ABC Organic Gardener Magazine November - December 2018

Subscribe or resubscribe to Organic Gardener magazine this month and you’ll receive a bonus 2019 calendar valued at $17.95. It’s one of our best subscription offers of the year, so get in quick. For $49.95 you get seven issues of OG plus the calendar, which features a user-friendly planting guide and gardening tips, moon phases and useful dates such as school terms, and of course beautiful full-colour images of fruit, vegies and gardens. Offer ends December 12 or while stocks last SEE PAGE 46 FOR MORE…

It seems that the severe drought affecting much of Australia has tipped many climate change doubters into the believers’ camp. In July, the NSW Farmers Association Conference officially changed policy, moving from wanting a royal commission “to explore the scientific veracity and soundness of claims that carbon is a pollutant”, to recognising that farmers “are on the front lines of seasonal variability, exacerbated by a changing climate”. The association also called for a transition from fossil fuels to renewables, acknowledging that this would benefit farming communities in the long term. They have been joined by the National Farmers’ Federation, whose president Fiona Simson earlier this year said farmers could no longer ignore “what was right before our eyes”, with extreme heat and wild weather swings no longer explainable by natural climate variation. It’s…

“Ever since my great grandmother Lil passed away and I found out she was an award-winning baker (I didn’t know despite working in the food industry!), I have been on a mission to protect our granny skills,” says Rebecca Sullivan. “I was gutted I didn’t learn any of her award-winning recipes from her.” And so, Granny Skills was born. “It is a program that’s all about living like our elders. My Nan’s era was super-sustainable. They ate local and seasonal food, and had no waste at all. Not because they were hipsters but because they had no choice. My Nan still lives that way and to be fair, it’s bloody smart. We all need to take a leaf out of their books. “When I met Damien, my partner, and became connected to…

NATIONAL RECYCLING WEEK Planet Ark believes the 23rd National Recycling Week (November 12–18) will be the most important in its history, with the impact of new waste policies in China forcing Australian consumers and businesses to adapt to more stringent standards. Also, following ABC TV’s War on Waste series, public awareness of the urgent need to reduce waste, especially single-use plastic bags and bottles, is at an all-time high. Planet Ark says it’s important Australians now take control of their own ‘recycling journey’. This year’s theme, From Waste War to Recycling Reboot, aims to provide clarity on what can and cannot be recycled and what happens to the recycled materials. National Recycling Week activities include Buy It Back Day, Friday File Fling, Big Aussie Swap and the Schools Recycle Right Challenge – all designed to…

CHOOK WORKSHOPS ABC Organic Gardener writer and chicken expert Jessamy Miller, above, will present ‘Chooks in the City’ – a fascinating workshop where you’ll learn how to keep and care for chooks in your backyard. Topics covered include housing, diet, health and council rules. Morning/afternoon tea and workshop notes provided. WHEN: 11 Nov, 10–11.30am and 12.30–2pm WHERE: 3 Bower St, Northcote VIC COST: $35 DETAILS: trybooking.com or opengardensvictoria.org.au or call 0472 997 880 ST ERTH SPRING FAIR Join The Diggers Club’s Spring Garden party with free tours of the delightful Garden of St Erth, as well as a range of stalls and free mini-workshops. You’ll learn all about spring planting and soil preparation, plus be invited to grab a bite from the organic kitchen garden café and pick up your heirloom seeds for the planting season. Penny Woodward…

Retractable watering A reliable and durable hose is a must in any garden. Hoselink’s Retractable Hose Reel is a wall-mounted unit that has a specially designed ‘stop-anywhere’ locking mechanism to secure the hose at any length. The standard reels start from $169 (for 15m hose). Fittings start from $5.90 each or can be bought in a starter pack priced from $19.50. Available from hoselink.com.au or call 1300 900 617. Seeds to savour The 41st Diggers Club Heirloom Annual not only includes all the vegetable, herb and flower seeds you’ll need for the next 12 months, but also new seed collections. Even better though, Organic Gardener readers can get a free copy! Simply email your details to info@diggers.com.au or for more details: diggers.com.au Moisture trap Thirsty lawn or garden? Give it a helping hand with Munns…