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 EAT YOUR
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NATURE’S
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 JUST

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 Robin and Scott McLay – Passionate Home Gardeners
It started with a love of gardening from their grandparents and continued with growing cuttings
in glass jars at boarding school. For the last 10 years Robin and Scott have grown a very special
acreage garden where every plant has its place. Robin says “It’s where we go to relax, I pick flowers
for our house and Scott harvests fruit and vegies to eat” and in every season they delight in what
their garden shows off. With Winnie the dog by his side Scott declares “We don’t plant anything
without using Rocky Point’s Active 8 and Rocky Point Lucerne Mulch is another favourite for the
Have an interesting garden? Roses and the vegie garden”. For the last 10 years they’ve owned Brookfield Garden Centre in
Brisbane. While exploring the rest of their garden and hearing their grow story we were convinced
Share your grow story
the garden centre was a great plan to support their passion. This is Robin and Scott’s grow story.
@RockyPointAU
However you grow, keep growing with Rocky Point.
 contents
Subscribe
for a chance to win
A TRIP FOR TWO
on the cover TO VIETNAM
22 Delicious apricots see pg 40
28 Late-season garlic
34 Slow mushrooming: How to forage safely
42 Eat your colours! Top disease-fighting fruit and veg
49 Bees – nature's Einsteins
52 Catch the indoor plant craze
75 Bare-rooted fruit trees
87 WIN a super snazzy worm farm

organic gardening 22
22 GROW: fruit from the gods
Justin Russell reveals the history and health
benefits of delectable apricots. Plus how to
5
choose, grow and care for them.

28 grow: garlic ain't just garlic

Penny Woodward says diversity in garlic
cultivars will help cope with the effects of
climate change, while new research bolsters
already strong health credentials.

49 BEEKEEPING: NATURE’S EINSTEINS

Honeybees are the generous Einsteins of the
insect world, writes Reese Halter, with marvellous
brains and human-like behaviour.

75 basics: baring it all

In autumn and winter, deciduous trees are sold
bare-rooted offering bigger variety and cheaper prices.
Helen McKerral tells how to select, prune and plant
bare-rooted trees to provide beauty and productivity.

79 POULTRY: hen health checklist

Observation is the key to success not only
in your garden but for keeping your chooks
healthy, writes Jessamy Miler. 28
PHOTOS: GAP PHOTOS

82 ACTION: to your good health

Getting out in your garden provides fresh food,
CHECK OUT FEATURE ARTICLES, READ BLOGS
fresh air and a chance to improve your health,
OR SUBSCRIBE AT ORGANICGARDENER.COM.AU
especially when you know what to plant and when.
CONTENTS

34 organic living
34 foraging: slow mushrooming
Fungus expert Alison Pouliot explores the rise of
foraging for edible wild fungi in Australia with a guide to
how to do it with little impact, and what to watch out for.

42 health: eat your colours!

Lentil Purbrick investigates the secret health-
promoting components in the colours of fruits and
vegetables and how you can get more into your diet.
58 CONVERSATION: bruce pascoe
Penny Woodward talks to Bruce Pascoe about his
award-winning book Dark Emu, which challenges
assumptions that Aboriginal people didn’t farm the land.
61 home: heat it up
Simon Webster investigates the best options for energy-
efficient hot water systems, such as the latest heat pumps.

64 HARVEST: earthly treasures

Make the most of your pumpkin harvest with these
recipes from Maeve O’Meara’s latest book.
79 71 health: the natural bathroom
6
A new book tells how to cut
down on plastic in your home.
WIN
an urbalive
regulars worm farm plus
duo planter
9 Editor’s Letter Valued at
10 MATTERS: News and events $515 inc postage
see pg 87
14 MARKET: Blooming healthy
16 MAIL: Reader questions and thoughts
19 PLANT: a healthy harvest
Karen Sutherland selects colourful fruit and veg
with health benefits to plant in your garden now.
27 LIBRARY: The latest books
90 LOSING THE PLOT: dealing with the desperados
Simon Webster contends with parched wildlife
PHOTOS: TOP:Alison Pouliot/BOTTOM: JESSAMY MILLER

and gardens as the long dry stretches on.

OUR COVER
Cover photo by Kirsten Bresciani.
prizes, offers & resources
For the full story on the top 40 Subscription offer Subscribe to Organic
disease-fighting fruit & veg,
Gardener for a chance to win a trip for two to Vietnam.
turn to page 42.
87 Competition WIN an Urbalive worm farm plus a duo
NEXT ISSUE ON planter worth $515 (including postage).
SALE MAy 9 2019 88 Gardening on your ABC
 Worm Feast
30 63

12 24
Worm Farm
Bedding Block
8 13

Sustainable Revolution
Get your kids involved in the War on Waste!
Did you know the 39-45% of the It’s easy to do, incredibly rewarding
household waste you throw away and Recycle your kitchen
T it’s great fun for kids.
scraps at home!
is organic and recyclable?
A worm farm can turn your food The Tumbleweed Worm Feast is an
waste into a rich fertiliser that you easy care in-ground worm farm
can use to grow your own food. that’s perfect for teaching kids
about the full cycle of recycling!

www.tumbleweed.com.au Worm Farm Worm Farm &

Bedding Block Compost Condit
 Editor Steve Payne
Art Director Karen Berge
deputy Editor Leanne croker
Horticultural Editor Penny Woodward
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 EDITOR’S LETTER

Bees are back

W
e’ve been running quite a few stories on bees recently –
in fact, we’ve decided to have a regular story on bees in each
issue. The focus will be mostly on the practical aspects of
beekeeping, which has seen a big surge in interest in recent years.
I was fascinated to learn about this new movement, having also seen
chooks and poultry become increasingly popular over the last decade
as gardeners and those interested in a more self-reliant lifestyle have
continued to expand their skills, interests and goals.
Just getting a small organic herb garden or vegie plot started can be
a major step and turning point from consumer to producer. As an organic
garden expands, it becomes natural to think towards chooks to do some
weeding, add fertility and give you eggs – not to mention the company
and amusement they can provide for kids and adults alike.
Last night our chicken coop didn’t get locked up, as can sometimes
happen. I only realised this while I was sharing a breakfast cuppa with
my wife and the background chook conversations got very loud – in fact,
all five chooks had marched up the back stairs onto our verandah and
were standing behind my chair demanding food. They know my voice
and they obviously now know where to find me!
Our family haven’t started beekeeping yet, but I
don’t think that day is too far away. As Reese Halter
points out in his story on ‘Nature’s Einsteins’ (page 49),
they are amazing creatures that not only pollinate our
9
flowers and food crops and make honey, but have a
great deal to offer medicine and science. For such tiny
insects their brains are amazing – they can count,
remember a human face and much more.
From reading the article I discovered the
With bees in peril around the world,
perhaps unexpectedly close connection between
bees and humans over the centuries. With bees in
perhaps we humans are now naturally
peril around the world, it seems we humans are
now naturally coming to the rescue by supporting
coming to the rescue by supporting them in
them in our gardens, schools and city farms.
Another trend is indoor plants. I must admit,
our gardens, schools and city farms.
I felt they were a bit old-fashioned and out of
favour but they’ve zoomed back into popularity.
Some of you will have always loved them for adding
a touch of nature, beauty and tranquillity, but now
we also know they clean the air and improve our
health. See Justin Russell’s article on page 52.
I can’t go without mentioning Lentil Purbrick’s article
‘Eat your colours’ (page 42), which takes us into the world
of phytochemicals – the amazing goodies in plants that
help them and us fight disease and boost our immunity.
Organic Gardener magazine has been printed using recycled
The phytochemicals are often linked to colours and back paper certified against the FSC R Chain of custody standard.
up the traditional advice to “eat your greens” and a diverse The text is printed on Leipa Ultralux Silk, which is an offset
paper made of 100% waste paper that not only satisfies the
range of vegies and fruit. So, let’s get those cool-season highest quality requirements but is also 100% environment-
PHOTO: ISTOCK

vegies in the ground for some rich winter stews. friendly, as it uses only recycled fibres as raw material.
This saves resources, energy and therefore protects the
environment as well.
 news
peter Cundall hangs up his mic
Gardening legend Peter Cundall has retired from radio after more
than half a century of hosting talkback gardening shows.
The now 92-year-old announced his decision at the end of the final
ABC Radio Hobart Saturday morning gardening show of 2018.
“I said, ‘Thank you very much’,” Cundall says. “‘I’ve been doing this
for 52 weeks a year for 50 years and this is the last one. What a
privilege it’s been.’ And that was it.”
Cundall says he is stepping aside “to let someone else have a go”,
and was looking forward to listening to his replacement, Gardening
Australia presenter Tino Carnevale.
“Tino’s on the ball,” Cundall says. “He’s really fantastic.”
Cundall’s radio career started in 1968, when he was working as
landscape gardener in Launceston and pruning the roses of a client who
turned out to be the manager of a newly established talkback radio
station. The radio manager asked Cundall to go on air.
“I went in to the studio, and to everyone’s astonishment, as soon
as it came on the switchboard was mobbed,” Cundall says. “I later
discovered that was the first gardening talkback show in the world.”
10 A year later, Cundall switched to ABC Radio, for whom he presented
a show almost every week for the next 50 years, attracting devoted
listeners not just in Tasmania, but since the advent of internet radio,
around the world, too. Cundall praised his long-time co-host, Chris
Wisbey, calling him “absolutely brilliant”.
Wisbey – who presented from
the ABC Hobart studio while
Cundall presented from the illustrations
Launceston studio, and with bite
then in recent years from The almost fantastical world of the
his home in the Tamar Plants With Bite flower display, has

PHOTO FAR LEFT: PETER MATHEW. POSTER ILLUSTRATION: THE TAKEOVER BY JAMES BOAST.
Valley – says Cundall is given a team of illustrators a great
“endlessly generous, opportunity to work their magic!
a man of integrity and Last year, the team behind The Calyx
a great raconteur”. at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney,
A long-standing approached The Illustration Room with the
Gardening Australia idea of creating a collaborative exhibition
presenter and Organic of artwork inspired by vintage comics and
Gardener contributor, films and the weird and wonderful world
Cundall says he is looking of carnivorous plants. Included in the
forward to spending more exhibition is a work by Organic Gardener’s
time in his garden, as well as ‘Losing the Plot’ regular illustrator
continuing to work with returned Tanya Cooper (see page 90).
service people and campaigning to It’s on at the Royal Botanic Garden,
preserve the Tasmanian wilderness and combat climate change. Sydney, until April 23.
“I’ll never be retired,” he says. “I’ll always be working.” • Visit rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/whatson/
Simon Webster Illustrators-exhibition
• illustrationroom.com.au
 ORGANIC MATTERS

EVENTS
International Compost Week
A raft of activities are planned throughout Australia to
celebrate and boost awareness of compost’s value to
the world. Whether you are already composting or are
looking to learn, check out the workshops and events.
You’ll become part of the composting community,
improve your soil, and our future.
WHERE: Various events nationally
WHEN: May 5–11
DETAILS: compostweek.com.au

Amazing images
The winners of the International Garden Photographer
of the Year were recently announced with Jill Welham’s
‘Fireworks’, taking top honours with its abstract depiction of
three Allium heads. The global competition features some
incredible images of the natural world and gardening, like
the striking black and white picture by Michael I’Anson
(featured here) of his father’s hands planting seed – just
one the many entries that continue to push the boundary
of the genre and communicate the significant beauty
11
and importance of plants and gardening. Visit igpoty.com
for more winners and their images. Ballarat Apron Festival
The apron strings you’ll see at this festival are tied to a
rich history of sewing, baking and traditional crafting. It’s
a unique opportunity to explore all things apron related,
PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP): MICHAEL I’ANSON/GRAHAM HOAD/QUEENSLAND HERB SOCIETY/ALAN HENDERSON

What spider including handmade crafts, woodworking and, of course,

is that? delicious baked delights. It’s the only apron festival in
the world! There is still time to enter the popular apron
Minibeast Wildlife’s Spidentify competition (before May 10).
unlocks the mysteries of one of WHERE: St Patricks Cathedral Hall, 3 Lyons St Sth,
Australia’s most feared groups of Ballarat Central, VIC
insects and places a trove of WHEN: May 25 & 26
information in the palm of your DETAILS: ballaratapronfestival.org
hand. High resolution photographs accompany
detailed expert information on 250+ spider Queensland herb fair
species, with a step-by-step tool that guides you through This annual gathering organised
the process of identifying an unknown spider. Detailed by the Queensland Herb Society
information is available on each spider, including an provides a chance to learn from
instantly accessible bite danger rating. Helpful pop-ups the experts at free demonstrations,
explain technical words in simple language. Experienced talks and workshops. Learn about
users can browse the field guide by category, including a wide range of medicinal and
habitats and families. There’s also information culinary herbs while browsing stalls
that dispels myths, explains spider with herbal products, including preserves, coffee, teas,
anatomy and answers spices, skincare, bush foods and wine.
common questions. WHERE: Albion Peace Hall, 102 McDonald Rd, Windsor
Visit: identify-spiders.com WHEN: May 26, from 9am to 3pm
for details. DETAILS: qldherbsociety.org.au
 ORANGE Unit: mg / 100g
39.5 1.2
39 1
39.323
38.5 0.8
38 0.6
37.5 0.4
37 37.487 0.2
36.5 0
Ordinary Blender Vacuum Blender
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Give your garden (and yourself) a simple health boost
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herbal goodness
There’s nothing better than being able to pick some fresh
leaves or flowers straight from the garden while the kettle’s
boiling to make your own home herbal brew! Southern Harvest
has a wide selection of plants suitable for herbal teas, including
wild bergamot, anise hyssop, sage, lemon balm and winter
savoury. Available for $3.50 from southernharvest.com.au
or call 03 6229 6795 for more information.

14
Get sprouting
Grow your own microgreens to add fresh to salads, sandwiches and
smoothies, or use them as healthy edible garnishes on dishes such
as quiches and roast vegies. The Diggers Club Complete Sprouts Kit
includes a mix of sprouts and shoots, such as broccoli, fenugreek and
radish. It also comes with a sprouting jar, which features drainage
holes in the lid as well as a sturdy stand for optimum growing
conditions. Available for $29.95 (members) or $40 (non-members)
from diggers.com.au or call 03 5984 7900 for more information.

hemp is in
Hemp Foods Australia
specialises in edible hemp
products, ranging from oils
and seeds to flour and snack
bars. Their certified organic
hemp oil is cold-pressed and
contains omega-6 and omega-3
fatty acids. It can be used in
the same way as olive oil (in
salad dressings, smoothies
and pastas) and has a fresh
nutty flavour – delicious and
nutritious! Available for
$16.95 (250ml) from hempfoods.
com.au or call 02 6687 1260
for more information.
 ORGANIC MARKET

Soil health check An aussie native

bee at work.
.

Before planting any food crop, it’s

worth checking if your soil is safe for
growing. Healthy Home & Gardens not
only offer soil testing, but can also
check your home for any potentially
hazardous contaminants using
state-of-the-art X-ray fluorescence
technology. They can even give your
chicken coop a health check! See
healthyhomesandgardens.com.au
or call 08 9321 2830
for more information.

Worms galore
No backyard vegie patch is complete without its
own worm farm to turn food waste into rich plant
food. The little creatures help reduce waste and
grow healthy nutrient-rich crops in the process.
Win-win! Wormlovers offer a Hungry Bin worm
farm, which is ideal for larger spaces, along
with the new Urbalive worm farm, which is
B k rd buzz
compact and perfect for smaller spaces ely a buzz around backyard
d it’s not surprising given
15
both outside and indoors. Starting from $320
at wormlovers.com.au. Turn to page 87 for s are essential for both a
your chance to win an Urbalive worm farm! and planet. Not only that,
tive varieties of bees will
by providing honey! Zabel
n Australian-owned and

WIN! ess that has been working

ore than 30 years and
f hives and beekeeping
with native stingless
erything you need to
zabel.com.au or call
r more information.

n a pellet
Keeping your plants healthy is as
important as keeping your body healthy.
Power Pellets are a certified organic
ILLUSTRATIONS AND PHOTOS: ISTOCK

slow-release fertiliser that can be used

for both edible and ornamental gardens.
The pellets contain a mix of elements
essential to plant health, including
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and
calcium. Available for $9.95 (1kg) from
powerpellets.com.au or call 1300 385 842
for more information.
ORGANIC FEEDBACK

HUMANE DISPATCH
OF CHICKENS
I recently wrote in to commend
Organic Gardener on an article by
Jessamy Miller (‘Old age hensioners’,
Nov/Dec 2017), which was welcome
encouragement for readers to plan for
their chickens’ welfare across their
whole life. Thank you. However, due to
editing, my views in the letter (October
2018 issue) need clarifying. I do not
support backyard ‘dispatch’ of old birds.
Rather, I encourage owners to seek the
expert services of a vet if needed for
humane euthanasia (perhaps through
an animal shelter if finances are an
issue). However, given Jessamy
EGGPLANT SEED DISASTER commented in her article about humane
An OG reader has recounted a seed saving disaster she
dispatch, could readers be given links
recently had with eggplant and would like to warn readers of
to the RSPCA guidelines or similar?
potential pitfalls. In an attempt to speed up processing, she
Sarah Briggs, via email
used a home blender to pulverise eggplant flesh and free up
the seeds. Previously she had followed advice in an early
• Thanks, Sarah, for your letter and our
edition of Suzanne Ashworth’s book Seed to Seed, which was to
apologies. The RSPCA does have basic
hand grate eggplants. To be cautious, our reader (who doesn’t
info but they point to this very good
wish to be named) used a blender with plastic blades but it
16 didn’t reduce the size of the eggplant cubes so she tried a
source regarding humane slaughter of
chickens: hsa.org.uk/overview/overview
metal blade. She gave the eggplant and water mix just a brief
whizz – and managed to damage about 70 per cent of the seed.
Checking through the literature, the first suggestion of
using a blender seems to have come from a later edition of
Ashworth’s Seed to Seed – the bible of seed savers the world
over. In this later edition Ashworth specifically says to use a
blender with a plastic blade. Unfortunately, the ‘plastic’ part
of the instructions has not been repeated in more recent
references. Even though the plastic blade didn’t work for our
reader, that is not everyone’s experience and obviously varies
with the type of blender and blade. Our suggestion whether
trying a plastic or metal blade is to do a small test run first.
Here are options for separating eggplant seed from flesh:
Leave fruit on plants until they are overripe, and turning yellow
and/or brown. Harvest and chop off the seedless top leaving
the base that contains the seed. Now you can either:
chop lengthwise, place into a strainer and massage under
running water until only the seed remains; or
grate the base into water and rub the flesh with your fingers
until the seeds are released; or
roughly chop or cube the base, put into a blender with a
plastic blade, cover with water and blend. Pour contents
into a bowl and add some extra water. Please include your town/suburb and state with your letter as well as a
photo if possible and any extra information such as soil type, age of plant,
In the last two preparation methods, allow the seeds to settle
PHOTO & ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCK

what you have been feeding it. The more information we have the better.
on the bottom, scoop out the mush that floats on the top and post Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590
then collect the seed by pouring the remaining liquid though
a sieve. With all methods, spread the seed out onto a plate
email editor@organicgardener. com.au
to dry. When completely dry put into a jar or envelope and web organicgardener.com.au
label with the name and date. Find us on:
Penny Woodward
 top 10

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 ORGANIC PLANT

A HEALTHY
HARVEST
Karen Sutherland selects
colourful plants with
health benefits to
plant now.

