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.
Fight Queensland Fruit Fly this season!
Top tips for controlling Queensland Fruit Fly Use dual methods: pheromone traps and netting together are best. Pheromone traps - available from nurseries and Bunnings for about $20. Only one needed per backyard (covers 400 m) and it does not need to be cleared. These...
A glut of peas
Freezing your excess peas and pods It's quick and simple to freeze peas and pea pods but do blanch them as this preserves flavour, texture, colour, nutrients and provides a much longer shelf life than non-blanched. Shell peas or prepare pods. Wash in cold water. Boil...
What’s allowed in your Banyule yellow recycling bin… and other bin news
New Banyule yellow recycle bin rules Lids on? Lids off? Should I wash out the cans? What colour bin do we put out this week? These and other questions often spring to mind when we think about our bins. Even among the most devoted recyclers there is confusion about...
Driving down emissions
While much of the focus on reducing CO2 emissions has been on the reduction of fossil fuel use in electricity generation, transport emissions are the second-largest contributor to the problem, after electricity, and warrant attention. Road transport is responsible for...
Growing spectacular eggplants and capsicums
Top hints for growing eggplants and capsicum Use Dipel (an organic bacterium available from nurseries) to prevent caterpillar poo trails in the fruit. Always keep soil moist. Stake plants to support brittle stems and keep fruit off the ground and pest free. Position...
Swooping season
Have you been swooped by a magpie while walking or riding your bike recently? If so, you’re not alone – we’re in swooping season. Magpies are both loved and hated. A couple of years ago, Guardian readers voted them Australia’s favourite bird. They’re renowned for...
Coddle your apples, pears and quince trees against codling moth
What time of year do I need to protect my trees from codling moth? It’s now a good time to protect your apples, quinces and pears from the ravages of codling moth. While any time is a good time to intervene in the lifecycle of the codling moth, they will lay their...
Banyule Candidates Sustainablity Survey
We emailed a survey to all of the candidates in the current Banyule City Council elections to allow them to indicate their position on a number of sustainability issues.
Tomato plants available for members to collect
Each member receives 6 FREE tomato plants each year. We currently have 6 varieties of cherry tomato, 5 varieties of medium size tomato and 1 variety of large tomato. And there are more varieties coming on. In the next few weeks, corn, zucchini, cucumber, and pumpkin...
How to plant seeds in punnets
Use seed raising mix if possible. Seed raising mix does not contain nutrients, is finer than other soils, and is designed specifically for seed raising. If you cannot access seed raising mix, use potting mix. Do not use garden soil as it compacts around the seed. Fill...
Preparing a spring/summer or autumn/winter vegie garden
There are three keys to establishing a flourishing edible garden whether spring/summer or autumn/winter: soil preparation, watering and site selection.
Greening your ride
Given the growing interest in electric vehicles (EVs), you might be wondering exactly what the Australian government is doing to support their take up. The simple answer is that there is no support. The interest in EVs is clear. According to the Electric Vehicle...
Welcome to the wattles
Walking through the bush at the moment, you can’t miss the yellow of Acacias flowering profusely. Acacias - commonly known as wattles - grow in different landscapes across the continent. With close to 1000 varieties they’re Australia’s largest plant species. There are...
Reducing waste during the pandemic
Many Sustainable Macleod members are passionate about reducing waste. Some of us have a particular focus on food; others have their sights on plastic, paper and cardboard, chemical, textile, electronic and other categories of waste. During the pandemic, it’s become an...
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.