Innehållsförteckning för Issue 18 från Homegrown

Ocean energy company, Bio Power Systems (BPS), has completed the construction and onshore testing of a 250kW bioWAVE pilot demonstration unit. The project is supported by an $11 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), a $5 million grant from the Victorian Government and $5 million equity from BPS. The unique bio WAVE comprises a 26-metre tall oscillating structure that sways back-and-forth beneath the ocean swell, capturing energy from the waves and converting it into electricity fed into the grid via an undersea cable. The structure is scheduled for deployment at Port Fairy in Victoria Australia later this year. The data collected from the project, combined with the experience gained, is expected to help drive down the cost of wave energy, and contribute to further development of the…

Aversatile beverage, tea has an extraordinary way of lending itself to the changing seasons. Although the old-fashioned comfort of a hot cuppa will always come to mind when one thinks of tea, it truly has become a whole lot cooler, and not just figuratively. An experimental delight, iced tea is all about the intensity of flavour and colour and how many of these elements can be crammed into the one jug. While nearly any tea or tisane can be turned into a flavoursome glass of chilled pleasure, this season will see the upsurge of fruit infusions and maccha (or matcha) flavoured concoctions. Sensationally sanguine, fruit infusions are the vitamin-packed tisanes that will refresh palates during the warmer months. The impossibly simple combination of dried fruits, herbs and flowers encapsulates the…

December Sowing All Regions Beet (silver, Swiss chard) Beans (except broad bean) Cabbage Cape gooseberry Capsicum Carrot Celery Cucumber Eggplant Kohl rabi Leek Lettuce Marrow Melon Okra Parsnip Pumpkin Radish Rhubarb Rosella Salsify Squash Sweet corn Tomato Zucchini January Sowing Many seeds can be sown in midsummer. Bear in mind that a great many vegetables can be frown all year round in tropical regions. All Regions Beans (except broad bean) Beet (silver, Swiss chard) Beetroot Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Capsicum Cauliflower Kohl rabi Lettuce Parsnip Radish All Regions (except the coldest areas) Cucumber Marrow Spring onion Squash Sweet corn Zucchini Tropical Regions Capsicum Eggplant (aubergine) Melon Okra Pumpkin Rhubarb Tomato February Sowing As we move into February, the seedlings of some plants, e.g. Brussels sprouts, can be grown outdoors in…

Thanks to a small team of dedicated enthusiasts, the foundations for the garden were set several years ago when the Town Council agreed to allocate around 4,000 square metres of its land on the east side of Alice Springs for a community garden. Before any gardening was undertaken, a timely grant from the Ian Potter Foundation funded the commission of a landscape gardener to create a Master Plan for the development of the garden, and this plan is still guiding developments today. Margaret explained the long-term value of the Master Plan. It details the vision and layout of the garden, and people can see what has already been achieved, and what might still be done. Laid out on a signboard at the front of the garden, the Master Plan is…

The concept of Square Metre Gardening (SMG), known in the US as Square Foot Gardening, was developed by Mel Bartholomew, an ex-US army efficiency expert who thought there had to be a better way to increase yields and reduce gardening workloads than traditional long rows of garden beds. He devised SMG as a system of growing in a grid that maximises yields and minimises the required growing space and maintenance – something every home gardener would appreciate! Once you look into Square Metre Gardening it does begin to make a lot of sense. It’s a bit of a different mindset - here are the benefits we’ve found: It’s starting small! Square Foot/Metre Gardening has a higher success rate than a typical garden and will help you want to stay in…

Essential oils are a great starting point and include: • Cloves • Citronella • Eucalyptus • Geranium • Lavender • Lemon • Orange • Peppermint • Rosemary • Rose geranium • Tea tree • Witch hazel • Lemon scented myrtle Most of the above oils will deter mosquitoes (citronella, eucalyptus and those discussed earlier being the most effective). Tea tree oil and rose geranium are both great for ticks. Flies hate citronella, eucalyptus, lavender and peppermint. You can make herbal repellent in several ways: • As a lotion • As an emulsion (cream) • As a spray Here are some recipes to get you started and they will be as effective as their chemical partners as long as you reapply every two hours or so and after swimming: Insect repellent…