‘IMPERIAL’ MANDARIN
(Citrus reticulata)
Mandarins prefer well-drained
friable soil with plenty of organic
matter. They can be planted
all-year-round. Their shallow
root system requires regular
watering and no competition
from vigorous rooted plants.
Feed in spring, summer and
autumn, with organic fruit tree
fertiliser as well as liquid seaweed
every 2–4 weeks. Remove flowers
3m W
on trees for the first 2–3 years to
allow them to establish. Watch
4m H out for citrus gall wasp. ‘Imperial’
is a strong growing upright plant,
with tasty fruits that have few
full sun/ seeds. The orange fruit of
light
shade mandarins contains lutein and
betacarotene, both carotenoids
that contribute to eye health.
Harvest
Lutein has been shown to help
PHOTO: ALAMY

autumn to
winter
prevent macular degeneration.
ORGANIC PLANT

Climate Zone Key:

Tropical subTropical Arid/Semi-Arid Warm Temperate Cold Temperate

REDCURRANT (Ribes rubrum)

60cm W
Redcurrants are small deciduous shrubs that thrive in cooler
climates. They need regular watering to fruit well, partly due
1m H to their shallow root system. They like acidic soils with good
drainage and plenty of organic matter. Plant them in light
shade or in a position with morning sun, and protect them
Morning
sun/light from harsh afternoon sun. They are best planted bare-rooted
shade
in winter, or from pots in autumn. Fruits are small and shiny
and produced in clusters, which need to be protected from
Harvest birds. These berries are coloured by a natural plant pigment
fruit in called lycopene, an antioxidant that contributes to heart
summer
health and may also lower the risk of cancer, particularly
prostate cancer. Redcurrants also contain vitamins C and K,
along with some iron and potassium.

ENDIVE (Cichorium endívia)

30cm W

Endives, like chicory, are bitter lettuces, grown for salad

20 30cm H greens and their benefit for our livers. In cooler climates they
can be sown and grown all-year-round, but in warmer climates
they are best grown in cooler weather. They are grown just
full sun/
semi like lettuces, by either growing seed in punnets before
shade transplanting once seedlings have grown two sets of true
leaves, or by sprinkling seeds on a well-prepared seed bed in
the garden. Seeds are fine so need to be kept moist until they
Harvest
outside germinate. Grown quickly with generous amounts of water
leaves
as soon and liquid feed, they will be less bitter. Like other leafy greens,
as big endives offer goodness such as calcium and folate, one of the
enough
B group vitamins that’s important for cell growth and repair.

PURPLE AMARANTH (Amaranthus species)

50cm W
Eaten all over the world, some varieties of amaranth are
grown for their seeds and others just for their leaves, which
1.2m H
make a useful cooked green. Although they can reach up to
1.2m when flowering, leaf amaranth are tastier when kept
PHOTOS: TOP: ALAMY/CENTRE & BOTTOM: ISTOCK

full sun/ around 40cm high. Do this by regular harvesting of new

light
shade shoots and young leaves. Grow from seed sown for most of
the year. Amaranth self-sows readily, so make sure to let half
Harvest
your seed fall on the ground at the end of summer. Varieties
young with purple leaves not only look beautiful in the garden but
leaves as
soon as contain betalian colour pigment (also responsible for the
plants
are big red in beetroots), an antioxidant that has anti-inflammatory
enough benefits. All amaranths are also high in vitamin C, calcium
and iron. Always cook the leaves before eating.
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 Fresh from the
tree, apricots provide
a sweet and tangy
PHOTO: GAP PHOTOS/HOWARD RICE

taste that’s been loved

through the ages. the 'moorpark'
variety is considered
one of the best
for flavour.
 ORGANIC GROW

Fruit
from the gods
Justin Russell reveals the history and health benefits of
delectable apricots, plus how to choose, grow and care for them.
23

A
mong the semi-pointless questions that often drift Mediterranean and northern Africa. Legend has it that none
through my brain, there was this one: why does apricot other than Alexander the Great introduced apricots to Greece.
juice get the title “apricot nectar”, but every other fruit The apricot’s fortifying properties are similarly the stuff
liquid is simply called juice? Why not cherry nectar, peach of legend. In Persian culture, a popular drink is Qamar al-Din,
nectar, plum nectar? They’re all closely related fruits but none a thick apricot juice that provides the perfect pick-me-up to
of these has been festooned with the evocative word nectar. break a day of fasting during Ramadan. In northern Pakistan,
The technical answer is a bit humdrum. The concept of the Hunza people eat a diet rich in apricots. For two months
fruit nectar was a marketing ploy that Californian orchardists of the year they follow a tradition of consuming little more
invented during the 1930s. But here’s the thing: if you’ve ever than the juice extracted from dried apricots. They are noted
been lucky enough to eat a perfectly ripe and delectable for their good health and longevity, which is linked to an active
apricot straight off the tree you’ll join me in ignoring this origin. lifestyle, a clean environment and, you guessed it, apricots. The
To eat a perfect apricot is to experience something of the apricot species grown by the Hunza has sweet edible kernels.
divine. The ancients knew this well. In Greek mythology, the The common apricot Prunus armeniaca does not. Its kernels
gods drank nectar and ate ambrosia. The tree of knowledge contain cyanide and should be avoided.
in the Garden of Eden wasn’t an apple, but the apricot is
a contender. Then there is Confucius, who is said to have Cultivation tips
taught his students in the shade of an apricot tree. There is Dr Louis Glowinski writes in The Complete Book of Fruit
even a variety of apricot named ‘Divinity’. Apricots truly are Growing in Australia, “apricots love the mountains – hard
the nectar and ambrosia of the gods, so why not plant one winters and long, hot, dry summers.” It is true that many
in your own garden or courtyard? varieties need a relatively high number of chilling hours during
The tree’s botanical name Prunus armeniaca suggests that winter, somewhere upward of 600-800, but love plenty of
it hails from Armenia (just to the east of Turkey). In reality sunny warmth during late spring and summer to properly ripen
the tree is a member of the rose family, meaning it is likely to the fruit and avoid disease. Having said that, there are new
have originated in China, and Chinese writings mention the low-chill varieties now available that mean even sub-tropical
tree growing at the time of emperor Yu, circa 2200 BCE. The gardeners can give apricots a try. The fruit quality may not
plant has a long history of cultivation in central Asia, gradually quite match that grown in the perfect climate, but it will still
finding its way along the Silk Road to the Middle East, the be superior to apricots stocked by the supermarkets.
ORGANIC GROW

In cool climates, be cautious about planting apricots in

areas that are prone to damaging spring frosts. The word
apricot is related to the word precocious. In fact Pliny the
Elder, the great Roman naturalist, called apricots praecocia
because of the early maturation of the fruit – one of the tree’s
limiting factors is that a late frost can severely damage the
early spring blossom. The wise fruitgrower avoids planting
apricots in frost hollows.
The prime commercial apricot growing areas in Australia
are in the southern states, particularly the warmer parts of
Victoria and Tasmania. The south west of Western Australia
and the bottom half of South Australia also provide excellent
growing conditions. However, from Sydney north,
summer rainfall patterns start to dominate and
chilling hours are generally lower so look
for the low-chill types. Exceptions are the
elevated areas that receive winter frosts
– think the New England Tablelands of
NSW and adjacent districts to the west,
and areas along the Great Dividing Range
into Queensland such as Stanthorpe,
Toowoomba and as far north as Kingaroy.
The best way to buy apricot trees is during
winter, when they are dormant and sold
bare-rooted (see story page 75).
Clockwise from above: Apricots can fruit
profusely; a young espaliered apricot;
Growing needs dwarf varieties of apricots do well in pots.
Apricot trees aren’t overly fussy about soil. Their Inset: Stunning apricot flowers.
24 preference is for a well-drained, slightly alkaline loam,
but the tree is generally more tolerant of heavier soils than
peaches or cherries. If you are growing on clay, choose
apricot varieties grafted onto plum rootstock. If your soil
is light or sandy, go for a peach rootstock, working a couple trained espalier or choose a dwarf tree. Both choices allow
of buckets of compost into the planting hole to help hold for easy netting. Alternatively you could simply net a few
moisture. Feed young trees regularly. individual branches. Combine this approach with certified
As they grow, apricots benefit from some basic shaping organic baits, such as Cera Trap or Eco-naturalure, to offer
to produce a well-branched tree, but don’t go overboard moderate protection to the remainder of the fruit.
– freestanding apricot trees are among the finest looking Animals, namely parrots, flying foxes and possums, adore
fruit trees around. An alternative is to train your tree apricots. I once had an entire tree completely stripped of
flat against a trellis, using a fan pattern espalier as your ripe fruit in the space of a few days, presumably by possums.
guide. You’ll save space and produce a decorative, easily The ground beneath the tree was littered with pips and as a
maintained tree in the process. consequence, my mouth was littered with cuss words. Again,
Apricot trees are relatively low maintenance over the long netting is the solution.
term. For the best quality fruit, ensure the tree has adequate Though reasonably disease resistant, apricots can suffer
moisture in spring. In summer wet climates (roughly from from a few serious problems. Shot hole is a fungal disease
Sydney north), a monthly deep soaking during dry weather that literally looks like a hole has been shot through the
will help fatten up the fruit and a woodsy forest mulch will leaves. Brown rot is a mouldy brown fungus that ruins fruit.
help keep roots cool and moist while providing a slow release Freckle appears as small brown spots on the foliage and fruit.
of nutrients. No pruning is necessary other than the basics Control fungal diseases like these with an organic approved
– remove dead and diseased wood, suckers from below the copper fungicide such as copper hydroxide or Bordeaux.
graft, and any poorly placed or crossing branches. Note that apricots are sensitive to sulphur so avoid using
lime sulphur and wettable sulphur. Spray during winter
Pests and diseases dormancy and just before flower burst.
The scourge of apricot growers in many areas is fruit fly. Bacterial canker is a virus that gets into a tree’s vascular
PHOTO INSET: ALAMY

Exclusion is a very effective technique, but cumbersome. system and causes limb dieback. It is best prevented with clean
Apricot trees bear heavily, which means that bagging every horticultural practices – sterilise pruning tools prior to use
piece of fruit is a nightmare, and because the trees are fairly with metho or bleach, prune in summer when cuts heal quickly
large, netting is unrealistic. Solutions include creating a fan and burn (or dispose in rubbish) any diseased wood.
 VARIETY CHART
25
Dwarf Fireball: A recent introduction that has a
naturally compact growing habit, making it ideal for
growing in pots or as an espalier. Partly self-fertile,
bearing decent quality fruit with a fiery red blush.

Glengarry: A vigorous, low-chill selection that is the

earliest to flower and ripen, making it very susceptible
to frost. The pick for subtropical climates.

Moorpark: An heirloom dating back to 18th century

PHOTOS: TOP: ALAMY; TOP RIGHT: GAP PHOTOS/FIONA LEA; RIGHT: GAP PHOTOS/FRIEDRICH STRAUSS

England and mentioned in Jane Austen’s novel,

Mansfield Park. It makes for a compact tree that
bears uncommonly delicious fruit.

Rival: A Canadian-bred variety with a bunch of

winning attributes. It’s a vigorous tree that produces
large fruit with red blushed skin and a memorable
flavour. It requires a pollinating partner such as
Moorpark or Trevatt. Selected suppliers
Tilton: A good choice for colder areas thanks to its Yalca Fruit Trees: rare, heirloom and dwarf varieties,
resistance to late frosts. Smaller fruit with excellent yalcafruittrees.com.au
flavour and colour, ideal for Tasmania, and elevated Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery: mostly heirloom, dwarf and
parts of the mainland. Self-pollinating. low-chill varieties, daleysfruit.com.au
Heritage Fruit Trees: heirloom and dwarf varieties,
Trevatt: Commonly grown by commercial orchardists, heritagefruittrees.com.au
favoured for its large versatile fruit. Great for fresh Woodbridge Fruit Trees: small selection of heirloom
eating, bottling and drying. Ripens in January. and modern varieties, woodbridgefruittrees.com.au
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 PHOTO: GAP PHOTOS/GARY SMITH

Creole Group garlics

are mid to late season.
 ORGANIC GROW

Garlic
ain’t just garlic
Penny Woodward says diversity in garlic cultivars will help cope 29
with the effects of climate change, while new research bolsters
garlic’s already strong health credentials.

Late-season cultivars

I
n recent decades, awareness has grown about the many
different cultivars of fruits and vegetables, whether All garlics in the Turban Group are classed as ‘early-planted’,
apples, potatoes or tomatoes. However, most people still while all from the Artichoke Group are mid-season garlics.
think that garlic, is just garlic. In fact, there are more than However, there is another selection of more unusual garlics
300 different cultivars grown in Australia which are sorted known as ‘late season’, which are planted from late April
into different Groups that share a range of characteristics to early June and are worth a try in cool-winter climates.
such as size, skin colour, flavours, storage times and more. Some are quite rare, so you will need to find them quickly
The most commonly planted garlics in Australia today are before growers sell out.
Turban and Artichoke Group garlics. Turbans include cultivars Late-season garlics come from four main garlic Groups:
like Tasmanian Purple, Italian Purple, Monaro Purple and Rocambole, Marbled Purple Stripe, Standard Purple Stripe
Glamour, while among the Artichokes are Australian, Italian and Silverskin. You could also add to this some of the Creole
and Californian White, Dolovsky and Italian Late. Group garlics which are mid-late season. Late-season garlics
The distinctions between Groups and cultivars, don’t like high humidity and need a good cold winter to do
especially planting and harvest times, are now becoming well, which means they are not great choices for warmer
more vital as the effects of climate change take hold. climates. They tend to grow best from southern New South
Climate change is causing problems for garlic all over Wales at high altitudes, to Tasmania, Southern South
Australia. Unexpected very hot days in spring are beginning Australia and Western Australia. Creole and Silverskin
to adversely affect some early-planted garlic causing Group garlics do well in most of South Australia.
them to collapse, while sudden extreme downpours can
cause fungal rots or side-sprouting. Growing garlic
One of the best ways to combat climate change is Whatever cultivars you choose to grow, plant them in full
diversity. So by growing late-season garlics, as well as sun, with well-drained soil that hasn’t had garlic or related
mid and early-season, adverse events may only impact alliums growing in it for the past two years. If the soil in not
part of your crop, leaving you to harvest the rest. well-drained then raise the bed by at least 30cm. If possible
ORGANIC GROW

Bulbs begin swelling with the combination

Below: Ail de Pays du Gers.
right: A typical Silverskin Group garlic. of increasing day length and temperature.

