Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
ORGA
Basil bounty!
AWARENNEIC
S
MONTHS
!
Sweet, spicy,
homegrown
grow
grains
Chia, quinoa,
buckwheat
& amaranth
HOW TO GET
THE BEST FROM
farms
r
top
chooks
for
eggs
october 2016
AROMATIC
agastaches!
Create a garden
your family
will enjoy all
summer long
At the world famous garden of Heronswood
we have been growing tough summer perennials
that survive 40C and look good from December
until April.
Rarely available in nurseries, these irst class,
toughened perennials are available to Diggers Club
members online and at our garden shops, located in
our gardens. Unlike potted colour our perennials
thrive year ater year. Come and visit our gardens,
enjoy lunch (inside historic Heronswood house)
and shop in beautiful surroundings.
If you want to create art by planting, join our Club
its just $49 for one year!
Heronswoods summer border ater four days above 40C
Pink Statice
Heronswood dromana
105 Latrobe Parade, Dromana, 3936, VIC
Garden Shop: 03 5984 7321
St Erth blackwood
189 Simmons Reef Road, Blackwood, 3458, VIC
Garden Shop: 03 5368 6514
Cloudehill olinda
89 Olinda-Monbulk Road, Olinda, VIC, 3788
Garden Shop: 03 9751 0584
Adelaide Botanic Garden
Schomburgk Pavilion, North Terrace
Adelaide, 5000, SA
Garden Shop: 08 8232 8671
8 magazines a year
Innovative, informative and provocative
ideas about how to be self-suicient in a
tiny mini-plot space or country orchard,
whether your garden is in tropical
Darwin or cold Hobart.
Tropical fruits
Just 5 hours gardening a week is all it takes to grow your tomatoes, avocados, citrus
and lowers, if you follow our advice from our best selling Diggers book he Australian
Fruit & Vegetable Garden says founder of he Diggers Club Clive Blazey.
Grow heirloom fruit and vegetables organically our varieties are full of ibre, never
tasteless or bland like supermarket produce. All plants are sent directly to your door
from our mail order nursery.
3 easy ways to join! Call 03 5984 7900, visit
or use the coupon!
Membership options
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$49.00
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farmhousedirect.com.au
contents
CELEBRATE
ORGA
on the cover
AWARENNEIC
S
MONTHS
see page !
13
22
organic gardening
22 Grow: New Wild World of Tomatoes
Groups of intrepid gardeners around Australia are
breeding unusual heirloom tomatoes, finds Penny
Woodward. Plus, we search for the best-tasting toms
and add some growing advice.
29
34
CONTENTS
56
organic living
42 Profile: Out of the box
Converting to organics has given Gary and Angela
Spotswood a renewed passion for farming.
83 regulars
17 Organic market
Latest garden and health products.
19 Organic plant
Top herbs to plant now: all with the bonus of beautiful
flowers.
82 Organic advice
Our experts answer your gardening questions.
86 Organic library
The latest books.
ON THE COVER:
CELEBRATE
Basil bounty!
ORGANIC
AWARENESS
MONTH!
Sweet, spicy,
homegrown
grow
grains
Chia, quinoa,
buckwheat
& amaranth
HOW TO GET
THE BEST FROM
farmsm
home solar
revolution
top
chooks
for
eggs
AROMATIC
agastaches!
74 Competition
WIN! One of five Australian Organic product packs worth
more than $200 each.
Advertising sales:
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Finest quality
Beautiful design
free guide
Download and you will discover:
6 misconceptions in raised
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8 common mistakes when
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5 steps to a healthy and
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ABC Organic Gardener magazine is published by nextmedia Pty Ltd (ACN 128 805 970) under
licence from the publisher, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), and is subject to
copyright in its entirety. ABC and the Wave and ABC Organic Gardener trademarks are
used under licence from the ABC. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in
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responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material. No liability is accepted by nextmedia, the
publisher, nor the authors for any information contained herein. All endeavours are made to
ensure accuracy and veracity of all content and advice herein, but neither ABC Organic
Gardener magazine nor its publisher or contributors is responsible for damage or harm, of
whatever description, resulting from persons undertaking any advice or using any product
mentioned or advertised in ABC Organic Gardener magazine or its website.
PRIVACY POLICY We value the integrity of your personal information. If you provide
personal information through your participation in any competitions, surveys or offers
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ISSN: 1447-7335
EDITORS LETTER
contributor
Karen Sutherland
Karen Sutherland was born
in country Victoria to a
family of farmers and
gardeners. Growing
her own food from a
young age, she has a
lifetime of experience
in horticulture, with the
last eight years focusing
on edible and useful plants in her business, Edible
Eden Design. She has become a regular and valued
contributor to Organic Gardener.
Karen trained at the Royal Melbourne Zoological
Gardens and Burnley Horticultural College
and has a permaculture design certificate.
She continues to learn from her own garden
laboratory in inner Melbourne, with over 200
edible and useful plants.
She loves to write and teach about gardens that
connect us with nature and each other. See her
story on Agastaches, page 39.
ORGANIC FEEDBACK
GREAT CAPTURE
PETES
ARTHRITIS CURE!
In our latest Organic Gardener Essential Guide
Natural Solutions, Peter Cundall wrote about the
amazing curative effects of cod liver for arthritis and
how hed been eating the stuff for years. Hed been
buying tinned smoked cod liver imported from Iceland
and even recommended it on his local ABC radio show,
which was then inundated with calls from readers.
Well, the same has happened again. Since his story
was published (pages 89), weve received a flurry of
phone calls and emails searching for cod liver.
Peter buys his locally in Launceston but recommends
you go to your local delicatessen or gourmet food
stall, or just search online.
Correction
In our July/August issue, page 74, top tip we mistakenly pointed to a photo
of pinto peanut, which was in fact Panama berry.
PHOTO: COD/ISTOCKPHOTO
10
B E E K E E P I N G
E Q U I P M E N T
John L Guilfoyle
Pty Ltd
www.johnlguilfoyle.com.au
john@johnlguilfoyle.com.au
We manufacture and sell a complete range of good quality
beekeeping equipment.
All our shops have an extensive display of equipment and
are staffed by friendly, helpful and extremely knowledgeable staff. You are most welcome to come in to look at and
handle the equipment.
Phone your closest shop for their exact trading hours.
