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.
Growing exceptional eggplant and capsicum
Top hints for growing eggplants and capsicum Use Dipel (an organic bacterium available from nurseries) to prevent caterpillar poo trails in eggplant and insert fruit into net bags, tying tightly around the calyx, to prevent caterpillars burrowing into the fruit Plant...
Compost activators, accelerators, starters, boosters, inoculators – do you need them?
First let's define what terms like activators and accelerators mean. This is not easy because most people, including commercial manufacturers of such products, use these terms interchangeably and do not define what they mean. Manufacturers do not detail the actual...
The BANSIC Christmas Hamper Appeal
As the holiday season approaches, The Banyule Support and Information Centre is seeking your support to fill our Christmas hampers, which are distributed to individuals and families in need. December is our busiest month, and our dedicated volunteers are hard at work...
Thumbs up to e-bikes
As mentioned in my previous article: Driving emissions targets, a very significant reduction in transport emissions is critical if Australia is to reach the government target of a 62%-70% reduction in emissions by 2035. Bicycles, particularly electric bikes, have the...
Growing exceptional tomatoes – SM Plant to Harvest
Top hints for growing tomatoes Plant tomatoes deeply – at least half way up their stems. (You can leave the lower leaves on or twist them off.) Deep planting anchors the plant; the buried stem will put out roots, taking up more water and nutrients and producing more...
Driving emissions targets
The Australian Government has announced the 2035 emissions targets, with a reduction of 62-70% from 2005 levels. To achieve this target, reductions in a number of areas will be essential. A great deal of attention has been focused on the replacement of fossil fuel...
South African weed orchid threatening local wildflowers
Spring in Macleod and surrounding suburbs is a time when our bushland and reserves come alive with native wildflowers. Unfortunately, a growing threat is emerging that could outcompete these much-loved plants: the South African Weed Orchid (Disa bracteata). This...
Indigenous Plant Nursery Map released
Nature Strip Planting Guide released for Banyule – supported by Indigenous Plant Nursery map The recent release of the Nature Strip Planting Guide for Banyule has been met with great enthusiasm—and it comes at a perfect time with the availability of a valuable new...
Growing exceptional corn
Let's start with terminology. Are maize and corn the same? In the paddock, the crop is called maize but when it is harvested it is called corn. Maize comes in soft and hard varieties and this results in some corn being harvested at the soft (or milk) stage, and this...
Sustainable Travel
Can travel be truly sustainable? One Australian company is attempting to prove that it can. Based locally in Alphington, Intrepid Travel run tours with the goal of achieving sustainable travel through small group tours. With a stated purpose that seeks to 'create...
Which wattlebird is that?
It’s always a sign of spring being just around the corner when you hear the raucous calls of wattlebirds. The reason for the carry-on is that they are breeding which coincides with the flowering of grevilleas and bottlebrushes. These large honeyeaters are common...
Tackling our energy dependence nationally and individually
Dependence on imported oil Australia relies on imported oil products for much of our energy needs. Electrification to replace the consumption of oil can reduce this dependence substantially. In 2023 there was an estimated 56 billion litres of transport petroleum used...
Prime time to plant a bed of asparagus
Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that's well worth growing. July is the perfect time to visit your local nursery and buy 2 year-old crowns. The bed you plant out now will produce fresh, succulent asparagus spears for the next 20 years. Asparagus grows extremely well...
Double danger of modern food packaging
Do you ever wonder which is the correct bin for food wrappers and resealable food packets? And have you ever considered that food within these may be contaminated with micro-plastics? Which bin? Most food packets and wrappers are made of polymers (plastics). The most...
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.