Blog
Our blog features a variety of gardening and sustainablity articles on topics such as soil biology, composting, grafting, pruning, water-saving and irrigation clean energy, waste and biodiversity. 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.
FREE mesh bags to prevent Queensland Fruit Fly attacking your fruit!
Mesh bags with a fine weave are an excellent tool to combat Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF). The bags, which have a drawstring, can be slipped easily over bunches of fruit and secured around the branch. It's a good idea to place a circle of wire or a stick within the bag...
Five indigenous pollinator-attracting daisies
If you’re growing vegetables and fruit, you probably understand the benefits that pollinators bring to your garden. Many plants, particularly the cultivated varieties we grow for food, are self-fertile (don’t need other plants to pollinate them) but you’ll usually get...
Summer pruning of fruit trees
Why prune in summer? The simple answer is to reduce the height of out-of-control trees or to make netting and harvesting easier and safer. The more complex answer is to do with when trees are most likely to replace all the wood taken off. When pruned in winter, spring...
Remove unwanted fruit trees to help eliminate Queensland Fruit Fly
Removing unwanted fruit trees is of huge importance in combating Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF). In some states, this has been ordered by councils (including in Cobram, Victoria) and has had a positive effect in reducing QFF numbers. It is also a way of assisting the many...
Queensland Fruit Fly Blog #6 – Essential Action Now
Now is the time to net your fruit trees and vegies as pollination has taken place. When netting trees, secure the bottom of the net to the tree trunk or ground and make sure there are no holes. When using net bags make sure the fruit is not against the mesh as it can...
New videos about Sustainable Macleod!
Two new videos have been posted on the Sustainable Macleod YouTube channel: 'Sustainable Macleod: More than a garden' and 'Sustainable Macleod Community Voices 2021'. These were funded by a Banyule City Council grant to the Transition Banyule Network for upskilling of...
Could your next car be electric?
The advantages of choosing to drive an electric vehicle (EV) are clear. They can be charged at home, preferably from solar panels, they have zero emissions (once built) and they have fewer moving parts, requiring considerably less maintenance. It will shortly be...
Masters of disguise – the Tawny Frogmouth
Tawny Frogmouths are one of our most popular native birds. They recently came runner-up for the second time in 3 years in the Guardian/BirdLife Bird of the Year poll. In this article is some interesting information about these much-adored birds and some advice about...
Queensland Fruit Fly Blog #5
A reminder to put out your protein baits for Queensland Fruit Fly. These kill male and female flies. The Wild May lures are less critical now as they primarily tell you when QFF are around and plenty of people are catching them! It is a good idea to continue to use...
Soil and Climate Change Part 2
In her previous article, Bev described the importance of looking after agricultural soil in order to store more CO2. In this article, she looks at the impact of regenerative farming techniques on improving soil. While still a small percentage of all farmers,...
Profile: Robin Gale-Baker
Sustainable Macleod members would know Robin Gale-Baker from the monthly Newsletter, her videos produced for Sustainable Macleod and her guidance and mentoring at Macleod Organic Community Garden. Others would recognise her for the wide range of sustainable projects,...
The art of watering
Imagine for a moment that you are parched with thirst. Would a teaspoon of water quench that thirst? Or a tablespoon? Or would you need at least a full glass? Chances are that it will be the latter and yet often we do not apply the same principle to plants –...
Growing cucurbits – cucumber, zucchini and pumpkin
Position Plant in September in punnets, or from October to December outside. Choose a site with full sun and shelter from wind. Soil Preparation Plant cucurbits as seed or seedlings on mounds of compost with a base of well rotted animal manure. The manure should be...
Botany for home gardeners
Did you know we all use botanical theory in our garden, even if we don't realise it? By learning more about how plants work, we can make the most of how we manage our gardens. In this workshop we share interesting snippets of botany and how we can apply the...
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.