ABC Organic Gardener Magazine Issue 130 - Summer 2022

“It’s a trick I use all the time when I’m talking to people about helping bees. I tell them to think like a bee.” There has been a big surge in beekeeping and interest in bees over the last few years. I’m not a beekeeper myself, but I have become more aware of their needs. Some gardeners love the wild and untamed look, but I lean towards order and being able to see where everything is. As soon as my edible crops went to seed, I’d whip them out and put something ‘useful’ in. Now, I’ll leave a couple of plants, whether brassicas, Asian greens, or herbs, to flower and bring in the bees. I love watching the bees, while the flowers add interest and colour. Doug Purdie, author of Backyard Bees,…

PHOTOGRAPHERS DESERVE CREDIT We have subscribed to ABC Organic Gardener for years and love the engaging content. I have one suggestion. I’m a big fan of photographers getting a deserved photo credit for their creative work. Being a former pictorial editor and professional photographer for 40 years, it’s an issue close to my heart. An example is the lovely feature, ‘A Handmade Life’ (OG 129, page 32). It was a great package – the journo got a good and deserved byline and the photographer Maja Baska’s byline was tiny and hidden beneath the magazine fold. The photos were superb in some challenging technical conditions, they were used very well, so you obviously loved them, too… just like the Paul West piece in the same issue, great pix hidden byline. Real life…

ORGANIC INDUSTRY AWARDS “WHEN ENOUGH PEOPLE COME TOGETHER, THEN CHANGE WILL COME AND WE CAN ACHIEVE ALMOST ANYTHING. SO INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR HOPE -START CREATING IT.”Greta Thunberg #COP26 Melissa Brown of Gemtree Wines in South Australia has won the inaugural ‘Woman in Organic of the Year Award’ in the 2021 Australian Organic Industry Awards. Melissa’s success has taken time, hard work and innovation. She has been working in the family vineyard since 1994, with her pursuit of organic principles starting when she became a qualified viticulturist. By 2005 she had begun trialling organic methods on their Tempranillo grapes and in 2011 reached a major milestone when Gemtree Wines achieved organic certification. It was a long process but an important one for Melissa, who is always seeking opportunities to lead change and to improve…

Garden in a pop Add a bit of colour to your plant collection with Sow ’n Sow Pop Up Pots – foldable pots ready for planting that assemble with a quick pop and a push. The Pop Up Pot is designed and made in Australia from 100 per cent recycled and carbon neutral polypropylene and can be used for direct planting or as a pot plant sleeve. A lovely gift that’s simple to send in the mail. Visit: sownsow.com; $15 (small), $18 (medium), $21 (large), and $39 (pack of 3). Award-winning honey Apple cider vinegar has long been known for its health benefits but the acidic burn that sometimes goes with it may have stopped many from using it. Now the award-winning Meluka Australia’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Infused Raw Honey has put…

Podcast pick Whether pottering in the garden, indoors waiting for the rain to stop, or you just like listening to people talk about gardening, nature and our planet – the ABC has a podcast that will appeal. Here’s a selection: NATURE TRACK: This podcast captures the many beautiful sounds of the Australian wilderness. A relaxing soundtrack for work, exercise, meditation or sleep. COUNTRYWIDE: Head outside the cities into regional Australia with journalists who talk about the food we eat, how it’s produced, and what all this means for the Australian economy. LITTLE GREEN POD: It’s always fun to discover tips and tricks that help us reduce waste and help the planet. Listen to Fi Poole as she goes on that everlasting quest to find quick and easy ways to live a little greener. ROOTS AND…

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