Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue#7.6 - 2017 i Good Organic Gardening

... and what a gorgeous time of year this is. One of my favourite articles this edition is Claire Bickle’s showcase of edible hedging and screening plants. If you need to plant a hedge, why not make it bountiful as well as beautiful? This totally makes sense if the hedge is to grace the perimeter of the vegie garden. Claire also continues on with part 2 of her warm-climate fruits coverage. There are so many better options than apples and pears for gardeners who live in subtropical and tropical regions, many of them fruits you rarely see in the shops — if ever, in some cases. Meanwhile, Jennifer Stackhouse and Melissa King bring a great sel ection of edibles to plant around about now. Jennifer covers clever crops corn salad…

Corn salad isn’t what you are probably thinking it is: a colourful salad based around corn kernels. Corn salad is an old-fashioned leafy green that grows best through the cool months of the year, making it a clever and tasty addition to the winter and early spring menu. The dark-green leaves are also rich in vitamins — particularly vitamin C — and iron. It’s a popular crop in cool climates. In Europe, where it’s grown as an early spring green, it’s also found as a weed in cultivated land (hence the name corn salad as it’s found edging corn or wheat fields). PROPAGATION AND GROWING Corn salad grows easily from seed planted into prepared beds. There are named cultivars available, including ‘Large Dutch’. Dig in well-rotted manure, blood and bone…

The town of Clifton Springs, near Corio Bay on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula east of Geelong, was named for its mineral springs. For more than a century, it was famous for its spa and bottled mineral waters and may yet rise again if investors and Geelong councillors have their way. The Bellarine’s cool, temperate climate is also a boon to gardeners. Just ask Sharren and Stephen Jeffs, whose double suburban block is bursting yearround with chillies, garlic and ginger, from which they make — and market — their own sauces. Sharren, a part-time administrative assistant, and former quality controller Stephen, are now pretty much full-time organic growers. They propagate their own seeds, harvest their own water and tend their homemade raised gardens. “We draw a plan, look at the cost and…

Passiflora edulis OVER A FENCE Passionfruit label Common name: Passionfruit Botanical name: Passiflora edulis Family: Passifloraceae Aspect and soil: Sun ; moist soil Best climate: All areas, but protect from frost Habit: Evergreen vine, 8–10m+ spread, fruits spring to autumn Propagation: Grafting, seed Difficulty: Moderate PASSIONFRUIT What’s not to love about passionfruit? The pulp of the fruit is delicious and tangy and perfect on a pav. And the vine it grows on is lush and tropical-looking. Most of you would be familiar with passionfruit ‘Nellie Kelly’, a grafted black variety with large tangy fruit that ripens through summer and autumn. ‘Panama Gold’ is an extrashowy variety featuring a heavy crop of big, sunshine-yellow fruit with sweeter pulp than the black types. Or you might like to try ‘Panama Red’, with big,…

The uninitiated might think drinking eco-friendly wine is a bit like having a kale smoothie — that it’s green and good for you but doesn’t hit the high notes in the flavour stakes. The truth is, organic wine is not only chock full of nature’s goodness, chemical free and good for the environment, it can also rate very high in taste tests. THE POWER OF NATURE Owner and director of Raw Vine Estate, Petros Markou, has been involved in the organic wine industry for nearly a decade. His new label has a simple and clear message: it’s all natural. Sip a Raw Vine Estate wine and you’ll taste the natural goodness of wine and that’s all. It’s something Petros is justifiably proud of. “We are unique — a niche market…

The days of keeping chooks in a rusty old shed are behind us, but what should a modern henhouse be like? Many people see it as an exercise in creativity, designing unusual and exciting accommodation, while others derive great satisfaction in repurposing an abandoned playhouse or old trampoline. It’s tough on the chooks if basic needs are not adequately met. The family pooch is usually bedded down in a smart, comfy kennel and pet cats are spoilt with plush cushions. Our egg layers, however, may have to endure fierce winds and stifling heat, cramped together on a broomstick at night in weird and wonderful structures. If chooks could communicate, what would they ask for? A SIMPLE HOUSE Protection from weather extremes, including cold wind or draughts, creates a comfortable environment…

