as for cabbage. + Sow a short row every two weeks or so throughout autumn. Hs Learn more ACS Distance Education offers courses on hame vegetable growing, perm hydroponics and organies that can ‘about growing brassicos and other vegetables. teach you lots moGrowing conditions + Brassicas lke good drainage, but constantly most, fertile sil and full sun for atleast half ofthe day. + Most cabbage family members ike a slightly acid soil so a pH of 6-68is ideal A higher pH tends to encourage club root disease in some cabbage family rmemibers~ fungal infection that can be difficult to eradicate once itis inthe sol Crop rotationis also a must to prevent disease build-up inthe soll three years between plantings is a good rule. + Protect your brassicas from strong winds + Nitrogen. iron, phospharus and boron areal important in growing healthy brassicas. Most ofthese con be sourced from a combination of well decomposed animal manures, compost, blood and bone ora peletised organic Fertiliser regular applications of seaweed fertiliser such as Seasol, and mulch to keep down the weeds, + Incooland also temperate areas itis best to plant out seedings of most types) in autumn rather than seeds and to.also choose cultivars that are suited tolate planting Most brassicas tand to bolt to seed inall but the coolest sub- tropical conditions in warm weather, so alate autumn to early winter plantings best for these areas: in tropical regions sow from April through to August. Pests and diseases Caterpillars (from cabbage moths), ‘aphids slugs and snails are the more common pests. Exclude white moths with fine netting - an effective way of minimising caterpillars. Slugs can be controlled naturally by using shallow dishes of stale beer 2s traps (they drink and die). Or place a circle around the plant which the animal won't craw over (diatomaceous earth, or copper sheet). You can also use sticky traps to catch aphis or hose them off as you see them, Diseases occur in wet, humid and warmish conditions. Mildew, rust and other disease tend to develop as the weather warms at the end of winter ‘and into spring; harvest plants before they reach fullsize to get a crop before disease sets in,A great gift on Mother’s Day or as a thank you gift when being invited to dinner at a friend’s home. Here are a few ideas of what to use, but you can add any edible plant from your vegie garden. Lay the spinach out on the table ina fan shape. Layer on the shallots and rosemary. (Photo 1) Next I have added a couple of branches from my chill bush, Tie any small loose herbs with string like to tie each type of herb separately. (Photo 2) Layer these bunches on your fanned cut vegies. ‘Add your edible flowers. Tie the whole bunch together with string Finish with ribbon - optional. (Photo 3)Aetcnen grain mi proves fesh fours and role grains Tul of enzymes, nutes and wholegran balance View our we ste ain catalogue today. llereticaeee ee Pe ee Ol eae mill 2a Sei for . li I f e. romacsusroe Ci Box ?47 Katoomba 2760 grain mill Crock pots Timeless ‘Traditional design, simplicity preservation of and efficiency for vegetables for health 2000 years ‘and wellbeing accessories to suit your needs Fermenting pots from SL to 30L Mind food. Reviving forgotten Paneer eee Family friendly weekend workshops HOMEGROWN 15Introducing By Gabriella Vogt Introducing a chicken to the family can be an exciting and nervous time for you and the other pets that inhabit your house and garden — such as dogs, cats, and other chickens. This is why a little care and planning are required to ensure a smooth transition. hile chickens ae a fairly ow introducing them to moving birds Socialising puppies with arange of new maintenance pet, there are some outside. A chicken running and flapping experiences, different people and animals ‘things that you should keep in its wings is toa much af a temptation for will help them to get along with others mind when purchasing them and bringing even a usually calm dog. and also help them to be calm innew them home, You should make sure your dog and situations chickens have a postive experience, Dogs and puppies may react ina Chickens and a and reward your dog with their favourite umber af ways to the introduction Even the most placid of dogs still treats for calm and gentle behaviour. It's to new chickens. They may be excited, has aprey drive, so it's important to important to remain calm yourself; animals nervous, aggressive, calm, passive, first introduce dogs to chickens in a can sense when you are tense or anxious anxious, or frightened, or a combination controlled and safe environment before and this may affect how they react. of these 16 HoMeGRoWNDocile chickens are less likely to be spooked ‘or flighty around pets or children, which means they are more likely to get on with them. Iie bantams Children lave the look af these fluffy, soft birds. They area