Blog
Our blog features a variety of gardening and growing tips on topics such as soil biology, wicking bed construction, composting, grafting, pruning, water-saving and irrigation. Plus we regularly post recipes to help you make the most of the ‘seasonal glut’ and tips on how to live in a more sustainable way.
10 tips for winter vegetable planting in Melbourne
Brassicas - cauliflower, cabbage, cabbage, kale 1. Before planting out, dip seedlings in Dipel, an organic bacterium that takes care of green caterpillars, the eggs of which may already be on the underside of the leaf. It is available from Yates as 'Nature's Way...
Wanting to stand for the next executive?
Words of wisdom from the current officeholders. The AGM will be coming up in May so we thought it timely to interview all 4 office-bearers about their roles so that others wishing to stand for the executive have a good understanding of what the roles entail. This...
EV charging in multi-residential developments
In my previous article, 'Supporting the change to electric vehicles', I discussed the possibility of including in council building regulations a requirement for new developments to include electric vehicle charging infrastructure. I have been in contact with Banyule...
Bulleen River Red Gum to stay
There’s some good news about the Bulleen River Red Gum, with confirmation from the North East Link Project team that it will no longer be felled for construction works. This is a significant win for locals who were outraged about its planned removal for the freeway...
The shelf-life of garlic: choose cultivars to last year round
Garlic isn't just garlic! Garlic encompasses a wide range of flavours from spicy to buttery, nutty to sweet, mild to hot and more. There are 11 groups, several of which are not grown in Australia, and each has its own distinct growing and harvest season, soil and...
Turn autumn leaves into gold!
Recently I saw an unusual site - a Banyule City Council worker was blowing leaves from the gutter onto the nature strip. Usually, it is the other way round, I see people blowing leaves from the nature strip or their driveway into the gutter! This is a poor choice -...
Creating hollows for wildlife with chainsaws
Many of our native birds and animals rely on tree hollows for their survival. Without them they can’t find shelter to raise their young. Due to a lack of big old hollow-bearing trees, Banyule City Council have recently funded the installation of some artificial...
What is eating my tomatoes?
If your tomatoes have large bites out of them or are half eaten, it will be rats or possums. If they have round holes that contain a calloused concave depression with solid edges, it will be the green caterpillar as seen in the photo below. If you cut open your...
Choosing a community garden
Recently a woman came to the Sustainable Macleod Community Garden researching our garden and others to find a garden that was a good fit for her. Not many people do this but it is essential that prospective members understand that no two community gardens are alike...
Supporting the change to electric vehicles
Replacing petrol or diesel vehicles with electric vehicles would lead to a significant drop in carbon emissions and local pollution. Australia-wide, transport was responsible for 18% of carbon emissions in 2020. Burning gasoline and diesel also produces a range of...
Net for success!
We are repeating this article written in November 2021 because, now more than ever before, it is urgent to net to protect fruit and vegetables from Queensland Fruit Fly. Without the right kind of net, properly secured at ground level, you can expect your harvest to be...
A rare flash of copper wings
A rare flash of copper wings The Eltham Copper Butterfly (Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida) is an endangered species that occurs only in Victoria. It is only known in four areas in the state, one being Eltham, Montmorency and Greensborough. The small and pretty adult...
Good news about waste – yes truly!
Next year we will see major changes to how we handle waste and single-use plastics in Victoria. First, a Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) will be launched – allowing people to get 10c for returning drink cans, bottles and cartons to local deposit locations points. The...
Herbs and spices for Christmas
Whether you are a meat eater, a vegetarian or a vegan, herbs and spices can play an important role in creating tasty and healthy festive food. From stuffing to plum pudding, they add flavour and uniqueness to any dish. Herbs Let's focus firstly on herbs. Use them...
Join Sustainable Macleod
Become a member and get access to the community garden, the tool library and our seed library. We welcome all members of the community and have regular events and workshops to enjoy.