Innehållsförteckning för Issue 12 från Homegrown

In March 2016, the Australian government agreed on a new national Standard for labelling “free-range” eggs, which will be legally enforceable under Australian consumer law from 2017. The new Standard says that eggs can be labelled free-range if hens have “meaningful and regular access to an outdoor range” and have an outdoor “stocking density” of up to 10,000 birds per hectare, however there is no law requiring that the chickens actually go outside. The stocking density of the hens (how many per hectare) will have to be listed on each egg carton. Federal Assistant Treasurer Kelly O’Dwyer said the decision would give consumers confidence that they were getting what they had paid for. “Ministers agreed to the standard following an extensive consultation process which began in October 2015 with nearly…

Hi there I am a regular reader of Home Grown. Over the past couple of years, your garden experts have answered several of my queries and I always learn new things from your magazine and constantly applying those ideas in our orchard and vegie garden. Just wanted to share a picture of the bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables from today. The garden has been so productive and beautiful with so many bees, birds and butterflies flying around. Looking forward to your next issue and learning something new!! Jeevan Rosha, Capel, WA Ed: Hi Jeevan. Congratulations - your bountiful harvest looks amazing! Thanks so much for sharing your photo and lovely comments with us. Buzz Buzz Buzz Thank you so much for the wonderful article on bees (The Urban Beehive,…

Where would we be without plants? Humans (and many other animals) rely on plants to sustain health, or in some cases just to live. To ensure that our plants (including the cropping species we rely on so much for our survival) keep providing for us and other animals, we need pollinating insects, especially bees. We can’t underestimate the importance of bees to humanity; if it wasn’t for bees (and other pollinating insects), many of our plants, including edible crops, would disappear. But bees need plants to survive too; plants provide pollen as a food source to bees, and many types of plants, in order to reproduce, need bees to facilitate the pollination of flowers. As humans, we rely on plants, bees and insects; a neat circle of life. As well…

Our love affair with open plan living comes at a cost. Winter is rapidly approaching, and the dramatic hike in bills comes from heating our homes (unless you are one of the lucky 20% who live in Australia’s warmer climes, or you have a welldesigned home with good insulation and a passive solar design). An average Australian’s home energy use (Projected 2012, Source: DEWAH. 2008) showed that heating and cooling took up 40% of the total usage. The heating system you use has a significant impact on your bill and your greenhouse emissions. REDUCE YOUR HEATING NEEDS • Buy a door snake or two. These keep warm air inside and stop under-door drafts.• Invest in heavy, lined curtains with pelmets – up to 40% of heat escapes via the windows•…

We believe that great winemaking stems from the collaboration between Viticulturist and Winemaker, which in this case are husband and wife. Dynamic duo Mike Brown, Chief Winemaker, and Melissa Brown, Biodynamic Viticulturist, work together to grow our award-winning Gemtree Wines. With minimal intervention in the winemaking process and an environmentally conscious farming system, Gemtree produces wines that are honest, powerful, and concentrated, and represent the styles and grape varieties that have a natural affinity for the landscape of McLaren Vale. McLaren Vale is our region and our home, and our wines are crafted to reflect both traditional expressions and the region’s new ‘Mediterranean’ influence. Gemtree currently owns and farms 133 hectares (328 acres) of premium vineyards in McLaren Vale. We have been using biodynamic farming practices since 2007, and achieved…

Ingredients • 20g butter 1 onion, chopped• 2 cloves garlic, crushed 500g frozen peas• 1 litre salt reduced chicken or vegetable stock• 2 cups firmly packed rocket leaves• 1 cup firmly packed basil leaves• 200g tub mascarpone cheese• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind• Grissini or crusty bread, to serve Method Melt butter in a large saucepan, add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent. Add peas and stock, bring to a gentle boil for 5 minutes or until peas are tender, remove from heat and stir in rocket and basil. Immediately blend soup until smooth, stir in two thirds of the mascarpone and season to taste. Reheat gently before serving. Mix remaining mascarpone with lemon rind. To serve, spoon…