small, manageable size ‘and they love tobe handled. They have a ‘sweet nature and lay about 120 smaller sized eggs a year. Being calm and outgoing means they can get along well with other birds and pets too, though the smaller size ‘and fluffy look can also be tempting for dogs and cats witha high prey drive ISABrowns They are docile friendly chickens that ‘enjoy spending time with their human families. They are usualy nat as Fighty ‘around children and other pets. They are low maintenance, hardy and are exceptional layers. They are a large enough size that they are less likely to be attacked than smaller breeds of chickens. Most likely your dog willbe extremely ‘excited around the new and interesting Feathered creatures, so proper introduction over a period of time needs to take place to ensure itis calm around the new additions. Introduce them first through a fence or a physical barrier. Reward your dog every time itis calm and relaxed around the chickens. This helps your dog get used to the sound, smell, sight and mavements of the chickens. 2.Repeat these sessions, and if you are satisfied that your dog can be calm and passive around the chickens you can then move into having the dog around the chickens without the barrier, still with you present and with you contralling the dog with a harness. and lead. 3. Repeat this scenario aver a series of sessions: this may be over a few weeks depending on the dog. You may lead your dag thraugh the chickens and reward it with a favourite treat when the dog ignores the chickens and is calm around them, 4. Once satisfied that your dogs not averly interested in chasing the chickens andis calm around ther, you may then consider letting the dog be around your chickens without having them on a lead ~ but still with your supervision. Alldogs will react differently: let's not forget that different breeds have been bred for different purposes. many have bbeen bred for hunting and still have a high prey drive. This means you just have to take extra care to make sure your dog will get on ith your chickens, and don't leave ‘them unsupervised if you have any doubts about their compatibility Some dog breeds may be better suited to life around chickens, however remember that any dog breed has the potential ta be dangerous around chickens and all dogs require caution when being introduced to smaller animals Dogs can actually end up being a good flock guard and ward off predators. Many egg producers still use dogs as flock guards to protect their chickens from foxes, birds and other predators. Livestock guardian dog breeds such as ‘the Maremma are a popular choice: they have been selectively bred over hundreds HOVEGROWN 17cof years to naturally bond with livestock (such as chickens) and protect them. Hunting, herding or ather working breeds may be more inclined to chase ‘or attack smaller prey animals such as chickens. Traditionally gun dogs such as Setters, Retrievers, Pointers et cetera have been bred to help hunt and retrieve game birds for their human owners, so their natural instinct may not necessarily bbe to get along with feathered friends. However, with the right introduction, they may be fine, just take care when introducing them, Herding breeds such as border calles, heelers,kelpies et ceterahave been bred toherd livestack, While they may not necessarily attack the birds, they may stress them out by herding them around the backyard, so keep an eye out for any herding behaviour. Terriers have been bred for the chasing and killing of vermin, such as rabbits, rats, and mice, Due to this background they usually have a high prey drive ~ keep this in mind when introducing them to your new chickens. Cats are true carnivores andare hunters at heart; so dont assume they won't be alittle interested in the new chickens you bring home, Yau have to watch them around baby 18 HoMeGRown chicks more than you do around fully grown birds. Baby chicks are pretty defenceless and tempting to any predator so you need to make sure your chicks are housed securely untilthey are at least six weeks old You can try to intraduce your cat to-your chickens ina fairly controlled environment maybe put your cat in harness and intraduce them indoors sa that you are able to control your eat iit oes look like a threat tothe chickens, Place your cat near the chickens and see how they react. Some cats will nt be too fazed and may not be all that interested. Other cats may approach the chickens with some interest, however ifthe cat becomes alittle too much ofa threat, t usually only takes one quick peck on the nase froma chicken for your cat torespect the chicken’s boundaries, Introducing new birds to your already established flack can be very stressful for both the old and new birds. Established flocks of chickens usually have a pecking order, where each hen knows her place. New chickens disrupt the order and can cause social