Sustainable Illawarra Super Challenge

We have signed up for the [Sustainable Illawarra Super Challenge](http://www.sustainableillawarra.com.au/The-SuperChallenge.html), and Monday night was the official launch of the programme. The idea is for 120 households across the Illawarra to spend the next 12 months moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Sustainable Illawarra provides participants with information, workshops, guidance and resources (as well as some… Continue reading Sustainable Illawarra Super Challenge

Sunflowers

Why do sunflowers always reach towards the sun? There are two schools of thought: It’s due to differential growth of the stem. There’s a growth-regulator that builds up in the shaded side of the sunflower’s stem, making that side grow faster than the sunny side. This causes the stem to bend towards the sun. Go… Continue reading Sunflowers

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Lettuce ‘Green Cos’

Mr. Fothergill’s (seed) Lettuce ‘Green Cos’. An excellent variety of cos lettuce, producing large, firm hearts with a crisp texture and good flavour. It is suitable for both Spring and Autumn sowing. Sow: Spring and Autumn, a few seeds in each clump, 6mm deep. Cover with a fine layer of seed raising mix or soil,… Continue reading Lettuce ‘Green Cos’

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Zucchini

My favourite way to cook zucchini is in a small saucepan with butter and thyme. Towards the end of their fruiting life, I leave one or two zucchinis per plant to grow into a huge marrow. These are great stuffed with chilli-flavoured mince and topped with grated cheese. It pays to have plenty of bees… Continue reading Zucchini

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Lettuce ‘Tuscan Salad Mix’

There were four types of lettuce in the punnet -?La Roma Green, endive, radicchio and La Roma Red. The photos below are in that order (thanks to Luc Dedeene from http://www.plantaardig.com for helping me figure that out!). Floriana (seedlings) Lettuce ‘Tuscan Salad Mix’. A mix of La Roma Red, La Roma Green, Radicchio and spidery… Continue reading Lettuce ‘Tuscan Salad Mix’

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Banksia Harpin

The common name is Banksia Harpin (botanic name Banksia Spinulosa). I’m planning to plant it halfway along the back fence to help screen out the neighbours’ house. Kiama Council (seedling) Banksia Harpin (banksia spinulosa). Red-orange flowers in Autumn to Spring. Grows to 1-4 metres. 11 Nov 2001: Kiama Council gives away free trees to ratepayers.… Continue reading Banksia Harpin

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Salad Alfalfa

Buying seed in the small Yates packets turns out to be expensive – you need to use at least a couple of teaspoons of seed to get a useful quantity of sprouts. I’m going to try and get a larger seed packet from a health food shop or a nursery. I’ve found that when you… Continue reading Salad Alfalfa

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Beetroot ‘Derwent Globe’

Beetroot are excellent steamed for about an hour with their skin on – it peels off easily once they’re cooked. If you’ve only ever tasted canned beetroot, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the flavour of the fresh stuff. Yates (seed) Beetroot ‘Derwent Globe’. A rich red, globe-shaped root. Flesh is tender and sweet. Ideal Summer… Continue reading Beetroot ‘Derwent Globe’

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Sweet Corn ‘Honeysweet’

Yates (seed) Sweet Corn ‘Honeysweet’. An early maturing variety of the popular new super-sweet corn. Large, even cobs with extremely sweet golden kernels. Very easy to grow. Sow: When the soil is warm and all danger of frosts is over. Sow seeds in pairs in damp soil. No further watering is needed until seedlings appear.… Continue reading Sweet Corn ‘Honeysweet’

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Basil ‘Sweet Genovese’

Basil is a handy herb to have growing in the garden. You can knock up a pesto sauce at a moment’s notice, toss it through some pasta, and be eating dinner 15 minutes after walking in the door. Mr Fothergill’s (seed) Basil ‘Sweet Genovese’. This is an aromatic herb which has many culinary uses, and… Continue reading Basil ‘Sweet Genovese’

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