This recipe makes a lovely clear marmalade – it is for orange marmalade but you could also use a mix of citrus fruits, for example lemon, grapefruit and orange or just grapefruit or lemon on their own. You will need a small square of muslin (about 25cm square) and put a small plate in the freezer for the jelly test. Ingredients • 900g Seville oranges• I lemon• 1.8kg sugar• 2.35 litres water• ½ teaspoon butter• 6 x 350ml jars Method Cut the fruit in half and squeeze out the juice (save the juice-including the lemon juice). Put the water in a heavy based pan with the juice. Cut the oranges into quarters and remove any pips and also the pith. Place the pith and pips onto the square of muslin…

Ingredients • 1kg ripe red tomatoes• 3 red capsicums• I green capsicum• 1 large eggplant• 700g brown onions, peeled and finely chopped• 4 cloves garlic, crushed• 350g raw sugar• 300ml white wine vinegar alternatively try malt vinegar• 1 tablespoon salt• 1 tablespoon crushed coriander seeds (use a mortar and pestle)• 1 tablespoon paprika• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper Method Peel the tomatoes by placing them in a bowl and pour over boiling water leave for about 30 seconds. Drain the hot water and cover the tomatoes with cold water-it is now easy to slip off the skins. Chop and tomato, eggplant and capsicums; place these in a heavy based saucepan with the onions and the garlic and bring to the boil. Simmer gently (with lid on) for about an hour, stirring…

Preserving Goods Weck Preserving Jars Available in a large range of shapes and sizes, these beautiful jars make a stylish addition to any pantry. From $3.80 Pressure canner All American canner with metal on metal seal: these beautiful units will last generations with the right care! From $179.95 For more information on these products see page 47. Go to www.ozfarmer.com for all your preserving needs Paving & Saving One of the challenges associated with small concreting jobs is how to mix the concrete. Hiring a mixer can be overkill and expensive, while using a wheelbarrow and tools means mess and clean up. Now, Pavermaker solves the problem with its newly released concrete mixing bag. It’s reusable, doesn’t require any tools, avoids all the mess, and is designed to process the…

Most plastic toys are made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the most environmentally harmful plastic on our planet. PVC releases large quantities of toxic chemicals into the environment, such as dioxin, a potent and persistent human carcinogen. These chemicals are not bound to the plastic so they can also leach and enter children’s bodies when they chew or suck on the toys. Another chemical used in many children’s toys and products is phthalates. Phthalates are added to plastic toys to soften them, and are dangerous because they affect the hormonal system. Most bath toys (rubber ducks) contain phthalates and, if placed into a warm running bath, definitely make for a toxic bath time. As parents, we need to educate ourselves to make sure that what we are buying for our children…

Ingredients • 4 large eggs• 70ml maple syrup• 1 ripe mashed banana• 1 cup grated zucchini• ½ cup grated carrot• 65g olive oil (or canola oil)• 80g buckwheat flour• 50g almond meal• 2 teaspoons baking powder• 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder• ½ teaspoon ginger powder (optional)• ½ cup pecan pieces Method Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Add the other moist ingredients – maple syrup, mashed banana, grated zucchini, carrot and oil. Mix until combined with a spoon or knife. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir gently. Pour into a lined loaf tin and bake at 180°C for approx. 40 mins. Test with a skewer. If it comes out clean it is ready. Rest for 10 minutes before turning out onto a cake cooler. Learn more To discover…

All of these locations are available for you to stay in for nothing – as long as you swap your own home at the same time. There are many reasons why people are attracted to the idea of house swap holidays. Some do it to save thousands of dollars on accommodation costs, especially if they have a large number of travellers to cater for. Others find they can venture more widely and often throughout the world than they could if having to pay for flights as well as accommodation for each overseas trip. For others, it is the dream of living like a local for an extended period of time in an authentic home environment; a total cultural immersion. House swapping entails two parties agreeing to swap their homes for…

