Bored kids, turtle love and spring planting ideas

I sure didn’t. The cover story of our latest issue is all about our local turtles and I learned while researching it that these wise old creatures of the sea can live up to 80 years and swim 10,000km to reach this country. Amazing huh? Our writer Sam Judd speaks to New Zealand’s top turtle scientist in the article, and I promise you the links between people and turtles that he uncovers will change the way you think about our oceans. Check it out, it’s amazing stuff.

Elsewhere in the mag we’ve got some great free ways to deal with another kind of critter – bored kids – that don’t involve buying el-cheapo toys that end up in the bin. That story’s part of our regular Small Steps section, where we publish readers’ tips on living more sustainably, and we’re always keen to hear from you with your ideas. The next one will be on how to have a greener Christmas, so email me at [email protected] if you have ideas you’d like to share.

Meanwhile at Green Ideas HQ we’re getting really excited about our garden! The tomato plants in the office are roaring away, and the beans went in on Monday. What do you think? If you’re planning your own garden we have some great spring planting ideas in the mag for you, including a simple step-by-step guide to making biodegradable seedling pots.

Of course, on the home front my lovely wife has been giving me a hard time about looking after the office garden more than our own, so I’ve got some projects on the go there too. This week I decided to try an idea from our gardening writer Janet Luke that stops lettuces going bitter when it’s hot. You seal the hole in the bottom of some unglazed terracotta pots (I used a wine cork), then bury them in the garden filled with water and covered with an old plate. If you plant your lettuces around the pots, the liquid that slowly leaches from the pots’ sides ensures they never dry out. Clever huh? I’ll let you know how it goes. 

I’ve also put some new plants in the aquaponic system that I built last summer, including quite a few small strawberry plants that cloned themselves off our established plants. These have instantly responded to the water and light by putting out new leaves and flowers, so I’m sure we’ll have fruit soon. Though perhaps they’ll just taste watery (or even fishy – bleurgh) from the constant access to fish-pond water. Will keep you updated.

Finally, I’m also very happy to announce – ta-dah! – that an asparagus patch three years in the making is now sending shoots skywards, and on to our table. I love asparagus, but when you grow your own you’re not supposed to harvest the spears for the first three years to give the plant time to establish. Well, after three seasons of resisting the temptation, we’re finally reaping the reward – and I can tell you it’s both tasty and satisfying! 

How about you – are you into the gardening this spring? And what’s your favourite way to eat asparagus?

Greg Roughan
Editor, Green Ideas magazine

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