COOL & TEMPERATE VEGIES Save seeds to replant in spring. Store in an envelope or paper bag in an airtight container. Label each seed packet with the name and date. Although summer stalwarts such as beans, tomatoes and cucumbers may be ending, autumn has its bounty of mushrooms and pumpkins. Early crops of snow peas are also ready to pick. To harvest pumpkins to store through winter, pick the fruit with some stem attached. Check the pumpkin carefully for damage, which can lead to rot and make the fruit unsuited to storage. Store pumpkins in dark, airy, cool spaces. Check regularly. In warmer zones, tomatoes may still be producing fruit but in cold zones green tomatoes will fail to ripen. Early frosts will also destroy tender crops such as tomato,…

Serves 4 INGREDIENTS • 1 large whole chicken (or individual Marylands, 1 per person) • 3 lemons, 2 sliced & the 3rd cut in half to stuffwhole chicken if using • 2 bunches lemon thyme • 2 cloves garlic, sliced • Small pieces of butter • Celtic sea salt & cracked pepper METHOD 1 Carefully lift the skin away from the flesh of the chicken and gently insert lemon slices, sprigs of thyme, slices of garlic and pieces of butter under the skin of the breast and legs. 2 If using whole chicken, place 2 lemon halves and a bunch of thyme in the cavity. (Leave out this step if using M arylands.) 3 Season with salt and pepper and sear on all sides to brown, if you have time.…

ORGANIGROW When you buy an egg you think nutriments and taste, but which is the best for you: organic, free-range, pastured? The nutrient levels in eggs depend on what the hens eat, the delivery chain of the eggs and the storage time. That’s why organic free-range eggs laid by pastured hens have significantly increased levels of vitamins A and E, and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. They also have lower levels of fat and cholesterol. True free-range farms give access to rich soil for the hens to dust bathe, scratch and forage for worms and grubs. Pastured hens roam all day on the wide green pastures, but to be organic they need to be free of any environmental pollutants and their diet must be supplemented by choice grain mix free…

There are two vegies called artichokes but we eat opposite ends of the plants. Jerusalem artichokes are the tubers of a sunflower relative, while the betterknown globe artichokes are buds of a thistle relative (see page 46). Even if you don’t want to eat Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus), this is a tall, handsome plant to grow. It’s a close relative of the sunflower (H. annuus), which is revealed in autumn as it bears masses of yellow sunflowers. As it is tall — easily 2–3m — it’s also useful as a screening plant or to provide summer shelter to small vegetables. Some people turn up their noses at Jerusalem artichokes as the tubers have a dark reputation. They are said to cause “gas” when eaten and are sometimes referred to as…

As we walk down the side driveway of this hilltop home in Bulli, the only noteworthy feature is a handwritten sign welcoming the public and separating the home from its surrounds. Looking for signs of life, we pass some orderly wooden planter boxes and continue down a meandering footworn pathway that leads under a canopy of trees. Finally, with the faint shouts of children in the distance guiding us, we spy Luke, the farm manager, as he leads a family past the hillside chicken coops. Luke later explains that Saturdays are open days when community members can visit the farm. He tells us it’s a great chance for people to hand-pick their produce and teach their children to respect the history that exists behind every lettuce. Luke describes himself as…

Vicia faba IN THE VEGIE PATCH Broad bean label Common name: Broad bean Botanical name: Vicia faba Family: Fabaceae (bean family) Requires: Sun; well-drained soil Dislikes: Wind Suitable: Vegetable garden, sunny fence or trellis Habit: Annual climber or bush Propagation: Seed, seedling Difficulty: Easy Broad beans are expensive to buy in the shops, so growing your own provides an abundance of this delicious and nutritious vegetable for little outlay. As broad beans crop in winter and spring, they are also a valuable crop to harvest when other winter crops are over and summer vegies are yet to produce. I love broad beans but they are fiddly to prepare for eating. Once the beans mature into the broad green pod that gives them their name, they taste better podded before they are…