3474 Cunningham Hwy
Mutdapilly QLD 4307
Phone (07) 5464 6155
Shop 6 82 Victoria St
Werrington NSW 2747
Phone (02) 9623 5585
2 Wells St
Bellevue WA 6056
Phone (08) 9274 5062
www.sproutwellgreenhouses.com.au
info@sproutwellgreenhouses.com.au
ORGANIC MATTERS
ne s
COMPILED BY STEVE PAYNE
Victorian tree
of the year
A 65m tall Mountain Ash known as the Kalatha Giant
and thought to be at least 400 years old has won
the inaugural Victorian Tree of the Year award. It is
located at Kalatha Creek, Toolangi. After the Black
Saturday bushfires of 2009, the Toolangi and Castella
community constructed a walking trail to the tree
for many, it is a resilient symbol of bushfire survival.
Coming in second was a Snow Gum at Summit Track,
Mount Stirling, and third, a group of Lemon-scented
Gums at the Swanston Street roundabout, Carlton.
The award was launched by the National Trust
of Australia (Victoria) to raise awareness for the
conservation of the states natural heritage and the
vital role significant trees play.
Peoples encounters with trees can make stories
come alive, and those stories become legends, which in
turn become part of our shared history, said Ms Anna
Foley, Acting Conservation Manager at the National
Trust. Ms Foley said the trust had now listed more
than 20,000 trees on its Register of Significant Trees.
For more details and photos
go to: nationaltrust.org.au/treeoftheyear
Steve Payne
The Kalatha
Giant.
Australian Organic
Awareness Month
Ambassador
CARLA OATES.
Organic Awareness
Month is here!
Australian Organic Awareness Month runs throughout
September with a range of ambassadors spreading the
word about the organic industry and certified organic
products. Among them are foodie Pete Evans,
ABC Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis, and
natural food and beauty care expert Carla Oates.
Australian Organic is Australias largest certifier of
organic growers and products. Its chairman, Dr Andrew
Monk, says people might not realise how diverse the
certified organic market has become in recent years.
It really is possible to purchase pretty much
everything you need certified organic, says Dr Monk.
Buying a product displaying a certified organic logo
means that the product is, among other things, cruelty
free, non-GM, biodiversity friendly and grown free
from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, hormones and
antibiotics.
Head to facebook.com/AustOrganicltd or
austorganic.com for more details about the month and
to learn how you can win weekly certified organic prizes.
Meanwhile, the Australian Organic Annual Awards
of Excellence will be announced on November 10th.
The awards are specifically for outstanding Australian
Certified Organic products, businesses and individuals.
This year a consumer award has been introduced and
voting opens in October, so stay tuned next issue on
how you can vote for your favourite product.
Steve Payne
13
ORGANIC MATTERS
Sam Statham
among the
Rosnay vines.
events
SEED FREEDOM FOOD FESTIVAL
The festival, now in its third year, was created to inspire
and teach people to grow food, and support local organic
producers and the worldwide need to save and share seed.
The day includes free workshops and speakers, and seed
and seedling sellers, seed swaps, music and food.
When: Saturday, September 24, 10am4pm
Where: 1 Holland Street, Adelaide (The Market Shed)
14
PERMACULTURE CONVERGENCE
The thirteenth Australasian Permaculture Convergence
will be held in Perth this October with tours, workshops
and courses to follow. Its open to anyone who has done
a permaculture course and will look at achievements and
future directions in the world of permaculture. Keynote
speakers will be Gardening Australia presenter Josh Byrne
and co-founder of Permaculture, David Holmgren.
When: October 25, 2016
Where: Perth, WA
Details: Ph: 0439 971 213, apc13.org
Award-winning wines
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Michelle Brisbane
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ethicalinvestments.com.au
03 9853 0995
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Mind food.
Reviving forgotten
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Family friendly weekend w
S I M P LY S U S TA I N A B L E
ORGANIC MARKET
seeds to sow
plus reader offer
The Diggers Club has a great
range of seeds for spring
growing, including the tasty
and prolific Ha-ogen melon,
which is a compact grower
making it ideal for smaller
gardens. Available for $2.95
for members; $3.95 for nonmembers from diggers.com.au;
03 5984 7900. Also, as a special
offer to Organic Gardener
readers, The Diggers Club is
offering free copies of the new
The Diggers Club Seed Annual,
which normally sells for $7.95.
Email info@diggers.com.au
or call the number above to
request your copy.
dynamic duo
Yates Dynamic Lifter, which
contains chicken manure, blood
and bone, fishmeal and seaweed,
has been used by gardeners
for years to add nutrients and
organic matter to the soil. The
good news is that this trusted
product has recently been
certified organic. It can be used
year round on ornamental, food
and native plants and now comes in liquid concentrate
(pictured) as well as pellets. Prices start from $10.39. See
yates.com.au or call 1300 369 074 for stockists.
war on weeds
Put an end to back aches and
pains from a hard day pulling
weeds with the new Xact
Weed Puller from Fiskars.
Ergonomically designed to
make weed removal rather
effortless, it has an aluminium
and stainless steel shaft and
four deep prongs to grip the
root and pull it out before
releasing it, without you
having to bend down.
It also comes with a 25-year
warranty and is available
for $79.99. For stockists see
fiskars.com.au.
17
ORGANIC MARKET
organic goodness
Feel-good organic treats for your home and body.
COMPILED BY KYLIE McGREGOR
new brew
Olive leaf extract has been used as an immune
booster for years, but can be a little bitter to
swallow. Enter olive leaf tea from Mount Zero Olive
Grove, which is packed with antioxidants and also
happens to taste great. Produced from the leaves
of Manzanilla olive trees grown on a family-owned
certified biodynamic olive grove in the Grampians,
Victoria, the tea is available in two varieties (olive
leaf and olive leaf blended with lemongrass and
spearmint) from mountzeroolives.com for $14.
m lovers rejoice!
18
plastic-free zone
bright idea
ORGANIC PLANT
HERBAL
DISPLAY
Justin Russell picks some
top herbs to plant now:
all with the bonus of
beautiful flowers.
60cm W
PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO
50cm H
full sun/
semishade
flowers
in spring
ORGANIC PLANT
subTropical
Arid/Semi-Arid
Warm Temperate
Cold Temperate
DILL
40cm W
60cm H
full sun
harvest in
summer
Anethum graveolens
Dill is a warm season annual that has a long history of use as
food and medicine. It is not to be confused with fennel, which
looks similar but is perennial, grows taller and has a more
distinct aniseed flavour. Sow fresh seeds where they are to
grow as dill doesnt like to be transplanted. Traditionally, the
ferny leaves were used to cure a wide range of ills, and in the
kitchen dills caraway flavour makes for a superb addition to
fish, potatoes and pickles. Dill is also a first-rate companion
plant whose umbelliferous (flat) heads of yellow flowers are
highly attractive to beneficial insects. Once the heads dry
out and the seeds ripen, they can be collected for use in the
kitchen or for re-sowing next spring.
