Leanne Croker

3 weeks ago | organicgardener.com.au | Steve Payne |Leanne Croker

Celebrity chook lady Elaine Janes recently lost her much-loved skateboarding rooster, Squiggles, prompting us to ask about their special connection. I’ve been fascinated with Elaine’s story since we ran an article about her a few years ago in Issue 134, and then I wrote about her in my editorial a few issues ago (OG 153). For those who missed the original, we featured photos of Elaine and her feathered friends out and about – getting a coffee, catching a surf break or riding a skateboard.

3 weeks ago | organicgardener.com.au | Phil Dudman |Leanne Croker

new issue on salenow! HomeWhat to plantVegetablesGrow: pumpkins Homegrown pumpkins are an urban commodity – you can swap them with the neighbours for fresh eggs or a handful of lemons, and with a bit of TLC, they’ll store for months. Pumpkins are a part of our gardening and culinary DNA. You can swap with neighbours, make winter soups and with a bit of care, you’ll have a supply that will last a couple of months.

1 month ago | organicgardener.com.au | Simon Webster |Leanne Croker

Established in 1971, the international WWOOF program allows organic farmers to share their home and experience with travellers. WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a volunteer exchange program. Volunteer workers, known as WWOOFers, provide four to six hours of farming or gardening per day in exchange for all their food and accommodation.

1 month ago | organicgardener.com.au | Phil Dudman |Leanne Croker

Make the most of your pumpkin harvest with these storage and seed saving tips. When conditions are spot on for growing pumpkins, there’s potential to be overwhelmed by your harvest. You can swap with neighbours and share with friends, but follow these storage tips and you’ll have pumpkins ready to cook up for months to come. After harvesting your pumpkins, inspect each one carefully and set aside any with nicks or damage. These won’t store well, so plan to eat them first.

1 month ago | organicgardener.com.au | Phil Dudman |Leanne Croker

new issue on salenow! HomeBuild your gardenBasicsPlanting in punnets Starting vegies in punnets will mean you have crops ready to plant out, no matter the season or conditions. Here's how. I like to always have a few punnets of vegetable seedlings on the go. That way, as soon as a gap opens up in the patch, I’ve got healthy, established seedlings ready to plant.