Brassica oleracea IN THE VEGIE PATCH Red cabbage label Common name: Red cabbage Botanical name: Brassica oleracea Family: Brassicaceae (cabbage or mustard family) Requires: Full-sun; well-drained soil Dislikes: Weed competition; lack of water Suitable for: Vegie beds Habit: Annual Needs: Friable soil, regular water Propagation: Seed, seedling Difficulty: Easy Red cabbages are part of a group of purple vegetables that promises great health benefits. Red cabbage, eggplant and purple onions, along with more unusual purple forms of carrots, cauliflower and tomato, contain anthocyanin, which is also found in fruit such as cranberries and blueberries. Anthocyanin is an antioxidant linked to cancer prevention. Purple vegetables also contain resveratrol, which can help lower blood pressure. As well as being part of a group of purple vegetables, red cabbages belong to the huge cabbage…

This follows on from last issue’s Part 1 of our warm-climate fruit showcase. Most of the fruiting trees profiled here are frostsensitive but can still be grown in some temperate locations around Australia. You just have to take the time to choose the right position and create a bit of a microclimate to ensure success. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to break away from growing just the traditional fruit trees and try something different. Even if you live in a cooler, more temperate location, by creating certain microclimates within your garden, you can grow these, too. And isn’t that what gardening is all about? Having a go at new things and, most of all, enjoying the fruits of your labour. GUAVA, PSIDIUM SPP. There is more than one type of guava…

Crop rotation sounds stranger and more complicated than it really is. It refers to the system of growing vegetables in different parts of the garden in successive years to reduce pest and disease problems. In particular, it reduces the chance of soil-borne diseases and crop-specific pests building up and making it hard to grow crops. Rotation also allows each crop to benefit from the soil conditions left behind by the previous crop. As crop rotation is a non-chemical approach to pest and disease prevention and control, it’s an important concept for organic gardeners to implement. It can be done on a large scale using four to six separate beds, or in a small way by varying crops from year to year. UNDERSTANDING PLANT FAMILIES For crop rotation to work effectively,…

1WATER WORLD If you have a pond in your garden be sure to include a few different varieties of plants and fish. The more variety you have, the more complex and resilient the ecosystem will be, which means less maintenance for you. When it comes to plants, include both oxygenating varieties to clean the water and control algae, as well as floating plants, which provide shade and cooling to aquatic life. A diverse ecosystem will also ensure your fish have a much more interesting and natural experience. 2THINK OUTSIDE THE POT Rather than spend money on fancy new planters, challenge yourself to make your own out of used household objects. Some great options include tea cups, glasses, lunchboxes, gumboots, tins, buckets, colanders, milk jugs, muffin tins, drawers, vases, tins and…

Serves 5–6 INGREDIENTS • 2 tbsp ghee • 2 onions, finely chopped • 2 cloves garlic, crushed • 1kg chicken mince • 1 carrot, grated • 1 tbsp tomato paste • Celtic sea salt & cracked pepper • Handful coriander, chopped • 1 egg, beaten METHOD 1 Heat ghee in sauté pan. 2 Add onion and garlic, cook for 2–3 mins, until soft. Remove from heat and combine in a bowl with mince and grated carrot. 3 Add tomato paste, salt and pepper, coriander and beaten egg. Mix together until well combined. 4 Shape into 5–6 burgers and barbecue, grill or pan fry, turning once, until cooked through. 5 Serve with a simple salad and fermented vegies (see page 92).…

Born and bred in the south of Scotland, Jim Gibson comes from a line of cattle farmers. As a child, he helped out with the animals on the farm but his main job was to pick potatoes with the other kids. His grandparents moved to Australia to escape the harsh Scottish winters. Arriving in Australia in 1966 at the age of 17, Jim spent his working years in earth moving but in 2005 began to follow in the footsteps of his cattleraising forebears. Around seven years ago, he and his wife moved east from Roma to a 100-acre (40ha) property in Cushnie, near Kingaroy in Queensland’s South Burnett region. His 33-head herd comprises a Limousin-British White bull, Droughtmaster cows, seven heifers and 12 brand-new calves. The animals are grass fed…

MARCH 2017 It may officially be mid-autumn but there are still plenty of high temperatures and lots to plant in your vegie patch and herb garden. APRIL 2017 This month we’ll see more autumn-type weather as the days get shorter and the nights cooler, and the end of the wet season in tropical areas.. When the moon is waxing from new moon to full moon, it is increasing light and drawing sap flow upwards. During the waning from full moon back to new moon, light decreases and sap is drawn downwards. This movement of sap flow has an influence on how well new plants will grow. There are four phases, each lasting seven to eight days. Sowing, planting and taking cuttings should not be done in the 12 hours before…