PERILLA
40cm W
20
50cm H
full sun/
semishade
harvest
after
5 weeks
Perilla frutescens
Perilla is an annual herb in the mint family that is ubiquitous
in Asian cuisine where it masquerades under various names
including shiso. In Western cuisine the uniquely flavoured
leaves, which are a bit like citrusy basil, are most commonly
used to pep up salads, but they actually work well in all
kinds of dishes everything from tacos to fruit salad.
Green, purple and bi-coloured varieties are available in
Australia, although the purple ones are usually easier to
find. Perilla seed deteriorates quickly in storage. Sow very
fresh seed into moist rich soil during spring in temperate and
subtropical climates, and during the dry season in the tropics.
The picture shows Purple Ruffles perilla.
50cm W
30cm H
full sun/
semishade
harvest
3 months
after
planting
Chamaemelum nobile
Perfectly manicured lawns are all the rage these days, but
personally, I prefer some mixed herbage in my sward of turf.
In my lawns that herbage is usually clover and plantain, but
Id love some traditional lawn chamomile. The plants tiny
yellow-and-white flowers look darn pretty when set off by
rich green apple-scented turf and can be harvested to make
a calming herbal tea. In all honesty, growing chamomile in a
lawn is a tricky proposition for most parts of Australia, with
the exception perhaps of Tasmania and the highlands. Youre
better off growing a chamomile groundcover by scattering
seed in a herb garden or between stepping stones. Give the
plants a regular supply of moisture and reasonable soil.
CHAMOMILE
>OH[YLHSS`PZJLY[PLKVYNHUPJ&
With Australian Organic Awareness Month happening throughout September,
we are looking at what makes a product truly organic.
6\YJLY[PJH[PVU[LHT^VYRZ]LY`OHYK[VTHPU[HPU[OL
integrity of organic and ensure that the only true organic
PZJLY[PLKVYNHUPJ
Join the celebrations by following: the Australian
Organic Facebook (@AustOrganic) and Instagram
(@AustralianOrganic) pages.
()0.;/(52:;6(<:;9(30(569.(50*(>(9,5,::465;/.63+:765:69:
TERESA CUTTER
AUSTRALIAN ORGANIC GOODWILL AMBASSADOR
Certiied organic food is not just going chemicalfree, its taking a holistic approach to your health.
Not only will you feel better from eating certiied
organic, but youll be contributing to healthier skin,
hair and nails, as well as a healthy body.
ORGANIC GROW
a new world of
tomatoes
Penny Woodward explores the expanding world of tomatoes with new varieties,
top tasters, growing tips and more
23
ORGANIC GROW
Ark of Taste
The Slow Food Movement maintains a listing
of endangered heritage foods under its Ark of
Taste. The ark aims to encourage cultivation and
consumption of those foods that are culturally
or historically linked to a specific region, locality,
ethnicity or traditional production practice. For
example, in Australia leatherwood honey is listed,
while the US lists 16 different tomatoes including
Aunt Rubys German Green and Amish Paste.
24
Here they are gown out, checked for type and the best
picked and returned to the RTBG carefully tracked via
Joys spreadsheet, to have their seed saved again ready to
be grown out again the following year. Finally, in the third
season, new seedlings are grown and sold to the public
reaping excellent revenues to the RTBG. Margot says that
on sale day queues stretch right down the road leading to
the gardens.
Every year the group try to have at least one third of
the seedlings on offer grown from seeds of new (to them)
cultivars. After originally scouring Australia they turned
to seed-saver networks in the USA for different cultivars,
despite having to navigate strict customs requirements.
This year they will have tomatoes from the Dwarf Tomato
Project (see below). Tomato addicts should keep an eye on
the RTBG Tomato Facebook page for the 2016 seedling sale
on October 25.
Details: facebook.com/RtbgHeirloomTomatoes
the og
top 4!
25
ITS A DATE!
Blooming Tasmania Flower and Garden Festival
Searching for
top tasters
Enter the diverse world of heirloom
tomatoes with this selection of
top-tasting and textured cultivars.
Organic Gardener has been researching tomato taste tests
and talking to our readers via social media [see page 25] to
find the best tasting and textured tomatoes. In Australia, the
Diggers Club runs regular taste tests promoting heirlooms
as do other seed sellers, botanic gardens and groups around
the world. We have learnt that much depends on your soil
and growing conditions, as well as your personal taste
preferences: do you like sweet or tart tomatoes best? To come
up with this list we looked for consistently high performers on
the taste front. Have a look at these and start exploring.
ORGANIC GROW
SEED SUPPLIERS
Tomato seed suppliers (some organic) include:
diggers.com.au; 03 5984 7900
edenseeds.com.au; 07 5533 1177
greenharvest.com.au; 07 5435 7000
lambley.com.au; 03 5343 4303, mainly disease
resistant F1 cultivars
newgipps.com.au; 03 9737 9560, also has
disease-resistant F1 cultivars
rangeviewseeds.com.au; 03 6354 2464
seedfreaks.com.au; 0437 185 912
southernharvest.com.au; 03 6229 6795
thelostseed.com.au; 02 6493 0486
usefulseeds.com
27
ORGANIC GROW
resilient hybrids
Some gardeners have difficult issues with tomato diseases,
especially fungal wilts. If this is happening to you then grow
tomatoes that are bred to resist these diseases. They are
often F1 cultivars so it is not possible to later collect your
own seed and expect plants to grow true to type, but it can
be worth it just to get a decent crop each year. Fermenting
your seed before drying, can also reduce disease (see below).
seed-saving trick
Fermenting tomato seed before drying will kill any diseases
on the seed or in the seed coat. Spoon the pulp with seeds
into a cup and add a little water. Leave to sit in a warm spot
(but out of direct sunlight) until the seeds start to ferment
leaving a smelly white scum on the top. This will take 15 days
depending on the temperature. Strain the seeds through a fine
sieve rinsing well with water and discarding the scum. Spread
the seeds over a plate to dry, then place in an envelope with
the name and date. Store in a cool, dry position.
28
PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO
ORGANIC GROW
ancient
grains
PHOTO: ALAMY
From chia and quinoa to buckwheat and amaranth, ancient grains are being
rediscovered, so why not try your hand at growing these highly nutritious
pseudo-cereals that are also gluten free, writes Justin Russell.
stunning amaranth.
CHIA
yield up to 200g.
QUINOA
yield up to 500g.
BUCKWHEAT
yield up to 200g.
GRAIN AMARANTH
yield up to 500g.
Plants &
potential yields
ORGANIC GROW
through the seasons. This makes chia ideal for the subtropics
and tropics in latitudes between Brisbane and Darwin (it is
grown commercially in north-western WA).
