Midsummer long cool drinks of… water.

Bellingen Island in the town where I live, is special because it’s a remnant of the rainforest, which once covered the valley.

Over the last decade the humble lettuce has undergone a much needed image boost.

By Simply Living resident gardening expert, Helen Cushing

I live in the subtropics so winter is a great relief from the heat and humidity of summer.

I grew up by the beach, playing in the sand, sun, sea and on stormy days when the waves crashed and dumped like mountains on the move, I played in the seaweed.

The Helen Cushing guide to herbs: medicinal, culinary and decorative

Recently I was showing old friends around my vegetable garden.

Leaving the gardening to nature

We have all seen Australian native plants growing in apparently impossible situations.

Philosophy, not war. This may sound obvious when talking organics but many organic gardeners simply reach for the pyrethrum instead of malathion.

We hear a lot about trees these days, in all sorts of contexts - as oxygen producers, soil stabilisers, animal habitats, timber and paper producers.

Backyard bush tucker? Why not?

Welcome to our new gardening column. In each issue we’ll be looking at ideas, philosophies and skills to help you keep your patch of planet earth happy and productive.

Introducing kids to mother nature

Permaculture has come of age. Ass we head toward the millennium, its wholistic tenets of sustainability, efficient design, and environmental awareness have been embraced by the mainstream.