Milk in the veins

Elgaar Farm is a pioneering family dairy and cropping farm that has been paving the way in organic and sustainable practices for almost 25 years. HELEN CUSHING visits this Tasmanian treasure.

Homegrown food saves money

Sometimes gardeners are reluctant to admit it, but growing your own food saves money. JUSTIN RUSSELL runs through a few quick calculations to show that when it comes to generating astrononical returns on investment, nothing beats organic food gardening.

Become a Backyard Conservationist

With the world facing a sixth mass extinction crisis, Justin Russell highlights the need for gardeners to play a role in conserving domestic plant species.

Getting radical about organics

Has the organic gardening and farming movement lost its revolutionary edge? It's time to redsicover the radical spirit of the organic pioneers, suggests Justin Russell.

Strawbales & Sorbets

We catch up with LINDA COCKBURN and family on their quest for a self-sufficient lifestyle on the Apple Isle. Their owner-built house, being made without the use of concrete, PVC or chemical finishes, is progressing well. Linda and partner Trev are using locally-sourced materials such as clay, straw bales and timber – 400-year-old celery top pine otherwise destined for firewood. In their ‘spare time’ they’ve been making camembert cheese, planting raspberries and dealing with wayward ducks.

Tassie Tales

We catch up with LINDA COCKBURN and family on their quest for a self-sufficient lifestyle on the Apple Isle. Their owner-built house – being made without the use of concrete, PVC or chemical finishes – is progressing well.

When wild things disappear

Mary Oliver's poetry is a favourite, offering insight into what it means to share the planet with other living things.

Natural pest repellents you can make from your garden

Whether it’s mozzies, flies or cockroaches, humans are constantly plagued by insect pests. Here's some simple plant-based repellents.

Sharing lessons in sustainability

American activists are doing their best to get young people on the land and farming sustainably.

The best backyard in Australia

Dennis and Marilyn Ryan grow native foods and organic citrus on their property near Macksville (NSW), but caring for the valuable wetland that laps their backyard is just as big a passion.

The key to sustainable farming

Organic farmer and author, Michael Ableman, wants to see honour return to the art of farming, and every local community growing food.

Lessons from Nino

Marc Llewellyn, the author of Finding Nino - a Seachange in Italy, reveals how an Italian peasant farmer sparked his love of organic gardening.