unrest. ‘Quarantine is also extremely important. Ifyou havea flack of healthy, happy birds, youdor't want to ruin that by not property quarantining the newbirds. You should Giving ex-battery hens the chance to ‘un around grassy, green backyardis a rewarding experience. They still lay plenty oF yummy eggs and are less ikly than baby chicks ta be attacked by your pets, 2s they are usually big enough to defend ‘themselves against an overly rude or intrusive pet dog or cat They are not usually all that well socialised and you will have to be calm and patient when introducing them to new things and other pets, otherwise they may get stressed easily. Wiiy not consider adopting some ‘ex-battery hens for your backyard flock?keep your new chickens in quarantine for four weeks. Ifafter Four weeks your new birds have no signs of illness then you can introduce them to your existing flock. Now this may seem like a long time and abit of 2 hassle: however itis much more of ahassle if your whole lock gets sick and youhave to seek treatment, or even losebirds. If you are introducing baby chicks you should make sure they are big enough to defend themselves from older birds: they should be atleast six weeks old First introduce them so that the chickens (old and new) can see each other, but can’t physically access each other. This will allow them to work out the pecking order without having to get physically pecked, Do this for at least a week, They should be able get visual cues from each other to be able to work out the pecking order. You should naw be able to intraduce your new birds to the flock. Keep a close eye out for pecking between the birds, or any Feather loss oF injuries in the days and weeks following, as these can be signs of unwanted feather pecking behaviour. (ne of the main concerns people have when getting chickens is how to stop chickens from ruining their garden, Chickens lve to dig around in the garden and can be great for pest control, however, some breeds can be more destructive than others. Traditionally smaller breeds (such as bantam varsities) are a litte gentler on your garden than larger, stronger breeds, ‘You should take into consideration how many chickens your backyard can comfortably carry. Chickens are good foragers, most lawns are able to cope with two ar three chickens grazing, however if you have too many chickens you run the Fisk of overgrazing. Depending on the size of your yard and chicken coop you could try rotational grazing or limiting haw much time they spend out of their coop foraging. Well established trees or shrubs usually won't be affected by a chicken digging around in the top soil, however flowers or seedlings may nat get off so lucky. Its a goodies to make sure there are good quality barricades or dividers between your young or delicate plants and the chickens. .Bio.Se, GrodDip Ed officer, ACS Distance Education Courses i Pet Care ae Dog Dog Psychology & Training Cat Psychology & Training Animal Grooming ‘Aquarium Management Horse Care Horse Breeding Poultry Goat Husbandry Pee eet ey ec eee) GOT CHOOKS? Rodonts and birds eating their food? ‘Tied down to dally feeding? GRANDPAS FEEDERS ar cosa asveyou tea orm bye» ‘ng te esti cng ard peer be ‘emtarestototetiante mera a ‘ese ep oe rare aoe ln you eo) Pe ‘poses corona esas te ong fessard Ber ascot atest Tsou Yu ‘pe oo ton ou peg oun Pale pom. lometton ates archon tie nay 50 (Oe 12 mrt sation gure gs You Pe pease cined bat haat ply pas Pa wt Fob urie eaves you merey yas Core Uhueraa hnweresron tarde ches, bese we mena eter, CSRANDPAS FEEDERS developed arsed Now Zraand ad Asia er 15 yoo ove bso gay para reron coon arse rettts ices. Gotee neta sn cr nan! www.grandpasfeeders.com.au 2341 Barwon Heads Rood, Marshal, Vie 3216. ‘Automatic Chook Feeder Feeder lid opens. when chicken stands on platform Strongly constructed with galvanized stee! Water proof 42 Months HOMEGROWN 19Top Tips For By living sustainably we try to create the least impact, with the smallest amount of waste, without causing undue harm to the planet. ‘tHome Grown we think it's smart a bonus, mst of these tips are kinder to you wantit. Never buy on impulse, to occasionally evaluate our daily our budget. instead, walk away and have a good living practices, to see if there's think about whether you actually need anything new we can change/incorporate are a product or service. And, when you do into our ingrained habits and routines buy, make sure it isa good quality item tohelp reduce our collective carbon You can really make a difference 50 you will not need to replace it, at least footprint. These aren't necessarily big __withwhat you purchase. First ofall, in the short term. ‘changes, just simple and practical ideas think about whether you really need Make ahabit af nat buying items with tobekinder to the environment. And, as something, or whether it's just because excess