In warm temperate areas, sow seed direct into reasonably
fertile, well-drained soil in spring. In the tropics and
subtropics, sow in late summer and autumn. Keep the plants
reasonably well irrigated until pretty blue flowers appear.
To harvest, cut the ripe seed heads from the plant, hang
them up to fully dry and then crack open the seed pods using
your fingers. Winnow the seed from the chaff and store it in
an airtight container in a cool, dark pantry. Because of chias
high omega-3 content, the seeds are slow to become rancid
and can be stored for at least a couple of years. Chia is an
excellent survival food!
31
ORGANIC GROW
crepes, waffles, cakes, even noodles (traditional Japanese
soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour). Buckwheat
packs a nutritional punch thanks to decent amounts of fibre,
minerals, amino acids and antioxidants.
The plant is easy to grow when sown directly into welldrained soil and is often used as a summer green manure
crop. Though sensitive to frost, it requires reasonably cool
conditions to flower and set seed, making it best suited
to temperate climates and highland areas. As a bonus the
flowers are highly attractive to beneficial insects!
Harvest buckwheat with a hand sickle. Tie the plants into
bundles and then hang them to dry in an airy room or shed.
Once dry, thresh the grain by rapping the plants over the
edge of a bucket placed on a clean tarp.
SOURCES
The Lost Seed: thelostseed.com.au; 02 6493 0486
Green Harvest: greenharvest.com.au; 1800 681 014
Southern Harvest: southernharvest.com.au;
03 6229 6795
PHOTOS: ISTOCKPHOTO/ALAMY
32
Blueberry Plants
for your home garden!
Healthy 2 year old plants.
Different varieties available.
Available April to December.
Ship via Aus Post or courier.
Quarantine regulations restrict
postage of plants to Tasmania and WA.
Plants are not certified organic.
www.moonblue.com.au
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10 line holds 4 king sheets
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ORGANIC GROW
the best of
basil
35
From sweet and fragrant to spicy and peppery, theres more than one basil
for your kitchen garden, writes Penny Woodward.
Growing conditions
Basil needs a compost-rich soil with some added organic
slow-release pelletised fertiliser. Once planted, water in
with diluted seaweed extract, and when you start harvesting
ensure vigorous regrowth with regular watering using diluted
fish emulsion or liquid compost.
Whether you are growing in the ground or in a pot, once
the weather warms up, maintain moisture in the soil by
mulching with lucerne hay or organic sugarcane mulch.
Regularly pinch out flowers and pick leaves for eating.
This keeps plants bushy and stops them from going to seed
ORGANIC GROW
too early. But later in the season let at least one bush flower
and set seed to collect for replanting.
Good companions?
A lot has been written about basil being an effective
companion plant for tomatoes. The jury is still out on
whether tomato plants grow better with basil nearby,
although the benefits of basil cooked with tomatoes is
undisputed.
However, there is no doubt that growing tomatoes with
basil is detrimental to the basil. Not because of a chemical
interaction, but simply because tomato plants are bigger and
more robust so tend to overshadow and take nutrients from
nearby basil plants.
36
Basil choices
Annual basils
Sweet basil (O. basilicum): glossy green leaves and
grows about 50cm high with tapering spikes of white
flowers. There are numerous cultivars including:
Genovese and Sweet Italian: typical tender limegreen leaves with a delicious clove flavour.
Cinnamon basil: sweet cinnamon and clove
scented leaves with purple flowers and bracts.
Crispum lettuce-leaf basil: large crinkled leaves.
Purple basil Purpurascens, Dark Opal and Purple
Ruffles: all have deeply purple leaves with a milder
clove flavour.
Thai or liquorice basil Siam Queen and Thai:
deep green leaves with purple stems, mauve flowers
and purple bracts. The scent and flavour is strongly
aniseed and clove.
Other annual basils
Perennial basils
Clove or African basil (O. gratissimum): grows
large to 2m high with lime green leaves and pale
yellow flowers. The whole plant smells sweetly of
cloves. There is also a partially red-leafed form.
Green pepper basil (O. carnosum syn. O. selloi):
glossy green leaves with dark stems and spikes
of pale mauve or white flowers, and a spicy green
pepper flavour. Rare in Australia but likely to
become more common.
Holy or sacred basil (O. tenuiflorum): mediumsized bush with softly hairy leaves. Also known
as tulsi, it is used in religious ceremonies and
medicinally in much of Asia but is less likely to be
used in cooking.
ORGANIC GROW
DID YOU
KNOW?
Fabulous flavours
Cooking tips
Sweet basil is superb used raw in many different dishes,
but if cooking with it, always add it towards the end as
heat removes the flavour or can make it bitter if overcooked.
Fresh sweet basil has a peppery clove flavour and
is an essential ingredient in Italian and Mediterranean
cooking. It combines beautifully with pasta, pizza,
dressings, soups, salads and olive oil and enhances
the flavour of vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant,
spinach and zucchini. Thai basil has a strong aniseed
flavour that is more robust than sweet basil making it
perfect for soups, stir-fries and curries. It also combines
well with pork.
Another simple idea is to make basil butter to add to
baked potatoes, vegies, steak and fish before serving.
SEED SUPPLIERS
The Diggers Club: diggers.com.au; 03 5984 7900
Eden Seeds: edenseeds.com.au; 07 5533 1107
Green Harvest: greenharvest.com.au; 1800 681 014 or
07 5435 7000
The Lost Seed: thelostseed.com.au; 02 6493 0486
Southern Harvest: southernharvest.com.au;
03 6229 6795
38
ORGANIC ORNAMENTAL
aromatic
Agastaches!
Agastaches have a lot to offer with edible flowers and leaves as well as
bee-attracting and drought-tolerant qualities, writes Karen Sutherland.
They can be planted all year round from pots and look best
in groups of three or more. They flower from summer to
late autumn and require minimal care. Most have lower
water needs than other flowering perennials, but need to
be established before experiencing drought or they may
not survive. Agastaches are also reasonably frost tolerant,
especially A. foeniculum, but once established are usually cut
back to ground level in early winter to escape the frosts.
ABOVE: Agastache Blue Fortune.
ORGANIC ORNAMENTAL
If agastaches are taller growing or your garden is exposed
to wind, staking or perennial rings may be needed to keep
plants upright. Look out for new compact varieties such as
Fiesta Candy Pink (left) that give a better show for less work!
Climate needs
Agastaches are from the mint family, with many native to
warmer zones of North America, so they thrive in most
of Australia except Tasmania. Luckily for cold climate
gardeners, anise hyssop (A. foeniculum), a species which
hails from Canada and Colorado, relishes cold and damp
conditions. It has large blue flower spikes but there is also
a white form.
