Naturally great organic ideas !
We often talk about heirloom vegetables and heritage fruit in ABC Organic Gardener magazine – there’s a reason, they are important in the efforts to maintain our food sovereignty and the diversity that’s so important to our planet.
Another aspect of the heirloom versus hybrid discussion is our ability to save seeds, keeping the wonderful array of open-pollinated seeds viable. Sadly, the world has lost thousands of heirloom varieties, but a resurgence of interest in flavoursome, nutritious and diverse heirlooms is underway.
We discuss both heirlooms and seed saving in this issue, along with the new hit in the garden and kitchen, cauliflower, and how to make the most of your harvest by drying fruit and veg. All in one issue!
ABC Organic Gardener magazine is available online.
Plant: Getting fruity
These heritage gems provide fruit for the picking,writes Penny Woodward.
Grow: The quiet achiever
After years of indifference from gardeners and cooks, cauliflower is hitting the big time in the vegie world. Karen Sutherland on growing and preparing it.
Grow: Our precious heirlooms
Heirloom vegies and heritage fruit provide beauty, flavour, diversity and resilience in a fast-changing world. But in order to save them, we need to grow them, writes Justin Russell.
How-to special: Our essential seed saving guide
Helen McKerral explores how nature spreads seed, the value of saving seed from your garden, and how you can do it yourself, saving money and helping reduce the food miles on your table.
Flowers: Bewitching bonnets
Helen McKerral has long been captivated by the stunning, bee-attracting aquilegias.
Action: Plan ahead
It will soon be time to prepare your cool season garden and plan what to grow. You’ll find top tips, what you can plant now and pest alerts for your patch.
Harvest: Packing in the flavour
In The Artisan Kitchen James Strawbridge shows how to use age-old techniques to make the best of produce.
Organic life: Little Oak Farm is who we are
Moving from inner-city Sydney to rural Tasmania was a big challenge for Pip and Hugo. Ten years on, they share the joys of their cottage and surrounds with Leanne Croker.
Poultry: Heritage hens
Heritage poultry breeds are slow-growing, long-laying and one of the keys to our long-term food security, writes Jessamy Miller.
Planet: On the frontline
Many conservationists dealing with environmental catastrophes are struggling to cope with the trauma and where to get support, writes Gemma Conroy.
Planet: Driving change
Meet the golf course superintendent who is making the game safer for people and wildlife by ditching chemicals and embracing soil biology. By Simon Webster.
Plus our regular articles…
- Editor’s letter
- Market: Planting for the future
- Organic matters: the latest news and events
- Competition: Win an online permaculture course with Milkwood, worth $439
- Losing the plot: Escape to the country – Simon Webster reveals the truth about the ‘Good Life’.
- Gardening on your ABC: Your ABC local radio and TV gardening guide