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.
Sustainable Macleod Gift Vouchers
The ultimate sustainable gift! We are now selling $15 workshop vouchers and $25 membership vouchers! Simply click buy now and complete the checkout and your voucher will be emailed to you. Terms and conditions Workshop vouchers are valid until December 2021....
Dealing with pesky possums in your garden
There’s no doubt possums cause all kinds of problems for gardeners. In fact, I’ve had possum problems in every garden I’ve had. At my old rental house in Northcote the Common Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) ransacked my lemon tree, herbs and roses. And rats...
Sustainable Macleod sustainable gift ideas
Here's a list of suggestions by members, for a very happy, sustainable Christmas! Vouchers for Sustainable Macleod membership or workshops - purchase here Bush Heritage Trust Bush giftcards other memberships local restaurants - help them after covid! experiences...
Banyule Community Climate Action Plan
Banyule City Council has released the final version of the Community Climate Action Plan in response to the declaration of a climate emergency by the Council in 2018. The Plan is a companion to the Banyule City Council's Corporate Emissions Reduction Plan which sets...
Oyster and shiitake mushroom bulk buy
Order your mushroom kit Sustainable Macleod is doing a bulk order of shiitake and oyster mushroom kits from Aussie Mushroom Company. Robin is taking orders for oyster and shiitake mushroom kits. Both are $15 which is half price. We need an order of 10 of each and...
The Walking School Bus
The recent pandemic lockdown and the subsequent return of children to schools have highlighted the need for other ways of getting children to school. The return to school has brought with it a very noticeable increase in traffic around schools, and on roads in Banyule...
Growing salad greens
Top hints for growing salad greens use seed that is less than a year old germinate in the light keep seed well watered until rooted grow in well prepared soil containing compost and nitrogen. What are salad greens? Salad greens include hearting, butterheads, cos and...
Plant identity alert – Calamint
Identity alert! Calamint is being mistaken for oregano once again. Some years ago it was given away at the vegie swap incorrectly identified. The plant in the first photo is calamint; the second is oregano. Note the rounded tips and deeper veins of the calamint. The...
Sustainable Macleod blitzing fruit fly!
Sustainable Macleod has made a bulk buy of Fruit Fly Eco-lures; these are sure to make a tremendous impact on the Queensland Fruit Fly which arrived in Macleod from the Yarra Valley last summer. Orders for 105 lures have been placed, mostly by Macleodians. With a...
Pruning: Thinning vs heading cuts
Heading cuts on a loquat tree Thinning cuts and heading cuts When pruning fruit trees there are two types of cuts and they produce vastly different results. There are thinning cuts which are the preferred cuts and heading cuts which are used for only three purposes:...
Broadbean nitrogen nodules: Costa replies to Kobie
Our member, Kobie Swart asked a question about nodules on the roots of her broadbeans on our Facebook page and received a detailed reply from Costa. (We are chuffed that Costa follows our page). Here's Kobie's question and photo (above) and Costa's reply. Kobie:...
Taking stock: the wonders of lovage
What is lovage? Making your own stock is a sure fire way of avoiding certain ingredients such as MSG, palm oil, wheat, emulsifiers, and flavour enhancers found in many commercial stock cubes and powders. Simply grow the culinary herb, lovage, in your kitchen garden...
Macleod Organic Community Garden Re-Opening
We are delighted to be able to announce that the Macleod Organic Community Garden (MOCG), will be able to open from Monday, November 2. The Sustainable Macleod Garden Management Team have been working with permits since the Garden closed, with produce going weekly to...
A glut of zucchini
Recipes for a glut of zucchini There must be 101 things you can do with zucchinis but some of the less obvious and most delicious include zucchini bread, chocolate cake, pickles, slices, chutney and piccalilli. Zucchini chocolate cake 1/2 cup butter1 1/2 cups sugar2...
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.