In warmer climates agastaches accept full sun with
adequate moisture, but can also be quite shade tolerant.
Korean mint (A. rugosa) is native to parts of Asia and
Southern Russia and is similar looking to A. foeniculum with
large blue flower spikes and is also shade tolerant. Its young
sweetly mint-flavoured leaves can be added to teas, salads
and stir-fries.
Aromatherapy
Captivating cultivars
Here are some colourful and aromatic cultivars to
try in the garden:
Agastache aurantiaca has many named cultivars
but the best known are Sweet Lilli, with flowers of
hot pink, Tango with vibrant orange and Apricot
Sprite with soft orange.
A. Blue Fortune (see photo previous page) is a
sterile hybrid of A. foeniculum and A. rugosa, and is
popular with garden designers for its strong upright
shape and long-lasting display of blue flower spikes.
This plant has won a Royal Horticultural Society
Award of Garden Merit.
A. cana, the mosquito plant, although tasty as
a tea, is a natural mosquito repellent if leaves
are crushed and rubbed onto the skin. A native of
high mountains in Texas, USA, it features dark pink
flower spikes and grey-green leaves. Look out for
Sierra Twilight.
A. mexicana, or Mexican hyssop, has long spikes
of dusky pink flowers and is one of the best for tea
and edible flowers.
Sources
Agastaches are available from local nurseries and
online from perennial growers including:
Woodbridge Nursery: woodbridgenursery.com.au
The Diggers Club: diggers.com.au
Lambley Nursery: lambley.com.au
40
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ORGANIC PROFILE
out of
the box
Converting to organics has given Gary and Angela Spotswood
a renewed passion for farming, writes Kylie McGregor.
43
ORGANIC PROFILE
Advice on converting
44
ILLUSTRATION: ALAMY
ORGANIC PLANET
new solar
horizons
Solar feed-in tariff schemes are ending in three states this year.
How will this affect solar panel owners and those wanting to install
solar, and what can they do about it? SIMON WEBSTER sheds some light.
Bigger bills
Residents will be hit particularly hard when the NSW Solar
Bonus Scheme ends on December 31. Not only is the feed-in
tariff dropping to little more than 5 cents, but the gross
47
If you have a
traditional electric
hot water system, set the
timer so it comes on
during the day.
48
Battery power
In theory, batteries complement grid-connected solar
perfectly. Any excess power that you produce during the day
can be stored to be used at night.
Advances in lithium battery technology in recent years
have led to the release of numerous battery storage
systems. More than 20 from companies including Tesla,
Sunverge and Enphase Energy are available, says the ATA,
which has conducted research into the economic viability of
retrofitting batteries to grid-connected panels.
Battery systems can be installed indoors or outdoors,
depending on the system. If youre shopping around, bear in mind
that some are all in one energy storage systems while others
are batteries only and require other components, meaning the
installed price can be higher than the advertised price.
The ATAs modelling found that retrofitting batteries to
an existing grid-connected solar array costs about $10,000
(more if you also want your system to work in the event of
blackouts). Unfortunately, none of the battery systems paid
for themselves over their 10-year lifespan. With technology
advancing and prices falling, however, batteries are likely to
be cost-effective by as soon as 2020, according to the ATA.
With their ability to reduce costs for consumers and take
pressure off the grid by reducing demand at peak times,
batteries are likely to play a big part in Australias energy
future, but how quickly they are taken up is not clear.
Ultimately, it really depends on how fast those prices
drop and whether governments come in with incentives,
Moyse says.
Bulk buying
One way batteries might become more affordable sooner is
through bulk buying. SunCrowd, a social enterprise co-founded
by Simon Sheikh, formerly of the political organisation GetUp!,
has launched a bulk buy scheme that promises to offer
batteries to households at below market price.
ORGANIC PLANET
ORGANIC PLANET
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ORGANIC PROFILE
Olivers is growing
its own organic
produce.
Appetite
for change
How a lack of healthy options led to the worlds first certified organic
fast food chain and its own farm program, writes Simon Webster.
53
ORGANIC PROFILE
Organic training hub
Appreciative audience
Customers, from truck drivers to families, have embraced
Olivers, and Gunn, now 53, has a success story on his hands.
But he insists hes not motivated by profit. After selling his
previous business, an information system for the building
industry, in 1997, Gunn had decided he wanted his next project
to be something that satisfied his soul.
The idea behind the previous business was how can we
make lots of money, he says. With Olivers, the discussion
was how can we create a business that can have a really
good social and environmental impact.
As well as food, Olivers (named after Oliver Twist, who
dreamed of an alternative to gruel) sells books, CDs and
DVDs about nutrition and the benefits of organics.
We want to empower our customers to have a happier
and healthier life, Gunn says.
FOR MORE DETAILS ON OLIVERS SEE: OLIVERSREALFOOD.COM.AU
FARM PROGRAM CONTACT: ALASDAIR SMITHSON, ph: 0431 741 061
E: ALASDAIR@OLIVERSREALFOOD.COM.AU
right: Olivers
founder Jason Gunn.
Below: Head of
organic farming at
Olivers, Alasdair
Smithson, with
a harvest.
bottom: inside an
olivers restaurant.
S P R IN G G A R D E N A N Y W H E R E !
INCLUDES EVERYTHIN
G YOU NEED TO START
F LU I D G ROW E R S . C O M . AU
ORGANIC HARVEST
spring a
leek
Julie Ray springs into action in both the garden and kitchen, harvesting
and cooking up a storm with new season leeks and strawberries.
57
WINE PICKS
BY MAX ALLEN
58
ORGANIC HARVEST
Serves 4
son
a
e
in s
AVOCADO
BLUEBERRY
CITRUS
Fruit
MULBERRY
PAWPAW
STRAWBERRY
Vegetab
ASIAN GREENS
ASPARAGUS
BEANS
BEETROOT
CABBAGE
CELERY
GARLIC
LEEK
LETTUCE
PARSNIP
PEA
POTATO
SILVERBEET
SPRING ONION
59
ORGANIC HARVEST
Serves 4
PREP TIME: 45 minutes
The pepper brings out the sweetness of the strawberries,
giving a great balance with the peppery rocket and the
salty tang and creaminess of the blue cheese.