30 Late-season garlic
Group Some cultivars Characteristics Flavour profile Providers
Creole Ail de Pays du Gers, Hardneck with smaller Mild and richly complex AO, D, KIG, TGG,
Mid-to-late season Ananda Rose, Dynamite, bulbs, white skins to intensely hot raw. TSGS
French Argenrose, Rojo and 12–14 pink to Nutty when sautéed,
de Castro, Spanish Roja, burgundy cloves. sweet when roasted.
Spanish Solace Stores 12+ months.
Marbled Purple Stripe Americky Maly, Hardneck, purple Deep rich spicy when raw; KIG, TGG
Late season Marbled Blush striped skins, deep rich when sautéed
4–7 large cloves. to crisp; caramelly
Stores 6–7 months. flavours when roasted.
Rocambole Deerfield Purple Off-white skins with Floral, earthy, smooth KIG, TGG, TSGS
Late season purple blotching or heat raw; complex, sweet
stripes; 6–14 bronze in gentle sauté (don’t
thick-skinned cloves. crisp); sweet and rich
Stores 5–6 months. roasted, but not complex.
Silverskin Fino de Chinko Ajofrin, Softneck medium Can be aggressively hot AO, D, KIG, TGG,
Late season Lokalen, Long Sally, bulbs, white skins and raw, some are spicy and TSGS
Silverskin, Wilde Silver softly pink, purple, sweet. Medium, spicy
white marked cloves. when sautéed to crisp.
Stores 12+ months. Strong, good lasting
flavour roasted.
Standard Purple Stripe Dunganski Hardneck white to Complex, peppery KIG, TGG, TSGS
Late season purple striped skins; flavours when raw; deep
8–12 tan cloves with rich nutty flavours
PHOTOS: PENNY WOODWARD

pointed tips. Stores sautéed; great roasted,

7–9 months. nutty, creamy, complex.
PROVIDERS OF LATE-SEASON GARLIC
AO: anandaorganicaustralia.com; D: diggers.com.au; KIG: kingislandgarlic.com; TGG: tasmaniangourmetgarlic.com.au;
TSGS: theseedgarlicshop.com.au
 WARMER CLIMATES
For warm climate gardeners who can’t
grow the late-season types, you need
to get Subtropical Group garlics into
the ground asap, preferably before the
end of April, for harvest in September
or early October (5-6 months). These
garlics are day-length neutral and
usually grow bulbils in the pseudostem,
not in an umbel at the end of a scape
as other garlics do. They are planted
and grown like other garlics, except
for the shorter growing time, allowing
curing before the high humidity hits
(which garlic hates). After harvest,
cut off most of the green leaves and all
the roots before curing and if possible
use fans to decrease humidity. Right: Plant
Main cultivars include Southern cloves
15cm apart.
Glen, Glenlarge, Italian Red and Italian
below: Once
Pink (greenharvest.com.au is a good cured, top and
tail, leaving
source). For the tropics, try elephant 5cm of stem.
garlic (A. ampeloprasum).

prepare the soil a few weeks or more before planting by

adding organic matter such as compost and well-rotted cow,
horse or sheep manure. Even better, if you have time, grow
a green manure crop and dig it in to improve soil health.
If your soil is acid or neutral then add a handful of lime to
each square metre.
It is the cloves that you plant, and they need to go pointy
end up, 15cm apart in both directions with the top of the
clove about 2cm below the soil. If it’s very cold in your region,
then go a bit deeper to 5cm. Sprinkle the soil with blood and
bone or another slow-release organic fertiliser and then
mulch with an open mulch (such as pea straw, lucerne) to
about 10cm. Keep plants weed-free and, as you ease into
warmer spring weather, bulbs will begin swelling with the
combination of increasing day length and temperature.
Water plants with seaweed or fish emulsion (alternating)
every two weeks, until a couple of weeks before harvest.

Harvest tips
If you get unexpectedly dry whether in winter or spring,
remember garlic needs to be watered regularly right up
to a few days before harvesting.
Harvest takes place 7-8 months after planting, when
leaves start dying back but there are still 4-6 green leaves
left. Check the bulbs are a good size and you can feel the
PHOTOS: GAP PHOTOS

clove ridges. Dig up and cure by hanging in a warm, dry, airy,

position for 3-6 weeks. Once cured, top and tail, leaving
about 5 cm of stem. Remember to set aside 10-15 per cent
of your best cloves for next season planting.
ORGANIC GROW

Garlic and health

There are many claims made about garlic and its
beneficial ingredients for good health. It is certain that
garlic has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, both
of which will help keep you healthy if garlic is a regular
part of your diet. Research has shown that eating
garlic regularly will reduce the number of colds a
person has. More significantly, garlic may help reduce
the incidence of some cancers and interfere with
tumour activity. Very recent research has shown that
eating garlic (and other alliums like onions and leeks)
reduces the risk of colorectal cancer. Research also
shows garlic helps decrease the risk of heart disease.
However, for some people, garlic can be a problem.
Anyone on a FODMAP diet should not eat garlic as it
is high in carbs referred to as oligos-fructans that can
cause digestive problems, and some people do seem
to be allergic to garlic. Others can develop contact
dermatitis if they regularly handle garlic, and garlic
oils can be poisonous to babies and small children.

top: Black onion aphid.

Centre: Rust.
bottom: Fusarium.
32
Pests and diseases
The main problems for homegrown garlic are the fungal
diseases rust and fusarium, and black aphid pests.
Black onion aphids attack all alliums, so if you also have
chives, leeks or onions, then keep an eye on and treat these
as well. These pesky black critters hide down in overlapping
leaf bases, out of reach of predators. As soon as you see
them, spray with a diluted soap solution, making sure it drips
down to the leaf bases. Follow up the next week with a pest
oil. If there is still a sign of the aphids then repeat this process.
Rust usually only appears in the month or so before the
garlic is harvested. It manifests as red pustules on leaves. It’s
EXPERIMENTAL PLANTING less likely to be a problem if you water your garlic from the
Some growers in cooler climates are base using a drip system, so there is no moisture left on
experimenting (some successfully) with planting leaves. If it does appear, you can often keep it under control
and stop it spreading by spraying with bicarbonate of soda or
long-storage garlics, especially those in the
potassium bicarbonate spray. If this doesn’t work, try an
PHOTOS: TOP & CENTRE: ALAMY/BOTTOM: PENNY WOODWARD

Creole Group, in very late winter and early spring, organically certified copper spray, like copper hydroxide.
instead of autumn. So why not try planting a few Fusarium, also known as basal rot, is almost impossible to
Creole Group cloves right at the end of August? control once you have it. You need to remove and throw out
Instead of the usual 7-8 months, you could get bulbs any affected plants. If it happens in storage, throw out the
whole bulb, not just the affected clove. You can always tell
in as little as 4 months. Let us know how you go. fusarium because of the smell of the bulb. Don’t plant garlic
back into affected soil for at least two years, and don’t save
affected bulbs for replanting. If you are concerned that
More information rust or fusarium spores may be in your bulbs, then before
australiangarlic.net.au planting, crack bulbs and soak cloves overnight in a
Garlic by Penny Woodward (Hyland House) is the potassium bicarbonate solution. For pest control recipes
only book on Australian garlic and our unusual cultivars. see: organicgardener.com.au/pests-and-diseases.
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Close connections
Many fungi form connections with a
great variety of plants, helping them
to access water and nutrients as well
as protecting tree roots from soil
pathogens. In return, plants provide
fungi with sugars produced through
photosynthesis. These mutually
beneficial relationships, known as
mycorrhizal symbioses, also help the
forager to identify fungi, as particular
fungi associate with particular trees.

PHOTOS: Alison Pouliot

The popular Saffron milk

cap grows in association
with conifers and can be
found in great abundance in
Pinus radiata plantations.
 ORGANIC FORAGING

Slow mushrooming
Fungus expert Alison Pouliot explores the rise of foraging
for edible wild fungi in Australia, with a guide to how
to do it with minimum impact, and what to watch for.
35

W
hile Australia’s rural regions are renowned In reality, there are far fewer poisonings from
for their gourmet food, thriving wineries and mushrooms in Australia than from other sources such as
weekend getaways, a new contender is fast regular household products. Media sensationalism around
gaining popularity – wild mushroom foraging. As the seasons fungus poisonings has not helped the status of fungi as
change and the earth slowly cools, fungi of every imaginable vitally significant organisms that underpin the functioning
colour, shape and form reveal themselves. With their earthy of terrestrial ecosystems.
fragrances of wet forest, mushrooms capture the essence of It is also in the interest of every forager to first and
autumn. Foraging presents minimal risk for those who adopt foremost be a fungal conservationist, to not just ensure
the attentive and cautious approach of ‘slow mushrooming’ the ongoing survival of their species of interest, but their
and have a keen awareness of the dangerously poisonous ecosystems and interactions with other species more broadly.
species that lurk among the edibles.
Edible fungi have been foraged for thousands of years Slow mushrooming
across the world, with Aboriginal Australians probably Fungi are many, varied and complex and take time to get
being among the first. Fungi are gathered not just for to know. Foragers must be able to accurately identify not
eating but for medicinal and spiritual uses. just their desired edible species, but similar looking toxic
Australia happens to have a megadiverse mycota species as well. Once identified, consult an expert to
(fungi) but in contrast to many European countries, where confirm edibility or toxicity.
there are centuries of knowledge on what is edible, there Alas, there is no such thing as a ten-point checklist of
are currently no Australian field guides that consistently characteristics that differentiate edible from toxic species.
and reliably indicate the edibility of different native fungus Nor is it possible to identify fungus species from images
species and very little research to determine which are alone. Rather, each species needs to be comprehensively
edible and which are toxic. known through close observation over time. This means
Over recent decades waves of different migrant groups being familiar with specific characteristics at different
from mycophilic (fungus-loving) nations have brought new developmental stages, as well as in different habitats
knowledge about edible fungi to Australia. However, this and in response to different environmental conditions.
does not always translate to a country where foragers This is the notion of ‘slow mushrooming’. Just like people,
encounter different fungus species and environments, fungi can be elusive and unpredictable and the same species
meaning migrants here are especially prone to poisoning. can appear in many different guises. It takes time to become
ORGANIC FORAGING

familiar with the associations between species and the

particular substrate types a species inhabits. Doing foraging
workshops involving experienced mushroomers is a good
way to start.
Your accumulative knowledge will gradually allow you
to anticipate where and when, and with what, a certain
species is likely to be found. It is better to know fewer
species comprehensively, than many species superficially.
Moreover, identifying fungi involves more than visual
observations and other senses also play a role.

The smell factor

While the odour of many fungi is often described as ‘indistinct’
or simply as ‘earthy’ or ‘mushroomy’, others are very distinct.
For example, the toxic yellow stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus),
which is often confused with field mushrooms such as
Agaricus campestris, has a distinctive smell of phenol that is
often described as being like iodine or antiseptic or as having
a ‘chemical edge’. It’s definitely not mushroomy or earthy.
Yet many people seem unable to detect this odour, partly
because of unfamiliarity and not knowing what to expect.
Meanwhile, some fungi are slightly fragrant or perfumed,
others smell fishy or like rotten meat, and yet others like
cucumber, radish, garlic, even curry powder. Also, be aware
that humans are often susceptible to persuasion. When
The chemical odour of the toxic
identifying fungi, be sure to trust your fungus-trained nose
yellow stainer is a clue that it’s more than someone who desperately wants their freshly
not to be added to your basket.
picked mushrooms to be edible.
36

watch out!

death cap
The first species every forager should
know and never confuse is the aptly named
death cap (Amanita phalloides). This poisonous
fungus is responsible for most deaths globally
from eating fungi. In Australia it grows in
association with various oak (Quercus)
species and is commonly found in parks
and gardens and nature strips.
Study this species very carefully and
take every opportunity to observe it in situ
to get a really good idea of its morphological
variability. Among the key diagnostic
features to watch out for are:
The pileus (cap) is often pale green but can be
yellowish, pale brown, cream or white.
Lamellae (gills) are white, crowded and free
from the stipe (stem).
The base of the stipe is bulbous with a saccate
PHOTOS: Alison Pouliot

volva (membranous cup).

Membranous annulus (ring) on stipe.
White spores. the deadly poisonous death
cap (Amanita phalloides)
Grows in soil.
 37

above: The saffron milk cap (Lactarius deliciosus)

Where to start has hollow stipes and saffron-coloured latex.
For those new to foraging, focus on easily identifiable species top right: Another feature of the saffron milk
cap is prominent green oxidisation.
such as saffron milk caps (Lactarius deliciosus), slippery jacks Right: note the distinctive pits or patches on
(Suillus luteus and S. granulatus), lawyer’s wigs (Coprinus the stipe of the Lactarius deliciosus.
comatus) and blewits (Lepista nuda), keeping in mind that you
must also be able to recognise their toxic lookalike species. Cortinarius. While all these fungi share some features with
Here are details on two easy edibles to start with, saffron the saffron milk cap and can appear superficially similar,
milk cap and lawyer’s wig. Oh, and a few pointers on none share them all. Make sure you can recognise the
terminology: pileus (cap); lamellae (gills); stipe (stem). following key features of the saffron milk cap:
Grows in soil in association with conifers.

Saffron milk cap Pileus starts out convex, then flattens and becomes
funnel-shaped with age.
One of the more popular and easily identifiable edible species Colour typically orange to pinkish-orange but generally
in Australia is the saffron milk cap (Lactarius deliciosus). It paler with age and drying.
grows in association with conifers and can be found in great Exudes bright orange latex when lamellae or flesh are broken.
abundance in Pinus radiata plantations. While its orange Green oxidisation of bruised or broken flesh.
colour makes it very conspicuous, it is very variable, hence Concentric rings on upper side of pileus.
an unreliable feature. Colour must always be considered Pits or darker coloured patches on the stipe.
in association with the morphology (or form) of a fungus. Decurrent lamellae (that run down the stipe).
Although the saffron milk cap seems like an easy species to Chalky textured and hollow stipe.
identify, some people still confuse it with toxic or potentially White spores.
toxic species such as Gymnopilus junonius, Paxillus involutus Often fruits several times between late summer and
Group, Austropaxillus infundibuliformis, Lactarius pubescens- late autumn.
torminosus Group and various orange-brown coloured Often fruits in great abundance in overlapping clusters.
ORGANIC FORAGING

Slow mushrooming manifesto

Keep in mind that while the careful removal of a If trying a species for the first time, only eat a
mushroom might not damage its mycelium (the small amount. Keep a whole specimen aside in case
underground growing and feeding part of the fungus), a professional mycologist needs to identify it in the
disturbance caused by trampling can crush mycelium, event of an allergic reaction or poisoning.
alter water filtration patterns, introduce pathogens Use a mirror to examine features on the underside
and damage fungus habitats. of fungi rather than picking them unnecessarily.
Also, remember that other creatures forage for fungi. Identify fungi in the field rather than bringing
In Australia, over 40 species of mammals are known to everything you find home and then separating
eat edible fungi. There are also uncountable invertebrates edible from toxic species.
that rely on fungi as food and habitat. Be aware of your potential to spread potentially
problematic organisms such as Phytophthora or
Practise slow mushrooming by learning the Favolaschia calocera. Disinfect your boots before
characteristics of one fungus, at different developmental entering and departing from areas at risk of infection.
stages, across several seasons. Never pick fungi that are rare or endangered.
For each of the edible species, learn all the toxic Do not collect fungi on public land without a permit
lookalike species. and always seek permission to collect on private land.
Tread lightly and cause no environmental damage – Think of others who enjoy seeing fungi and do not leave
that is, practise ecological foraging. fungi over turned. Be sure to discretely dispose of ‘offcuts’.
Do not eat wild-picked fungi raw. Submit records of your finds to data repositories
Collect only what you can eat that day, as fungi such as Fungimap or the Atlas of Living Australia. This
lose their flavour and also become bacterial very information contributes to the greater understanding
quickly. Leave plenty for native animals. of the distribution and ecology of Australia’s fungi.

38

PHOTOS: Alison Pouliot

CAN YOU PICK WHICH OF THE ABOVE FUNGI IS THE SAFFRON MILK CAP?
The edible saffron Milk cap (Lactarius deliciosus) is pictured at the far left on the bottom row. All the others are toxic species
(clockwise from the Top left): funnel pax (Austropaxillus infundibuliformis); cortinar (Cortinarius sp.); spectacular rustgill
(Gymnopilus junonius); woolly milkcap (Lactarius pubescens-torminosus group); poison pax (Paxillus involutus group).
 39

Lawyer’s wig
left: The lawyer’s wig (Coprinus comatus) is easily
identifiable with its shaggy cap.
above: Shows different developmental stages
Another popular and easily identifiable edible species in and deliquescing pileus of lawyer’s wig.
Australia is the lawyer’s wig (Coprinus comatus). Make
sure you can differentiate it from Coprinopsis atramentaria
and other lookalike species such as young Chlorophyllum
brunneum and C. molybdites. Here are some of the key
diagnostic features:
Resources
Distinctively oval, cylindrical to rounded-conical pileus; Websites
becomes bell-shaped as it expands, often with a flaring margin. Atlas of Living Australia: ala.org.au
Pileus margins deliquesce (liquefy) at maturity. Australian fungi: anbg.gov.au/fungi
Has white tufted ‘scales’ (universal veil remnants) that run Downloadable Australian fungus field guide:
down the pileus. fncv.org.au/fungi-in-australia
Pileus margin often becomes striate and tattered with age. Foragers code: britmycolsoc.org.uk/mycology/
Lamellae are free and very closely crowded; turning pinkish conservation/code-conduct
with age, then black. Fungimap: fungimap.org.au
Stipe white, hollow, up to 30cm long; centrally attached
to pileus; often tapering toward apex. Australian field guides
Stipe has a membranous partial veil that forms a small, Field Guide to Tasmanian Fungi, Genevieve Gates
fragile, white, movable annulus. and David Ratkowsky, The Tasmanian Field Naturalists
Can be found singly although often in scattered Club Inc, 2014.
or dense groups. Fungi Down Under: The Fungimap guide to Australian
Odour earthy or mushroomy. Fungi, Pat Grey and Ed Grey, Fungimap, 2005.
Spore print black. A Field Guide to the Fungi of Australia, Tony Young,
UNSW Press, 2005.
Ecologist and environmental photographer Alison
Pouliot is the author of The Allure of Fungi.
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PHOTOS: LENTIL PURBRICK
 ORGANIC HEALTH

Eat your
colours!
The experts say “eat more fruit and vegetables”,
but why? Lentil Purbrick investigates the
secret health-promoting components in the
colours of fruit and vegetables and how
you can get more into your diet.