Nothing is more satisfying than wrapping frigid fingers around a steaming mug of tea. And when the weather calls for something more warming, the fragrance and flavours of eastern inspired chai blends are perfect for melting away those chills. Chai spices are normally blended with black teas, but can also be blended on green tea and even rooibos. Aromatics such as cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and cardamom, which make up the base of most traditional chai teas, are also well documented for their restorative qualities in Ayurvedic medicine — a form of traditional Indian holistic therapy. Especially regarded for their ability to soothe a range of digestive issues, the combination of these flavoursome spices mixed with tea make an ideal aftermeal treat. For something a bit richer, brew in milk and…

As winter takes its toll on the last remnants of summer bedding plants and tender herbs and vegetables, it also paves the way for those winter vegetables - you know - the likes of cabbages, sprouts and kale. It’s also a time when you can be organising and planning ahead. Maintaining your vegetable garden While some people talk of ‘putting their gardens to bed’ for the winter, if you’re an avid vegie gardener you’ll know that there’s no such thing. Sure, it may not be the most productive time of year, but there are always crops you can be growing, and things you can be doing. In cooler regions over winter you can start by disposing of any warm season crops which have died off. Things like tomatoes and cucumbers…

Chickens thrive on a varied diet that includes grain, foraged greens and protein. If your chooks are freeranging, they can get some of their protein needs from bugs, slugs, worms, grubs and snails. Poultry confined to a pen will need a good source of food and supplementary feeding to ensure they are receiving all their nutritional needs. Typically, chooks that are free ranging will consume about 100 grams of grain a day as they supplement their diet and protein needs with what they can forage with ‘green pick’. Those confined to a pen will consume about 200g of commercial food and grain and/or pellets a day, although this amount varies with temperature; hens eat more when it is cold. Chickens are not fussy and will eat almost anything. In order…

Digital Dehydrator From the garden to the table, preserve your favourite seasonal produce in Excalibur’s all new and exciting 4548CDB model dehydrator. It is the latest 5 tray, featuring a digital control with an on/off switch, a massive 48-hour timer, a stylish and practical clear door and a 2 time/2 temperature setting that allows you to start the drying process at a higher or lower temperature and automatically follows with your second set time and temperature. Ph: 1300 749 545 Product: 4548CDB (Black) $529 zestybynature.com The Healthy Coconut ‘The Healthy Coconut’ book offers recipes and explains health benefits of coconuts. ‘The Healthy Coconut’ is a simple guide to incorporating the amazing benefits of coconut into your daily lifestyle. Written by Jenni Madison, who first discovered the health benefits of coconuts…

Whether you are familiar with the majesty of the drooping red love-lies-bleeding plant, or you are a gluten free guru who is desperately researching alternatives to wheat, aesthetically or practically, amaranth is a food plant that should be in your diet. This pseudo-grain is gluten free, high protein and easily accessible from your local health food store. It grows with very little love and comes in a variety of colours to excite and inspire the senses. Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about this incredible plant, and why you should consider making a place for it in your life! 1 The leaves of the amaranth plant are totally edible and packed full of nutrients. The total protein content of some varieties of amaranth leaves alone can be up…

Plum Sauce A lovely, spicy, plum sauce that goes well with a variety of meats: pork and veal sausages, roast pork, Asian style pork and even lamb or chicken. Ingredients 500g dark skinned plums (I prefer to use blood plums but any plum will do, the colour will just vary). Pit the plums and quarter then halve the quarters. • I red onion - chopped• I clove garlic - chopped• A few cloves (say 3 or 4)• ½ teaspoon cinnamon• Fresh grated ginger (1 knob)• I small red chilli (optional)• 100ml of balsamic vinegar• 100g brown sugar (depending on how tart your plums are - you may need to adjust the sugar) Method Gently fry an onion (and chilli if you are using one) in some olive oil until soft…