300g strawberries, washed, hulled and cut in half
teaspoon white pepper
150g salad rocket, washed, dried and trimmed
100g blue cheese, crumbled
50g pistachios, toasted and roughly chopped
1 tablespoon balsamic glaze *
teaspoon salt flakes
Combine the strawberries and white pepper in a large bowl
and set aside for 30 minutes. Add the rocket, blue cheese
and pistachios and gently toss. Whisk together the balsamic
glaze and salt. Place the strawberry salad into a serving
bowl and drizzle over the balsamic glaze. Serve on its own
or this is also delicious alongside chargrilled lamb or crispy
skin salmon.
* Balsamic glaze is syrupy vinegar and can be found in
supermarkets or delicatessens.
HARVEST NOTES
Rhubarb
Shungiku
(Rheum rhabarbarum)
(Glebionis coronaria)
Established clumps of
rhubarb are growing lots
of delicious new stems
now. Always harvest stems
starting from the outside
by pulling the stems from
the crown. Never cut them
as this leaves a stump
that can cause water to
collect at the base and
might result in the crown
rotting. Only harvest as
many stems as you need,
removing the leaves once
harvested and adding them
to the compost. Be careful
not to remove too many
stems from young clumps,
and dont harvest any at
all if it is newly planted.
While some people eat the
stems fresh, most prefer
to use them in cooked
sweet dishes such as pies,
puddings and cakes.
Also known as
chrysanthemum greens,
these delicious strongly
aromatic leaves and stems
are at their best in early
spring while they are still
young and tender, before
the weather gets too hot
and dry, after which time
they may become bitter.
Tender stalks and the
finely cut green leaves are
usually picked by removing
the whole small clump
when it is 46 weeks old.
This is how they are sold
in Asian greengrocers.
Leaves are often dipped
briefly into boiling water
and then plunged into
cold water before using in
salads, or added right at
the end of cooking to onepot beef and fish dishes.
Penny Woodward
60
62
Kylie McGregor meets organic pioneer Alan Druce who has been
working his broadacre farm without synthetic chemicals
for more than 50 years.
in conversation with
Alan druce
ORGANIC CONVERSATION
Q
A
Q
A
Q
A
63
Permaculture
Design Certificate
November 2016
& April/May 2017
David Holmgren & the Brookmans
Permaculture DVD
ORGANIC ACTION
Leek flowers in
bloom with bee.
growth
burst
PHOTO: HELEN MCKERRAL
As the weather warms up, so does the level of action in the garden. Lets get into it!
tropical
Pest Update
As part of the Banana Freckle Eradication Program,
Darwin residents in the six red zones (where bananas
were destroyed) can now plant sentinel plants (grown to
indicate if the disease is still present). These bananas will be
inspected 6090 days after planting to check for banana
freckle. Residents can fill out a compulsory permit for new
disease-free banana plants. See: https://nt.gov.au/industry/
agriculture/food-crops-plants-and-quarantine/bananafreckle-eradication-program-in-the-nt/sentinel-plantingbegins
Plant Now
Arrowroot, cassava, luffa, peanuts, snake beans, sweet
potato, taro, winged beans and yams can all be planted now
into prepared beds. Water with diluted seaweed extract
after planting and mulch well.
Must Do
Plant fruit trees on mounds 2030cm high to keep excess
moisture away and prevent root-rot diseases. Keep mulch
and groundcovers clear of tree trunks to allow good air flow.
66
Leonie Shanahan
ORGANIC ACTION
STEP
by STEP
shade shelters
Shade-cloth stretcher
67
subtropical
How To
Cut Brazilian spinach (Alternanthera sissoo) back hard and
use 15cm cuttings to create edible borders. Strip off the
lower leaves, plant 10cm into ground, 30cm apart, in full sun
or semi-shade then water.
Top Tip
Plant Now
Choko (Sechium edule) grows easily from a sprouting choko
fruit half submerged in the soil with a strong trellis or arch
on which to climb. Chokos are eaten from tiny fruit stage to
fully grown. Vine tips can also be stir-fried.
Leonie Shanahan
Aloe vera is a handy first-aid plant.
arid/semi-arid
Passionfruit love the heat,
but strong winds can stress
plants. In arid inland
regions, a north-easterly aspect
protected from wind provides the
best microclimate. Improve soil
with organic matter and mulch over
a large area to keep roots cool.
Plant Now
Cheerful red and white petunias (sun) and bedding begonias
(shade) make great Christmas accents, while red (or red and
green) kangaroo paws add an Aussie touch. Plant into pots
and bowls and dot around your summer entertaining areas.
warm temperate
Must Do
Apply potash to strawberries to encourage flowering and
fruiting. Follow directions on the packet or, if you are using
wood ash, sprinkle a handful around each plant. Feed by
watering with diluted worm juice, which will also help to keep
the soil moist.
Top: west australian red and green
kangaroo paw.
left: Corrugated cardboard around the
base of a young apple tree.
Plant Now
Its too early to plant out frost-tender crops such as
zucchini, pumpkins and cucumbers, but you can get a
head start by sowing seeds in coir pots inside, or in a
warm sheltered position outside. Sit pots in a tray with
sand across the bottom. Keep the sand moist so the coir
stays damp, but not soggy. Plant out later when the soil
temperature is over 20C.
Tropical
Subtropical
Arid/semi-Arid
Warm Temperate
Cold Temperate
Action Alert
When you buy liquid fertilisers its always best to buy certified
organic. If you cant, then check that the one you are buying
does not contain synthetically manufactured urea. When these
ureas are used with water the chemical reaction produces
ammonia, CO2 and nitrates. These nitrates often just leach
though the soil, potentially contaminating ground water.
Penny Woodward
cold temperate
Plant Now
Plant potatoes once the last chance of frost has passed.
To make sure they forge ahead, a couple of weeks before
planting, put your certified disease-free tubers in a sunny
spot so that the eyes start to grow. This is known as
chitting. Carefully bury them in soil enriched with compost
and manure.
Pest Alert
Broad beans grow well at this time of year, but its important
to keep them free of weeds and well watered. Also keep on
top of diseases such as chocolate spot and rust. At the first
sign of disease, spray with milk (diluted with water at a ratio
of 9:1) and diluted seaweed extract, alternating every week.
The seaweed strengthens leaf surfaces and the milk kills
the fungi.
PHOTO: PENNY WOODWARD
Must Do
Spring is a time of rapid growth, so plants need plenty of
nutrients, but dont overdo the nitrogen as sappy growth
will attract more pests. Mulch with compost and well-aged
manure that will be pulled into the soil and broken down by
worms, fungi and micro-organisms.
Penny Woodward
OCTOBER
Artichoke
Asian greens
BeanS: French/Climb
Beetroot
Broccoli
Cabbage
Capsicum/chilli
Carrot
Celery/celeriac
Cucumber
eggplant
fennel
ginger
Herbs/Mediterranean
Kohlrabi
Leek
Lettuce
melon
onion
potato
pumpkin
radish
rocket/arugula
silverbeet
spring onion
sweetcorn
Sweet potato
Tomato
Turnip
zucchini/squash
Our climate zone map is a simplified version of a Bureau of Meteorology map.
