Visit Howrah Mandy 2026

 Visit Howrah Mandy 2026

A warm summer's day and a delightful garden greeted us for the the Southern Food Garden Group's February visit to Mandy's in Howrah. Mandy moved here about three years ago, and we were all astonished to see how she has managed to change the garden from a 'blank canvas' with mainly grass to this thriving plot with flowers everywhere and the vegie components well underway too!

Visit Ravenswood John and Colleen 2026

This month's garden visit to John and Colleen's Ravenswood garden was well attended and much enjoyed.

 

John imparted lots of knowledge gained over his 84 years of gardening, including potato seed selection and limiting potato eyes to one only when planting.

When storing potatoes John does......

• Wash potatoes when harvested and leave to dry out of sunlight
• Store in a black fabric lined polystyrene box with the lid also lined with fabric
• Place in a cool and dark place
• Check regularly and remove any shoots that have started.

John happily demonstrated his ability to get on the ground and then proceeded to move across the lawn on his knees. We were left with no doubt how he manages his huge ground-level vegetable patch.

The washing machine water is put to good use in the apple orchard.

The sweet corn plants were looking great, the carrots already a very good size and the long rows of young brassica seedlings were surrounded by plastic pots to give them some protection from the elements.

Many of us went home loaded up with goodies from the produce table and also bags of Glebe Gold and bee-attracting flowering plants kindly donated by Glebe Gardens.

We enjoyed morning tea under the marquee as the much-longed-for rain came down.

Thank you, John and Colleen, for hosting this visit!

FGG newsletter February 2026

   🍑 Food Garden Group newsletter - February 2026  🍑

 We like to grow what we eat 

________________________________________________________________________________

In this newsletter - How is your food garden shaping up this season, what to do in your food garden in February, this month's Northern and Southern food garden visits, last month's visits in words and pictures, all you need to know about processing and preserving, visits planned for coming months and more.

Visit St Leonards Ken and Mylene 2026

On Sunday 18 January northern gardeners enjoyed a visit to Ken and Mylene’s garden in St Leonards.

Visit Sandfly Kellie and Nick 2026

Visitors to Kellie and Nick's small farm in Sandfly, 15 minutes south of Hobart, might be tempted to a romantic view of hobby farming.  The sweet faces of the Dorper sheep, the cute flocks of quail and chickens, the ducks and swans on the dam all contribute to an idyllic picture of farm life. But Kellie is quick to offer a reality check; although she and Nick love their life on the land, the work is hard and the list of jobs is long and demanding. Read on to see and hear about some of Kellie and Nick's plans to turn this 34 acre property into an efficient and productive place that can be sustainably managed by two people. 

 

FGG Newsletter January 2026

 🍅Food Garden Group newsletter - January 2026 🍅

 We like to grow what we eat 

________________________________________________________________________________

In this newsletter - Is everything this season later? What to do in your food garden in January, this month's Northern and Southern food garden visits, what Food Garden Group Blog posts will be useful in January, last month's visits in words and pictures, and more. 

Visit Bridgenorth Harry and Jess 2025

Northern gardeners visited Harry and Jess's property in Bridgenorth recently which provided an interesting insight into the challenges of establishing a food garden in a rural setting whilst building a house and living off site.