ABC Organic Gardener Magazine Essential Guides How To... Issue 5

Karen Sutherland was born in country Victoria to a family of farmers and gardeners. Growing her own food from a young age, she has a lifetime of experience in horticulture, with the last eight years focusing on edible and useful plants in her business, Edible Eden Design. She has become a regular and valued contributor to Organic Gardener. Karen trained at the Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens and Burnley Horticultural College and has a permaculture design certificate. She continues to learn from her own ‘garden laboratory’ in inner Melbourne, with over 200 edible and useful plants. She loves to write and teach about gardens that connect us with nature and each other. See her story on Agastaches, page 39.…

Although we like to think that every month is organic awareness month at Organic Gardener, this September we are highlighting the contribution organic producers and value-adders make to the certified organic industry as part of the nationwide celebration that is ‘Australian Organic Awareness Month’ We meet North Queensland fruit, vegie and cattle farmers, Gary and Angela Spotswood (page 42), to find out about the certification process, and talk to the owner of the world’s first certified organic fast-food chain, Oliver’s Real Food (page 53), about its innovative farm program. Plus, check out our competition to win a hamper of certified organic goodies (page 74). It’s tomato time again, and we have really gone to town. Penny Woodward got busy exploring the new world of tomatoes (page 22) and found a number of…

GREAT CAPTURE OZLEM ANDOGAN GULHAN’S MELBOURNE GARDEN IS OVERFLOWING WITH FRUIT AND VEGIES, INCLUDING HER PRIZED PURPLE PODDED PEAS (ABOVE). “MY GARDEN IS A CONNECTION TO MY ANCESTORS.IT HAS REKINDLED CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF GROWING UP AROUND WOMEN WHO FARMED ALL THEIR LIVES.” CHECK OUT OZLEM’S “EDIBLE OASIS” @OZLEM_ ANDOGAN_GULHAN AND DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW AND TAG US @ORGANICGARDENERMAG! PETE’S ARTHRITIS CURE! In our latest Organic Gardener Essential Guide – Natural Solutions, Peter Cundall wrote about the amazing curative effects of cod liver for arthritis and how he’d been eating the stuff for years. He’d been buying tinned smoked cod liver imported from Iceland and even recommended it on his local ABC radio show, which was then inundated with calls from readers. Well, the same has happened again. Since his story was published (pages…

VICTORIAN TREE OF THE YEAR A 65M TALL MOUNTAIN ASH KNOWN AS THE ‘KALATHA GIANT’ AND THOUGHT TO BE AT LEAST 400 YEARS OLD HAS WON THE INAUGURAL VICTORIAN TREE OF THE YEAR AWARD. IT IS LOCATED AT KALATHA CREEK, TOOLANGI. AFTER THE BLACK SATURDAY BUSHFIRES OF 2009, THE TOOLANGI AND CASTELLA COMMUNITY CONSTRUCTED A WALKING TRAIL TO THE TREE – FOR MANY, IT IS A RESILIENT SYMBOL OF BUSHFIRE SURVIVAL. COMING IN SECOND WAS A SNOW GUM AT SUMMIT TRACK, MOUNT STIRLING, AND THIRD, A GROUP OF LEMON-SCENTED GUMS AT THE SWANSTON STREET ROUNDABOUT, CARLTON. THE AWARD WAS LAUNCHED BY THE NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VICTORIA) TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE STATE’S NATURAL HERITAGE AND THE VITAL ROLE SIGNIFICANT TREES PLAY. “PEOPLE’S ENCOUNTERS WITH TREES CAN MAKE STORIES COME ALIVE,…

SEED FREEDOM FOOD FESTIVAL The festival, now in its third year, was created to inspire and teach people to grow food, and support local organic producers and the worldwide need to save and share seed. The day includes free workshops and speakers, and seed and seedling sellers, seed swaps, music and food. WHEN: Saturday, September 24, 10am–4pm WHERE: 1 Holland Street, Adelaide (The Market Shed) NATIONAL ORGANICS WEEK The Centre for Organic Research & Education is running its annual National Organics Week in September. It aims to promote the benefits of organic farming systems and products for people and the environment. A range of events and prizes are on offer, as well as a consumer choice award. WHEN: September 17–25 WHERE: Around Australia DETAILS: organicweek.net.au/core/ BOTANIC AND RARE PLANT FAIR The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV), Friends of the RBGV…

feed your plants Healthy plants need healthy soil and the Scotts Pure Organic range has a new slow-release formulation to feed plants for up to three months. Available in granular (Fruit & Citrus, Vegetable & Herb, All-Purpose) and liquid form (Premium Seaweed Plant Food) as well as potting mix, the certified organic range is available from Bunnings stores. Prices start from $13.99. For more information visit scottsaustralia.com.au/pure-organic/range/. seeds to sow plus READER OFFER The Diggers Club has a great range of seeds for spring growing, including the tasty and prolific ‘Ha-ogen’ melon, which is a compact grower making it ideal for smaller gardens. Available for $2.95 for members; $3.95 for nonmembers from diggers.com.au; 03 5984 7900. Also, as a special offer to Organic Gardener readers, The Diggers Club is offering free copies of…