For more detailed climatic information in relation to cities and major towns,
go to: bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/climate-classifications/index.jsp
on sale October 6
ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCKPHOTO
ORGANIC SOLUTIONS
71
dealing with
aphids
PHOTO: DENIS CRAWFORD
Prevention
Some aphid species breed in weeds as well as on garden
plants. For example, cabbage aphids breed in brassica weeds
such as wild turnip and wild mustard, and green peach aphids
breed in broadleaf weeds such as capeweed, dock and sow
thistle. Removing these weeds prevents aphids continuing to
breed in your garden all year round.
Some species of ants are attracted to aphids that excrete
excess plant sap as sweet honeydew. In return for a feed
of this sweet energy-rich liquid, the ants protect the aphids
from attack by predators and parasites. You can prevent
ants climbing into fruit trees by banding the trunks with
horticultural glue.
Natural enemies
Aphids are attacked by many predatory insects including
ladybird beetles and their larvae, lacewing larvae and
hover fly larvae. Parasitic wasps lay their eggs inside
72
DESCRIPTION
TARGET PLANTS
(Toxoptera spp.)
(Brachycaudus persicae)
Cabbage aphid
(Brevicoryne brassicae)
Rose aphid
(Macrosiphum rosae)
Woolly aphid
(Eriosoma lanigerum)
Adults are glossy black. 1.5mm long. Nymphs are Stone fruit.
dark brown.
Grey to light green, covered in a waxy mealy
substance. 2.5mm long.
Roses.
ORGANIC SOLUTIONS
GOOD BUG
A common
spotted
ladybird larva
near aphid
colony.
ladybird beetles
Ladybird beetles are our best-known and wellloved good bugs. They vary from 3mm to 10mm
in length and are brightly coloured (many are
orange) with black spots or patterns. Adult
ladybirds are domed, almost hemispherical
beetles, but their larvae are usually dark,
elongated and often spiny creatures with three
pairs of prominent legs. Ladybird larvae are
often mistaken as pests.
Common species of ladybird you may find
in your garden include the variable ladybird
(Coelophora inaequalis), the common spotted
ladybird (Harmonia conformis), the striped
ladybird (Micraspis frenata), the transverse
ladybird (Coccinella transversalis) and the
spotted amber ladybird (Hippodamia variegata).
All these ladybird beetles and their larvae have
insatiable appetites for aphids. They are capable
of consuming 30 to 40 aphids each per day.
Female ladybirds lay their eggs in small
clusters near aphid colonies. Eggs may be
cream, yellow or orange and are spindleshaped. Larvae hatch and go through several
moults, increasing in size at each stage before
reaching an inactive pupal stage from which
emerge the adult beetles (which live for about
eight weeks).
If you find aphids in the garden, have a good
look for ladybird beetles and their larvae
before taking any action. If there are ladybirds
nearby, let them control the aphids for you.
73
ORGANIC COMPETITION
Australian Organic
WIN from
worth over $200 each
74
how to enter
SIMPLY ANSWER IN 30 WORDS OR LESS:
ORGANIC WILDLIFE
going
batty
Microbats are the most populous
mammals in urban Australia and eat
enormous amounts of insects.
Penny Woodward looks at these amazing
creatures, including how to build
your own bat box.
Echolocation
Microbats find their way by echolocation, a system that uses
ultrasonic pulses of sound that bounce off objects allowing
the bat to see and avoid anything in their way or equally to
catch their fast-moving prey. And despite contrary belief,
microbats are not blind and can actually see using their eyes,
as well as using echolocation. Being mammals, bats give birth
to one live young each year (sometimes they have twins), pg77
TOP: Lesser Long-eared bat
(Nyctophilus geoffroyi)
75
35
235
550
520
a
90
235
75
90
d
e
75
845
515
200
235
190
1
300
What to do
ORGANIC WILDLIFE
Bat safety
77
GundarooTiller
www.allsun.com.au
KRHV
FXOWLYDWRUV
UDNHV
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LIZHVHOOLW
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(02) 6236 8173
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www.birdgard.com.au
ORGANIC BASICS
79
wonderful
PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO
worms
Recycling kitchen scraps through a worm farm provides
valuable worm castings and juice to improve garden soil and
plant growth, writes Jessamy Miller.
80
Ready-made options
If you dont have time or resources to build a worm farm,
there are a number of ready-made options on the market.
Always choose one thats made from recycled plastic and is
UV stabilised. Here are a few:
Tumbleweed makes the round Can-O-Worms, the oblong
Worm Caf and the Worm Feast, which plugs into the ground
to feed earthworms in situ; tumbleweed.com.au.
The compact Vermihut comes in bright retro colours;
nationalwormsandcompost.com.au.
The Hungry Bin is a continuous-flow system that holds a
whopping 180 litres; wormlovers.com.au.
which worms?
Compost worms differ from earthworms, which
prefer to live in soil and are burrowers. Compost
worms migrate to the top, reproduce rapidly and
munch through about half their body weight a day.
Common compost worms in Australia include tigers
(Eisenia fetida), reds (Eisenia andrei) and Indian
blues (Perionix excavatus).
On the menu
ORGANIC BASICS
Worm castings
Worm poo (castings or vermicasts) is a valuable soil
conditioner, organic fertiliser and growth promoter.
Research has found vermicasts contain accessible NKP
(nitrogen 23 per cent, potassium 1.852.25 per cent and
phosphorus 1.552.25 per cent), micronutrients, beneficial
soil microbes such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal
fungi, plus plant growth hormones and enzymes(1).
Castings not only contain concentrated water-soluble
nutrients that plants can use immediately, but continue to
break down slowly, boosting natural soil fertility. Over time,
castings encourage root systems, help plants resist pests
and disease, and improve soil structure, leading to better
moisture retention.(1, 2)
Use castings in potting mix, as a mulch or top-dressing on
vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees, or dug into beds to
increase nutrient levels. Although plants can grow in
100 per cent castings, its recommended they are mixed at a
ratio of 1:10 with soil. For seedlings and pot plants, mix up to
one-third castings with two-thirds potting mix.
