The Garden Dictionary
There’s so much to learn as a beginner gardener….To that end, here is a dictionary of important terms used in gardening. It covers everything except plants!
14 December 2021
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There’s so much to learn as a beginner gardener….To that end, here is a dictionary of important terms used in gardening. It covers everything except plants!
The best place to start with permaculture is your own backyard. That might be as small as a paved courtyard or as big as a farm; either way, anyone can put permaculture into practice. Permaculture is a flexible system that caters for every type of property. It allows you to start small, and build up
Nina (my wife) and I were lying in bed the other night and she said, “I wish we could go back to the 80’s life was so much easier and innocent then.” And I nodded replying, “that’s so true…” I knew exactly what Nina meant because when we were kids in the era of big
Gardens never stay still, do they? They’re always changing-plants grow, die, and multiply. The seasons change, and with that, the weather. You could say they are dynamic. But did you know there’s an actual thing called dynamic gardening? Yes, really! And it’s more than just having a garden that changes naturally- it’s an authentic gardening
Most of us can benefit from a little more vegetables in our lives, and growing them at home is the best way to ensure those dinner plates are stacked with a heap of greens every time. But what if you don't have much space outside to grow your favourite vegetables or you live in a
There’s arguably nothing better for your backyard garden than your own homemade rich compost made from kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and other organic garden waste. Compost adds nutrients to the soil creating food for plants, worms, fungi, and microbes it also helps give the soil structure and water holding qualities reducing the need to water
Thinking about buying a lifestyle property to grow your own organic produce but aren't sure what to look for? Well, you're not the only one and I receive questions about lifestyle acreage living (similar to the one from Fred below) all the time asking for advice on where to start and what to buy and it's totally
Lately, I have been sent several requests by viewers of my YouTube Channel to "transcribe" some of my more popular videos so they can be read (for various reasons, including those who have difficulty understanding spoken English). This article/transcription is on Five Tips on How to Grow a Ton of Limes – Organically and the
When visiting my in-laws last holiday season down in NSW (Bowral to be exact) we went on a small day tour out to a winery for lunch and on the way, we stopped in at Harper's Mansion. A really brief history about Harper's Mansion in Berrima Situated in Berrima approximately 125 kms south of
Article updated on 9th November 2017 – Added additional retailer to list Most of us realise (and accept) the internet is changing our behaviour in many different ways and buying plants or seeds for the home garden is one them! I personally think the move towards online plants and seeds is a good change for
Pest Collection – Rose Scale Common Name: Rose Scale Scientific Name: Aulacaspis rosae Order: Hemiptera Host plant where found: Roses Host range or situation where pest is usually found: Rose, loganberry, raspberry and blackberry. Also, seen rose scale on mulberries and some stone fruit trees. Rose Scale covering rose stems (image above) Damaging stage
Disease/Disorder Collection – Phytophthora Root Rot Name of Disorder: Phytophthora Root rot. Scientific name of pathogen causing disease: Phytophthora spp. Type of disorder: Fungus Cause: Phytophthora spp. fungus Host plant where found: Rhododendron Horticulture situation or host range where this disorder is typically found: Affects broad range of plants; from trees, ornamentals, native plants, fruit
Toro has a great name when it comes to ride-on mowers and their zero turn range are no exception. I don't have a huge property by any means but 3 acres can still be a fair bit to mow and that's why I have a ride-on. Lucky for me a good friend of mine whom
Introduction This article is about tuning back-in to the nature around us and how we can learn about doing that by looking at self sufficient cultures (like the Australian Aboriginal). Also, in this article I explain how a survival course taught me about bush tucker and self sufficiency. Survival Course in the NT One of
Introduction (This article was reviewed in July 2012) Tiller the Season to be Growing Trul-a-lul-a-la blah blah blah blah… I know the title is drawing a long bow for a Christmas theme but I've never been a very orthodox person and I guess if you have been following my articles over the past 6 months you'll
I'm always on the lookout for new fruit trees to plant in my garden. Many people don't realise how many thousands of different varieties of fruit there really are in the world besides the standard ones committed to the larger displays in the big supermarkets. However, if you check the back shelves in the supermarket
For a backyard fruit tree it's hard to overlook an orange. Not only is an orange tree easy to grow and great for fruit but it also can be used as an evergreen ornamental show piece in the garden. You can get mock orange trees as ornamentals (they don't fruit) but why not get the
Frog reminiscing When I was a kid visiting my uncle Ernie out on his farm, frogs were everywhere to be found; and 9 out of 10 times, a big fat green frog could be located within the elbow joint at the top of a rainwater tank where the pipe met the guttering. Frogs are such
When I received a request from Eden Grow-Rooms to run a small story about their product on Self Sufficient Me, I thought, yeah why not? I've been considering writting about grow rooms for awhile now because from a food growers perspective, I'm always looking for methods, tools, and ideas on how to improve my harvest and a grow-room is
Article updated on 24 May 2019 When I first saw rosella seedlings in the nursery I must admit to having little knowledge about the plant except for knowing great jam can be made from the “fruit.” And, I further have to admit purchasing these seedlings without the slightest research into how to actually grow
Self Sufficient Me is a blog about self-sustainment by growing our own produce (plant/animal), and self-fulfilment by looking after our health (physical/mental) through exercise and slowing life down a little.