N
ature gives back, and phytochemicals are one of the
clearest examples of this. The benefits of nurturing
our soils and plants, through natural and organic
growing principles are well known. But seldom do we see
such a direct correlation than we do with phytochemicals. 43
The word phytochemicals directly translates as ‘plant
chemicals’ – compounds found within plants which the
latter use to protect themselves from disease, fungal attack,
pests and other damage. Levels of phytochemicals are
highest in food-plants grown using natural methods,
as plants create more phytochemicals the more they
need to protect themselves and survive.
It turns out that these phytochemicals do the same for
us: they help us to regenerate our bodies and protect us
from disease, for example by acting as antioxidants that
neutralise free radicals and safeguard our immunity.
The ancient philosopher Hippocrates famously said “Let
food be thy medicine and medicine thy food”, and, although
science couldn’t at the time define this, he was in many
ways correct. Phytochemicals have been alluded to in
complementary healthcare such as Chinese and Ayurvedic
medicine but it was not until the 1980s that phytochemicals
were clearly identified and defined by science. We now
know so much about phytochemicals, including:
• they are found within all plant-based foods such as
fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole-grains, legumes/beans,
herbs/spices and oils;
• they fall outside the realms of vitamins, minerals,
macronutrients and fibre;
• they are not considered nutritionally essential but have
other beneficial qualities protective to our health;
• and, above all else, they help to protect our bodies
through antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial and
anti-cancer properties.
ORGANIC HEALTH

44 SOME MAIN PHYTOCHEMICALS, COLOURS AND BENEFITS

ALLICIN (white/cream/brown) CAROTENOIDS lutein & zeaxanthin healthy blood pressure, improve
Antimicrobial, antiviral and (green, including yellow/green). motor skills and memory, prevent the
a powerful antioxidant. Particularly beneficial to eye accumulation of bad bacteria within
health, protecting against macular the body, and reduce inflammation.
BETALAINS (red – beetroot) degeneration and cataracts. For example, the flavonoid Hesperidin
Predominately found in beetroot. works to reduce inflammation in the
Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and CHLOROPHYLL (green, including body and is found in citrus fruits.
detoxification support. Has been yellow/green) Anti-inflammatory,
seen to lessen tumour cell growth. wound-healing and detoxification. INDOLES (green cruciferous
vegetables). Improves breast health,
CAROTENOIDS beta-cryptoxanthin, FLAVANOID anthocyanin (blue/purple) supports the immune system, and
beta-carotene, and alpha-carotene Contains very high levels of detoxification of intestines and liver.
(yellow/orange). Converted into antioxidants. Seen to prevent
vitamin A, integral for vision, immune bacteria from attaching to cells, ISOTHIOCYANATES (green
function, skin and bone health, a great protect cells from damage, support cruciferous vegetables) Induce liver
antioxidant. May also play a part in healthy blood pressure and reduce enzymes to assist the body to remove
cancer prevention, in particular, lung, blood clotting. Reduces the risk of carcinogenic compounds, especially
oesophagus and stomach. It has also cancer, stroke and heart disease. in colon and bladder cancers.
been seen to reduce the risk of heart
disease and improve immune function. FLAVONOIDS (colourless) This is the RESVERATROL (blue/purple) Is an
largest class of phytochemicals with antioxidant, protects cells against
CAROTENOID lycopene (red). This is over 4000 types; these are in fact aging, controls cholesterol
PHOTOS: LENTIL PURBRICK

a powerful antioxidant seen to reduce largely colourless. In general, they production, protects the brain,
risk of some cancers, such as prostate. act as powerful antioxidants, help suppresses cancer cells.
Helps maintain healthy heart function the body to counteract free-radical
For a full colour chart with matching
and protect against heart attacks. formation, assist in maintaining produce and growing ideas, see page 47.
It’s in the colour
We also know that it comes down to colour – put simply, it
is phytochemicals that give our plant foods their colour
(see chart on page 47). And yet so much is still unknown.
Although more than 5000 individual phytochemicals have
been identified – a large percentage have not and we do not
fully understand how they are absorbed, stored and used in
our bodies. Recent research suggests, however, that the
phytochemicals in different plant foods may be complementary
to each other and also that our bodies may not be able to
store them long-term – emphasising the health advice
to have a daily diet rich and varied in plant foods.

Soil depletion
The question is, are we getting enough phytochemicals in our
diets every day? With depleted and chemically affected soils
dominating our land, and processed foods dominating the
grocery shelves making diets increasingly ‘beige’, we are now
understanding the implications for our health. There is a known
correlation between high fruit and vegetable consumption
and reduced chronic disease with at least one third of all
cancers and half of all cardiac diseases related to diet.
As mentioned, it is phytochemicals that provide us with
protective effects, with each one working differently,
whether protecting our cells and or fighting disease. These
extensive and varied functions mean diversity in our diets is
the key. Unfortunately, on average in Australia, only 5 per
cent of adults eat enough fruits and vegetables every day.
A sufficient intake for adults is defined as 2 serves of
fruit, 5–6 serves of vegetables with, for instance, one serve
equalling ½ cup of cooked pumpkin or one tomato; and fruit
equalling 1 small apple or orange. The prevention of so
many chronic diseases and cancers could be as simple as
introducing more plant-based foods into our diets, not
only for the known benefits of macronutrients, vitamins,
minerals and fibre, but phytochemicals, too. So, how can
we grow and eat more of them every day?

Top food plants to grow for phytochemicals

Use colours to guide your garden, which will in turn guide a
diet rich in phytochemicals. As a general rule, the darker/deeper
the colour, the more phytochemicals. But of course, there
are exceptions to this, such as garlic which has little colour.
Refer to the chart on page 47 to see what plants contain.

‘Growing’ phytochemicals
With chemical fertilisers, artificial light and soilless
vegetable production becoming increasingly popular, what
are the unseen effects on our foods? There is evidence
suggesting that cultivation techniques do affect levels of
phytochemicals. Here are some ideas to optimise the
benefits of phytochemicals for you and the planet.
• First and foremost: The genetic background of the plant
can be a primary determining factor. There are genotypic
variations between cultivars, and it is suggested heirloom
cultivars naturally have higher levels of phytochemicals
compared to modern cultivars.
• Organics: One theory is that organic plants have to create
 more phytochemicals to protect themselves from pests and freezing and boiling has been seen to decrease phytochemicals
46 diseases and therefore, at the time of harvest, contain more in some fruits and vegetables. So try cooking vegetables for
phytochemicals. Conversely, it’s believed the use of pesticides less time and include some raw foods in your diet. Also, the
can decrease the number of phytochemicals in fruit and veg. longer you store produce, the more phytochemicals are lost.
• Seasonality: The formation of phytochemicals is Make your own sauces and preserves: Such as tomato
temperature dependent, so growing vegetables in season, in sauce and passata.
their most ideal environments, will give peak phytochemicals. Add essentials: Look for innovative ways to include
For example, phytochemical b-carotene was found to be essentials such as garlic, onions, chives, parsley and other
highest in broccoli grown at a daily mean temperature of herbs in meals.
16.5°C and carrots at a daily mean temperature of 18°C. Meat-free days: if you are not vegan or vegetarian, reduce
• Soil: To create these phytochemicals, in essence, they need meat meals and introduce new plant-based foods into your diet.
to have complex soils full of rich organic matter and a The colourful plate: Make your meals colourful, an easy way
diversity of micro flora and fauna. to ensure you’re getting a mixture of phytochemicals. Avoid
• Light: High levels of natural light increase phytochemicals in ‘beige’ foods and those with supplemented phytochemicals.
food plants, in particular, a category called phenols (flavonoids, Eat all parts: Phytochemicals may differ in the skin, leaves
phenolic acids, polyphenols – all great antioxidants). and flesh of fruit and vegetables, so eat all parts. For
• Water and stressors: Introducing just a little bit of stress to instance, they differ in the skin and flesh of eggplants.
your plants, for example backing off their watering, has been Make sure your diet is focused on plant-based foods in
seen to double the phytochemicals in some plants – such as general, beyond just fruit and vegies: beans/legumes,
broccoli (doubling the phytochemical glucosinolate). wholegrains, green and black tea, cocoa, nuts and seeds.
• Taste bonus: It is thought by some that plants with more
phytochemicals taste better.
More information and references
Top diet tips • I Can Eat A Rainbow, A Karmel, 2009 (great for children).
As mentioned, the more varied and colourful the plant foods • What Color Is Your Diet?, D Heber, 2002.
we eat, the better. Here are tips for maximising a healthy intake. • Fruit and Vegetable Phytochemicals: Chemistry and Human
PHOTOS: LENTIL PURBRICK

Fermented foods: It’s suggested the absorption of Health, 2 Volumes, 2nd Edition, EM Yahia (ed), 2017.
phytochemicals is related to our gut microflora/bacteria – • ‘Health-promoting components of Fruits and Vegetables
so eating fermented vegetables that improves our guts in the Diet’, RH Lui, Advances in Nutrition, 2013 May
will give us multiple benefits. 1;4(3):384S-92S.
Limit cooking time and include raw: Steaming, drying, For more references, see organicgardener.com.au/resources.
 ORGANIC HEALTH

colour chart
Colour Primary Fruit and veg containing Growing ideas: heirlooms
phytochemicals these phytochemicals for more/diverse
(REFER TO page 44) phytochemicals
RED CAROTENOID: #1: Tomatoes: The most concentrated Vine-ripened tomatoes have been
Lycopene source of lycopene. found to have the highest levels of
FLAVANOIDS Also: watermelon, apples, cherries, phytochemicals.
beetroots, red pepper, radicchio, pink
grapefruit, pink guava, red carrots
RED An anomaly BETALAINS #1: Beetroot. Yellow beetroots also contain lutein.
- the special case Also: coloured Swiss chard, red
of beetroots. amaranth, cactus fruits

BLUE/PURPLE FLAVANOID: #1: Blueberries. The darker the blue hue, the higher the
(sometimes also Anthocyanin Also: eggplants, cranberries, phytochemicals! Variety ideas: Blood
with a pink/red RESVERATROL blackberries, prunes, plums, Plums, Red Drumhead cabbage.
hue) OTHER FLAVANOIDS pomegranates, purple grapes, purple
cabbage, mulberries
GREEN (including CAROTENOIDS: #1: Dark kale. Dark coloured varieties, for richer
yellow/green) lutein & zeaxanthin. Also: pistachio nut skin, avocado, phytochemicals: Cavalo Nero (Lacinto
CHLOROPHYLL kiwifruit, leafy greens, summer squash, kale), Upland Cress. Varieties to grow,
spinach, kale, lettuce, green peas, that contain other colours, for more
Brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, phytochemical variety: red Brussels
turnip greens, collard greens, sprouts, red or white kale.
tomatoes (yellow and green)
GREEN As above, but have All cruciferous vegetables are Romanesco cauliflower, violet broccoli
CRUCIFEROUS specific additional considered high in these, and include and green cauliflower: all contain
VEGETABLES anticancer anything in the brassica family, such higher levels of phytochemicals indole
phytochemicals as: rocket, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels and glucosinolates as compared to
Also: INDOLES sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, more common green broccoli.
ISOTHIOCYANATES collard greens, kale, radish, turnips,
watercress, wasabi, horseradish
YELLOW/ CAROTENOIDS: #1: Carrots and sweet potatoes. Plant colourful carrot varieties,
ORANGE beta-cryptoxanthin, Also: mangos, peaches, pineapple, for both carotenoids and other
beta-carotene and orange capsicum, corn, rockmelon, phytochemicals: purple dragon carrots
alpha-carotene winter squash, pumpkins, apricots, (anthocyanin); red carrots (lycopene);
red and orange tomatoes yellow carrots (lutein and xanthophylls).
WHITE/CREAM/ ALLICIN #1 for allicin: garlic Varieties, with colour as well:
BROWN FLAVONOIDS #1 for isothiocyanates / indoles: green onions and red onions - also
ISOTHIOCYANATES cauliflower contain high levels of phytochemical
INDOLES #1 flavonoids: onions. quercetin. Red and Norkotah potatoes
Also: chives, leeks, onions, are seen to have super high phenolic
garlic, cauliflower, turnips, levels similar to broccoli. Red and
mushrooms, potatoes, bananas, purple-fleshed potatoes also
pears, Jerusalem artichoke contain anthocyanins.
THE HIDDEN FLAVONOIDS Some #1s: Blueberries, strawberries, *For full details of the phytochemicals
PHYTOCHEMICAL apples, onions, citrus fruits, berries, mentioned, see page 44.
THAT IS grapes, broccoli, spinach, kale and
COLOURLESS leafy greens, cranberries, celery,
capsicums, lettuce, beetroots,
Brussels sprouts, parsley
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 BEEKEEPING

49

Nature’s Einsteins
honey bees are the generous Einsteins of the insect world, writes
Reese Halter, with marvellous brains and human-like behaviours.

W
hen we think of bees, mostly it’s honeybees and in We also owe a debt of gratitude to approximately
Australia, native bees, but there are some 20,000 1.7 trillion honeybees globally that provide about 20 million
species around the globe and all are breathtaking kilos of beeswax and 1.6 billion kilos of honey and medicines.
pollinators. Their splendid array of products and services are
life sustaining not just for us, but also the planet. Beyond Medicinal marvels
their extraordinary gifts and medicines, these indefatigable Honey is a proven antiseptic, renowned for its antibacterial
buzzing workers provide clues to advance our understanding properties, which is why some modern bandage companies
of brain science through their own sophisticated physiology. line their products with diluted traces of honey. It also
Pollinators, including bees, hoverflies, bats and a host contains vitamins, such as B2 (riboflavin), B6 and C, as well
of other creatures, facilitate a whopping 75 per cent of the as pantothenic acid and niacin. The goodness of honey also
food crops necessary to feed 7.7 billion humans. Almost includes essential minerals: calcium, phosphorus, potassium,
2000 native Australian bee species assist the European iron, copper, manganese, magnesium and sulfur. Some of
domesticated honeybees in pollinating our crops. Each year these minerals in the specific concentrations found in honey
globally, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization amazingly mimic the concentration of blood serum.
PHOTOS: ISTOCK

(FAO) of the United Nations, the pollinators account for as Several years ago, scientists observed honeybees biting
much as US$577 billion in commerce. From apples to coffee parasites but not killing them. It turns out that bee bites
and scrumptious chocolate bars or pastries, bees are the key. contain chemicals that stun pests, making it easier to eject
 Honey bees, like people,
learn while they are asleep
and some UK scientists concede
that they may even dream!

50
above: beehives contain a whole lot of goodness, from the honey they
these bloodsuckers from the colony. It was thought that produce to an anti-bacterial compound called propolis made from tree resin.
these ‘stun’ chemicals may have an important role in human
medicine as an effective anaesthetic offering an alternative that affect a bee’s likelihood of being a thrill seeker. Some
to lidocaine, which some patients are allergic to. honeybee brain neurons are responsible for giving distinct
Honeybees also make glue for their hives from tree resin, personalities, according to Professor Gene Robinson of the
mixing it with their own enzymes. This pungent glue is called University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
propolis, and it contains strong antiviral, anti-inflammatory, Getting a good night’s rest is not just important for
antifungal, antibacterial and cancer-fighting compounds. people – without it, bees may forget activities that should
Propolis contains effective secondary plant metabolites that be automatic. Worker honeybees require an eight-hour rest
scavenge the human body to rid it of free radicals, helping keep in order to perform optimally, seven days a week, from
us healthy. Not only will propolis help heal a sore throat, it sun-up to sundown. If they don’t get good sleep they can get
effectively treats the herpes simplex virus. There is a widely disorientated when out foraging and even lose their way.
available propolis-based ointment that treats all stages of The worker bees probably need better pay and conditions,
a cold sore from the initial prickle, or blisters, through to as after 800 kilometres of flying and visiting one million
healing the lesions. The astounding strength of propolis and a flowers or so, their wings wear out and they die! All within
compound it produces, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, has been about six weeks.
shown to halt the growth of prostate cancer in mice. Propolis
clearly shows promise as a co-treatment for humans.(1) Fast learners
Honeybees have such remarkable brains that the Queensland
Brainy bees Brain Institute, at the University of Queensland, devotes an
The complexity of both honey and propolis is only surpassed entire program to understanding them. Scientists have made
by the amazing honeybee brain, which possesses a memory some stunning discoveries – among them that bees learn just
for time. These little mathematicians can add, subtract, count like we do. They are top-down learners, meaning that they
to five and be trained to return at regular feeding intervals.(2) respond rather than react.
Honeybees also vote. These golden Einstein’s can even Honeybees, like people, learn while they are asleep and
recognise an individual human face. some UK scientists concede they may even dream! It has also
Honeybees and people share genetic similarities. been found that a bee can see both an individual tree and the
Some thrill-seeking honeybees, just like people, are drawn to forest at the same time. That’s an astonishing feat, which a
adventure. There are more than 1000 genetic differences human eye cannot duplicate.
 BEEKEEPING

Consider that honeybees have about 1 million

neurons in their brain cortex. Compare that to elephants with
approximately 11 billion, orcas about 10.5 billion and humans
between 11.5 and 16 billion. An individual honeybee brain has
a number of different types of neurons with similar traits
to those of an elephant, orca and human – all species with
complex brains that live in complex societies.

We need bees
Bees pollinate more than 330,000 flowering plant species,
or, about 85 per cent of the plant kingdom; they must be
protected at all costs. That means bolstering Australia’s
frontline detection to prevent entry of the deadly varroa
mite, which is decimating honeybees on all other continents.
Currently, Australia supplies queen honeybees’ free-of-
varroa to the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, widespread use of a class of insecticides
known as neonicotinoids, or neonics, has wreaked havoc
with the bees and many, many other insects around the
globe. At two dozen parts per billion, neonics cause bees
to lose their minds and shake to death, eerily similar to
human symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
In June last year, French beekeepers held a symbolic
funeral in Paris protesting the use of pesticides.
Climate change is also having significant effects. Higher
temperatures with longer lasting heatwaves are deadly for
both plants and bees as evidenced by the honey drought of
2013-14 across Australia. Its yet another compelling reason
to switch from fossil fuels to a zero-combustion economy 51
poste haste.

Reigniting our connection

Today, as bees strike trouble globally, those in tune are
coming to their rescue, fostering a relationship that has
been going on for centuries. Throughout the ages, people
and honeybees have shared an inseparable bond, deeper
than many may imagine.
In ancient mythology, bees were considered sacred
insects that could connect the natural world with the
afterlife. There is also the traditional custom, most
common in the 19th century, of “telling the bees”,
where important events in a beekeeper’s life had to be
communicated to the bees, whether marriage, births
or deaths. For the latter, black cloth was sometimes
draped over the hives. There is a lovely story about this
PHOTOS: ISTOCK/TOP RIGHT: THE BEE FRIEND BY HANS THOMAS

in the online publication Jstor Daily,(3) which quotes

New England Quaker writer John Greenleaf Whittier’s
1858 poem ‘Telling the Bees’.
In 1976, US paper The Gadsden Times (4) ran an intriguing
story that tells of two instances where bees had attended top: A painting entitled ‘the bee friend’ by Hans thomas (1863/1864).
bottom: the 20,000 species of bees around the globe are amazing pollinators.
their beekeeper’s funeral – arriving for the service and
then leaving once their beekeeper had been buried.
With the help of science we are learning more and References
more about these extraordinary creatures, and so 1. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3634405/
2. theconversation.com/can-bees-do-maths-yes-new-research-shows-they-
potentially more about ourselves. But it seems humans can-add-and-subtract-108074
are naturally being drawn again to their wonders. It’s a 3. daily. jstor.org/telling-the-bees/
growing beekeeping and bee-nurturing revolution that 4. news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1891&dat=19760808&id=
bJdGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oP0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5174,1119343
everyone can be a part of.
 ORGANIC GROW

It’s a jungle in here

Our living rooms are being taken over by plants – and it’s good
for us in many different ways! Justin Russell explains how to get
started, what to choose and how to care for your plants.
53

T
he world of indoor plants has been revitalised, and a University of Melbourne and RMIT to conduct research into
new breed of collectors is racking up some mighty the way indoor plants affect people in their homes and
impressive numbers – in their homes and on social workplaces. Their Plant Life Balance study showed that
media. Horticulturalist and self-described “strange plant just five plants in a room can improve indoor air quality by
lady” Jane Rose Lloyd has 200 plants in her Dandenongs 75 per cent and can increase the feeling of wellbeing of
home and 24,000 followers on Instagram. Melbourne those inhabiting the space by 60 per cent. Ten plants in a
architect and indoor plant nut Jason Chongue has 400+ room could increase the benefits to 100 per cent.
plants in his little worker’s cottage, and his nursery The Indoor plants can even create habitats for wildlife. In the
Plant Society has 48,000 Instagram followers. US “eco lounge room of my previous house we grew a peperomia in a
model” and entrepreneur Summer Rayne Oakes has 700 self-watering pot. Amazingly, in the base of the pot, a colony
or so plants (and one live chicken) in her jungle-like Brooklyn of Naked Tree Frogs (Litoria rubella) took up residence.
apartment and has 70,000 Instagram followers. Every night for years, half a dozen or so would jump down
Go back a decade and it was a struggle to even find an from the pot, hop across the floor, squeeze through a gap
indoor plant at your local nursery. They were poor sellers, under the front door and go outside for a night of foraging
considered naff, a hobby to be enjoyed by your grandma at before returning to the pot to hang out during the day.
the retirement village. But thanks to a combination of factors During the mating season the calls coming from the pot
like positive scientific research, a growing trend toward were sometimes so loud we couldn’t hear the telly!
apartment living and the viral power of social media, there
has been a massive resurgence of interest in growing indoor Start small
plants. And the best bit is that people aren’t just growing Habitat, mental wellbeing, indoor air quality – they’re all
house plants for the purpose of interior decorating – they’re pretty compelling reasons to fill your home with plants and
learning that it feels good to be connected with plants and create an indoor jungle. But please accept a gentle word of
to revel in their care. After all, we’re nurtured as we nurture. caution. Many plants make for lots of work and, when things
go wrong, lots of death and destruction. Potted indoor plants
PHOTO: ARMELLE HABIB

The joy of nurturing rely on you, the gardener, for everything. Even the most
This nurturing is both physical and psychological. A few years easy-care varieties need some water and nourishment, so
ago, Horticulture Innovation Australia collaborated with the it pays to start small, and to think of house plants a bit like
you would a pet. Care for them well and they’ll return the
Interior designer jason chongue shows how decorative plants can be. love with many years of health and happiness.
 5 EASY CARE &
5 RARE VARIETIES
Easy Care (left top to bottom)
Peperomia species (Radiator Plant). Almost
1 unkillable, easy to propagate. My favourite
is Peperomia obtusifolia, but there are 100s
of species and cultivars to choose from.
Epipremnum aureum (Devil’s Ivy). The indoor
2 hanging plant par excellence. One of Jason
Chongue’s favourites.
Rhapis excelsa (Lady Palm). Tolerant of less
3 than perfect light, long lived and perpetually
good looking.
Ficus lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig). From zero to hero,
4 they’re now as common as muck, but plants
become common for a reason. In the case of fiddle
leaf figs, it’s that they’re dead easy to grow.
Sansevieria species (Mother-in-Law’s Tongue).
5 One of the most colourfully named plants in
existence, Sansevieria is super drought tolerant
and has a wonderful sculptural presence.
54
Rarities (right top to bottom)
Sedum morganianum (Donkey’s Tail). A weird,
1 jade green succulent that produces long, trailing
stems vaguely reminiscent of a donkey’s tail.
Perfect for a shelf or hanging planter.
Wollemia nobilis (Wollemi Pine). Fancy keeping
2 a living fossil in your lounge room? You can with
the Wollemi pine, which dates back to the ancient
supercontinent Gondwana.
Fatsia japonica (Japanese Aralia). A stunning
3 plant featuring bold, palmate foliage splashed
with white. Best near a cool, south-facing window.
Variegated leaf varieties are also available.
Pilea peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant).
4 A sought-after plant thanks to its bright green,
pancake shaped leaves that look superb against
a white wall.
Tacca chantrieri (Bat Plant). One of the trickier
5 indoor plants to grow, but if you can crack the
ideal conditions (bright light and high humidity –
mist, mist, mist) you’ll be rewarded with out-of-
this-world flowers that look like a bat in flight.
 ORGANIC GROW

Think like a plant

Another point worth considering is climate change. Our
houses are becoming more extreme. Humidity levels
boom during major rain events (mould anyone?), then
plummet during drought. Summers are getting hotter
and in some areas frosts are becoming more common in
winter. Air conditioning and heating can also make for
very inhospitable growing conditions.
I’m not suggesting you avoid growing indoor plants, just
that it’s important to choose carefully. The best way to do
this is to learn to think like a plant, and the way to get there
is through research. For each species you’re interested in
growing, it’s worth doing a quick search to get a handle on
where and how it grows in the wild – allowing you to mimic
the plant’s favoured growing conditions inside your home.
For example, a plant that grows naturally on the
rainforest floor, is likely to prefer moist, well-nourished soil,
low light levels and humidity. Regular misting will keep
humidity lovers happy. By contrast, if a plant grows naturally
in dry, dappled shade beneath deciduous trees, it will prefer
higher light levels, especially in winter, and is likely to
tolerate slightly drier soil than its rainforest counterpart.
Peperomias have lovely bright green leaves and are very hardy.

Water watch
Watering is the easiest thing to get wrong when growing
potted indoor plants. It’s way too easy to kill a pot plant with
kindness, overwatering to the point that the soil becomes a
swamp, the roots rot and the plant carks it. Often the first
signs of overwatering are browning leaves, which to the 55
untrained eye can look similar to drying leaves. Many
gardeners see these browning leaves, add more water
and make the problem worse.
Except for those plants that like continual moisture
(wasabi, described on the next page, is a classic example),
the best rule of thumb when deciding whether or not to
water is to literally – use your thumb. Poke it into the
potting mix to a depth of your knuckle. If the mix feels dry,
add water. If it’s moist, wait a day or two. Go around the
house watering plant to plant if you must, or for convenience
sake, put a bunch of plants in a plastic tray, carry it to
the shower and give everything a good drink.

Potting mix and fertiliser Quick Problem Solver

While we’re on the topic of potting mix, promise me you’ll
Leaves develop crisp brown edges = underwatering.
avoid the cheapo bags of mix that hang around supermarket
Increase the frequency of watering. The picture
check-outs. These are cheap for a reason – they’re second-
PHOTOS: (OPPOSITE) ISTOCK; (THIS PAGE) JUSTIN RUSSELL.

above shows a Monstera with crisp brown leaf

rate. Choose instead a premium quality mix that has a better
edges from underwatering.
blend of ingredients. You can pick them by the red quality
assurance ticks on the bag. Note that certified organic mixes Leaves develop soft brown edges = overwatering.
are available, and make sure you match the right mix for the Let the pot dry out a bit before watering
plant you’re growing. Epiphytic orchids and many bromeliads,
Pale or yellowing leaves = a lack of photosynthesis
for example, grow in the crotch of tree branches or on rock
caused by very low light or a starving plant. Move to
ledges, places where there’s sharp drainage and little, if any
a brighter position or fertilise.
soil. They grow best in a specific orchid potting mix. Similarly,
if you’re growing a plant that likes acidic soil, such as azaleas Yellow patches appearing on foliage = likely to be
or camellias, you’ll get the best results with an acidic potting sap sucking pests such as scale, mites or mealy bugs.
mix. Then again, some plants, the tillandsias and other “air Spray with organic horticultural oil.
plants”, need no potting mix to grow.
ORGANIC GROW

FIVE EDIBLE
INDOOR PLANTS
Ginger species. Ginger, turmeric and galangal
1 can all be grown in a warm, brightly lit position.
Turmeric makes for the showiest house plant.
Betel leaf. Two species are used in Asian cuisine
2 – Piper betle, a vine, and Piper sarmentosum, a
trailing perennial. Both can be grown indoors, but
the latter has a milder flavour.
Coffea arabica (Coffee). Yes, you can grow
3 coffee indoors, no you won’t get enough beans
for a regular supply, but for the novelty factor,
why not give it a go. Tea lover? Try growing
Camellia sinensis.
Laurus nobilis (Bay Leaf). Best near a north-
4 facing window or regularly given time outside.
Eutrema japonicum (Wasabi). Bright shade,
5 daily watering and
cool humidity are
Plant stands make care and watering easier, even for littlies.

Once the nutrients in potting mix have been taken up by

the keys to wasabi your plant you’ll need to replace them by adding fertiliser.
56 This is where it pays to go organic. Synthetic fertilisers feed
growing success. All
the plant, but they do little to nourish the beneficial
parts of the plant are bacteria and fungi that eventually inhabit potting mix.
edible but the stems Certified organic products such as slow release pellets
are the main prize. and liquid fish do both – they provide essential nutrients for
the plant in the short term, and they offer the soil organisms
leaves, stems and flowers something to eat over the longer term. As these organisms
of wasabi are edible. flourish, reproduce, die and decompose, they help build a
stable soil ecosystem that can nurture plants over many
years. I have plants in my home that have been in the same
pot and the same, original potting mix for more than a decade
Information, inspiration – I’m pleased to say that they’re healthy and happy.
and suppliers
We suggest you look locally at nurseries and markets, Contain your enthusiasm
as well as check out your friends’ plant collections. Almost any container can be used to house a plant –
Home of Houseplants (online nursery): everything from recycled tins and jars to beautifully created
homeofhouseplants.com.au ceramic pots. Of key importance, though, is that most plants
Plants in a Box (online nursery): plantsinabox.com.au need good drainage. Make sure containers have holes in the
Plantsmith (online nursery and inspo): plantsmith.net.au base and to avoid water damage to furniture and floors, use
The Botanic Grocer (online nursery and inspo): a waterproof saucer. Cover pots, which are designed so that
thebotanicgrocer.com.au; @_strangeplantlady plastic pots can be inserted into the decorative container,
Greener House (plants, supplies, inspo): allow for easy switching of plants and avoid problems with
greenerhousenursery.com.au; @greener_house overwatering and mess. Self-watering containers have come
The Plant Society (plants, supplies, inspo and a long way. They are beneficial for plants that like continual
book Plant Society): theplantsociety.com.au; access to moisture and come in handy when it’s holiday time.
@jasonchongue Use plant stands and hangers to display your plants and
Homestead Brooklyn (advice): homesteadbrooklyn.com create interest with varying heights and compositions. There
Mr Kitly (supplies and inspo + book Indoor Green: are now lots of wheeled stands available so you can easily
Living with Plants): mrkitly.com.au; @mrkitly move a single or group of plants, say into a sunny spot in
winter or into different positions on a balcony.
 Jason Chongue’s layering tips
When curating plants, always play with height, size and leaf texture to create interesting
PHOTO: ARMELLE HABIB (MAIN AND TOP LEFT), ISTOCK

groupings. It’s also good to create little ‘plant families’ by grouping your plants according to their
light and watering needs. This makes caring for them easier. An example of a grouping with similar
care needs is: peace lilies, fruit salad plants, Swiss cheese vines, devil’s ivy and
queen of hearts. Another good grouping is radiator plant, begonia, fiddle leaf
fig and peacock plant. Choose a few plants to be the ‘heroes’ and complement
them with plainer plants. For example, a variegated Monstera, with its unusually
patterned leaves, should be the focus amongst plants with plainer foliage, such
as a Philodendron cordatum.
This small extract is from Plant Society by Jason Chongue (published
Height, texture and
size play a big part in by Hardie Grant Books, RRP $29.99, vailable in stores nationally).
jason’s plant collection.
58

in conversation with
bruce pascoe
Penny Woodward talks to Bruce Pascoe about his award-winning
book Dark Emu, which challenges assumptions that Aboriginal
people were hunter gatherers who didn’t farm the land.

: Your book Dark Emu was first published in 2014.

B
ruce Pascoe is a Bunurong man of the Kulin nation,
Q
PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON/RUMMIN PRODUCTIONS

born in Richmond, Victoria. He’s a member of the Have you been surprised by its reception, or was
Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative of southern this what you were hoping for when you wrote it?
Victoria and has been the director of the Australian Studies : I didn’t know it would be made into a ballet* and all
Project for the Commonwealth Schools Commission. In
2016, Dark Emu won the Book of the Year Award and the
A that sort of thing, and I didn’t know that it would be
reprinted so many times. But I had been talking about the
Indigenous Writer’s Prize in the NSW Premier’s Literary issues covered in the book around the country, so I knew the
Awards. In Dark Emu, Pascoe outlines a persuasive case excitement with which they had been accepted by Australians
that First Nations Australians farmed their land, lived in and I knew the mood of the country was changing. It seemed
villages, built shelter, harvested crops, created complex to me that the book was being used as a vehicle to express
aquaculture systems and more. a want for change.
 ORGANIC CONVERSATION

: The depth of the scholarship and research

Q needed to produce and write Dark Emu is evident
in every page. Were you surprised at the extent of
the ‘re-writing’ of Aboriginal history you discovered?
: I was deeply shocked, there was so much evidence The Uluru Statement is such
A pointing to the need to revise the Australian attitude
to the Aboriginal past that I was truly amazed at how easy
a modest statement, it actually
it was in Australia to completely rewrite history. It just meant
that educators and professors and historians had decided
doesn’t ask for much.
this stuff wasn’t going to be part of the public discourse.
I was completely shocked by that, and I think all Australians
ought to be because they had information about the
country [and Aboriginal people] that told a different story.
I was deeply shocked by the omission of that material.
: And is this slowly changing view also helping
How the historians could find the Aboriginal past to be
of no interest at all is deeply shocking too because it
goes to the heart of scholarship.
Q Aboriginal people value their own history in
a way they may not have in the past?
: I don’t think it changes the way Aboriginal people view

Q : What can Australia and Australians learn

from your book?
A themselves, I think it might provide Aboriginal people
with a bit of ammunition to fight back. But I think Aboriginal
: It’s pretty obvious if you read the book or just go and people were already pretty confident about the worth of
A look at the resources I used, that it (Aboriginal society]
was a really complex society. There’s so much to be gained
their culture. I think it helps us rediscover some of the old
skills. But I’m also hoping that we as nation can build on those
for Australia in learning from our past, because Aboriginal things, and I’m also very hopeful that we as a nation can make
59
people had a relationship with the soil, which was much more sure that Aboriginal people are included in that rediscovery.
positive. There is so much to be gained also from treating
: What are your thoughts about the Uluru
Australia like Australia, rather than Europe; there is a huge
advantage in looking at Australian plants with all their
adaptive abilities to Australian conditions. And there’s
Q Statement From the Heart,** and where do you
want the discussion and actions to go in the future?
the environmental advantage in using Australian plants. : The Uluru Statement is such a modest statement, it
I mention in the book that many of the grains I talk about
are perennials, and they sequester carbon.
A actually doesn’t ask for much. It’s basically asking for
recognition. It’s such a modest document that embraces the
The other big thing for me is that Aboriginal people had non-Aboriginal world and I can’t see how the governments
formed a government which was predicated on everybody can ignore it. I’m very positive, I think we can make change
being fed, and everybody being housed, everyone taking part in the country if we look very carefully at the old Aboriginal
in the culture and everyone being cared for. We are just lore, then we might also wonder whether the current
humans, so of course there were times when those things ways we govern ourselves, economically and socially,
were not attended to, but in general terms, Aboriginal people is this the right way? Is this the best that human beings
lived communally and never went to war for land. Just to can do? What we need is co-operation; [as a society]
contemplate a society where those things are the basis of we have a great desire for co-operation.
a culture, could be useful in this world that is torn by war.

: Is the reconsideration of Aboriginal history, and

Q telling the true stories of pre-colonial Aboriginal
life, changing the way Aboriginal people are viewed? * Bangarra dance company premiered Dark Emu at the Sydney
: I think the younger generations are more open to
A these ideas. But even yesterday at a conference one
of the speakers was deriding Aboriginal culture, deriding
Opera House last year.
** A constitutional convention in 2017 brought together over 250
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders at the foot of Uluru
the need to make some kind of redress. Saying there was in Central Australia, where the majority resolved, in the ‘Uluru
no invasion, no war. This is the only country on earth Statement from the Heart’, to call for the establishment of a
where no reparation has ever been made. ‘First Nations Voice’ in the Australian Constitution (and more).
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 ORGANIC HOME

Heat it up
Simon Webster investigates the best options for energy-efficient
hot water systems, especially the latest, high-tech heat pumps.

N
ot so long ago, if you wanted an efficient hot water Of course, not everyone is keeping a keen eye on the
system, there was one stand-out technology: solar latest developments in sustainable water heating. By 2014
thermal. Thanks in part to incentives such as rebates solar hot water was still being used only by one in 10
offered by the Kevin Rudd government back in 2009, the Australian households, [1] with 56 per cent using electricity
rooftop glass panels and water tanks became a relatively for their hot water, and 38 per cent using gas. Part of the
common sight in Australia’s suburbs. reason for the low uptake is that the majority of hot water
Solar hot water systems are still available, and still do a systems installed are emergency replacements, says Damien
great job. But in recent years a couple of developments have Moyse, policy and research manager with Renew, previously
shaken things up. Firstly, heat pumps have got over their tech known as the Alternative Technology Association.
PHOTO: ISTOCK

teething problems and become a genuine rival to solar hot “About 60 per cent of hot water systems get installed on
water. And secondly, the plummeting cost of installing solar the day or the day after someone rings and says my hot
photovoltaics (PVs) has thrown a new element into the equation. water system is dead,” Moyse says. “There’s not much
ORGANIC HOME

“All these things have been overcome in the past five or

six years. There’s a plethora of products on the market, and
a lot of them are very good. The good ones are very efficient,
they work in climates down to minus-10 degrees, they aren’t
noisy, are reliable and they are quite a bit cheaper than most
solar hot water systems, particularly gas-boosted ones.”
Heat pumps require electricity. But compared to traditional
resistive electric water heaters, they can reduce annual hot
water energy requirements by 50 to 78 per cent, according
to Renew. And they are even cheaper to run if you have solar
PVs on your roof; just set your pump on a timer so it comes
on for, say, a couple of hours during the day when you are
producing your own power, and override the timer to use grid
power only if you need to. (If you don’t have PVs, you can set
the heat pump to come on during off-peak hours or on demand.)
All these benefits haven’t gone unnoticed by the public,
says Ben Cole, founder and director of Melbourne-based solar
and hot water system supplier NewGen Solar & Heat Pumps.
Whereas NewGen’s hot water system sales used to be
almost exclusively solar, four years ago heat pump sales
overtook solar system sales, and today account for 90 per
cent of the hot water systems that the company installs. “It’s
getting harder to make a case for solar hot water,” Cole says.
“Heat pumps are generally cheaper and work hand in hand
with solar power. And with more solar power going to be
installed in the future, heat pumps are more futureproof, too.”
Heat pumps can be integrated units (with pump and tank
together) or split. You can also get pumps that draw heat from
62 the ground, rather than the air, but these are more expensive.
Note: heat pumps do make some noise. While many new
models are much quieter than heat pumps of old, they still
have similar sound levels to quiet outdoor air-conditioners,
says John Caley, director of engineering with Ecological
Design, a Sydney-based homes sustainability assessment
and advice service. “If they’re outside a bedroom and they
come on at night, that could be disturbing,” Caley says.
Top: A heat pump with tank and
Finally, a note on refrigerants: many heat pumps use
pump separated. Heat pumps have hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which can have greenhouse-gas-
improved vastly in recent years.
producing potential if they leak or are dumped illegally. But
bottom: Rooftop solar hot water
systems are still great technology. these are being phased out, and increasingly manufacturers
are using less harmful hydrocarbons, and in some cases the
thinking gone into what’s the best solution for the long term.” even more benign carbon dioxide.
But with hot water accounting for 21 per cent of the average
home’s energy use [2] and producing 23 per cent of the home’s The heat pump lowdown
greenhouse gas emissions [3] (making it the biggest single PROS: Very efficient. Can run off solar PVs. Good all year.
household contributor), a bit of planning can pay off big time CONS: Need some outdoor space. Some noise (models vary).
PHOTOS: ISTOCK/TOP LEFT: NEWGEN SOLAR & HEAT PUMPS

– for your wallet as well as the environment. COST: $2500-$5000

Heat pumps come of age Solar hot water still an option

Heat pumps take heat from one place and pump it into While a good heat pump powered by PVs is often the most
another. It’s not new technology: fridges and reverse-cycle efficient option, solar hot water systems shouldn’t be
air-conditioning units are examples of heat pumps that have discounted, says Caley. “It’s well established technology
been in widespread use for a long time. But until recently, heat and it works well.”
pumps for domestic hot water (which take heat from the air In solar hot water systems, the sun shines on collectors
and pump it into a water storage tank) weren’t up to scratch. and heats water that is then stored in a tank. Collectors can
“They were unreliable, there wasn’t a huge range of be traditional flat plate or evacuated tubes, which tend to
products on the market, they were a bit loud and they offer better performance. A tank can be situated either above
didn’t work in cold-climate conditions,” Moyse says. the collector on the roof (in which case hot water will rise
into the tank naturally) or in separate location (so you’ll need
a small pump). You’ll also need some kind of booster (electric ...set up your home so that
or gas) for times when the sun isn’t shining as well as needed.
Solar hot water systems have no moving parts, and the biggest energy draw
theoretically should last longer than heat pumps, Caley says.
Also in solar hot water’s favour is that it needs no energy to takes place during the day
produce hot water in sunny conditions, which in some parts
of Australia could be most of the year. These systems can be Electric systems and heat pumps can be
used in conjunction with solar PV arrays.
a better option when there isn’t space outdoors for a pump,
or the noise from a heat pump might be intrusive.

The solar hot water lowdown

PROS: Very efficient. No power needed in sunny conditions.
Potentially very long lifespan. Quiet.
CONS: Need gas or electric boosting in less sunny conditions.
Take up roof space that could be used for PVs.
COST: $3000-$8000

Gas and electric

Gas used to be considered a cleaner energy choice, but
there are better options available, according to Renew,
not just in terms of reducing greenhouse gas production,
but money wise, particularly with gas prices rising.
What gas systems do have going for them is they are
cheap to install (about $2000) and plentiful. “Every hot
water guy has one on the back of his truck,” Moyse says.
Traditional (non-solar) electric hot water storage systems PV power
are even cheaper to install, at about $1200. They are inefficient
compared with other technologies out there. But while they 63
The price of solar photovoltaics (PVs) – panels that
used to be public enemy No.1, these days, there’s the potential
produce electricity – has come down 90 per cent in the
to use them in a smarter way: by using your own power.
past 10 years, says Damien Moyse, policy and research
“They use a lot of energy to heat 200 or 400 litres of
manager with the not-for-profit organisation, Renew.
water every day,” Moyse says. “We used to want to ban them.
A good-quality 5kW system now costs just $5000 to
But if you have a large enough solar system, while you
$7000, potentially less with state government rebates.
won’t cover all of that demand in winter, you might cover
“PVs are enormously cost-effective for most people,”
70 to 80 per cent of that over the course of the year.”
Moyse says.
With feed-in tariffs having also fallen in value
Other considerations
(you don’t get much for selling electricity back to the
There are so many variables when it comes to choosing
grid), the trick to getting the most out of your PV system
a hot water system that every situation is different, says
is to use as much of your own power – and as little of
Moyse. The best options and the shortest payback times
the grid’s power – as you can. In other words, set up
will vary for everyone.
your home so that the biggest energy draw takes place
When it comes to government rebates, solar and heat
during the day, for example, by using timers on hot
pump hot water systems qualify for Small-Scale Technology
water heat pumps.
Certificates (STCs) from the Federal Government, which
Alternatively, you could invest in a battery system
vary depending on the efficiency of the system and where
so you can store your own power and use it at night.
you live. This rebate is usually paid to you in the form of
But this may not be cost-effective; batteries prices
a discount from your supplier. State rebates include
haven’t yet fallen the way PV prices have.
Victoria’s Solar Homes Package, offering up to $1000 for
households replacing an existing hot water system with a
solar hot water system. Check your local state or territory
government website for more information, and with
elections coming up, offers and rebates may change. RESOURCES
Talk to different suppliers to get advice that suits your renew.org.au yourhome.gov.au energyrating.gov.au
situation, and consider contacting the not-for-profit Renew energy.gov.au choice.com.au (search for ‘hot water’)
for advice: renew.org.au/resources/advice/. You can also
conduct home energy audits through private consultants References: 1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2. yourhome.gov.au, 2012.
(search for a local one online), and some councils. 3. yourhome.gov.au, 2010.
Eating from the earth is one of
the most interesting journeys
into flavour you can explore.
 ORGANIC HARVEST

earthly
treasures 65

One of the keys to getting the most flavour from vegies is to use
produce when it’s at its absolute best. With these recipes from Maeve
O’Meara’s latest book you can make the most of your pumpkin harvest.

T
he goodness of a natural harvest is one of the many The Italian pasta dish from Alberto Fava, and the pumpkin
joys of gardening; turning that produce into a delicious kibbeh from Judy Saba, are among those that have been
meal that feeds family and friends adds even more passed down from generation to generation, with some
pleasure. And as keen gardeners and chefs know, the occasional added flourishes.
seasonality of a garden is the key to what goes into your For Judy Saba, whose love of food and cooking skills were
soil and what is then available to go onto your table. learned at the family kitchen table at a young age, sharing
In her new book Food Safari: Earth, Fire, Water, Maeve the preparation of a meal as well as the meal itself is an
O’Meara says ‘seasonality rules’. It may be a well-used adage, important part of the process. “Amidst stories, laughter and
but O’Meara adds spark and meaning by taking us around the repeated recipe discussions, I would watch [my mother and
world on a culinary tour with chefs and home cooks drawn aunties] from my vantage point – eye level with the table –
from her SBS TV Food Safari series. The recipes come from swiftly and perfectly moulding pumpkin and bulgur torpedo
Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, whether shapes, filling them with a mixture of sautéed greens sourced
umami bombs of Japan (‘earth’), Chilean marinated pork from their gardens and finishing them, ready for the leap of
belly (‘fire’) or Sicilian salt-baked fish (‘water’). faith into the pot of hot dancing oil,” Judy remembers. “These
In the following pages we have honed in on vegetarian are a true homage to my mother’s favourite phrase: The best
PHOTO: ISTOCK

dishes from the earth section, featuring pumpkin which, meal is the one made wholly from what the earth yields.”
with its bright colours and long storage, has provided a
staple ingredient for many cuisines over the centuries. Opposite: Pumpkins are a staple ingredient for many cuisines.
ORGANIC HARVEST

CAPPELLACCI DI ZUCCA E BERGAMOTTO

(PUMPKIN CAPPELLACCI WITH BERGAMOT)
Serves 8
Cappellacci means ‘little hats’, and rolling pasta and creating these
delicious little mouthfuls of flavour takes some practise but the
results are magnificent. Chef Alberto Fava grew up in Ferrara, where
cappellacci with a pumpkin stuffing have been the local specialty since
the 15th century. Alberto likes to add the flavour and aroma of a type of
citrus called bergamot to the mix (think Earl Grey tea flavour). Lots of
tips here – from an easy way to roast pumpkin to the silky pasta recipe.

2 bunches sage (leaves and stems),

plus 1 tablespoon sage leaves, chopped
450g butter
250g (1⅔ cups) ‘00’ flour
250g (2 cups) durum wheat semolina
5 eggs (about 55g each)
2kg butternut pumpkin
50ml olive oil
60ml (¼ cup) water
150g shallots, finely chopped
300g grated Parmigiano Reggiano, plus extra to serve
Freshly grated nutmeg, for seasoning
Freshly gound black pepper, for seasoning
A few drops of bergamot essential oil
66
To make a brown butter, rinse the bunches of sage in cold
water, making sure all dirt is gone, and dry with paper towel.
Put 400g of the butter and the dried sage in a saucepan
over low heat. Cook until the temperature reaches 150°C THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: ALBERTO FAVA SHOWS HOW TO MAKE CAPELLACCI.
(300°F). Strain the butter through a fine sieve and set
aside, discarding the sage. This can be made the day
before and refrigerated. Stir in the parmesan, season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and
The pasta dough can be made by hand or using an electric bergamot oil, being careful not to overpower the mix with the
mixer with the dough hook attachment. oil. Transfer mix onto a flat tray and let completely cool.
If making by hand, tip both flours onto a work surface, To make cappellacci, roll out half the pasta dough in a
forming a well in the centre. Crack the eggs into the well. pasta machine until the sheets are 1mm thick and place
Using your fingers, in a circular motion, gradually incorporate on a lightly floured work surface.
the flour to form a dough. Knead until it’s smooth and elastic Cut into 5cm squares, spoon or pipe a large teaspoon of
– about 5 minutes. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and pumpkin mix in the centre of each square and brush or spray
refrigerate for half an hour. the edges with a little water. Fold one side over to the other
To make the filling, preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). to make a triangle and press around the edges to seal the
Halve the pumpkin and remove the seeds. Cut the halves in cappellacci, taking care not to trap any air inside.
half again lengthwise and then in half across. Score each Take the two corners, twist to meet together and pinch
piece deeply on the diagonal and place on a baking tray. firmly. Repeat until you have used all the dough.
Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil, and pour To serve, cook the cappellacci in plenty of boiling salted
in the water before covering loosely with aluminium foil. water for 5 minutes or until they float to the surface.
Cook in the oven for about 1 hour, until completely cooked. While the cappellacci are cooking, melt the brown butter
Scoop all the flesh from the pumpkin and discard the skin. (if made in advance) in a large frying pan. Add the chopped
Cook the shallots with the remaining butter over medium sage, salt and a small ladle of the pasta water.
heat for about 10 minutes or until translucent. Add the Toss the cappellacci in the pan, making sure they are
mashed pumpkin and, using a whisk, make the mixture well coated with the sauce, sprinkle with parmesan,
smooth. Remove from the heat. toss again and serve.
ORGANIC HARVEST

KIBBEH LAKTEEN (Pumpkin kibbeh) together by hand, gradually adding the flour, using just
Makes about 14 enough to reach a firm dough consistency. Cover and
refrigerate for 30 minutes, as this will allow the mixture to
further absorb the fluid and make it easier to mould.
Pumpkin kibbeh is like an ode to autumn and a celebration Now for the filling, heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in
of the bounty of the earth with its glorious mix of textures a large frying pan and sauté the finely diced onion until it is
– from the crunchy shell made from pumpkin and burghul translucent. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon each of baharat
(bulgur wheat) to the stuffing with mixed greens and spices. and cumin and the chickpeas and stir through.
It’s no wonder it’s so good. Here’s a recipe passed down Add the mixed greens and continue turning and folding
through our dear friend Lebanese home cook Judy Saba’s until the greens have wilted. Add the sumac. Lower the heat
family, a recipe that’s been made communally with relatives and season with salt, pepper and chilli powder, if using.
each year during the period of Lent. Judy has tweaked Remove from the heat and set aside to cool. If you are
it with some of her signature touches, including adding planning to add the feta or haloumi, add it after the mixture
a little chilli for an extra kick. has cooled slightly.
To make the stuffed kibbeh torpedoes, it will help to have
1kg butternut pumpkin (or a mix of butternut and jap) a small bowl of water handy, as you will need to dip your
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling fingers in water from time to time.
525g (3 cups) of fine burghul (bulgur wheat), Take a small amount of the kibbeh mixture and roll it into
plus extra if needed a small ball, about the size of a ping pong ball. While holding
2 teaspoons ground cumin the ball in the palm of your left hand, wet the tip of your right
2 teaspoons baharat (Lebanese mixed spice) index finger and place an indent in the ball. Gently create
2 onions, 1 finely diced, 1 grated and squeezed to an egg-shaped cavity by rotating the ball while at the same
remove excess juice time pressing into the mixture and shaping it into a hollow
68 15g (¼ cup) finely chopped mint shell. Fill the cavity with the filling mixture and then close
1 fresh oregano sprig, finely chopped the opening by forming a peak then form the egg or ‘torpedo’
2 marjoram sprigs, finely chopped shape in the palm of your hand. Place on a lined tray and chill
½ teaspoon chilli powder (optional) for at least half an hour before frying.
Grated zest of 1 lemon Heat the vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or deep saucepan.
Grated zest of 1 orange Fry the kibbeh a few at a time, being careful not to overcrowd
50g (⅓ cup) plain (all-purpose) flour the pan, until they are a light golden brown.
50g (⅓ cup) drained tinned chickpeas, washed, Drain on paper towel and serve warm or hot. I love to
peeled and halved have plain unsweetened yoghurt or labne drizzled with
600g mixed greens (baby spinach, kale, wild sorrel, olive oil as the accompaniment to this dish. pg 70
endive, etc), finely chopped
1 tablespoon ground sumac
Diced feta or haloumi (optional)
Vegetable oil, for frying

