By mid-February 2014, a garden near Morwell, Victoria, was covered by ash from a coal mine fire which started on 9th February, setting the Hazelwood open cut coal mine alight. The coal mine fire ended up burning for weeks, causing serious health effects for local residents and a ‘high probability’ that eleven deaths resulted from the…
Category: Sustainability
In Production Today, February 2014
February used to be Brisbane’s wettest month of the year, but, so far, not a drop of the wet stuff. Like last month, I’ve maintained the garden more or less as it is and I’ve focussed my efforts on preparing vegetable beds for sowing and planting once rain has arrived.
Concerning Australia’s Batty Forests And Convict Lettuce
I’d like to start my Australia Day speech by acknowledging the Bundjalung people, Beaudesert’s original landscape gardeners. I’d also like to thank Woolworth’s who have been supporting Australia Day for thirteen years. I am lucky. I seem to have made a career out of doing what I love. I am a freelance curator, broadcaster and gardener. I…
In Production Today – December
It’s hot and humid and, despite hail, my crop of ‘Manning Pride’ corn is ready to pick. It’s amazing how robust this heritage corn can be considering the force of the hailstorm. The plants are standing 3.25m high, each carrying up to three cobs, 30cm long. It’s highly productive. Gardeners can thank the Bega Valley…
In Production Today – November
Apparently, Australia’s former Prime Bean Counter, John Howard, reckons Global Warming is for zealots. Interesting.
In Production Today – September
Goodbye spring! September’s spring withered halfway through the month as the hot, windy, desiccating conditions of Brisbane’s fifth season arrived: crematoria. Timely watering is, again, critical until useful rain arrives…
How Do I Prepare A Seedbed?
Well prepared soil is the secret to raising good crops and flowers from seed.
Kew Guild Grand Reunion Garden Party
Thirty four years ago, I graduated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Biodispersal: Another word for the dictionary
A student at Dekin Uni is writing about GM foods. She wanted my opinion, so here is my reply – it was published eight years ago in response to an opinion piece written by Jennifer Marohasy (a member of the Institute of Public Affairs, a pro-industry lobby group) in the Courier Mail…
Oh, What a Beauty! Ten Years of Diversity in Food Production at Bellis
A whimsical look at some of the produce I’ve grown at Bellis, my sustainable home in Brisbane.
Brisbane Skips Winter, 2013 Becomes Hottest Year Ever (Until 2015, The Latest Hottest Year Ever Beaten by 2016, which was beaten by 2017!)
This year my garden had an extended autumn and now, judging by the flowers outside, it’s spring. Did Brisbane skip winter?
In Production Today – July
I only got 41.3kg of winged yam this year. What went wrong?
Jerry Coleby-Williams 