ABC Organic Gardener Magazine

Organic Gardener Magazine is a guide to organic gardening, providing informative and inspirational stories on everything you need to know to grow your own fruit and vegetables- without the use of harmful chemicals. Each issue includes practical tips and advice from leading organic gardening experts.

ABC Organic Gardener

Getting thrifty

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EVENTS

Spring into gear • MAKE LIFE EASIER AND FUN WITH THESE USEFUL PRODUCTS.

FULL OF FLAVOUR • HELEN MCKERRAL SELECTS SOME TASTY CULINARY HERBS THAT YOU CAN PLANT NOW.

GROW AND SAVE! • WITH FRESH FOOD PRICES SET TO STAY HIGH, PAUL WEST LOOKS AT THE AMAZING SAVINGS YOU CAN MAKE GROWING YOUR OWN VEGIES, PLUS BENEFITS YOU CAN’T BUY!

Bursting with BEANS • EASY AND GENEROUS PLANTS TO GROW, BEANS CAN SUPPLY YOU WITH PROTEIN-RICH HARVESTS FOR MONTHS. KAREN SUTHERLAND EXPLAINS HOW TO DO IT AND WHAT TO CHOOSE.

Abundance at Jembella • A BAROSSA VALLEY COUPLE LOVE LIFE ON THEIR ORGANIC FARM, GROWING THEIR OWN FRUIT AND VEGIES, RAISING SHEEP, PIGS AND CATTLE, AND BREEDING THEIR OWN ‘BUG PATROL’ CHOOKS, WRITES JESSAMY MILLER.

Pile on the PEANUTS! • PEANUTS ARE A REWARDING PLANT TO GROW: A NUTRIENT DENSE OPTION WITH A MULTITUDE OF USES, WRITES LINDA COCKBURN.

POWER YOUR GARDEN for free • JIAN LIU HAS FOUND A WAY TO USE FREE, LOCALLY AVAILABLE MATERIALS TO SET UP AND POWER HER GARDEN.HERE’S HER TIPS FOR GROWING MORE WITH LESS.

Collecting NATIVE SEEDS • YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR NATIVE PLANT COLLECTION BY GATHERING SEEDS FROM YOUR GARDEN. LIBBY WOODWARD WRITES ABOUT HOW TO DO IT.

WEED BLITZ • AS PENNY WOODWARD EXPLAINS, THE BEST WAY TO BEAT WEEDS IS TO KEEP THEM UNDER CONTROL, AND THESE TOOLS WILL HELP YOU DO THAT.

Dealing with APHIDS • ENCOURAGING BENEFICIAL INSECTS SUCH AS LADY BEETLES AND HOVER FLIES IS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT APHIDS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL, WRITES DENIS CRAWFORD.

Getting resourceful • TIME TO SAVE MONEY, SAVE RESOURCES, KEEP PESTS AT BAY AND GET PLANTING.

Homemade PANTRY Wonders • Fiona Weir Walmsley and her family seem to be living the ideal life, raising chooks, making cheese, running self-sufficiency workshops and more, on their Buena Vista farm in Gerringong, NSW. But more than once, the hard work and setbacks, such as losing all their chooks to fox attacks, made them consider throwing in the towel, or at least taking an off-farm job. But the life is fulfilling and they are helping so many others tread this sustainable path, they have stuck at it and reaped the rewards. Now, Fiona has written her first book From Scratch, featuring more than 200 recipes for handmade pantry essentials, from ferments, pickles and dips, to bread and crackers. In this extract, Fiona encourages everyone to step away from the supermarket aisle and fill their pantry with homemade delights.

Turn clothes to COMPOST • TEXTILE WASTE IS A MASSIVE ISSUE IN AUSTRALIA AND AROUND THE WORLD. PENNY WOODWARD LOOKS AT THE PROBLEM, EFFORTS TO MAKE CHANGE, AND HOW TO USE WORN OUT CLOTHES IN THE HOME AND GARDEN.

Who’s the boss? • JESSAMY MILLER LOOKS AT THE ‘PECKING ORDER’ IN A HENHOUSE, HOW IT WORKS AND HOW TO MANAGE YOUR FLOCK.

Beautiful and useful • WE WANTED TO ADD TO THE STORY OF JEMBELLA FARM AND THEIR BEAUTIFUL CHOOKS (PAGE 32) BY GIVING MORE DETAIL ON SOME OF THE BREEDS SALLY FENNESSY AND BRIAN LINKE KEEP ON THEIR PROPERTY. THESE HENS ARE RESILIENT AND MULTIPURPOSE, WHILE LOOKING STUNNING.

the best of your ABC

WIN! 1 of 5 ORGANIC WINE PACKS from ANGOVE FAMILY WINEMAKERS

One step at a time • SIMON WEBSTER FINDS COMFORT AND TRANQUILITY IN THE RITUALS OF GARDENING.