If you haven't learnt it by now you have got to get out there, do the right thing and cover any bare soil and garden beds with a rough, course mulch before the brutal summer. This can slash your water loss by up to 70%.
That means making the most of these last precious spring rains. Make sure your use wetting agents to help 'direct' water into your garden and away from the road and the nearest drain!
Wow! Spring is an awesome time to get those food crops cranking before the onset of the harsh summer. Try sweet corn, melons, cucumbers, the good ol potatoes and of course tomatoes. Springs fecundancy is here – make the most of it!
Tempting as it is to keep feeding non food growing garden beds well into spring and summer this will just mean tender, vulnerable new shoots ready for the misery of a long frying summer. Ease back by late September. Food plants are of course an exception – they will need feed throughout their growing time.
Like a community getting ready for a cyclone we need to have a similar attitude to the looming summer. Think about how you are going to shade ALL east, west and north windows. Remember to cover food crops with a 15-30% shade cloth. You so wont regret it! 

Educating and inspiring you to achieve sustainable living at home

The multi-award winning Great Gardens team has now delivered free environmental education to more than 63,000 adults and more than 2,000 kids! Join the movement for change and become empowered and inspired to achieve sustainable living in your life!

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Latest sustainable living news

Great Gardens discovers a new River! Click Here For Photos

23/01/12

Great Gardens is delighted to announce the arrival of its latest team member, River Anthony Lawrence Ferreira. River was born at 12.33pm on 23rd December 2011 and proud parents Chris and Astrid are eager to bring him home from King Edward Memorial Hospital, where the team are taking fantastic care of him. River was born at 1.1KG and is now weighing in at 1.35KG. Mum and Dad hope to have River at home with them in February but in the meantime River is living in his little glass home in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. A true Great Gardens team member already, River's home is double-glazed, which has helped to insulate him and regulate his temperature! Like other precious pieces of Western Australia, this little River is adapting to his unique circumstances and inspiring us all with his will to survive and thrive. Thank you to all of those who have shown River, Chris, Astrid and the rest of the family your support. Our thanks also go out to the Neonatal ICU at King Edward Memorial Hospital which has taken such good care of us and River. Your support of the Women and Infants Research Foundation and the hospital will be much appreciated - for more information about the WIRF visit www.wirf.com.au. We will keep you posted with updates on River's progress so please feel free to keep checking the website for news.

Have a Great Christmas!

23/01/12

From all at the Great Gardens team, we wish you a prosperous, productive and peaceful Christmas. Our workshops will recommence in Febuary 2012 and a full calendar of events will be published on our EVENTS page. See you next year!

James Lush - Lush TV "

With a world population growing by the day and governments continuing to put their heads in the sand it’s vital that as individuals we create the momentum needed to make the changes. That is why I am proud to be an ambassador for the Great Gardens program as it works so effectively to inspire and empower communities to make real and lasting change"

James Lush, Lush TV
Watch past episodes of GGTV

Upcoming Events (all free!)

13 MAR 2012

Great Gardens Workshop at Kalamunda

06:30 PM-09:30 PM Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre, 48 Canning Road, Kalamunda, WA 6076

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15 MAR 2012

Synergy Great Homes and Gardens Workshop - Joondalup

06:30 PM-09:30 PM MacNaughton Clubroom, 9 MacNaughton Crescent (Located on MacNaughton Park behind the Kinross Central Shopping Centre) Kinross WA 6028

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