Clearly Green Thanks to Greencane for saving trees by making their paper towels mainly out of bamboo and sugarcane, but what really caught our eye is the packaging! Consumers like to peek through into packs to see what they’re buying, which normally means a plastic window. Instead this product uses a ‘bio-film’ window which breaks down in commercial compost and landfills rather than hanging around for a zillion years like plastic. A perfect product for us green thinking people. Greencane Paper Towels RRP $3.99. Visit www.greencane.com for stockists. DIY Environmentally Safe Termite Protection Termites are always a worry anytime of the year. CSIRO stats show that 1 in 3 homes are affected by termites to the tune of a billion dollars annually. It’s not just the cost of expensive repairs…

It’s easy to get caught up with all the delicious treats around Christmas time, with Nan’s world-famous fruitcake, chocolate Santa Clauses, candy canes and a glut of social events inviting you to eat and drink more than normal. The good news is that summer brings many garden delights that can help support you over this period, both for maintaining health in the midst of the craziness, and also on your journey back into health in the New Year. Goji berries Not so long ago, the goji berry became a very popular ‘super food’, which is not surprising given its myriad health benefits. Goji berries are considered a complete protein food, because they contain 11 amino acids, essential to our health, and contain large amounts of minerals including zinc and calcium,…

The mango tree is a vigorous growing tree and it is not uncommon to see trees in Queensland that have never been pruned to reach heights of 20m. Trees have been known to live to 40 plus years old. The older the tree gets, the more chance that trees will biennial bear (only cropping every two years). Harvest timing: Varieties grown in north Queensland and the Northern Territory begin to harvest in October, and southern growing regions will harvest as late as April. Site selection Mangos grow the best in well drained soils and should be planted on a mound at least 50cm in height. Mangoes prefer wet summers followed by dry winters and springs. A dormant period during winter when trees are not growing is essential for good, strong,…

Ingredients • 250ml mild olive oil (make sure that it is the freshest you can get)• 8 medium sized red capsicums• 150ml white wine vinegar• 150ml water• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns• ½ tablespoon fennel seeds• 1 clove garlic - thinly sliced• 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika• Pink sea salt flakes or similar Method Blacken the skins of the red capsicums by cutting them in half lengthways – deseed, remove the stalks and any white fleshy ribs. Then cut the halves in half again. I like to push the quartered pieces flat with the heel of my hand (the capsicums blacken more evenly that way). Rub the outside skins with a small amount of olive oil. Place the prepared pieces on foil and grill until the outside skins are blackened -…

Ingredients • 500g of lovely pitted, black, washed cherries (use only those that look absolutely perfect)• 180g white sugar• 180ml water• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice• 1 cup brandy (If you like you can add some spices for example a cinnamon stick or a vanilla bean or both - but this is optional.) Method This will make about 3 x 375ml jars. Place sugar, lemon juice and water in a large, heavy based saucepan and heat to boiling point. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes – the mix will slightly reduce and thicken. Remove from the heat and stir in the cherries and brandy. Pour into jars, making sure the cherries are covered with the liquid, and seal tightly. The cherries will be ready to eat in about…

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) televisions are relatively new in Australia. OLEDs have a number of advantages over other televisions. They are brighter, thinner (some are only 4mm thick), and lighter, and they have better refresh rates. Best of all, regardless of what you are watching, OLED technology brings each picture to life with its superior contrast abilities and blur-free viewing. OLED technology allows each individual pixel of the television screen to turn on and off. The pixels are individual LEDs (lightemitting diodes) that produce their own light, therefore they don’t need a backlight and, when they are switched off, produce a much deeper, true black. The screen gives a viewing angle up to 180 degrees, and, because they are so thin, the televisions can be flexible, giving you the…

