gardening
Working with contours
Sarah Coles speaks to Guildford local Louise Balaz-Brown about gardening in tough conditions, the importance of contours and the miracle of sheep manure.
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DIY
DIY: Sheet mulch and hot compost
Fuchsia Branwhite explains the permaculture tricks she uses in her own garden, to both control weeds and produce beautiful non-stinky compost from a wide range of garden waste.
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DIY
DIY: All-season vegie shade tent
One reader, Brian Mollan, describes his solution to the problem of summer scorching of his vegies—and it can even be left in place in winter.
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DIY
Digging the No Dig
Growing vegies with increasing summer heat and less rain doesn’t need to be a battle, writes Carmel Killin. A solution can be found in the water-retaining and humus-rich layers of a No Dig bed.
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DIY
DIY: Self-watering vertical garden
Margaret Mossakowska shares her simple self-watering system for a vertical garden.
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gardening
Get water wise in your own backyard
Tips from WA garden designer Cherise Haslam on what to consider when designing a waterwise garden.
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Solar & batteries
Desert Rose
An Aussie net-zero energy house takes on the competition in Dubai, bringing home an impressive second place overall in the 2018 Solar Decathlon.
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Efficient homes
Two decades of monitoring
Detailed data collection can make for some interesting discoveries about how water and energy systems behave. Peter Coombes describes the results of almost 20 years of monitoring his house.
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Water saving
Stormwater reuse for parks and whole cities
If we change our approach, stormwater can provide water for irrigation, and even drinking. Jodie Lea Martire explores projects around Australia, including some in your own backyard.
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Water saving
Why I built a wetland not a dam
How high up on our priority list should biodiversity be? For Mara Ripani, her family and fellow wetland-lovers, it’s crucial—and there are practical benefits too. Mara explains.
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Buyers guides
Rainwater tank buyers guide
All the info you need on rainwater tank materials, siting, sizing, filters and pumps to make sure your rainwater is clean and useful.
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