Let's plant some seeds of sustainability!
We've provided these seed packs to our residents to encourage conversations around sustainability in the home and garden.
Check out the helpful tips on the seed packets before planting.
Lettuce - Lactuca sativa
Lettuce can be sown at any time of the year. Grows best in full sun to part shade.
Planting instructions:
- Choose a suitable container with drainage holes and seed raising compost, or sow directly in the ground.
- Water generously with fine spray and leave for a few minutes to allow the water to soak in.
- Break off each seedstick carefully and push point first into the soil up to the printed depth line.
- When seedlings emerge leave the stick in position and allow the strong plant to grow on.
Harvest: Begin harvesting about 6 weeks from planting. Don’t remove more than 50% of the leaf growth at any one time, so the plant can continue to thrive. Remove the outer leaves only and leave the inner ones to continue growing.
Storage: Best used soon after harvesting, but a great way to keep them fresh for longer is to line a glass or plastic container with a few paper towels, then scatter greens and seal with a lid.
Parsley - Petroselinum crispum
Sow outdoors from spring through to early autumn. Prefers full sun or part shade.
Parsley can bolt early to seed if it dries out too much so keep up the watering especially in the warmer months!
Planting instructions:
- Choose a suitable container with drainage holes and seed raising compost, or sow directly in the ground.
- Water generously with fine spray and leave for a few minutes to allow the water to soak in.
- Break off each seedstick carefully and push point first into the soil up to the printed depth line.
- When seedlings emerge leave the stick in position and allow the strong plant to grow on.
Harvest: You can begin harvesting parsley 6-8 weeks after planting and continue harvesting as you need it - cutting off the stems with sharp pair of scissors or secateurs. Cut at the base of stems to encourage new growth.
Storage: Parsley will stay fresh on the counter about 1-2 weeks, but properly stored in the fridge, it can last a month or even longer. Storing parsley in water is the ideal storage option. Whether its destination is in or out of the fridge, treat parsley like a bouquet of flowers. Remove any leaves from bottom 5 inches, trim the ends a bit to give them the best chance for absorption, and place the parsley in a jar of water.
Spring Onion - Allium cepa
Sow outdoors between September to February (or indoors during March for a Spring harvest). Prefers full sun.
Planting instructions:
- Choose a suitable container with drainage holes and seed raising compost, or sow directly in the ground.
- Water generously with fine spray and leave for a few minutes to allow the water to soak in.
- Break off each seedstick carefully and push point first into the soil up to the printed depth line.
- When seedlings emerge leave the stick in position and allow the strong plant to grow on.
Harvest: Around eight weeks after sowing, when the plants are around 15-20cm tall and the bulbs are still small, less than 2.5cm across. Pull the plants up by hand as you need them, using a hand fork or trowel to help if needed.
Storage: Best used soon after harvesting, but they can be stored in sealed plastic bags in a fridge for up to two weeks. Alternatively, place your harvested spring onions in a jar of water to keep them fresh until you are ready to use them.
Energy Efficiency
Did you know standby power is responsible for 5.9% of Australia’s total residential electricity consumption? Turn off appliances at the wall when you're not using them—it's an easy way to save energy.
Did you know that hot water accounts for around 21% of home energy usage. Keep showers to 4-5 minutes to save water and costs.
Visit your local Corangamite Library to find out more and ask about our home energy audit kit.
Further resources:
Pest Plants and Animals
Garden variety plants, such as Agapanthus, Watsonia, English Ivy and many others can escape from your garden and out into our roadsides and bushland reserves, outcompeting our beautiful native vegetation and harbouring pests species such as foxes and rabbits. Containing these plants to your garden or replacing with native species is a great way of preventing this issue. Find out more tips in your local gardens for wildlife booklet, made in partnership with Lismore Land Protection Group and Heytesbury Landcare.
Further resources:
Waste Reduction
Australia creates 7.6 tonnes of food waste each year - enough to fill the MCG 9 times over! Reduce your food waste by checking the fridge before you shop, shopping to a list and use up food reaching it's use by date. Grow vegetables at home to supplement your groceries and reduce transport emissions. Easy vegies to get started with are lettuce, spring onions and parsley.
Food scraps can be great for your compost or worm farm, or pop it into the Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) bin
Further resources: