Green thumbs up

Green thumbs up

Low-Waste Gardens leaflet series
Friends of the Earth (Sydney)

Review by Jon Land

Gardening has become a more popular pastime in recent years, as evidenced the popularity of radio and TV shows such as Burke's Backyard. The "experts" present us with the latest tips and advice on how to grow what where, and thanks to their sponsors, tell us about the latest must-have product for the home gardener.

Horticulture is a competitive, even cut-throat, industry, perversely influenced by the large agrochemical companies. And while the public has generally become more conscious about the harmful effects of pesticides and certain fertilisers upon the environment, these products are still happily recommended by the experts.

Creating that trendy cottage garden or starting a vegie patch can be expensive — as well as dangerous to your health (and that of your neighbours).

Friends of the Earth (Sydney) have produced a useful leaflet series for gardeners which provides basic information on environment-friendly and inexpensive ways to start and maintain a home garden.

With an emphasis on the low-waste garden, the series is divided into four sections. Section one looks at how to get started, section two at low-waste ground covers and lawns, section three at low-waste trees and shrubs and section four at recycling, mulching and composting.

The leaflets explain in simple terms some of the principles of organic gardening and permaculture, such as how to make the most of limited resources (such as water) or how to reuse garden waste. For example, a single hydrangea can fill a 240 litre wheelie bin full of prunings and use up to 12 wheelie bins full of water in one year.

Choosing less water-hungry and hardier plants makes a garden area much easier to maintain. It also means that the quarter of a tonne or so of garden waste that the average home can produce in a year is substantially reduced.

To get the Low Waste Gardens leaflet series, contact FOE on (02) 9283 2004. More detailed information on low-waste gardens can be found on the internet at http:www.tig.com.au/~foesydney/SustainableConsumption/gardens.

From GLW issue 311