In Your Backyard: Sustainability Tools and Online Resources


Further reading and additional online resources for our special edition Sustainability Through the Seasons.

Autumn

Temperatures may be cooling but things are heating up in the kitchen and garden. In this chapter, learn how to prepare soil, minimize food waste, grow nutritious fruits and veggies and then turn them into delicious dishes sure to become family favourites.

More autumn gardening ideas

DIY project: Make a garden cloche to protect your plants

Free downloadable seed saving envelope

New Zealand growing guide: 9 tips for your best-ever broccoli crop

How to plant a rainbow: Growing tips for colourful summer salads, beetroot, silverbeet and edible flowers

Additional autumn eco-ideas – Food waste

Free Downloadable Meal Planner

Dr Compost Ben Elms’ recipe for a good life and tips for top compost

Dr Compost Ben Elms’ recipe for a good life and tips for top compost

What to feed your chickens to keep them healthy

Useful links and further reading on compost and food waste:

See the Compost Collective’s bokashi page for further bokashi tips

The Share Waste website matches those who have scraps and lack compost, with others who have compost and need scraps. 

Auckland’s commercial composting service We Compost

 

Further reading on food choices and carbon emissions: 

Meat eaters, vegetarians, vegans: How much does diet impact the environment?

A study on the difference in dietary greenhouse gas emissions between self-selected meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians and vegans in the UK. 

Further reading autumn Eco-travel 

The New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment initiative spearheaded by Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) has eight goals and 14 commitments focusing on the economy, visitors, host community and the environment. More than 1000 tourism businesses had signed up by April 2019; however, the TIA’s goal is for all tourism operators to be on board by 2025. Find a full list of companies at sustainabletourism.nz

TIA is also one of seven organizations behind the Tiaki initiative, which asks travelers in New Zealand to be mindful of their surroundings. Other supporters include Tourism New Zealand, DOC and Air New Zealand. Travelers commit to: “Care for land, sea and nature, tread lightly and leave no trace; travel safely, show care and consideration for all, respect the culture and travel with an  open heart and mind.” tiakinewzealand.com


Winter

Learn how to grow frost-resistant produce, reduce waste, improve the environment for birds  and beat the chill with craft and flavoursome recipes.

More winter gardening ideas

How to grow miner’s lettuce and corn salad (mache): Two nutritious, delicious greens that love winter

Recipe: Garden Greens (silverbeet, beetroot greens or spinach) & Feta Filo Pie

Which mulch is best to use in winter?

How to grow microgreens (it’s easier than you think)

A guide to growing wild strawberries in New Zealand

Bare, naked tree planting tips

 

More stories you might like:
Ice-cream makers behind Wellington's Wooden Spoon Freezery get playful with hand-crafted flavour

 

 

 

 

Kath Irvine’s pruning fundamentals: When to prune and the three golden rules of pruning

Winter biodiversity ideas to help native birds

13 ways to help New Zealand birds on your property

Lisa Scott tries hot yoga in Otago Museum’s Tuhura butterfly enclosure

 

 

 

Winter rat and rodent catching tips

How to use toilet rolls to fight a rat problem

 

 

How Goodnature’s self-resetting traps are changing predator control in New Zealand

The secret life of nocturnal pests (and how to capture them on camera)

 

More winter eco-ideas

Sustainable food producers thinking outside the box on Great Barrier Island

DIY project: Make your own fused-plastic tote bag

Two plastic-free projects: How to make an origami paper bin liner and a paper kete (basket)

How a family of four ditched cling film for good

Winter craft ideas

How to cast on:

Free knitting pattern: Make a colourful seesaw knit scarf

How to make a ‘NZ Neck Gecko’ scarf

Craft project: Crochet possum bookmark

Free knitting pattern: Cotton Wool Booties for New Zealand babies in need

DIY: Make a knitted pet bed

Winter eco-ideas: Sourdough making

How to make the perfect sourdough bread

How to make the perfect sourdough bread

Recipe: How to create and nurture a sourdough starter


Spring

Boost the health of bees and other beneficial insects, grow a variety of fruit and veggies, cook from the garden, spring clean the wardrobe and shop sustainably.

Spring gardening ideas

How to grow a giant pumpkin

6 keys to tomato-growing success in small spaces

Spring gardening tips for September: Sow peas and carrots, plant tomato seeds, dig out weeds, avoid codling moths

10 tips to growing cucumbers (hint: they hate frost and love fertiliser)

 

More stories you might like:
The North Otago high country station selling merino to NATO

Spring biodiversity

 

Top 17 trees to feed bees in New Zealand year round

Top 17 trees to feed bees in New Zealand year round

Spring eco-ideas further reading sustainable fashion

A good overview of the supply chain and challenges of the fashion industry

 

Tearfund’s ethical fashion guide rate’s NZ clothing brands on their sustainability

Information of fabric choices and the environment


Summer

Summer gardening ideas

The 10 best lettuces for the healthiest 365-day salad supply

Tips for growing, pruning and picking your best-ever raspberry crop

How to deal with runner bean glut (plus two delicious bean salads to make)

How to control and prevent pests in the garden the natural way

Homemade gift ideas

How to grow delicious salads all year round

DIY: How to make seed bombs

Homegrown present idea: Greek basil topiary

How to infuse vodka at home PLUS 5 infused vodka cocktail recipes

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