May/June 2012

May/June 2012

Do me a fava

Broad beans help enrich your soil as well as being a magnificent food source, writes Peter Cundall.

Heavenly berries

Justin Russell says you need surprisingly little space to grow ruby-red raspberries bursting with flavour – and even gardeners in warmer climates can have a go.

Native attraction

Kim Woods Rabbidge visits ‘Birdhaven’, a stunning showcase of native plants, with a thriving organic vegie patch.

Planet: Seedy business

Seed diversity has plummeted in the last 50 years and multinationals are wresting control of our food future, writes Simon Webster.

Action: Plant a garden larder

Choose traditional varieties with longer harvesting periods for a year-round supply of fresh food, says Jerry Coleby-Williams.

Gardener’s gold - leafmould

Jerry Coleby-Williams explains how to make your own ‘gardener’s gold’ – leafmould.

Solutions: Friends & enemies

Jerry Coleby-Williams profiles the garden weevil, while Denis Crawford puts the carabid beetle under the microscope.

Basics: Keep it clean!

Phil Dudman looks at garden hygiene and how to keep your garden free of disease.

Animal: Ducks fit the bill

Ducks are gentle creatures that produce eggs and manure as well as eating pests, making them a great addition to the organic plot, writes Paul Healy.

Harvest: Smashing pumpkins!

Phil Dudman and Julie Ray reveal how to harvest, store and cook pumpkins, including two delicious recipes.

People: An appetite for change

Environmental campaigners Hayley Giachin and Cassie Duncan are turning the tables on sustainable farming methods – one meal at a time, writes Kylie McGregor.

Life: Pet power

Dr Katrina Warren tells Kylie McGregor that pets – be they chooks, guinea pigs or dogs – boost our physical and mental wellbeing

 

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