ABC Organic Gardener Magazine

Last issue (OG 155) Dr Reese Halter wrote about the true and “dire situation” of the planet and the climate crisis that is causing so much anxiety for people around the world. Halter also talked about how our governments had effectively abandoned meaningful action and a liveable planet for future generations. In a recent The Guardian Australia article (February 18), the environmental and social change commentator George Monbiot took up a similar theme in a story about how President Trump could trigger global collapse and the best way to counter that. Monbiot said every government should be hoping for the best and preparing for the worst in the face of so many threats to global stability, our ecosystems and cooperative society but alas, as they do with climate and ecological…

PEARS THAT DON’T RIPEN I rarely buy pears from the shops as they are usually rock hard and tasteless. However, I recently bought some having seen a nice tart recipe that used them. Those pears sat in the fruit bowl for over a month before I got around to making that tart. Then, one day, I noticed that they were no longer green but had turned yellow, and got them ready for cooking. They were delicious. In all those years of not buying pears, I had not realised that I had to wait for them to ripen; but I was astonished that it took a month. Apparently, I had never waited long enough. However, I’ve read that had they been picked at the correct time, they should have been ready…

New habitat to protect frogs A new park that is to be created in Deanside, Melbourne, on Wurundjeri Country, will help protect natural temperate grasslands and provide important habitat for the growling grass frog (see story on page 46). The 215-hectare Kororoit Creek Regional Park is part of the Victorian Government’s $315 million Suburban Parks Program, which is set to create more than 6500 hectares of new and upgraded parks and trails across greater Melbourne, increasing green spaces, biodiversity and urban wildlife refuges. Parks Victoria says there will also be a 45-hectare conservation area beside the park, providing 260 hectares in total of new green space. More information: parks.vic.gov.au/projects/melbourne-region Follow the Central Coast Edible Garden Trail Permaculture is the theme of the third NSW Central Coast Edible Garden Trail, to…

Add colour and flavour Looking for a tasty addition to your patch? The Colorado Red Star from The Seed Collection will give you top flavour and a lovely pop of purple. An early-maturing artichoke, it flowers in its first season when grown from seed. Growing 30–90cm tall with spiny stems, it produces multiple 5–10cm buds per stem in shades of purple or green with purple tinges. Visit: theseedcollection.com.au, $5.50 (10 seeds). Safe and effective pest control Oganic Crop Protectants eco-insect killer is made from natural vegetable oils that are converted into a soap spray, which is approved for organic gardening. It helps control aphids, mites, thrips and mealybugs, but has low impact on beneficial insects with hard bodies such as ladybeetles. Visit: eco organicgarden.com.au; $20.40 (750ml ready to use spray),…

CREATING A BIRD-FRIENDLY GARDEN Stephanie Jackson REED NEW HOLLAND, 2024 Drawing on a lifelong love of birds and plants, Stephanie Jackson’s Creating a Bird-friendly Garden is a comprehensive guide to creating a backyard sanctuary for birds. Jackson’s lyrical writing illustrates an array of ways to support Australian birds, be it in a sprawling backyard, or on an apartment balcony. Chapters on garden planning, providing water and nesting materials, feeding wild birds, and on forming a bird-friendly neighbourhood, coach readers on how to turn a backyard or outdoor area into a bird paradise. Also included is a plant directory (both native and exotic species are included), complete with growing zones and photographs, and a detailed field guide to the 50 bird species we are most likely to attract to our gardens.…

As a backyard gardener, I’m highly passionate about selecting plant species that will meet multiple functions and make the most of my space. As much as I’d love the awe-inspiring presence of a big maple tree in my autumn garden (alas, it wouldn’t fit), I’ve come to realise that many of my small fruit trees can provide beauty, with the bonus of a rich harvest. If you’ve got a spot you’d love to see filled with seasonal change, but don’t want to compromise on yield, try one of the below fruit trees that will provide food and colour in your garden. Persimmon Native to China, persimmon trees grow with an upright, spreading habit with large, glossy green leaves that go through all the autumn changes. Like pomegranates, its red fruits…