Actinidia deliciosa IN THE ORCHARD Kiwifruit label Common name: Kiwifruit, Chinese gooseberry Botanical name: Actinidia deliciosa Family: Actinidiaceae Requires: Both sexes for fruit; sun to part shade; well-dra ined soil Dislikes: Strong wind; too much heat Suitable for: Trellis or pergola Habit: Deciduous vine Propagation: Grafting, cuttings, seed Difficulty: Moderate Kiwifruit and New Zealand are two words that go hand in hand, but this fuzzy brown fruit is actually native to China and was originally known as the Chinese gooseberry. They were introduced to New Zealand in the early 1900s and, as a result of both recognising the plants’ potential and a very successful marketing campaign, have been sold as kiwifruit into most world markets since the 1950s. There are male and female plants, so you will need both sexes to…

COOL & TEMPERATE VEGIES It’s harvest time as crops planted in summer ripen. Pumpkin, tomato, squash, zucchini, beans and cucumber are ripening. Keep harvesting regularly to avoid losing crops to overmaturity. Share what you can’t eat fresh or preserve at home. Local produce swaps are busy at this time and a good place to trade your bounty for crops you don’t have. Some plants begin to wind down now, particularly cucurbits such as zucchini and squash, which are affected by powdery mildew. This shows up as a white powder across the leaf surface. Affected leaves begin to die back and become withered. Remove the badly affected plants rather than attempt chemical control of this fungal disease. As crops ripen, leave some to mature for seed. Open-pollinated varieties come true from…

In season MARCH FRUITS Apples, bananas, berries (raspberry, strawberry), breadfruit, dates, figs, finger limes, grapes, guava, kiwifruit, lemons, limes, mangosteens, melons (honeydew, rockmelon, watermelon), nashi, nectarines, olives, oranges (Valencia), passionfruit, pawpaw, peaches, pears, plums, pomegranates, quinces, rambutan, rhubarb, tamarillo, watermelons VEGIES Asian greens, beans, broccoli, capsicums, celery, chillies, cucumbers, daikon, eggplant, eschalots, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, nuts (chestnuts), okra, onions, potatoes, pumpkins, squash, sweet potatoes, sweetcorn, Swiss chard, tomatoes, witlof, zucchini In season APRIL FRUITS Apples, avocados, bananas, cumquats, custard apples, dates, feijoas, figs, finger limes, grapes, guavas, kiwifruit, lemons, limes, mandarins (Imperial), nashi, nuts, olives, oranges (Valencia), passionfruit, pawpaw, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, quinces, rhubarb, tamarillos VEGIES Asian greens, beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, capsicums, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chillies, chokos, cucumbers, eggplant, eschalots, fennel, garlic, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms,…

Serves 4 INGREDIENTS • 4 lamb shanks • 100mL chicken stock • 2 large carrots, sliced on an angle, approx. 2.5cm thick • 2 brown onions, peeled & quartered • Parsley, to garnish Marinade • 1 large knob ginger • 3 cloves garlic • Juice 2 lemons • 1 tsp sea salt • 1 tbsp ground cumin • 1 tbsp ground turmeric • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • 1 tsp black pepper • 1 tsp cardamom seeds (no husks) • 3 dried chillies, crushed • 1⁄4 cup soaked cashews, crushed • 1⁄4 cup soaked pistachios, crushed METHOD 1 Blend together all marinade ingredients to form a paste and rub over lamb shanks. Marinate for 2 hours. 2 Place shanks in slow cooker with chicken stock, sliced carrot and quartered onions…

From the company that produces Good Organic Gardening and WellBeing magazines, along with a range of craft titles, comes Cosy Project, the online shop to inspire your creativity, for crafters of all skill levels. If you’re keen to make your own homewares, accessories or handmade gifts, head on over to cosyproject.com for all your inspiration. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced crafter, if you love crochet or sewing, there’s something for you on Cosy Project, which features a wide selection of patterns and videos for a plethora of skill levels and tastes. It’s simple, really! All you have to do is browse the massive pattern and video class library, pick out the project or video that appeals to you and, once you’ve registered and bought your pattern of choice, you’re…