1 Make sure it is legal to keep chickens in your area Most urban areas have restrictions on keeping roosters and they are not generally accepted in non-rural areas. There can also be limits on the minimum space required to be able to keep hens in most council areas, so you should do a check with your local council on the requirements for keeping chickens in your area. If you rent, you may need to check with your rental agency or landlord before buying your feathered pets. The last thing you need or want is an angry landlord or rental agency calling you about strange chicken noises coming from your backyard. Depending on your situation, you may also like to check with your neighbours and see if they mind you…

The name ‘beetroot’ actually refers to the root of the beet plant. No surprises there. Unless you have grown them though, you may not realise that the swollen taproot sits proud on the soil surface. This is helpful because the root is less likely to be marked by stones in the soil if you have a stony vegetable plot. Beetroots are sometimes distinguished as globe or long-rooted types. The globe types are usually the ones people prefer to grow because there is less risk of them bolting. All beetroots have a more tender flesh and taste at their best if they are grown quickly. Growing conditions Beetroot is usually treated as an annual, and seeds are sown anytime from midwinter through to mid autumn in temperate regions. They do not…

Although the avocado has the common names of avocado pear and alligator pear, the fruit tastes nothing like pear. The flesh is soft and oily rather than crisp and crunchy. Avocado fruits grow on trees which can reach about 10m in height. But there are also many smaller-growing cultivars which are ideal for growing in small garden spaces and which make cropping fruits easier. Avocado (Persea americana) trees generally take seven years or more to produce their first fruits, but many grafted cultivars will bear fruits after three to four years. Once they have begun to bear fruit, productivity usually increases as the trees mature. Avocado trees flower in winter or spring and bear fruit some 5-14 months later. This is during the wet season in subtropical to tropical regions, and…

Safety Equipment • Safety glasses • Ear muffs or ear plugs • Gloves Materials and tools • 2-3 Pallets in reasonable condition• Circular saw or chain saw• Drop saw (optional)• Table saw (optional)• Belt sander• Claw hammer• Pinch bar• Tape measure• Level• Pencil• Wood screws (~28, 40mm)• Drill with pre-drill bit (~3mm)• Impact driver with phillips bit Preparation Select pallets. Disassemble pallets using a chain saw or circular saw to cut top slats from underside gluts (the fatter middle boards of a pallet) Retain top slats and underside gluts. Remove nails with claw hammer and pinch bar. Step 1 Using a drop saw or circular saw, trim six slats to the same length for the seat bottom (570mm) and two gluts to the same length for the leg frame (950-1000mm).…

Ingredients Chocolate Chia Pudding • 2 cups unsweetened almond or coconut milk• ½ cup chia seeds• 3 tablespoons maple syrup, agave or honey (choose your preferred taste)• 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder• 1 tsp. vanilla essence or pod of one fresh vanilla pod• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts (optional) Berries Goji Berries Chia Jam • 1 cup fresh sweet berries of choice (raspberries, strawberries etc.)• 1 cup fresh or soaked dried goji berries (soaked for a least 4 hours)• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, agave or honey (choose your preferred taste)• 3 tablespoons chia seeds Optional Garnishes Fresh berries, dried goji berries, cacao nibs, walnut pieces. For the Chocolate Chia Pudding In an air tight container, mix together the coconut milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, cacao powder, walnuts (if using), and…

Mint Jelly Clean and sterilise 3 x 250ml jars and make sure they are hot when the jelly is ready. Ingredients • 1 kilogram Granny Smith apples• 1.5 litres water• 75 ml lemon juice• 75 ml chopped fresh mint• 750 grams sugar Method Chop unpeeled apples. Combine apples, water, juice and mint in a large saucepan. Bring to boil then simmer until apples are soft (30 – 40 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine muslin or similar cloth into large bowl. The liquid will drip through slowly; avoid squeezing or pressing the apples as it will make the jelly cloudy Throw out the pulp. Measure apple liquid and put it in a large saucepan. For each 250 ml of juice that you put into the pan add 180grams (3/4 cup)…