Tune into Radio Kidnappers

Once a month (every 3rd Tuesday to be precise) at 4.30pm, my colleague Dominic and I present the Sus’d radio show on Radio Kidnappers.

We have already pre-recorded our show which is full of advice on reducing your environmental impact over Christmas. We also have a discussion about our new waste plan.

We are always open to suggestions about what you like to hear on our show. Post a comment on the Sus’d Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susd-Hastings-District-Council/176633995742114

Tune into 1431 AM or 104.7 FM to hear us on Tuesday 20th Dec at 4.30pm.

Free Christmas Present Wrapping!

Sus’d has teamed up with the Hastings City Business Association to offer a free wrapping service each Saturday leading up to Christmas.

We have enlisted the service of some wonderful students to help wrap the gifts in recycled brown paper and finish the service with a natural raffia tie.

You may have seen them in town this weekend just been, but don’t worry they will be back.
Come and find one of the three wrapping stations in the CBD on Heretaunga Street between 11.30 and 1.30 this Saturday and on Christmas Eve.

Do your bit on Christmas day - please remember to recycle your wrapping paper and packaging.

The Planting Plan

Before I started planting my new garden, I wanted to be organised and make sure I could fit all of the necessities in, while also being mindful of companion planting. Some plants don’t like to be neighbours with others, so I referred to my companion planting book to ensure I didn’t cause to much upset.

So here is my planting plan

On the first day I planted Borlotti Beans, dwarf peas, Honey and Pearl Corn, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage and spinach. Over the past couple of weeks I have also planted thyme, spring onions and zucchini.

I have covered the garden with straw to help keep the moisture in over summer and the weeds at bay. It also makes in look nice and tidy.

Here is what the garden looks like now.

Building a vegetable garden, where do I start?

Over the weekend I put the hard yards in and built myself a garden. This should reduce the amount of summer vegetables we need to purchase.

So I started with this...



Clearing the area of the weed suppressant, in this case it was shredded pine.

I then created the raised beds. The soil at my place is a very heavy clay that is difficult to dig, so instead of trying to turn this soil over and add nutrients to it, I decided to make it easy for myself.

I had a mix delivered that I could plant straight into; sometimes planting into 100% compost can be too rich for plants and burn their roots. I had a small truck load of compost and recycled potting mix (mix that has already been used by the nursery to grow plants, it is cheaper than new potting mix) delivered. This mix should be available from most large nurseries.

Now it is ready for planting out...



I have planted; tomatoes, corn, zucchini’s, lettuce, beans and peas, along with the few existing plants I already had (lettuce, broccoli and leeks).
Next week I will share my planting plan with you.