Worm liquid
The liquid in the bottom of a worm farm is often called worm
tea or wee, but its not really tea, and contains only a little
worm wee. This leachate is a combination of liquid added
to maintain moisture levels in the farm, liquid released in
decomposition, and dissolved castings. It contains partially
broken down organic matter and its beneficial qualities
depend on the substrates used in the worm farm and the
decomposition processes.(3, 4)
Leachate collected from a healthy, well-established
worm bed may contain soluble nutrients, humic acids and
beneficial micro-organisms. Ready made worm farms have
a tap to make collection easy. This liquid can significantly
improve soil, and increase plant growth and crop yields, and
is absorbed more rapidly than castings.(3, 4)
Because some pathogens may remain in worm liquid,
dilute it between 1:10 and 1:20 with water, and apply no more
than every two weeks. Never spray directly onto salads, fruit
or vegies you intend to eat raw.
For references and further research,
see organicgardener.com.au/articles/wonderful-worms
81
ORGANIC ADVICE
QSTRANGE FUNGUS
Q NON-FRUITING FEIJOAS
Dear Claude,
You can rest assured that you are not doing anything
wrong, and it is not the lack of cold feijoas also do well in
the subtropics. I think your problem is that you are growing
ornamental cultivars that produce beautiful flowers but often
no fruit. You need to buy a named cultivar that will guarantee
fruit. But dont pull your trees out because they will help
pollinate the named cultivar and you should get bounteous
crops. Try your nearest specialist fruit-tree nursery there
are several in the Dandenongs and ask for a named
cultivar. Otherwise, try online at Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery
(daleysfruit.com.au), which sells named cultivars including
Duffy, a Victorian selection, or The Diggers Club (diggers.
com.au) and Green Harvest (greenharvest.com.au), which sell
an unnamed cultivar.
A
Dear Valerie,
This is a stinkhorn fungus and almost certainly the
Anemone Stinkhorn (Aseroe rubra). You will find out more
about this particular fungus at the excellent website Fungi
Map (http://fungimap.org.au/index.php/fduonline-home/17/294/
stinkhorns). The site has been set up by scientists to get the
help of the public to map and identify Australias fungi.
They ask that people photograph their fungi and send in
pictures and coordinates of where their fungi are found.
Very occasionally its unknown to science, but mostly it helps
to pin down exactly where in Australia different fungi grow.
Your fungi is usually found in high altitude grasslands and
woodlands, and in other places on rich soils, but it is being
more widely spread by the use of wood chips on gardens,
where it will quite often appear. The smell is like rotten meat
and the fungi uses this to attract flies and other insects that
then spread the spores. It is not a problem in your garden
and like other fungi is actually an essential part of the soil
ecosystem working to breakdown things like wood chip mulch
and provide nutrients to plants. The part you can see is the
fruiting body that plays a similar role to flowers on flowering
plants. The main part of the fungi is under the soil and is a big
web-like structure of microscopic strands of fungi known as a
mycelium, which helps in the decomposition of organic matter.
It is an amazing looking mushroom so hold your nose and enjoy!
WINNING
WORDS
post
Locked Bag 5555,
St Leonards NSW 1590
email
editor@organicgardener.
com.au
web
organicgardener.com.au
For his letter, Claude wins a copy
of Sabrina Hahns new pocket guide
Sabrinas Dirty Deeds (Freemantle
Press, $19.99), a month-by-month
guide to garden chores.
Find us on:
PHOTO: FEIJOAS/ISTOCKPHOTO
82
ORGANIC POULTRY
layer
upon layer
Jessamy Miller reveals how to choose top layers and keep them
in good health for abundant egg production.
T
PHOTO: JESSAMY MILLER
out; birds with abundant fluff on the thighs and abdomen are
not as productive as close-feathered birds.
Top performers have a filled-out cherry red comb; a pale
dry one indicates a non-layer. At the business end, the hen
should have a wide moist vent, breadth in the undercarriage,
and wide-set legs.
Laying is taxing, so a layers feathers will look worn rather
than lustrous, and she wont be carrying any extra weight.
Birds with white earlobes are less prone to going broody than
those with red earlobes, leaving more time for laying.
Above: Chooks with red ear lobes like this
Australorp cross go broody more often.
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EDITORS PICK
86
Doug Purdie
Richard Cornish
Spending a year as a
vegetarian would be a
mission for most of us,
but for Richard Cornish, a
journalist, cookbook author
and gastronome famous
for his fondness for flesh,
its an almost Herculean
task. He rises to it in style
in this thoughtful, funny
and provocative look at
Australian food production
and culture. Along the way
he discovers the joy of
vegetables, and challenges
his, and the readers,
attitudes to animal welfare,
farming and what makes
food good. Ultimately, its a
reminder that we owe it to
animals, and ourselves, to be
more thoughtful about what
we eat.
Simon Webster
Simon Webster
ORGANIC LIBRARY
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SELF PUBLISHED
$69.95 + $10 POSTAGE.
Emma Galloway
Anthea Amore
Followers of Emma
Galloways award-winning
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hear this talented foodie has
released a new cookbook
A Year in My Real Food
Kitchen. This time around,
Galloways focus is on
seasonal produce. Eating
locally, in season and in line
with nature is the foundation
of everything I do, she
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sense that my second book
be based around something
I hold so dear. The book,
which is divided into seasonal
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vegetarian and glutenfree recipes, with simple
yet stunning photography
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Kylie McGregor
87
YOUR ABC
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Saturday 8.30am
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Sunday 10.30am
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Thursday, 7.35am
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ROF ESS IO
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599
ORGANIC TALE
turn it up
90
It was a defeat for the turnips, and a body blow for the
gardener. It was all too reminiscent of the 1992 UK newspaper
headline, Swedes 2, Turnips 1, after Sweden had beaten
England in a game of football. England coach Graham Taylors
head was superimposed on a turnip. I felt like mine was too.
So I laid off growing the great Brassica rapa subsp. rapa
for a while. I put on a brave face, like it was all a big joke,
and quietly cried bitter tears into my solo bowls of soup in
the shed, so creamy and piquant. Eventually the soup was
finished. I may even have given some of it to the chooks.
And everyone thought wed put the turnips behind us.
But great crops are never forgotten. Till my dying day
Ill remember choking on chokos in 2010; the abundant
asparagus of 2012; the 2013 plethora of pumpkins; and the
quite nice nectarines of 2015 (there were only three of them,
but, man, were they sweet). And in my mind 08 will always
be about the tale of the turnip, even if it is a story that
others, close to me, would sooner forget.
If attempting to repeat pleasurable experiences is the
cause of much unhappiness, as Buddhists say (well, at least
one Buddhist I know says it), I may be destined for misery.
But the turnips are in the ground again, bulbing up nicely,
and about ready to pull.
Soups on the menu again, kids.
L
A
N
I
G
I
R
O
THE
D
E
E
W
A
SE
N
O
I
T
U
L
SO
NEW
79
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