Blog
Our blog features a variety of gardening and growing tips on topics such as soil biology, wicking bed construction, composting, grafting, pruning, water-saving and irrigation. 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.
Getting to the bottom of insulation – Sustainable Houses
We are all interested in making our houses more comfortable, while reducing power bills. Many of us live in houses built decades ago, which are harder to heat and cool than well-built recent houses. A great example of an energy-efficient houses Richard Keech's...
Tasty bushtucker treats around our streets
Walking around my Macleod neighbourhood the other day, I came across a street tree absolutely covered in fruit. While there are definitely lots of olive trees on our streets, that’s not the tree I’m talking about. I’m talking about an Australian native lilly pilly...
Begin your Queensland Fruit Fly Prevention strategy NOW!
Now is the time to begin your campaign against Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF). Don't delay! This pest is already the scourge of fruit and vegetable growers throughout the northern suburbs, but without doubt will extend its reach southward and to the east and west this...
Preparing a spring/summer vegetable garden
The first section here covers soil preparation, watering tips and site selection. With these covered, not much can go wrong! Below this section, are 7 families of vegetables and herbs with specific guidelines for each. It is worth reading the whole article to get a...
Urgent jobs in the garden for August
Weed, weed, weed! As the weather warms in August, seed germinates and weeds take over. Make compost. Prune fruit trees once they have lost their leaves; remove all mummified fruit from the branches. Spray peach and nectarine trees a full 360 degrees to cover every...
What to plant in August in Melbourne
August is the month to plant spring seedlings in punnets and some direct into the ground. Should a frost be imminent, cover seedlings the night before with cloth. If the worst comes to the worst and you find frost on your plants the following morning, and the sun has...
August garlic hint
This hint covers the end of winter and the beginning of spring which have slightly different requirements. The first thing to do is observe your garlic plants and note whether there is any yellowing on the tips or on older leaves. If there is, spray with fish emulsion...
Sustainable Macleod receives 2 grants!
Sustainable Macleod is the proud recipient of 2 environmental sustainability grants from Banyule City Council. One will fund the clean energy expo in November at Macleod College. Paul Gale-Baker ran this last year for Banyule Clean Energy and this year will run it for...
Start now to prevent brown rot of stone fruit in Spring!
Start now to prevent brown rot of stone fruit in Spring! Top tips: Remove all fruit including mummified fruit Clean out crotches Remove all vegetative material beneath trees Spray up to 4 times before buds open and leaves appear Brown rot of stone fruit is the scourge...
Electrify Everything – starting at home
The fall in prices for solar panels is good news for those wanting to electrify their home and reduce their power bills. A report by Climate Energy Finance predicts a 10% drop in the cost of panels, helping make solar installation more affordable. According to the...
The Burning Question
We may love a cosy winter fire at home, and enjoy the cheer, warmth, and of course, the pizza, when we fire up the pizza oven at the community garden, but we do need to be aware of best practice when burning and whether our wood comes from a sustainable and legal...
Sandra Macneil receives OAM in King’s Birthday Honours!
Sustainable Macleod is excited to announce that Sandra Macneil was the recipient of an Order of Australia Medal in the King's Birthday Honours: 'For service to the community of Greensborough through a range of roles.' Sandra has been recognised for over 40 years...
Hardy & cheap local native plants for your garden
While it’s a relatively lean season in the vegetable garden, it’s the perfect time to be planting lots of indigenous plants, allowing them to develop roots and settle in before the spring and the growing season begins. Planting tube stock is the best option, as they...
July garlic hint
July is an easy month! All you need to do is keep your garlic weed free, netted to prevent cockatoo strike and watered if there is insufficient rain. If you did not enrich your soil prior to planting, give each row a side dressing of blood and bone but if you did,...
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.