Innehållsförteckning för Issue 6 från Homegrown

Janelle Johnston is the only organically certified grower of edible flowers in Australia. About 15 years ago she certified six-and-a-half hectares of her family’s farm on the outskirts of Byron Bay with Australian Certified Organic and has since grown organic fruit, vegetables and edible flowers. With a science degree specialising in botany, Janelle featured nasturtiums and marigolds in her salad mixes, inspiring local chefs to request other organic edible flowers as no one else in the region was doing it. She now supplies to the Sydney and Brisbane wholesale markets. “One of the challenges is that you get a lot of wastage in flowers – more than 50 per cent – so I’m certainly doing this for the love rather than for the money.” The edible flowers can last for…

We read a lot these days about ‘heritage’ or ‘heirloom’ varieties of vegetable plants. These are traditional varieties which have been grown over many centuries by regional communities but have not been adopted by the agriculture industry, usually because it is not economically viable for them to grow for a number of reasons. Perhaps they don’t produce as many fruits per acre, they need more care, or they are just slower growing. Many people prefer the taste of the old varieties and would argue that they are well worth growing. Others like the idea of saving seeds and using seed banks which means that they do not have to rely on large seed companies for their seeds. The view held by most experts is that heirloom varieties are those that…

Top 10 scented plants for summer The following top 10 scented plants have been chosen for their wonderfully fragrant summer flowers and foliage. They each will grow well in pots, on a patio or near the door, if the area receives sunlight every day – or, of course, out in the garden. Most can be brought inside for periods of time. They tend to flower well, and do not cause allergic reactions to the majority of people. These plants are also relatively trouble-free plants with few pest and disease problems. Try planting scented plants along pathways so that you brush them as you walk past to release their scent: 1 • Curry plant (Helichrysum italicum) - this is a must for the summer scented garden. Hot temperatures release the fragrant…

As part of a permaculture system, having chooks is a fantastic way to go. They supply you with eggs, help get rid of food scraps which may otherwise simply go in the bin, and produce manure which (when allowed to age) is fantastic to use on your garden to feed your plants! Keeping chooks is relatively easy. Do check with your Council, as some have regulations on how many birds you can keep, and proximity to neighbours, etc. Chooks need somewhere to keep warm and dry and safe at night, access to clean, fresh water, and ideally dirt to scratch in. If you can plan it, allow your birds access to your garden every now and again. Some kind of temporary fence is a good idea to keep them out…

Compost is indeed the powerhouse in any growing system, but is particularly valuable in organic growing where chemical fertilisers are not used. Its benefits cannot be underestimated: • It improves soil structure in all types of soil• It provides slow-release nutrients for plants to use when required• It increases the level of soil microorganisms exponentially• Composted soils produce plants which are more resistant to attacks from pests and diseases• Compost-making is an environmentally sustainable method of recycling ‘waste’ material• Home-made compost is effectively cost-free What can be composted? • Any organic material, if left long enough, will eventually rot down due to the action of microorganisms. Composting harnesses and maximises this process, speeding up the rate of decomposition and minimising nutrient losses.• Compost-making is an environmentally sustainable method of recycling…

Herbs can be grown almost anywhere – you don’t need a “designated herb garden”. Grow them alone, alongside or between other plants. They can be used as edging plants, as under-planting, as bed fillers or in those difficult spots, where little else will grow. Herbs are fantastic interspersed throughout the garden – for example, thymes are great edging plants for garden borders or rose beds, golden marjoram looks lovely in a perennial border, and garlic or onion chives make good edging and accent plants. They can also be used under roses to help deter pests. Others such as artichokes can play an important architectural role in your garden, adding height, interest and drama to an otherwise ordinary planting scheme. Herbs such as curry plant, rosemary, sage and lavenders can be…

If your hens are off the lay or you don’t have the time or space to keep them and you go into a shop and look at the prices of eggs you will see a huge variation. So why would you choose to pay around $10.00 for organic free range eggs when you could pay a fraction of this for caged conventional eggs? The answer is simple. They are worth it. Not only are you respecting the hen which produces your egg by paying the farmer to keep it in a humane way which honours our feathered friends, but you are also paying for her to be fed chemical and GMO free feed and kept in a chemical free environment. You also get the added benefit of all the goodness…

Making butter is a simple process: separate cream from milk, churn the cream until it thickens and add salt. And good cooks know there is no substitute for butter in cooking. Butter, like all foods, can be incorporated into a healthy balanced diet. Butter has the unique ability to enhance the flavour of other ingredients. A little butter goes a long way toward enhancing the taste and texture of foods such as wholegrain bread or vegetables, which Australians need to eat more of. The natural flavour of butter is irreplaceable. Whether you’re baking a cake or sautéing vegetables, there’s a type of butter to enhance every food. Types of Butter • Salted butter is the most common style of butter found in supermarkets. At most it has 2% salt added…

Originally an on-line business, consumer demand soon ensured People for Plants products are stocked throughout Australia in more than 1,000 outlets, including 400 Priceline stores, as well as David Jones, Terry White Chemists, health food stores and independent pharmacies. Speaking with proud founders Andrew Brown and Anna Addicoat, you realise how committed they are to the purity and integrity of their products, and to ensuring the range is affordable. Their range aspires to use the highest levels of certified organic ingredients, which are sourced globally, and are brought back to Australia to create each product. Andrew says that the company’s thinking is a world first, explaining how it “democratises the choice for organic – making it affordable and available – unlike other organic products that carry high price points. He…

