1. Good Organic Gardening - January-February 2016

Wild Olive
Chardonnay
— perfect for
summer
Wild Olive Organic McLaren
Vale Chardonnay is the latest
addition to the fantastic range
of organic wines from fifth
generation family-owned,
Angove Family Winemakers.
Grapes are sourced from fully
certified vineyards in McLaren
Vale. The region’s idyllic
Mediterranean climate and
proximity to the ocean allows
them to ripen slowly to the
peak of flavour ripeness while
retaining natural acidity. They
have been gently crafted with
minimal intervention into this
delightfully fresh wine that is
bursting with the ubiquitous
peach, melon and nectarine
flavours of modern Australian
Chardonnay with just a hint
of oak. angove.com.au
Is keeping chooks
just too hard?
You’ve probably read about the increasing number of people
keeping chooks, which may have got you thinking, maybe I should
get chooks. There is, of course, also that nagging voice telling you
that you already have enough to do. Honestly, though, chickens
are a lot easier to look after than a dog — no walking for a start.
By keeping just two chooks you could get up to 12 delicious eggs
a week. Fresh is definitely better when it comes to eggs, plus you
know exactly what has gone into them. The usual objections to
keeping chooks are cleaning the coop, smells and rodents. There
are lots of different chicken coops on the market, but we love the
Omlet Eglu Go UP because it addresses all three. It’s plastic, so
it’s easy to clean — just turn the hose on it. That means you don’t
get horrible smells, plus it’s easy to remove the droppings tray
and empty it straight into the compost. Rodents are attracted by
food and chickens can be messy eaters. However, the Eglu Go
UP comes with a specially designed feeder that prevents them
throwing food around. Omlet.com.au
The best hanging baskets in
the world
Seeing is believing, and the range of hanging baskets from Bloom
Master Australia has everything you ever wanted in a hanging
basket and more. It’s just so simple: plant the side holes and the
top with your choice of seedlings and before you know it the
basket is covered in a cascade of colour, giving you months of
blooming pleasure. Your options are endless: herbs, strawberries,
flowers — all are showcased brilliantly with these baskets and
planter boxes. The unique design means the potting mix won’t
wash out of the holes when watered. Due to the volume and
depth of the containers, they stay moist longer and the foliage
becomes insulating while still allowing aeration through the side
holes. The product range is made of high-quality poly-propylene
and is UV-treated. Available in various sizes and comes complete
with wire hanger. bloommaster.com.au
Automatic irrigation
for small spaces
Irrigatia makes automatic solar irrigation systems that respond to the
weather to decide for themselves how much water your plants need.
The system is solar-powered and waters by slow drip every three hours
from any-sized, clean, still water source. And it works whether you are
home or on holiday! The system is great for pots (up to 48), garden beds,
vegetables, courtyards and balcony gardens and in your greenhouse. And
because it can raise water as high as 4.5m, it’s wonderful for living walls and
hanging baskets (and who has the time to water them three or four times a
day?!) The water source for the system could be an existing water tank or
a bin full of clean water — drill a small hole in the lid for the inlet tube and
to keep the mozzies out. The Irrigatia kit comes complete with a 12-dripper
irrigation kit. This can be extended with further Irrigatia drippers or with a
seephose kit. irrigatia.com.au
90 | Good Organic Gardening