Good Organic Gardening

Gardening with goodness at its heart — fresh, organic and fun. This magazine is 100% real. We are unashamedly earthy, reflecting the spirit and culture of people who just love to get their hands dirty. Our emphasis is on productive gardening. We just love the satisfaction of growing your own and finding new ways to bring produce to the table. The magazine includes features such as Amazing Gardens, Celebrity Chefs, Celebrity Gardeners, Clever Crops, Flavours of the month, Garden solutions, Kids Corner, Living Organics, Weekend Gardening, What’s New and a guide to What’s on Where. Purchase includes the Digital Edition and News Service. Please stay in touch via our Facebook Page.

THIS ISSUE

Good Organic Gardening

THE Grapevine • ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS AND UPDATES COMPILED BY JO IMMIG

What’s hot RIGHT NOW • INTRODUCING TWO NEW HELLEBORES, A REFRESHING LEMON SPRITZ AND COMFY BUT STYLISH THORN-PROOF LEATHER GARDENING GLOVES

Green news • WHO IS GREENING OUR WORLD AND HOW THEY ARE DOING IT

PRAIRIE FLOWER • IF YOU ONLY KNOW ECHINACEA AS A HERBAL PREPARATION YOU MIGHT BE UNPREPARED FOR HOW BEAUTIFUL A PLANT IT IS

TRAVELLIN’ SCALLION • THE WALKING ONION, WHICH CAN ACTUALLY MOVE TO A NEW SPOT AND TAKE ROOT, IS AN UNUSUAL FOOD ON THE GO

FINGER FOOD • THE BANANA IS NOT A TREE BUT A GIANT HERB, ITS FRUIT IS ACTUALLY A BERRY — AND IT’S NOT ALWAYS YELLOW

Know your onions • WHITE OR RED, BROWN OR PURPLE, LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE PUNGENT BULB THAT MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND

ROOMS WITH A VIEW • THIS NOSTALGIC MOUNTAINS COTTAGE GARDEN FEATURES DIFFERENT “ROOMS” WITH FLOWERS, VEGIE BEDS AND UPCYCLED VINTAGE MATERIALS

IT’S A JUNGLE IN THERE • MEET A MAN OF SCIENCE WHO’S ON A MISSION TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE, BIODIVERSE FOOD FOREST ON A SUBURBAN BLOCK

COASTAL HARVEST • WE VISIT A SUSTAINABLE GARDEN THAT SUPPLIES ORGANIC HEIRLOOM SEEDS ONLINE AND DOUBLES AS A TEACHING AID

MOON PLANTING

TIME TO PLANT • CHECK YOUR CLIMATE ZONE TO FIND OUT ALL THE LOVELY WINTER CROPS THAT CAN POPULATE YOUR PATCH

WEEDS AS FEED • SICK OF THISTLES? NEEDLED BY NETTLES? IF YOUR GARDEN’S PLAGUED WITH INVADERS, YOU COULD ALWAYS TRY EATING THE PROBLEM

CHOP AND DROP • GREEN-MANURE CROPS ARE A GREAT WAY TO USE FALLOW BEDS FOR A SEASON AND REVIVE TIRED SOIL WITH NUTRIENTS SUCH AS NITROGEN

HARD TO BEET • WHERE WOULD THE TRADITIONAL AUSSIE HAMBURGER OR SALAD SANDWICH BE WITHOUT THE SWEET, EARTHY TANG OF BEETROOT?

THE CITRUSIEST OF THE CITRUS • NOTHING BEATS THE BRACING TANG AND GORGEOUS SCENT OF A HOMEGROWN LEMON TREE

BERRY TASTY • FOR FRUIT-LOVING GARDENERS, THE SWEET AND JUICY STRAWBERRY IS EASILY THE STAR OF THE ROSE FAMILY

LATINO FRUIT • ‘SAPOTE’ OR ‘SOAPAPPLE’ REFERS TO A NUMBER OF DELICIOUS SWEET FRUITS, MANY OF THEM UNRELATED, BUT ALL NATIVE TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

A primrose by any other name • A NATURALLY OCCURRING HYBRID IN THE PRIMULA FAMILY, POLYANTHUS SHARES THE BEAUTY AND HARDINESS OF ITS KIN

Homegrown willow • THE WILLOW PEPPERMINT, A MYRTLE FAMILY EVERGREEN WITH DENSE FOLIAGE AND FULL OF ESSENTIAL OILS, IS AS OLD AS GONDWANA

Slow and steady • AN AGE-OLD SLOW-IRRIGATION METHOD WITH A NUMBER OF BENEFITS FOR THE PLANTS AND THE GARDENER ALIKE

Early warming system • TALK ABOUT A HOTBED OF ACTIVITY. THIS CENTURIES-OLD TECHNIQUE USES THE HEAT OF COMPOST TO HELP WINTER CROPS GET THE JUMP ON SPRING

HOW CROPS RIPEN • FRUITS ARE EITHER CLIMACTERIC, WHICH CONTINUE TO RIPEN POST-HARVEST, OR NON-CLIMACTERIC, WHICH RIPEN ONLY ON THE PLANT — AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE STORED TOGETHER

Feathering the nest • CHOOSING THE BEST LITTER FOR YOUR LAYERS IS IMPORTANT FOR THEIR HEALTH AND COMFORT. HERE’S THE SCOOP ON WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE...