Category 31

Seasonal garden guides for Australian climates

Moon Planting

The moon’s phases and its associated gravitational pull has a significant effect on the behaviour of tidal oceans, so it’s easy to understand how the moon can have a similar effect on the moisture in our soils and plants. By planning what you sow to coincide with the phases of the moon best suited to the type of vegetable and how you’re planting, you’ll give yourself a higher chance of success as well as increase your yields.

We love seeing what kids are growing with their families in their gardens, so snap and email us an image of what you’re harvesting at the moment. Send the photo to editorial@pipmagazine.com.au to win a copy of Harriet’s Hungry Worms by Samantha Smith and Melissa Johns. This issue’s winner is Isaac Gibbs from Paddington, Queensland.

The books, films & podcasts inspiring you to make a difference

Ask Aunty: Seasons is a delightful and educational picture book aimed at introducing children aged five to 10 years to First Nations seasonal calendars.

Have you ever been excited for the first day of summer, only to be disappointed when it arrives cold and rainy? For First Nations people, the seasons don’t change when the calendar does. Instead, Indigenous people can look for changes in plants, animals, water, weather and the stars to mark the start of a new season.`

Where we use and review products that nourish us and the planet

This gadget is useful for planting out large amounts of small tubestock and plants. It creates a planting hole without having to use a shovel or spade. At the time of writing this I had a shoulder injury that was exacerbated by the jolting action of digging. So I was looking for a way to plant a tray of native tubestock that wouldn’t aggravate my shoulder. The power planter was a great solution, allowing me to create appropriately sized planting holes without any of the harsh jolting action associated with digging.

Pip partners with brands that align with its values. Ethical companies producing good- quality products that don’t harm the planet, instead aiming to improve it. Browse more ethical companies you can choose to support at www.pipmagazine.com.au

SUGARBERRY SHIMMY

Sugarberry Shimmy founder Jules handweaves shimmering glass-seed beads and pairs them with gold- filled stainless steel, brass and silver elements to create long-lasting, delicately radiant handmade suncatchers and jewellery. Zero gemstone mining, cute biodegradable custom-designed gift boxes and Jules gives back to three charities. Use code PIP15 for 15% off. sugarberryshimmy.com.au

Five years ago, music industry executive and animal activist Cathy Palmer had never stepped foot on a dairy farm. Today, she’s the owner of an ethical dairy that’s not only practising regenerative techniques and following organic principles, but is the only dairy in Australia which allows cows and their calves to stay together after birth.

How Now Dairy is 64-acre farm in northern Victoria pushing back on the widely used practice of separating dairy cows from their calves 24 hours after birth. While cows need to give birth to a calf in order to produce milk, according to Cathy, something in the region of half a million five-day-old calves are sent to slaughter every year in Australia alone, all in the name of cheaper milk prices.

A dedicated animal activist, Cathy hasn’t eaten meat since she was a child, but she credits a chance conversation with a friend shortly after becoming a new mum that set her on a path of going against the accepted traditions of dairy farming in this country and introducing a more ethical way of caring for livestock.

Hello faithful readers and welcome to our 10th anniversary issue of Pip! This is a big moment for myself, the team and for all of you who have supported Pip along the way.

When I started Pip 10 years ago, people told me I was crazy to be starting up a print magazine but I just felt it was something I had to do. I had a vision and I wanted to bring it into the world.

At the time a lot of the gardening and sustainability magazines were a bit daggy and I wanted to create a publication that explored important topics like growing food, living sustainably, reducing waste, eating well, nurturing ourselves and each other, creating community and celebrating awesome people doing great things in their community. But I wanted it to be attractive and appealing to a wider audience. I didn’t want to just be preaching to the converted, I wanted to share these ideas with everyone, not just the die-hards.