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From Lawn To Habitat
When I Googled ‘How many acres of lawn in Australia?’, I found what seemed like hundreds of websites dedicated to lawn love: what kind of grass makes the best lawn; how to make your lawn drought tolerant, weed-free or spectacular; how to lay turf; even, disturbingly, the glorious wonders of fake lawn. Everything but how…
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Compost Bins In A Small Yard
Compost bins can take up a bit of room and finding a place for them in a small back garden is not always easy. At 240 square metres my yard has limited space. The most obvious spot for compost bins was where next door’s camphor laurels were getting all the benefit – so I definitely…
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10 Easy-Grow Veggies That Pack A Nutritional Punch
The supermarket shelves are bare and the price of food has shot up due to supply chain disruptions, weather events and, of all unpredictable things, the rising cost of fertiliser. Add to that the effects of climate change, and many people who have never gardened before might seriously be considering growing their own food. Whether…
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7 Reasons To Love Pigeon Peas
In a world where changing climate is bringing hotter, drier summers with increasing challenges to gardeners,the pigeon pea has a huge range of benefits for gardeners. Native to India, the pigeon pea is edible and used as a staple food across Asia, Africa and South America. But it has so many other uses it is…
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Perennials: Food For No Work
Finally I am starting to produce food in my garden with absolutely no labour required – thanks to the beauty of perennials. Perennials are the staples of the food forest: you plant them once, then harvest them year after year with a minimal of effort required. As long as the soil is healthy, full of…
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A Toilet Wicking Bed
A few weeks ago I sowed some spinach seeds in a sheltered corner of the garden. The results show how different conditions produce very different results. Greens thrive when the soil is constantly moist. Although this is a relatively sheltered corner it still gets a good dose of hot sun in the late afternoon, not…