Backyard and Outdoor Living Issue #53 2021

Many people dream of having their very own veggie patch but put it off for years because they are overwhelmed by the idea. Perhaps they don’t know the best area in their garden to put it or if their soil is suitable. What should I plant? How much sun does each plant need? What can I plant together and what really doesn’t get along? This is true for many things and once you make a start, things just flow. Sometimes you need a little push to get the ball rolling. Our feature this issue aims to inspire you to kick off a veggie garden of your own. Soon you will be enjoying the fruits (or vegetables) of your labour. Speaking of veggies, Angie Thomas from Yates shares her five favourite winter…

OLD WIVES’ LORE FOR GARDENERS DIANA FERGUSON MICHAEL O’MARA BOOKS | $24.99 Behind every beautiful garden is the skill and experience of the gardener who tends it. How do you know which plants will thrive in your patch, given the bewildering array on offer? How do you know what soil and location they will like? And what do you do about all those pests just waiting to tuck in, not to mention the fungal diseases that suddenly turn your rose leaves from glossy green to blotchy yellow and coat other leaves with a powdery white dust? With a wealth of savvy and cost-effective tips and advice, intriguing facts, snippets of history and quotes, Old Wives’ Lore for Gardeners is not only a fascinating read, but also an invaluable guide to the gardening practices…

01: COMMUNITY GARDENING IN IRAN Beski’s Garden by Zav Architects is a 12,550sqm public memorial garden in Gorgan, Iran. Celebrating the life and adaptive aesthetics of environmentalist Baba Beski, the space is soaked in sunlight not far from where the famous figure lived and is now buried. The garden is dotted with old and new structures in various stages of completion. Made using woven rebar (reinforced steel commonly used in construction in Iran), the structures are designed to patina over time and continually change in appearance. Photos by Fatemeh Rezaie, Nazanin Zakeri, Soroush Majidi. zavarchitects.com 02: KIDS CLUB Do you have young ones traipsing through your garden, picking your prized buds and taking bites out of all your fresh produce? A great way to teach your kids about nature is to start them…

BROCCOLI Whether you enjoy the traditional large green heading varieties of broccoli or the smaller florets of green or purple sprouting broccoli, this veggie is a dietitian’s delight! It’s super nutritious, low in calories and a good source of fibre and protein. Taking up to four months to grow from seed (a few weeks quicker if you start from seedlings), broccoli does require a bit of patience, however home-grown broccoli’s rich flavour makes it worthwhile. Watch out for caterpillars, which commonly attack both the leaves and heads of broccoli. BROAD BEANS In Australia we call them broad or fava beans and in the United States and Italy they’re referred to as fava beans. Whatever you call them, broad beans are sown during autumn and winter and produce plump, long, well-filled pods of beans…

You don’t want to over-water, or be wasteful, which is where tap timers are a useful tool. One of the latest offerings is LinkTap, a wireless device that gives you real-time notifications and can be programmed to one of six work modes. It also has Rain Skip, which means a water cycle will be skipped before or after periods of rain, thereby preventing water waste. This is determined by the system checking the local weather reports a few minutes before a watering cycle is set to commence. Additionally, LinkTap offers a two-year battery life and can be operated via a mobile or web app. If using a hose to slake the thirst of your kitchen garden, you can keep your yard looking uncluttered with the Rolaway Underground Hose. This is an…

To feel well, you need to eat well — and there is nothing as important to our health as a diet rich in fresh, healthy veggies, herbs and fruit. The best way to have a ready supply of nutrient-rich seasonal edibles is to grow your own — in raised garden beds, pots, vertical gardens or in the ground. Regardless of the size of your outdoor space, or your level of gardening expertise, it is possible to grow produce you can use for cooking, preserving or sharing with friends and neighbours. While improved taste and guaranteed freshness are prime benefits, so is the ability to grow what you like — and be a little experimental growing new and unusual varieties for special recipes or just for fun. Saving money is another. For…