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Cut the pumpkin into

chunks. Place in a baking tray, season with salt and drizzle
with olive oil. Cover with aluminium foil and roast for
30–35 minutes, until tender.
Remove from the oven and set aside until barely
cool enough to handle. Remove the skins and place the
pumpkin flesh into a large mixing bowl. Add 350g (2 cups)
of the dry burghul to the cooked warm pumpkin. Knead the
pumpkin and burghul together, as this will soften and soak
the burghul. Add 1 teaspoon each of the cumin and baharat This is an edited extract
from Food Safari: Earth
and more burghul if needed if the mixture is still too wet. Fire Water by Maeve O’Meara
(left) published by
Add the grated onion, herbs, a pinch of the chilli powder, Hardie Grant Books,
if using, and the citrus zest and knead all the ingredients RRP $60 and available
in stores nationally.
ORGANIC HARVEST

HARVEST NOTES
when each pumpkin is ready to harvest ripe, chillies will store in the fridge for
because the stem near the fruit starts about two weeks. Small chillies can
to shrink. Check by knocking the fruit be dried whole, bigger ones may need
with a knuckle, it should sound hollow. to be cut in half or sliced. All can be
Cut the pumpkin from the vine leaving threaded onto a string and hung in a
Pumpkins at least 5cm of stem. Store in a cool, warm, sunny, dry positions until crisp.
Pumpkins are a fantastic winter dry place which is protected from Or they can be spread out on netting
storage crop, but they need to be fully rodents and possums. to dry. Once dry store in a sealed
mature and properly cured before glass jar and keep out of direct light.
they’ll store well. To protect maturing Home-dried chillies keep well for up
fruit from insect and animal attack, sit Chillies to two years. Penny Woodward
each pumpkin on a tile to get them off Chillies taste best when they reach
the ground, and if rats are a problem, their full colour, so this is also the best
wrap each pumpkin in chicken or time to harvest them. When handling
similar wire. Once the pumpkin vine hot chillies, always wear gloves, or at
begins to dieback, the pumpkins need the very least make sure you don’t rub
sun exposure to cure. You’ll know your eyes after touching them. Once

season
WINE PICKS
BY MAX ALLEN

70 These gutsy autumnal pumpkin dishes call for white wi

Vegetables
with full flavour and satisfying texture. The viognier MARANTH JICAMA
grape has plenty of both. It’s also a variety that is well EANS LEEKS
suited to making so-called ‘orange wines’: the juice EETROOT OKRA
and skins of the grape are fermented together, more ASSAVA PARSNIP
like a red than a white, producing an amber-coloured HICORY PUMPKIN
wine with lovely food-friendly richness. OKO RAINBOW CHARD
RUSALEM SQUASH
TICHOKE SWEET POTATO

2018 Yalumba Organic Viognier ($22)

This is a very good example of the
Fruit
viognier grape, made in a clean, fruity AVOCADO
style: there’s plenty of apricot and BABACO
honeysuckle flavour, a little honeyed CUSTARD
creamy texture, and a refreshing finish. APPLE
FIG
yalumba.com.au
KIWIFRUIT
JACKFRUIT
LIME
2018 Kalleske Plenarius,
Herbs
MANDARIN
Barossa Valley ($28) MANGO
This superb, perfumed, complex NATIVE LIME
and spicy orange wine is made from PASSIONFRUIT GINGER
biodynamic viognier grapes, fermented PAWPAW HORSERADISH
on skins with nothing added, bottled PEAR LEMON BALM
ILLUSTRATIONS: ISTOCK

without preservatives. PERSIMMON SORREL

kalleske.com QUINCE THYME
TANGELO WATERCRESS
 ORGANIC HEALTH

The
natural
bathroom 71

In a new book, Quitting Plastic, Clara Williams Roldan and Louise Williams
show how easy it is to cut packaging in your home. Here, Clara tells
how to avoid chemicals and plastic in the bathroom.

T
o me, it seems like the plastic bottles, tubes, packets Australians wash their hair every day, despite regular advice
and wrappers in bathrooms multiply like rabbits when columns warning against such over-enthusiasm. By figuring
you’re not paying attention. This is not, perhaps, out what you actually need and use, you can stick to the
surprising. Plastic is waterproof, shatterproof, durable essentials when it comes time to shop.
and hygienic, just what a damp environment with hard So, what do we really need in the bathroom? Fortunately,
surfaces needs. And personal items like plastic combs and there are a couple of big, easy wins that you can implement
toothbrushes were among the world’s first mass-produced straightaway. The average Australian household uses $2 worth
plastic consumer goods. But I have often wondered how of toilet paper a week almost all of which comes plastic-
I could possibly ever have bought (even afforded) so many wrapped. The few entirely plastic-free brands aren’t hard to
bottles of various liquids, many of which I didn’t even use. find. And for lots of other bathroom stuff it’s easy to replace
Does anyone even remember hair fudge? If so, there’s a a plastic version with something that does the same thing.
spare orange bottle languishing at the back of the bathroom There are also lots of homemade recipes online for the
cupboard at my parents’ place, circa 2005. ambitious, many of which are much more sophisticated than
my first bicarb soda efforts for hair care. Depending on where
Plastic not-so-fantastic you live, there may even be the option to refill old bottles
Do we really need all this stuff? And how often should we be at bulk-purchase stores, with just the kind of products
using it? In 1908 The New York Times suggested a good hair you like to use.
wash with soap every four to six weeks. The first liquid What about plastic microbeads? Fortunately, lots of
shampoo didn’t even go on sale until 1914 (the word crept into manufacturers have already committed to phasing them out.
English in the late 1700s, picked up by British colonists from If you want to be sure, check the list of ingredients and avoid
PHOTOS: ISTOCK

the Hindu word champo, which means ‘to press’ and refers to these plastics: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP),
a head rub or massage, not a wash). And hair conditioner only polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate
came onto the market in the 1970s. Nowadays, 70 per cent of (PMMA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and nylon.
ORGANIC HEALTH

Getting clean (face and body)

When you take a good look at all the getting-clean products
on the market, they all boil down (literally, in this case) to the
same thing — soap! Soap started life as a solid bar that could
be wrapped in paper. There are plenty of wonderful soaps
on the market for any type of skin in any kind of fragrance
and containing pretty much any kind of oil or moisturiser,
including those that are palm-oil free (using something like
coconut oil) or made with certified sustainable palm oil. So
it’s easy to replace plastic and pump bottles of handwash,
body wash, foaming cleanser, liquid soap and so on.
Concerned about sulphates in your soap? Sulphates are the
ingredients in many cleaning and cleansing products that help
them foam and lather. But they can cause skin irritation for
some people, or you may be like me and find they dry out your
skin. Fortunately, there are many sulphate-free products
available now and this does extend to soap bars. Just look for
‘SLS free’ or ‘sulphate free’ on the (plastic-free) packaging.
What if you don’t like soap bars because they, say, go
soggy in the shower? Making your own liquid soap from your
favourite solid soap can be as easy as taking the production
Making your own liquid
processes back a step. Grate or cut up your soap, dissolve it
in warm water, let it sit overnight until it solidifies into a jelly,
soap from your favourite solid
whizz it up into a liquid using a stick blender, then use to refill
a liquid soap dispenser. More complex recipes are available
soap can be as easy as taking the
online with things like essential oils. production processes back a step
72 Hair care (washing and conditioning)
Honestly, nothing is quite as easy as lathering up with a liquid
shampoo and smoothing conditioner through your hair. Glass
bottles aren’t a great alternative as they’re dangerous in the
bathroom. But there are plenty of alternatives that are a greasy, wet rat before your locks return to their soft,
surprisingly effective and cheap. They include: bouncy natural state. I don’t doubt the no-poo fans, and
Back to basics: Use bicarb soda to wash and apple cider have great respect for those who succeed, but I remained
vinegar to condition. Mix the bicarb soda with water to make trapped in the purgatory of transition and so abandoned
a paste, so it’s easier to massage through your hair and scalp. no poo. Another friend of mine has gone for no poo and
Dilute the apple cider vinegar, about 1 part vinegar to 4 parts looks fine, but is a short-haired he. The method involves
water, and rinse for soft, smooth hair. (The vinegar rinse rinsing your hair under pretty hot water and ‘scritching’
removes built-up residue from commercial products, too.) your scalp — basically a form of vigorous massage — to
Homemade shampoos: There are lots of recipes online, all move the oils down the hair shaft. It can take anywhere
of which are based on the basic premise of a cleanser (soap) from a few weeks to a few months for your oil production
and a moisturiser (something like coconut oil). to level out. This method works best for shorter hair.
Shampoo and conditioner bars: These are pretty much what Coconut oil conditioner: Some people use pure coconut oil
you might imagine: a solid version of both shampoo and as a conditioner. It is widely available in tins or glass jars.
conditioner that work well and come in cardboard or paper. For a while, I used coconut oil as a deep conditioning mask
As with hair-care products in plastic bottles, check the list on my hair. My hair was very shiny, but I also ended up with
of ingredients if you don’t want ingredients like sulphates. teenage-esque breakouts on my back.
There is, for example, a great Tasmanian company that’s Like a lot of things in the bathroom, hair care
entirely plastic-free (and has been for 25 years) and a is pretty personal. Give a few things
newer entrant to this growing market from New Zealand. a try and see what works best for
They make excellent shampoo and conditioner bars. you, your hair and your lifestyle.
No poo: The idea is that our modern cleaning methods Costs are variable, depending on
strip the hair of natural oils, causing the scalp to compensate what you like.
by making a whole lot more. By going ‘no poo’, you restore
PHOTOS: ISTOCK

equilibrium and never have to wash your hair again. Sounds

This is an edited extract from Quitting Plastic by
like a dream. But the big challenge for no poo adherents is Clara Williams Roldan and Louise Williams (Allen
the transition period when you look (and smell?) a bit like & Unwin, $19.99) available now. see review page 27.
 in our
next issue
ON
SALE
MAY 9

How to extend y maximise

harvests using glassh tunnels
Goodbye blood a e:
fertiliser options for vegan gardeners!
Insects on the brink: a special report on the insect
extinction crisis and implications for gardeners and the planet

A whole lot of orange! This flowering citrus tree

adds beauty as well as productivity to your garden
ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCK

Kale revisited: beyond the hype of kale’s health benefits –

a look at how to get the best from it in the garden and kitchen
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 ORGANIC BASICS

Baring it all
In autumn and winter, deciduous trees are sold bare-rooted, offering
a bigger variety at cheaper prices than potted ones. Helen McKerral
tells how to select, prune and plant bare-rooted trees to bring
both beauty and productivity to your garden.

G
ardeners love deciduous trees for their versatility
and beauty. Crabapples and flowering cherries delight
with their glorious spring blossoms, while spreading
oaks and beech provide cooling shade in summer. Come
autumn, maples and liquidambar become a blaze of colour
while, in the coldest season, welcome sunlight penetrates
their bare branches. In edible gardens, peach, plum, pear,
quince, cherry, walnut, pistachio, chestnut, persimmon and
almond are just a few of the many productive trees that
lose their leaves in winter.

Potted or bare-rooted?
You can buy trees year-round in pots but, in autumn/winter,
deciduous ones are also available ‘bare-rooted’. Wholesalers
grow bare-rooted trees in the ground, rather than in pots.
In winter, they dig them up, hose and roughly trim roots, and
then pack into moist sawdust or similar material, either in
individual plastic bags, or bundled for transport to retail
nurseries. Retailers separate the bundles and stand trees in
sawdust-filled crates. You can therefore choose individually
pre-bagged ones as you would potted trees or, with those
that have been loose-packed in sawdust, staff wrap roots
when you make your purchase.
Bare-rooted trees are cheaper than potted ones, being
grown in soil rather than potting mix. They’re more
sustainable, too: lighter and packed more closely, they use
less fuel to transport. Loose-packed ones need no plastic
packaging: most retailers no longer wrap with hessian, but
you can bring a metre of fabric or feed bag from home.
PHOTO: GAP PHOTOS/RICE/BUCKLAND

Some unusual cultivars are only available bare-rooted

from specialist growers. Bare-rooted trees establish as
well as potted ones in winter but, for super-advanced trees,
potted ones with large undisturbed root balls are preferable.

Teasing out the roots while

planting into a hole that gives
plenty of room for the rootball.
ORGANIC BASICS

Pruning

Pruning bare-rooted trees is essential for best results. Tidy roots immediately before planting by
trimming damaged ones; for ease of planting, also remove roots that extend significantly beyond the main
root ball. Prune top growth by 30 to 50 per cent immediately after planting. This ensures the reduced
roots can send enough water and nutrients to buds, and stimulates strong vegetative growth. Prune trees
to central leader or vase shape (see below).
Left: A vase-shape bare-rooted tree

Tree terminology before planting.

Right: Pruned for the first time and
the roots trimmed ready for planting.
This first pruning helps set up a
strong framework of branches so the
Terminal bud mature tree can carry a heavy crop.

‘Leader’
Branch Leader

Lateral

Bud
A new branch
‘leader’ should
grow from any
76 bud if the branch
is pruned back to
a bud

Framework branch
trunk
Left: A central leader tree. Apples
and pears are often trained in
this manner. Note that the tree
Bud or graft union has a straight central trunk with
Usually about 100 mm numerous side branches. Begin by
above the soil line. soil line working up the trunk, starting
The graft-union in at the lowest branch.
some fruit types Below: Aim to establish a ‘scaffold’
may be 450 mm of layers of branches progressively
above the soil line. up the trunk.

PHOTO: PETER CUNDALL/ILLUSTRATIONS: CHERYL ORSINI

Central leader
trees are always
narrower at the
top to let light
into the lower part
of the tree
ABOVE: Trim damaged roots before planting.

These illustrations are based on originals by Flemings Nurseries home gardener guide: ‘Pruning fruit, ornamental and flowering trees’,
flemings.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/pruning_multi_page.pdf
 Protection and aftercare
If your planting site is windy, use two stakes, on
opposite sides of the tree, 30-40cm from the
trunk and stretchy tree tie or pantyhose in a
figure 8, sufficiently loose for stem movement
Above: Peter Cundall backfilling and demonstrating
using a stake to mark soil level when planting a to stimulate strong support roots. Protect from
young tree (note: this is not a bare-rooted tree). grazing animals with tree guards. Water deeply
once a week during the first summer, ensuring
Choosing bare-rooted trees the entire planting area is wetted.
Look for healthy stems and roots without mould, disease or
excessive damage (ignore a few ragged roots or broken side
twigs) and with strong graft unions. Choose plants with more,
rather than fewer roots and don’t buy too late: trees with 77
long, pale, easily broken new feeder roots, indicate dormancy
has broken. Roots and packing material should be damp. the roots. The sides of the hole should be rough. Place
A bigger tree is not necessarily better, as you’ll prune top your tree in the hole and lay your spade or a stake across
growth to balance with roots anyway. the surface to ascertain planting depth.
If buying online, choose reputable nurseries and order in The original soil level is usually obvious on stems – aim
autumn. Some helpfully prune trees before sending them. to bury to the same depth, remembering trees will settle
Specials too late in the season mean trees are no longer after watering and to never cover the graft.
dormant, reducing viability. Very early sales or trees with Backfill gradually, jiggling the stem to remove air pockets.
leaves that have been cut, rather than fallen, means they Form a one metre diameter ring of soil around the tree as a
have been dug too soon, weakening them. moat and water well with at least three buckets of water.
Ensure roots remain moist and cool during transport and Prune top growth.
before planting. Place bagged trees in a well-ventilated Mulch with coarse material such as pea straw, keeping it
position in good light, with bags out of direct sun. If you can’t well away from trunks. Fertilise in spring at bud burst with
plant within a week, “heel-in” unwrapped trees by burying balanced pelletised fertiliser or blood and bone (never in
roots in well-drained sandy loam or moist sawdust. the hole at planting time).

Soil preparation and planting

PHOTOS: PETER CUNDALL/ILLUSTRATIONS: CHERYL ORSINI

Plant trees as soon as possible after purchase, especially if

you’ve bought them late in the season. Rinse roots, soak
selected suppliers
them in seaweed solution for an hour, then prune (see box avalonnursery.com.au/barerooted-stock/
at left). Keep the seaweed solution for watering in. barerooted-fruit-trees/
Prepare soil one month ahead if possible. Improve sandy cherrylanenursery.com.au/23/bare-root-plants
soils with compost and bentonite, clays with 1-2 kg per sqm gardenarium.com.au/trees/fruit-trees
of gypsum. Add rock dust to poor soils. Add 1-2 buckets of gardenexpress.com.au/shop/trees-shrubs-grasses/
old compost only to soils that are extremely low in organic trees-ornamental/deciduous-trees/
matter – many gardens won’t need any. Thoroughly fork greenhillnursery.com.au/bare-root-fruit-tree-orders/
additives through the planting area. plantnet.com.au/plant-care/growing-fruit-trees/
Dig a basin-shaped hole at least twice as wide as the root smalltreefarm.com.au/bareroot-trees.html
ball, with a cone of soil at the bottom over which to spread
 Over 250 pages
of nice-looking
abodes, studios and
backyards, plus
handy tips for setting
up your own space

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 ORGANIC POULTRY

79

Hen health checklist

Observation is the key to success not only in your garden but
for keeping your chooks healthy, writes Jessamy Miller.

R
egularly checking in on your hens is a good starting upholstered they may be getting obese. Egg layers tend to
point for keeping your hens happy and healthy. Such be thinner than non-layers, but extremes either way signal
observations will provide a benchmark so any changes possible health problems. Knowing each bird’s usual condition
in appearance or behaviour stand out. These could indicate ill means you’ll notice any sudden changes.
health, pests and diseases, or naughty habits developing, and A fowl’s abdomen should feel firm and rounded; soft, pulpy
will be easier, cheaper and faster to deal with if caught early. or swollen could indicate internal laying, tumours or other
Observance could be as simple as spending time around issues and require veterinary attention.
the fowls and inspecting selected birds regularly. Smaller The vent (bottom) is pink, moist and clean in healthy birds;
flock owners could implement what I call ‘maintenance scaly redness underneath indicates a mite infestation, as do
Monday’ and on a chosen evening lift each bird off the dark dots running through feathers. Lice lay clumps of whitish
perch to give them a quick physical. eggs at the base of vent feathers that are clearly visible. Also
A checklist is one way to be certain you’ve noticed key check under wings for lice and mites. Apply a dusting powder
health indicators, and is handy if you are buying new fowls. if detected. Dirty vent feathers can occur when hens sleep in
The following gives you an idea of what to watch out for. the nest, or are abundantly fluffy and need a trim, but can
PHOTO: JESSAMY MILLER

also indicate an upset gut. Trim off any dags, feed a balanced
Body ration with fewer snacks and keep an eye on the bird.
Chooks should be of a moderate weight; to judge this, feel the
keel bone, which runs from the breast down between their Above: Get to know your chooks so
legs. If it’s jutting out sharply they are too thin; if too well that you notice any sudden changes.
ORGANIC POULTRY

Healthy legs have smooth clean Head

Your hen should look engaged and alert with clear bright
scales; raised, crusty or chalky eyes. Discharge or crustiness around eyes and nostrils
is undesirable and may signal a respiratory disorder, as
scales indicate scaly leg mite. might repeated coughing and sneezing.
The comb will be plump and red if the bird is laying, and
smaller and paler if she is having her moult or winter break.
A bluish comb on any fowl and a pale comb on a layer would
bear further investigation.
Check that any black dots on combs and wattles are
not stickfast fleas or lacerations that need attention. If
your chook’s beak has become overgrown, gently file it
back with sandpaper.

Legs and feet

Chooks spend day and night on their feet so need them in
good fettle. Healthy legs have smooth clean scales; raised,
crusty or chalky scales indicate scaly leg mite.
Toenails tend to get worn down naturally during
scratching but might need a trim with dog nail clippers;
gradually trim each side into a vee but take care to avoid the
quick. Spurs are safest when nice and short, trim similarly
and create a smooth rounded end with sandpaper.
Check pads of feet for any scabs or lacerations; these
can lead to bumblefoot, where a small puncture on the
foot gets infected and requires veterinary care.
80
Behaviour
Any change to normal behaviour is a signal to watch out for,
but pay special attention to a bird that is depressed, hunched,
sulky, off its tucker, napping excessively during the day, or
not maintaining itself by preening and dust bathing. Feathers
should be smooth, well preened and healthy looking, though
may naturally look a bit tired by the autumn moult.
Moulting or replacing feathers in autumn is normal, as
is ceasing lay over winter, or for a few days during weather
extremes such as heat waves, where fowls’ bodies are under
stress. Hens that suddenly stop laying for no reason bear
further investigation.
A broody hen will cluck repetitively, refuse to leave the
nestbox, eat and drink less, fluff up her feathers and growl
when approached. When lifted to the ground she may appear
to have lost the use of her legs. If chicks are not desired,
research humane de-brooding strategies; the earlier you
stop them being broody, the quicker the process.

Do some research
If you discover any of your chooks have a concerning
symptom, some good resources are Gail Damerow’s book
The Chicken Health Handbook or online at the Merck
Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com), and contact
your vet if you’re concerned about any changes.
It may take time to observe your birds but you’ll find it
Top: If your chook’s beak is overgrown, not only makes you a better and more informed poultry
gently file it with sandpaper.
above: The vent (bottom) is pink,
keeper, but is enjoyable and relaxing. So grab a drink, park
moist and clean in healthy birds. yourself on a garden bench and take in some chook TV!
 ESSENTIAL READING

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hand-forged tools to keep it in tip-top shape.

to order visit mymagazines.com.au now!

ORGANIC ACTION

To your
82
good
health
Getting out in your garden provides fresh food, fresh air and a chance
to improve your health, especially when you know what to plant and when.

Tropical
G
ardening is a great way to get some exercise and
stay healthy. Plus, there’s lots of research that
shows just being in a natural environment can Plant now: The versatile Moringa oleifera deserves its
help improve mental health. But gardens can also be title ‘Miracle tree’, providing food, medicine and shade. It is
dangerous places. As well as the good bacteria and fungi high in vitamin A, C, E, calcium, 38 per cent protein, and is anti-
that break down organic matter, providing food for plants, inflammatory – to name a few of its many benefits. Moringa is
there’s also other pathogenic bacteria and fungi that can fast growing from seed or cuttings and can grow to 10 metres,
cause severe illness, even death. Mostly these are not but keep pruned to two metres. Use all parts: root, leaves,
a problem unless you get a cut or scratch that allows flowers and seeds. Harvest seed capsule to reduce weed potential.
them to get inside your body. Diseases, such as tetanus,
melioidosis (a particular problem after floods) and sepsis, Top tip: Weeds are plants that often grow in soils that
can all start with a cut or scratch. This shouldn’t stop you are deficient in the minerals the weeds contain. Embrace
gardening, but to lessen the risk, always wear gloves and your flourishing weeds and add them to compost, compost
shoes when you are out in your garden, and if a cut gets teas or pull them out and drop them onto the soil to feed it.
infected see a doctor immediately. Take sensible precautions Bag weed seeds for disposal.
against the other gardening hazards such as sunburn,
PHOTOS: ISTOCK

pesticides, stinging and biting insects and sharp tools – Top: You can add moringa flowers to
salads or make them into a tea.
even working too hard! Penny Woodward
Right: Cosmos adds bright splashes of
colour to your garden and salads.
 Add colour
with flowers that
are calming for
your mind.
ORGANIC ACTION

Plant now: Growing season has arrived. Once the

heavy rains have eased, get your vegetable gardens
planted. Also add colour with flowers that are calming
to your mind, and edible – try calendula, chives, clover,
cosmos and dianthus petals.
Leonie Shanahan

Subtropical
Plant now: Grow lucerne, a perennial legume, around
fruit trees to feed beneficial fungi, release nitrogen and
attract protozoa and worms to your soil. This creates
healthier soils and aids moisture retention. Use as ‘chop and
drop’ mulch. The flowers attract beneficial insects. Leaves
are edible and alkalising – add them to smoothies and salads.

Plant now: Winter crops provide warming foods for

our body. Plant root crops (carrots, celeriac, daikon, turnips
and potatoes) and brassica family crops, such as broccoli,
cauliflower and cabbage. If hot weather is forecast, provide
shade.

Pest alert: To avoid bronze orange stink bugs covering

your citrus and spitting at you when removing them in spring,
start spraying your tree now with a silica/potassium spray
to build resilience. Buy certified organic Plant of Health,
84 Grosil or Nutri-Tech sprays. This will help control many pest
and disease problems and improve the growth, flowering
and fruiting of your tree. Foliar spray every two months
and, on alternative months, water in around the tree.
Leonie Shanahan

Arid/semi-arid
Plant Now: Immune-boosting purple coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea) is not only a terrific medicinal herb,
but also a spectacular bee-attracting ornamental when in
bloom. Commonly known as echinacea, it likes deep, well-
drained loamy soil in full sun. To divide, dig up clumps after
they go semi-deciduous in late autumn-early winter, hose PHOTOS: LEONIE SHANAHAN/CENTRE: ISTOCK/BOTTOM: HELEN MCKERRAL
off soil, and separate rooted pieces for replanting.

Top Tip: Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) thrives in a large

water bowl in morning sun or dappled shade; protect from
the hottest afternoon sun. Cook tubers in the same way as
potatoes, either boiled, roasted or fried. Dig them up in
autumn as the foliage dies down.

Pest Alert: Phytophthora is a soil borne fungus

that requires still, stagnant boggy conditions. Combat
TOP: Lucerne, a perrenial legume, is
by encouraging water to flow through the soil, maintain
a multifunctional edible plant. natural drainage lines, avoid susceptible species and
CENTRE: spray now to avoid bronze choose resistant ones, create planting mounds separated
orange stink bug taking over citrus.
ABOVE: The tubers of arrowhead by swales, and install tile drains to keep water moving.
can be used like potatoes. Helen McKerral
 Warm temperate
Plant now: Autumn is the perfect
time to plant perennial herbs. Many
can be grown from seeds or cuttings,
sown or taken in autumn or spring, too. Plant
seedlings of herbs such as thyme, rosemary,
sage and savory. All are strongly antiseptic and once winter
colds and flus arrive, they will be big enough to harvest
leaves to make infusions to gargle for sore throats and
drink to help combat the other symptoms of colds.

Must do: With harvest residue, and autumn leaves on

their way, why not start a new compost heap or replenish an
old one. Check that plants aren’t diseased and don’t have live
seed. Make weed tea instead if there is lots of seed. Shred
sticks and bigger branches. Layer with horse or cow manure,
rotting mulch, autumn leaves. Add yarrow and chamomile
to help speed breakdown. Water well.

Top tip: When replenishing the straw in chook pens, add

sprigs of wormwood or southernwood, especially in their
nesting boxes, to help repel pests such as lice, and keep
chooks healthy.
Penny Woodward

Cold temperate
Plant now: While the soil is still warm, plant trees
and shrubs, both ornamental and useful. Look especially
for winter flowering plants that will provide food for honey
and native bees and birds. Look for rosemary, correas,
some banksia and grevilleas and hakeas, as well as many
different varieties of salvias.

Top tip: Now is a good time to add lime, especially if your

soils are acid and if you have been adding lots of organic
matter: one handful per square metre.

Pest control: In really cold and frosty areas, remove

mulch, which can intensify frost damage. In all areas,
PHOTOS: PENNY WOODWARD/ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCK

removing mulch will also help to break the cycle of attack

by slugs, snails, slaters and millipedes. I put my mulch in
with the chooks for a few days, to give them a good chance
to scratch through it, and feed on the pests for a high
protein diet. I then add it to the compost.
Penny Woodward

Top: Autumn is a good time to plant perennial

herbs such as common and purple sage.
Right: Banksia spinulosa provides
food for bees and birds in winter.
ORGANIC ACTION

Basil
Basil forms seed readily and
germinates easily. Although
it’s best to pinch out flowering
buds throughout summer to
encourage leaf development, allow spikes to
form later in the season. Check plants often Tropical
and cut them as soon as you see the lowest Subtropical
capsules on the spike begin to release their Arid/semi-Arid
Warm Temperate
seed. Alternatively, gently rub the lower part Cold Temperate
of the spike between thumb and forefinger
with your other hand cupped underneath –
as long as seeds are no longer green, they’ll WHAT TO PLANT AND SOW NOW
continue to ripen. Invert plants over a tray
or bucket. Store in a cool, dark, dry place. PLANT/SOW MAY JUNE
Label and date. Helen McKerral Artichoke
Asian greens
Asparagus spears
BeanS: French/Climb
86 Beetroot

How to take a Broad bean

Broccoli
BRIX READING Brussels sprouts
If you want to delve deeper
Cabbage
into nutrient levels of your Carrot
food, use a refractometer. It is Cauliflower
a simple tool that records Brix chives
levels, which indicate plant sugar and mineral content. ENglish Spinach
Higher Brix levels generally indicate more nutrients GARLIC
and healthier plants. As a guide, healthy Brix readings Herbs/Mediterranean
for root crops are 8, other crops 12+. A fuzzy line in the Kale
reading indicates calcium is present, which is essential
Kohlrabi
for plant health. If you have a high Brix but a straight
Leek
line indicating no calcium, the plant can be a pest
magnet. Good calcium levels produce more pest and Lettuce
disease resistant plants, higher yields, increased frost onion
hardiness and tastier food. Plant samples are best taken Peas
and tested at the same time each day. Brix levels should Radish
PHOTO: LEONIE SHANANHAN/ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCK

rise during the day, unless a storm is coming. snow pea

1 Crush sample in garlic crusher. SPRING ONION
2 Place drops of sap on the testing glass. Close lid. Strawberry plants
3 Look through eyepiece. Record results. SWEDE
• Note: refractometers are available online. For more Tomato
info visit: theconsciousfarmer.com/plant-health- Turnip
sugar-levels; www.nutri-tech.com.au/factsheets/
refractometer.pdf Leonie Shanahan Our climate zone map is a simplified version of a Bureau of Meteorology map.
For more detailed climatic information in relation to cities and major towns,
go to: bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/climate-classifications/index.jsp
 ORGANIC COMPETITION

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worm farm
plus duo planter!

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how to enter

T
he stylish Urbalive worm farm is easy to use and Simply answer in 30 words or less:
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The worm farm, which is manufactured in Europe, has a worm farm?
a tight-fitting lid, stacker trays where the worms transform
food scraps into nutrient-filled castings, and a tank base ONLINE: organicgardener.com.au – click on the
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POST: Organic Gardener worm farm Competition,
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(including postage of $35). Entries will be judged on 16 May 2019 at promoter’s premises. Full
the height of sustainable style! T&Cs are available at organicgardener.com.au. Delivery included in the giveaway. Remote areas
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RADIO GUIDE
NSW LOCAL RADIO ABC North West QLD
ABC radio Sydney ABC Western QLD

Meet Jo Laverty Saturday 9am

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Friday 10am
ABC Far North
Jo was born and raised in
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Saturday 8.30am
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I love the communal nature of gardening. A mate gave us Saturday 9am
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What is the one gardening tip you swear by? Saturday 8.30am Saturday 9.30am
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dispose of kitchen scraps and give you fresh eggs in ABC radio Perth, ABC Great Thursday 9.35am
return, they also create incredible soil. We call it ‘chicken Southern, ABC SOUth west, 100.7 ABC Gippsland
soil’, and it makes everything in the garden burst with life. ABC Goldfields Esperance Monday 10am
You can catch Jo Laverty weekday from 5.30am-9am. ABC kimberley, ABC North west, 594 AM ABC Western Victoria
Tune in via 105.7FM, DAB+ Digital Radio, online at abc.net. ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt Monday 9.40am
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Saturday 9.05am Wednesday, fortnightly, 10.20am
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ABC radio Darwin Tuesday 9.40am
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best of ABC 783 AM ABC Alice Springs 1602 AM Warrnambool
106.1 ABC Tennant Creek 94.1 FM Hamilton
Gardening Australia screens on ABC Friday nights
Saturday 8.30am 96.9 FM Horsham
at 7.30pm – watch it for a full hour of inspiration!
QLD LOCAL RADIO Thursday, 7.35am
You can also catch up on missed episodes on iview.
ABC radio Brisbane ACT LOCAL RADIO
Check out organicgardener.com.au for regular Saturday 6am ABC radio Canberra
blogs, gardening tips, resources, magazine articles, ABC Southern Queensland Saturday 8.30am
competitions and the latest environmental news. Saturday 9am TAS LOCAL RADIO
630 ABC North Queensland ABC radio Hobart
Friday 10am ABC Northern Tasmania
ABC Tropical North Saturday 9am,
ABC Capricornia tino carnevale & chris Wisbey.
Download the ABC listen app and listen to live radio
ABC Wide Bay
streams of gardening programs across Australia.
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LOSING THE PLOT

Dealing with the desperados

Simon Webster contends with parched wildlife
and gardens as the long dry stretches on.

T
he wildlife’s queuing up at the back door. Every
time we go outside there’s something there,
either alive or dead. Snakes, toads, bats, rats.
If I were a witch with a cauldron I’d be in business:
make up a brew and conjure up some rain.
I reckon they’ve heard about the air-con in
the kitchen. The leaves in the salad crisper.
The cold water on tap. It wouldn’t surprise
me if they fancied a beer on the verandah.
Fair enough, but I’m drawing the line at
sharing a bowl of peanuts with them.
With it not having rained since about
1943, Plot Farm is a bit on the dry side. In
fact, it’s so bleak and barren that Mrs Plot
has convinced me to let the alpacas into the
90 backyard to scour it for the few stalks of green
grass that have survived the summer. They’ve
settled in quite nicely. One minute you’re sitting
at the kitchen table enjoying your lunch, the
next you’ve got an alpaca’s head in the
window, nibbling on your lettuce. They’ll be
propped up on the couch watching
Gardening Australia with us before we know it.
By the time you read this, things may have
changed – we can only hope – but right now this corner of
northern NSW looks more like a desert than a rainforest.
Normally at this time of year the grass is growing so fast
that you can lose pets and small children on the walk from too; it’s easy to give them a soaking and a bit of shade.
the house to the car. But this year it’s a dust bowl. Instead But you can only eat so many capsicum and herb omelettes
of gumboots and raincoats, everyone’s getting about in – especially when the chooks stop laying. Maybe they
ponchos, smoking cheroots, and telling people to get off should move into the house, too.
their horse and drink their milk, whatever that means. It’s generally pretty desperate out there. The fruit
ILLUSTRATION: TANYA COOPER/THE ILLUSTRATION ROOM

If only I had a horse. Or even a mule. You can’t really trees are barely clinging on, curling up their leaves like
tether an alpaca to the front of the village saloon. They cupped hands in the vain hope that there might be some
like to come in and sit at the bar. rain to catch. Paddocks are parched. Pumps chug away,
The vegie patch is, as you might expect, running draining the ever-diminishing creek. And everyone
somewhat below maximum capacity. “What’s new?” I hear looks a bit, well, water stressed.
you cry. But at least we’ve got a novel excuse this year. We’ve got to stay positive. It can’t last forever. Every
Instead of too much water, we haven’t got enough. day is one day closer to the rain. No doubt we’ll soon
There are some benefits to gardening in a drought. be complaining that everything’s mouldy, we’re flooded
No weeding. No slugs and snails. No need to mow. And in, and the animals are queuing up for hot cocoa and
some plants actually seem to like the conditions. The marshmallows. Mollycoddled creatures. All I can say
capsicum is in fine fettle. And the herbs in pots are okay, is they’d better leave their umbrellas at the door.