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.

THIS ISSUE

Good Organic Gardening

THE Grapevine • ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS AND UPDATES COMPILED BY JO IMMIG

What’s hot RIGHT NOW • PRESENTING A COUPLE OF STUNNING NEW PLANTS, ORGANIC-LOOKING CERAMIC PLANTERS AND A GARDEN TRAVEL ADVENTURE

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

FINGER FOOD • LADY’S FINGERS HAVE BECOME A HEALTHY STAPLE IN CUISINES AROUND THE WORLD

OLD FRUIT • THE ANCIENT QUANDONG, A PRIZED FOOD FOR UNTOLD EONS, IS NOW ENJOYING ITS MOMENT IN THE SUN AS BUSH TUCKER

ALT.SPINACH • WHEN YOU NEED A BREAK FROM SPINACH THERE ARE PLENTY OF HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES THAT PUT THE NEW IN NUTRITIOUS

Winter root veg • THOUGH THEY SOMETIMES TAKE A BACK SEAT TO CARROTS, OLD-TIMEY PARSNIPS ARE THE SECRET HERO INGREDIENT OF MANY A CASSEROLE

FOOD FOREST • THIS BIODIVERSE PERMACULTURE PARADISE IN SOUTHEAST QUEENSLAND’S RAINFOREST TICKS ALL THE SUSTAINABILITY BOXES

ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS • THEY’VE ONLY BEEN AT IT FOR EIGHT YEARS BUT THIS COUPLE HAS BUILT A THRIVING, MULTIFACETED FARMING BUSINESS

A CHANGE OF PLACE • A COUPLE MOVE 600KM UP THE COAST AND TAKE AN ORCHARD OF FRUIT TREES WITH THEM TO A COMPLETELY NEW CLIMATE

MOON PLANTING

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

ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH • THIS DELICIOUS, JUICY FRUIT COMES IN BLACK AND RED VARIETIES AS WELL AS WHITE ONES THAT WON’T STAIN YOUR CLOTHES

PEAS ON EARTH • THEY’RE EVERYONE’S FAVOURITE GREENS — TASTY, NUTRITIOUS AND, BEST OF ALL, SO EASY-PEASY TO GROW

THE OTHER TOMATO • JUST AS IT DID WITH KIWIFRUIT, NEW ZEALAND NAMED THE TREE TOMATO TAMARILLO AND MARKETED IT TO THE WORLD

THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT • IF YOU’RE A FAN OF THE ‘STINKING ROSE’ YOU WON’T NEED ANY ENCOURAGEMENT TO GROW SOME — THOUGH THE VAMPIRES WON’T THANK YOU

A MEDIEVAL HERBARIUM • FROM HEALING BALMS TO MAGIC CHARMS, HERE ARE SOME HERBS FROM THE OLDEN DAYS THAT ARE MAKING A COMEBACK IN MODERN GARDENS

Pretty but tough • DESPITE ITS ELEGANT PASTEL FLOWERS, CYCLAMEN IS A HARDY PLANT THAT THRIVES IN ARID AREAS OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Scent of the bush • THERE ARE AROUND 160 SPECIES OF BORONIA, MANY OF THEM AS FRAGRANT AS THEY ARE PRETTY AND MOST OF THEM ENDEMIC TO AUSTRALIA

POLLINATE OR PERISH! • MOST PLANTS DEPEND ON OTHER PLANTS TO FORM FRUIT AND THIS REQUIRES THE TRANSFER OF POLLEN BY BEES — OR EVEN JUST A BREEZE

TURBO TREE • REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR JANA HOLMER SHARES HER OWN EXPERIMENTAL FORMULA FOR PLANTING A FAST-GROWING, HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE FRUIT TREE

Edibles made in the shade • NOT MANY CROPS LIKE FULL SHADE BUT PLENTY GROW HAPPILY IN PART SHADE WITH JUST A FEW HOURS OF SUN

SHARPEN UP • REGULAR CLEANING AND SHARPENING OF PRUNING TOOLS EXTENDS THEIR SERVICEABLE LIFE AND MAKES FOR CLEANER CUTS THAT HEAL FASTER AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASES

The Zen of hen maintenance • YOU’VE GOT TO KNOW HOW TO HOLD’EM — AND THE RIGHT WAY TO TRIM THEIR BEAKS, CLAWS AND WINGS AND GUARD AGAINST INFECTIONS

THINGS TO DO IN MAY • HEADING INTO WINTER, THE SEASONAL CHANGES THAT ARE COMING WILL MEAN A CHANGE OF...