packaging.Reuse and recycle wherever possible. Keep away from plastic containers whenever you can Put a'No Junk Mail or‘Addressed Mail Oni’ sign on your letterbox if you don't want/read the advertising flyers, opt For e-newsletters where possible, andreceive your bills onine. ‘As well as reducing waste, make sure you treat rubbish correctly, including isposing oF hazardous items such as old pharmaceutical items, batteries and paints in the appropriate manner. Ring your local councilifyouare unsure 2, Reduce transpert/fuel consumption Try to walk, cycle or use public transport wherever possible. If you have a car, reduce fuel consumption and pollution by keeping it serviced. Try to car pool where practical, Have a good think before buying a car ~if you live ina major city area, laok at utilising short~ ‘term car rentals, which allow you to hire ‘acar fromas little as one hour, and come with their own city parking spot. These are becoming more and mare popular, ‘and are deal far people who don't awn a car, or only need the use of a second car ‘occasionally. 3. Reduce energy at home Turn off appliances when they aren't being used, install energy saving lightbulbs, an, ven the weather becomes chilly, pop on ‘jumper rather than turning on a heater, and use your blinds and curtains to keep the heat in or out. Wash your clothes with cold water, hang them out to dry ona clothes line, and make sure you check the ‘energy rating when you're purchasing new appliances, 4. Reduce water usage Be mindful of how long you take in the shower. Install low-flow shower heads, fix leaking taps, and don't | eave your tap running while you are brushing your teeth. If you need a new washing machine, think about buying a front loader, and if you are buying a new dishwasher, make sure it uses minimal water. In the garden, look at planting natives and drought resistant plants, and regularly use mulch If possible, consider installing @ rainwater tank. 5.Do good Buy local, in bulk and second hand items where appropriate. These simple actions will help reduce fuel consumption. reduce packaging waste and should save you money. 6.Get gardening Grow as many vegies, fruit and herbs as you can use/share, and look after your trees. Have your own compost or worm farm, Eat organic, lcally grown Foods where possible 7. Educate Keep abreast of current methods of sustainable living, and share the message with as many people as you can, especially your children, 8.Go chemical-free Start with bathroom cleaners. Vinegar and bi carb work wonders. Go online to find recipes to make natural cleaning products that are healthier and cheaper than many store-bought chemical-laden products. 9. Drink water Drink more water ~ tap water that is. Think of other beverages as accasional treats - your health and your wallet will thank you, HOMEGROWN 2110, Have a regular clean out ‘Athome, it's good practice to have at least a yearly cull Youll be sure to Find some perfectly good items, suchas unwanted presents, barely worn shoes and clothes that you've decided you don't like, toys that your child no longer plays with, and tunused kitchen equipment. Bundle them all up and take to your local charity store, The future Inanupcoming issue well look at the Share Economy, a socio-economic system built around sharing physical and human resources, and how it's changing the way many of ushave started to live. Your tips Please send us your best tips so we can share with all of our readers, Email Deb at ed@fspco.comau or post to Home Grown Magazine -Best tips PO Box 354 Blaxland NSW 2774 4 Award winning Toothbrush — GO GREEN AT HOME The MiEco i you Know: We dispose of over 30 BAMBOO milion toothbrushes or over 1000 hair brush. tonnes of plastic that ends up in landfill each year. ‘Yes the HANDLE and BRISTLES are made of BAMBOO NOT WOOD or PLASTIC Go Green at home help to change that with the Environmental Toothbrush and other great Eco products. Soap Nuts Scap Nuts are most ‘commonly used as 2 laundry detergent. BAMBOO is Stronger, Lighter ‘and more Durable and more resistant to Water than WOOD. BAMBOO s part the Grass family ands a 100% Natural Renewable resource They are used instead of chemical detergents Su and fare softeners. Simpy place ofew of A Sills these amazing soap nuts Z a—— hr se BAMBOO 's 100% into our small Wash bag and throw them in with your et — biodegradable and is aa shampoo, a general purpose cleaner, ca wash, pet sas vegeabe a carpet ondupboseylene-_yywgogreenathome.com.au PH: 1300 300 724 Make an Environmental Choice with products that are not only great for you but also help save our world, BAMBOO grows naturally without using any pesticides or fertzers. 