This episode is Part 2 in this podcast series and part of the ‘Field Guide’, soon to be published in the Soil to Supper Community. Listen to Part 1 – Planning Your Dream Garden HERE. Once your new garden is planned you can start creating garden spaces to grow in. There are many ways to grow a sustainable garden. You can used raised garden beds, garden plots straight on the ground or container growing. Where possible use recycled containers or other items for creating your growing spaces. From your plan start establishing each element within your garden by following simple steps. In this e ..read more

Each month in the Soil to Supper Community I provide a Monthly Masterclass based on one of our weekly growing topics. A few months ago I covered this topic and thought it would be a great podcast episode, as many gardeners find pests in the garden! We’ll cover… Identifying garden pests What causes pest problems Integrated pest management Building a resilient garden Extra tips for pest free gardens include; Hand remove bugs if possible or blast small bugs away with the hose Use traps for fruit fly, slugs or snails Bag fruit after pollination and fruit set Examine pest problems to identify if ..read more

In this Back to Basics Series I’ll share the common basics for gardening, many of the gardening words and methods, equipment that’s used and ways to get started. This information is part of the ‘5 Steps to become a Savvy Gardener’ Online Course. In this episode, Part 1,  I’ll share many common gardening words that you’ll come across in gardening information, through print, online, television or podcasts…including The Wellbeing Garden! Knowing these common words will help you to understand the information given and to follow gardening methods. You may already know these, so this episo ..read more

Thanks for joining me again in The Wellbeing Garden. Today’s short and sweet episode has a few tips for growing healthy food in pots and containers. I’ve grown food in bathtubs, wheelbarrow, buckets and always recycled or upcycled items that I think would look good or suit growing edible crops. Here’s my tips for healthy potted plants; Keep the soil in containers healthy through each season by topping it up. The soil level can drop in containers, so top up with fresh potting mix. Add a small amount of slow release fertiliser to all potted plants every season, and then apply a deep watering. A ..read more

Gardeners and food producers know the fabulous satisfaction in harvesting and sharing fresh food from their gardens and farms. But at times we find an over-abundance of produce and want to share it with others. This is where Spare Harvest helps!! In this episode I’m joined by Helen Andrew, who established Spare Harvest after continuous years of excess fruit on her citrus trees and having to compost and bury the fruit as she didn’t know who or where to share it within her community. We discuss… When Helen realised she needed to take action on this waste of healthy food. How she established Spa ..read more

Welcome again to The Wellbeing Garden! When the weather changes do you have an alternative activity to do with your gardeners or for yourself? In this episode I share ideas for Plan B activities and how to continue to enjoy gardening through all weather conditions. Here’s what I do… Check the weather the week prior to the gardening day and again the day before. Have a Plan B. Pack a few items that could be helpful if you need to change plans. Seed sowing is a great Plan B activity and can be done in any space, indoors or out. Or create a vision board with old gardening magazines. Don’t cancel ..read more

Most gardeners struggle with pests, weeds and other problems in the garden. In this episode I’ll share a few simple things to do to ensure your plants grow and your garden thrives. I’ll cover – Growing plants suitable for your climate Grow a mix of perennials and annuals Feed your fruit trees 4 times per year - http://soiltosupper.com/growing-gorgeous-citrus-trees-1/ Check your irrigation system is working correctly Removing weeds and how to dispose of them. Try my ‘sheet mulching’ method here - http://soiltosupper.com/how-to-build-a-no-dig-garden/ Check inside your compost bins. Simple metho ..read more

Welcome to the first of our “short and sweet“ episodes where I share my views on a topic that’s relevant to gardening, growing food or to help you in the garden. In this episode I share some tips for safely using potting mix and other garden products, which is important to apply when supporting others in the garden. Tips for safely using garden products are; Always wear gloves and a dust mask - participants and the provider Damp soil mixes prior to use Refill tubs away from participants Store potting mix and other products in the shade Always wear a mask and gloves when opening bags of pottin ..read more

I’ve been working through a few updates to our Growing Together Program and have added some new activities to each season. The more programs we deliver, the more fun activities I keep finding, so I decided to share a few with you in this short and sweet episode. In my article “How to Keep Gardening through Bad Weather” you’ll gather ideas for tabletop activities that can be enjoyed in any weather condition. In this episode I share a few others that are suitable for any gardener to enjoy at anytime! Find some extra ideas in these links… ·       How to keep gardenin ..read more

Through my studies in Horticulture and Permaculture Design I’ve gained skills to create amazing gardens, and through the years I’ve developed simple methods to save time and money! In this episode I share my simple methods for creating a new garden or for revamping existing gardens. Here’s the simple steps I’ve covered… When creating gardens the BEST place to start is with planning. This saves time and money! Create a vision board and add all the features and plants you’d like in your garden. Also consider how much time, money and space you have for these gardens. Create a ‘shopping list’ of ..read more