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.
A glut of cabbage
Chocolate cabbage cake This is fun to make. It consists of a double chocolate sponge covered with leaves of dark chocolate formed by using the leaves of a fresh cabbage as moulds. Choose your favourite sponge recipe and make 2 cakes in 20 cm tins. Fill the layer...
Members growing spring seedlings at home
Sustainable Macleod is keen to continue to supply the community garden, members and the public with its much revered spring seedlings. Because the community garden is closed, members have taken on the task of raising seedlings from home. Robin's potting shed and...
Having fun with fungi
It's estimated there are potentially 250,000 fungi species in Australia, but only 10,000 or so have been described. Fungi are crucial to our ecosystems. They provide food for wildlife, plants rely on them through symbiotic relationships and they are nature's...
Natural gas – part of the solution, or part of the problem?
So-called 'natural' gas was - and still is - touted as a 'clean' fuel. I recall when it was first introduced in Melbourne in 1969. Until that point, 'town gas' was used. This was produced with a range of fuels, including coal and oil refinery gas. Town gas had a...
Are bicycles the new black?
The current pandemic has made riding bicycles much more popular. What if that popularity extended beyond the lockdowns and became a preferred mode of transport? Ibbott Ward Councillor, Tom Melican, agreed to talk bicycles. As many of you will already know, Tom is a...
A glut of guavas
Guavas are a tropical fruit but grow well in Melbourne, and fruit in winter. They grow on medium size bushes and are a tart fruit about the size of a tom bowler marble. Pineapple guavas are yellow skinned, and cherry and strawberry guavas are dark red skinned. Any...
Deficiency diseases in citrus
What is the Ideal pH for citrus? Citrus likes a close to neutral pH i.e. between 6 (lightly acid) and 7. High alkaline soil prevents the absorption of iron, magnesium and zinc which are necessary for the production of chlorophyll, the green substance of leaves....
How to keep trees safe from Citrus Gall Wasp
What is citrus gall wasp? Citrus gall wasp, an Aussie wasp originally from Queensland, can affect all citrus but seems to be most prevalent in lemon, lime and grapefruit trees. The galls are the result of the injection of eggs by the adult wasp into the soft stems of...
Has my tree got Citrus Leafminer?
What is Citrus Leafminer? At the beginning of summer, silvery thread-like snaking tunnels often appear on new growth on the tips of citrus trees. By the time we see it, it is too late to do anything about it, other than to prune off the tips. The citrus leafminer is...
Work going on at Macleod Organic Community Garden
The last month has seen a works' program at the community garden. Chris Newman orchestrated the trenching, laying of water pipe and water sensors for 6 new taps throughout the garden plus a water meter to measure our usage. This will improve the efficient working of...
Our partnership with BANSIC
Sustainable Macleod has established a wonderful partnership with BANSIC* during the COVID-19 crisis and we intend to strengthen this connection into the future. BANSIC has done an amazing job providing food to many people suddenly without income in Banyule....
Sustainable Macleod gets a mention in The Age
"Paul Gale-Baker, president of Sustainable Macleod, said members have planted a wartime-style garden at their community compound near Macleod College…" Read the full story in this article from The Age. Carolyn Webb Published in The Age March 27, 2020 Seedlings...
Jagajaga Electorate Community Volunteers Award
Well-deserved congratulations to Chris Newman and Jenny Joyce, recipients of a Jagajaga Electorate Community Volunteers Awards for services to Sustainable Macleod and the Macleod community. You make us proud! Also, we were thrilled that: Tony Lunken, another...
Sustainable Macleod growing tips now on You Tube
Sustainable Macleod now has its own YouTube Channel, with short workshop-style videos designed to give tried and true gardening and other sustainable information. We will be adding videos regularly. Go to the Sustainable Macleod YouTube Channel and become a...
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.