I love making hot chilli sauce with my surplus chillis. You can add herbs and spices to the mix and experiment with different flavours but the basic mixture is always a winner. Use the freshest possible ingredients and use a jar with an airlock to keep oxygen out and to allow gases to vent out during the fermentation process. Ingredients • 500g fresh chillis (a mixture of types is possible)• 2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced• 2 large fresh tomatoes• 1-2 tsp sweetener such as unrefined sugar or honey, optional• 1 teaspoon pickling salt starter culture dissolved in ¼ cup water, or ¼ cup fresh whey. Method Cut off the stems from the chillis, but leave the green star at the base of the stem intact as this adds an…

Culture Grapes tolerate cold weather when they are dormant (over winter) but not when they are in leaf. At these times, late frosts can be a problem. Their ideal climate is a warm, dry summer and a mild to cool winter. However, there are varieties which can be grown which will tolerate very cold winters. Grape vines are relatively easy to grow if you give them what they need: sunlight, air movement, good soil preparation before planting, adequate water and correct pruning. Grapes are usually bought bare-rooted, like roses or fruit trees, and planted in winter. They prefer a fairly heavy, not too acid soil (a pH of 6-6.5 is good), and a sunny position. Pruning Cut the vine back hard immediately after you plant it, and let it grow…

On average Australians throw away around 21 million tonnes of waste per year, which includes waste from our kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and gardens. It also includes building waste generated from building and renovating our homes. Although we’ve made great improvements in our waste disposal habits over recent years, there are still lots of ways we can do more. Become aware Rethink your assumptions about what waste is. If we shift our thinking about the lifespan of products that we use and the lifecycle of produce that we consume, we can make landfill a last resort. Think about how we create waste and the variety of ways we can reduce, re-use and recycle. Nothing is waste—until we throw it away. By refusing excess packaging or making a decision not to purchase…

There are now 22 community gardens flourishing in this inner city area, from Woolloomooloo to Glebe to Alexandria, all of which enable residents the opportunity to potter around and soak up their natural environment. Most are ground level gardens, however several are amazing rooftop gardens and there’s a couple of footpath/verge gardens. The gardens help to reduce household waste (via composting), and save and protect diverse plants and seeds. Experienced gardeners are always on-hand to teach enthusiastic beginners some practical organic methods, and, most importantly, these gardens bring people together as a community. With a website full of useful advice and inspirational stories, the City of Sydney Council offers ongoing support and advice for new and established community gardens, and will also help you to find a suitable location, plus…

Get your home ‘summer’ ready There are a number of ways to reduce the summer heat in your home before turning on mechanical cooling: • Direct sunlight on windows can produce as much heat as a radiator, so shade exterior windows (especially north and west facing ones) with blinds and windows inside, and awnings or pergolas outside. Deciduous trees, bushes or vines outside windows and walls will also provide heat protection in summer.• Close windows and curtains during the hottest part of the day to keep out heat and save on cooling costs. When it cools down outside, lower the inside temperature by opening your home up to the evening breeze. Create airflow by opening windows or doors on opposite sides of the room.• If you don’t have insulation, you…

For one of the hottest and driest continents in the world, Australia boasts some of the most spectacular water wonders: 36,000kms of coastline; 8,222 islands; several thousand kilometres of rivers, creeks and waterways – the Murray Darling River system, which flows through four states, is the third longest navigable river in the world stretching across 3672kms; the largest underground water basin in the world, the Great Artesian Basin, feeds several inland springs and lakes; and, not forgetting one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef, which is more than 2,600kms and the biggest living organism on earth. People to see Tourism is big business in Australia and Australians love to travel to these places. According to Tourism Research Australia, Australians spent more than $70 billion…

Safety Equipment • Safety Glasses• Ear Muffs or Ear Plugs• Gloves Tools • Claw Hammer• Pinch Bar• Tape Measure• Pencil• Wood screws (nominally 28mm)• Drill• Pre-drill bit (nominally 3mm)• Impact Driver• Phillips bit Material • Pallets in reasonable condition Step 1: Select 6 uniform pallets. Disassemble pallets using a claw hammer & pinch bar. Retain top slats and underside gluts. Remove nails with claw hammer. Select best uniform slats. Step 2: Measure width of slats. Box will be 5 slats high, so 5 x width of slat = Length 1 (L1). Cut 10 slats into 20 equal pieces at D1 – Piece A (Photo 1). Step 3: Align 5 x Piece A side by side and flush at ends. Use another Piece A to mark 1 slat thickness around the…

Immune Booster – blender recipe • 1-2 handfuls rinsed spring greens/spinach• 1 banana• 1 orange (peeled)• 1 cup of pineapple pieces• 1 handful blueberries• Water Green Zingy Smoothie • 10cm of cucumber (seeded)• 1 handful spinach, kale or bok-choy• 1 cup of pineapple or kiwi fruit• 1cm ginger - peeled & grated• 1 cup coconut water (or filtered water) Method Add all ingredients (starting with liquid and your green leaves) to a blender and process until smooth. The Mediterranean • 2 tomatoes• ½ capsicum• Small handful basil• Pinch of Himalayan salt• 5cm piece cucumber• Squeeze of lemon juice Method Add all ingredients to a blender and process until smooth. Serve in a cocktail glass with a stick of celery. Super Refreshment • ½ apple• 10cm cucumber• 1 bunch bok-choy• Small…