Ingredients: • 4 potatoes, peeled and cubed• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced• 6 mushrooms, sliced• 1 onion, finely cubed• 1 small red capsicum, sliced• 2 cups pumpkin, peeled and cubed• ½ cup brown lentils (raw)• 2 tablespoons beef style stock powder• 4 cloves garlic, crushed• 1 leek, sliced• 140g (½ cup) tomato sauce or paste• 1 tablespoon lemon juice• 1 tomato, diced• 1 teaspoon soy sauce• 4 cups water• 1 tablespoon of olive oil Variations: Add any other hearty vegetables as desired and seasonal (zucchini, eggplant, capsicum, parsnip, etc.). Lamb or beef can be substituted instead of the lentils. Dice and seal the meat in hot oil before adding the vegetables. Method In a large stock pot, sauté onion, leek, garlic until transparent. Add…

Losing the Plot has an overarching theme of urban expansion, which creates shrinking house blocks, bigger houses, smaller gardens, and the sale of market gardens to build more housing, and asks the question – where are we going to grow our food? Although small, the exhibition manages to touch on many issues, including food security, food preservation, food availability, waste management, greenhouse gases, water, challenges to food production, sustainable development, and the changing faces of food production and consumption. Highlights from the historical elements of the exhibition include personal and family histories, accompanied by wonderful old photographs, and some well-used historical gardening tools. The exhibition was curated by Louise Bird. Losing the Plot explores five main types of food gardens: Aboriginal, market, school, home, and community gardens, and how they…

Backyard ponds don’t need to be large, and can suit even the smallest area or corner of a courtyard. With many natural wetland areas under threat from urban development, it is more important than ever to include natural spaces in our gardens to provide habitat. Frogs in your garden Frogs are particularly sensitive to chemicals, and their presence generally indicates a healthy environment. They will do their part in reducing insect pests. In some areas of the country it is illegal to transplant frogs or tadpoles (due to the risk of spreading disease – do check on the regulations in your State) – but if you build a pond it is quite likely they will turn up of their own accord, as they explore new territories for breeding. They are…

Whether it is tagging young, rare birds in the nest, searching for and monitoring turtle eggs or hatchlings, or removing old fishing nets and plastic bottles from otherwise pristine beaches, Australia offers plentiful options for a helping holiday. Volunteer holidays are also known collectively as conservation holidays, volunteer tourism, voluntours, and volunteerism, but all are monikers for the same idea; combining holidaying with some form of volunteer work. While the overseas volunteering market is nothing new, offering adults and groups of high school students a variety of opportunities, homegrown environmental volunteering is on the increase, as travellers seek out sustainable accommodation and experiences in exotic destinations. The Ecotourism Australia Annual Report 2014/2015 estimated the annual turnover of certified ecotourism operators in Australia was more than $1.12 billion. Capitalising on that…

Ingredients • 1kg fresh ripe plums, washed and without stalks• 1kg white sugar• Tablespoon lemon juice• 15g butter (to prevent scum on top of the jam)• 100ml cold water Method Cut the plums in half around the stone and twist – you can then easily remove the stone. Put about 50-75ml of water in the bottom of a heavy based pan, add the fruit and lemon juice. Place on heat and bring to a gentle simmer and cook until the plums are soft (this takes around 45 minutes). Add the sugar and butter and stir to dissolve, then increase the heat and bring to a rapid boil, stirring constantly to prevent sticking. Once the jam starts to stick to the side of the pan it is usually done. You can…

Garlic and ginger are two of the most exquisite tastes in cooking. They are part and parcel of many Asian dishes, but also have a long history of being sought after for medicinal value. Gold stars to you if you planted your garlic cloves in autumn, you can look forward to harvesting flavoursome cloves in about November. However you can still plant cloves now, in winter, but the bulbs will be smaller and harvested in January. Ginger doesn’t like cold and wet conditions. While spring is the best time to plant ginger in most regions, you can plant in late winter if you live in a tropical area. GARLIC (Allium sativum) Garlic comes from central Asia, with some experts citing China as its country of origin, and is now widely…