ABC Organic Gardener Magazine

Organic Gardener Magazine is a guide to organic gardening, providing informative and inspirational stories on everything you need to know to grow your own fruit and vegetables- without the use of harmful chemicals. Each issue includes practical tips and advice from leading organic gardening experts.

ABC Organic Gardener

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Full spring ahead • NOW IS THE TIME TO SOW THE SEEDS OF A BLOOMING WONDERFUL GARDEN.

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IT’S ALL ABOUT ENERGY

TOMATO taste test • PHIL DUDMAN DELVES INTO OUR BEST-TASTING HEIRLOOM TOMATOES AND HOW THEY MADE IT TO AUSTRALIA, PLUS EXPERT TIPS ON GROWING.

Grow a-maize-ing CORN! • CORN IN ALL IT’S COLOURS AND TYPES THRIVES IN OUR HOT SUMMERS AND CAN BE PACKED INTO A SMALL SPACE MAKING IT AN IDEAL BACKYARD VEGIE, WRITES JIAN LIU.

GROW YOUR OWN PEPITAS • IT’S EASY TO TURN EDIBLE PUMPKIN SEEDS INTO A TASTY SNACK – YOU JUST NEED THE RIGHT VARIETY AND THESE TIPS FROM LINDA COCKBURN.

Take the LOCAVORE challenge! • CAN WE EAT WELL FROM WHAT IS AROUND US? CAN WE MINIMISE OUR IMPACT BY CHOOSING LOCAL ALTERNATIVES TO COMMON FOODS? IN THIS EXTRACT FROM The Milkwood Permaculture Living Handbook, KIRSTEN BRADLEY SETS OUT HOW TO TAKE A THREE-DAY LOCAVORE CHALLENGE, SOURCING FOOD AS LOCALLY AS POSSIBLE – BUT YOU CAN SET THE LIMITS. THEN, HOW TO START A GARDEN OR NATURE DIARY.

Put it in the diary • STARTING A GARDEN OR NATURE DIARY WILL HELP YOU CONNECT WITH YOUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEM AND BETTER PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, WRITES KIRSTEN BRADLEY.

Permaculture paradise revisited • TWENTY-SIX YEARS AGO, JENNY ALLEN WAS CONSUMED BY A GARDENING LOVE AFFAIR THAT TOOK OVER HER LIFE. HERE, SHE REVISITS THE DESIGN IDEAS AND INSPIRATION SHE USED TO CREATE HER ‘PERMACULTURE PARADISE’ – AND HOW YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN.

TOMATO TIME • OUR EXPERTS GIVE THEIR TOP TIPS FOR PLANT CARE, MUST-DO JOBS AND TOMATO GROWING AS SPRING GETS INTO FULL SWING.

KITCHEN GARDEN celebration • IN THIS EXTRACT FROM HER NEW BOOK Fresh, STEPHANIE ALEXANDER REFLECTS ON HER PIONEERING KITCHEN GARDEN MOVEMENT. PLUS, TWO OF HER RECIPES FOR SPRING.

HARVEST NOTES

A WASTE-FREE future • LAST ISSUE WE FEATURED AN INTERVIEW WITH CRAIG REUCASSEL ABOUT AUSTRALIA’S CURRENT War on Waste. HERE, JESSAMY MILLER SPEAKS WITH ENVIRONMENTLIST JEFF ANGEL, AND LOOKS AT DECISIONS THAT ARE RESHAPING RECYCLING POLICY FOR THE BETTER.

ON THE KERB • FOR THOSE CONFUSED OR UNSURE ABOUT WHAT TO PUT IN THE YELLOW BIN, HERE’S JESSAMY MILLER’S KERBSIDE RECYCLING GUIDE.

Coming clean in the LAUNDRY • THE LAUNDRY MAY BE A SMALL ROOM BUT IT CAN HAVE A BIG ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, SO TRY THESE ENERGY AND MONEY-SAVING TIPS FROM JESSAMY MILLER.

Chook dreaming • TARA LUCA LOVES HER CHOOKS BUT PROVIDING THEM WITH A PRACTICAL AND SAFE HOME TOOK TRIAL AND ERROR.

CHEMICAL REGULATOR IN THE HEADLIGHTS • FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF A DAMNING REPORT, AUSTRALIA’S PESTICIDES REGULATOR HAS BEEN ORDERED TO FAST TRACK REVIEWS OF CHEMICALS THAT HAVE BEEN ONGOING FOR DECADES, SIMON WEBSTER WRITES.

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WIN! A GARDEN GIFT PACK from BIOGUANO AUSTRALIA • SPRING IS A BUSY TIME AND YOU’LL NEED TO KEEP YOUR GARDEN, AND YOURSELF, TOPPED UP WITH GOODNESS!

TANKED IT • SIMON WEBSTER LAMENTS THE END OF LIFE STORY FOR HIS LEAKY TANK.