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.
Planning your garlic crop – start in February!
Although it may be several months before we plant out garlic, preparations must start now. There are 2 reasons for this. Firstly, you may need to order in garlic heads, and secondly you may wish to give your garlic a false winter (vernalisation) by placing it in the...
Urgent jobs in the garden for January
Spray summer vegetables with seaweed solution. Spray eggplant fruit with Dipel to prevent caterpillar infestation. Water citrus trees once or twice a week especially in extreme heat as they are shallow rooted and need water near the surface. Water, weed, and mulch all...
What to plant in January in Melbourne
January is a month in which I sow very little and plant out very little. Instead I put my attention into watering, weeding, and mulching to support the vegies already planted. It is too late to plant out vegies that have a long growing season. By the time they fruit,...
Batteries on wheels, when cities become power plants
A key question for those who have solar panels installed is how to make the best use of the power they generate. The typical household uses most power later in the day, when the sun is lower (or set), and less (or no), energy is being produced by the solar panels. The...
Affordable new and vintage fabrics await!
The Resource Recovery Centre is a social enterprise founded by Katrina Naish, whose journey began when she was asked to clear fabric and sewing items from three estates within two months. Katrina was already running textile upcycling workshops, however, the fabric was...
English gooseberries – rare and underrated!
Top tips: incorporate organic material into the soil water deeply twice weekly in summer prune to a single stem or develop a vase shape prune every winter. Have you ever considered growing English gooseberries (Riba uva-crispa)? These delicious berries come in green,...
What does the term ‘nature positive’ mean?
If you follow federal politics, you'll have heard that the Greens and Labor are negotiating the government’s Nature Positive legislation. Do you know what that term means though? Nature positive refers to an apporach to environmental conservation and sustainable...
Native mint bush: A beautiful native alternative to a polygala
Native mint bush: A beautiful native alternative to a polygala Polygalas are flowering at the moment. With its purple pea flowers, they are a lovely looking large shrub often known as Sweet Pea Shrub (but not to be confused with annual Sweet Peas), Butterfly Bush or...
Everyone on board to save UK pollinators
In the UK in the last 80 years, lowland meadows which are the prime source of wildflowers for pollinators, have decreased by 97%. In actual terms that is a reduction from 13 million hectares to just 100,000 hectares. Almost too late, people have realised how serious...
Ditch the car and plane – take the train
High-speed train travel Imagine travelling between Melbourne and Sydney without having to spend more than 8 hours (plus rest breaks and perhaps an overnight stop), in a car, or catching a plane, with all the inconvenience and cost involved. What if the journey took...
Sustainability – the new buzz word in the UK and Europe
In July, August and September, my husband Paul and I travelled extensively in the UK and Europe. We were amazed and pleased with the emphasis on climate change action everywhere we went. We could not look side ways without seeing the word 'sustainability' or hearing...
Visiting the Chelsea Physic Garden in London
I recently visited the Chelsea Physic Garden in London and have written here about what a wonderful experience it was. The Chelsea Physic Garden was established 351 years ago in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London. It resides by the Thames River...
The epic migrations of our local eels
The Birrarung (Yarra River) is home to the much-maligned, but fascinating short-finned eel (Anguilla australis). These unremarkable-looking eels make two epic migration journeys, spanning thousands of kilometers.Short-finned eels begin their lives in the Coral Sea...
A Banyule bicycle revolution
It's time for a bicycle-led transport revolution. The cost of living crisis, rising petrol prices and increased road congestion should have us all on our bikes. A recent visit to London and Strasbourg was a reminder of what a remarkable form of transport the bicycle...
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.