22 HOMEGROWNOU ri Cut een ole Kerice menses camel OPM ey neers eI cr) OU cee mem tel cicit Pee euee kcal ls uted MEDICINAL HONEY What is it? Our active medical honey is a pure natural honey, produced from Australian nati ts (Jelly Bush) found growi Inthe bush areas ofthe east plants has unique healing and antimicrobial properties not found in ather honeys How does it work? Selected honeys have signif perties (that las actualy stimulating wound healing. The antibacterial properties are the result of hydrogen peroxide releasing enzymes, and in the case of ‘our special varieties, significant level (G0). is, they kill germs that cause infections), a it directly from the nectar ofthe plants to the honey Honey also improves wound healing by stimulating cytokine release, and bioflavanoids and phenolic compounds also contribute tots activity. ‘The ULF™ (Unique Leptospermum Fa staggering MGO level of 800-+mg/k is Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) approved for wound care. Its ideal for home first aid, hospitals, nursing homes and the doctor's surgery. For more information on the bees and the Dea eR www.myatone.com/bees How can | use it? [thas potent healing properties that enhance, protect and actively support the yrade honey are: wound eare, dressings for burns, clear preventing bacterial infecti throats, stomach uleer digestive support. ody’s own defences. Some typical uses of medical and and Which honey do | use? For serious wounds or infections, the TGA approved wound care honey ~ ULF™20+ is recommended while consulting your health «are professional. Our 10+ and 15+ honeys are great to support digestive and oral health What are the ratings? ‘The ULF™ rating isan indicator ofthe strength ofthe antibacterial activity. A rating of 10 or more is considered to be suitable for therapeutic purposes. This honey is referred to as active’ ‘The ULF™ rating is your guarantee that this medicinal hon has been tested and verified independently for its antibacterial activity. To secure your supply of this unique, DT eas www.myatone.com/homegrownOrganically As an organic gardener, there are things to do to control weeds. You don’t have to resort to using herbicides. If you want to keep your garden chemical free, let’s look at what else you can do to keep weeds under control. By Linda Mitchener from The Green Life Soil Company. Photography by Natalia Fideyka 1, Outcompete Weeds will always emerge strongly in ‘barren piece of land: and particularly disturbed ground which has been dug ‘ver or new sel put down and left. This is because the surface is lovely and friable: meaning seeds which blow in the wind can easily germinate and get good root penetration. In hard, compacted ‘areas were there is regular trafic, weeds don't tend ta grow so readily. So ‘outcompete weeds by growing something, else. Look for spreading, quick growing sgroundeovers. There is a huge range available, including native plants, flowering, plants, rockery plants, succulents. and also herbs and edibles. Ifit is an area which you are wanting to plant- but not just yet considera green manure crop ‘ra flowering annual; something that can grow quickly but will be short lived or ‘disposable! There is a saying ~“nature ‘abhor a vacuum’ So, quite simply, dant leave any vacuums! 2.Vigilance ‘They say one year’s seed equals seven years! ‘weed. Whether or not tis is true, it certainly feels ike it ic! Tackle weeds when they are small.Remove them quickly before they spread too much, Either hand weed, or hoe theminto the ground. If the area is Far too big then a the very least vhippersnip them before they flower and set seed, Weeds will try te push out mre seeds when you do this-s0 youmay need todo it two or thee times, a week or so apart. Each time you Go however, the plant’ vitality is greatly depleted, Each subsequent lat of seeds the weeds trying to produce willecome smaller asthe plant uses up vital life force. 3. Solarisation This method is reliable and easy to do even in large areas, but you do need patience as itwill take several weeks ~ four to sixin summer, eight to 10 in winter. Slash or mow weeds, and remove rocks and large debris from the area, Damp the area down slightly ~ moisture helps the ‘cooking’ Throwing a handful of blood and bone over the weeds before you lay down the plastic also helps cook weeds as they sweat, Use a sheet of plastic (you can use any plastic, but weve Found, especially inwinter, black plastic works best as it attracts mare heat).Lay it out over the weedy area and weigh down the edges with rocks, bricks or a litle pile of dirthere and there, Starved of sunlight, and without air circulation, they can't grow, and will cook. This method also prevents pollination and seeds spreading, but if seeds are already present then they may survive to germinate next seasen Particularly in summer, temperature under the plastic gets high enough to kill weed seeds and seme soil borne pathogens (eg. Root knot nematode). The flipside is that beneficial organisms can also be harmed, so when you are ready to remove the plastic and plant, don't forget