Green Life Soil Co Newsletters!

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2022-01 January newsletter

It's hard to believe, but this January marks TWO YEARS that we have been at our 'new' premises. What an interesting two years it's been for everyone - who could have anticipated the changes that we've faced in that time. 2022 is looking to be a rollercoaster too - at times like this, our gardens are our sanctuary. If we can grow a little bit of our own food, it helps too! At GLSC we really believe gardens are vital for our physical and mental health. We trust everyone had a little chance to relax over Christmas. The weather made it less conducive to get garden projects done - many plants have fried in the heatwave conditions we've had and I know how disheartening it is. Unfortunately the next month or so won't be a lot better - the height of summer means survival mode for most gardens. If you've managed to keep things thriving, you're doing well. Hopefully we've got some useful tips to help you & your garden cope.

Jobs to do in the January garden
What to plant NOW
Cucumbers - be cool! (and grow cukes at home)
VIP special offer, Retailer update, Photo comp & more!

2021-12 December newsletter

Welcome to December - it's officially SUMMER! It's also about now we enter Birak - the Noongyar first summer season; with warmer days and cooling afternoon sea breezes. This regular weather pattern made it the time to do cool burns through the landscape; enabling rejuvenation of the vegetation, and making areas easier to traverse. This time of year sees many fledglings and younger animals abound. The WA Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda, is flowering - the striking orange flowers are sacred to the Noongyar people - and look amazing in areas of bush right now. In our suburbs, the Jacarandas are awash with purple. The native Blue Banded Bee is active & being spotted all over town - have you managed to find one yet? (You need some patience and perseverance - they're quick!) We've got lots of great summer ideas for you - and our CHRISTMAS TRADING HOURS; so read on!

Jobs for the December garden & what to plant NOW
Summer time blues (in the garden?) - We've got the cure!
Simple make at home pest repellent recipes
Christmas gift ideas, Retailer update, VIP special offer (NEW mulch) - and more!

2021-11 November newsletter

Hullo and welcome to NOVEMBER - weather is gorgeous and it's the perfect time to be in your garden, preparing it for the summer months to come. It's a super busy time, but spending a bit of effort in your garden now will certainly help your plants cope with the coming summer (and it also means you get to enjoy the fruits of your labour come entertaining season!). We've had a lot of rain throughout October, good for the garden, but the wildly variable temperature conditions have made it very tricky for seedlings. Now's the perfect time to be getting mulch on your garden - while the soil is still a little damp (hopefully!) and before the temperature climbs into the 30's regularly. We stock a wide range of mulches suitable for vegetable gardens, ornamental gardens and natives - ask us for advice! For those of you who love the Moon Planting Calendars, these are on their way - we should have stock within a couple of weeks. They make great gifts for gardening friends & family; so why not grab one for you and one for a friend?

What to plant NOW & Jobs for the November garden
Mineral Magic - NEW product (and special pricing for our VIP members)
Strawberries - the sweet taste of summer
Photo competition, Retailer update, and more!

2021-10 October newsletter

Hello & welcome to October - Spring is definitely here; this month sees us transition into Kambarang - the Nyoongar season of birth. Days are getting warmer and dryer - many more native plants start to flower, reptiles are on the move, and you're more likely to encounter a swooping Koolbardie (Magpie) as they get protective of their nests & young. In our gardens, it's a real season of transition. Winter crops may be starting to bolt to seed, broad beans are coming on strong to harvest, garlic is getting closer. It's time to get planting all the summer crops - but more on that in the 'What to Plant Now' section below. Weeds are all flowering (and setting seed) so do make sure you get on top of them as much as you can! October marks a special anniversary for GLSC. 2021 marks 20 YEARS that Paul & I have owned the business. A few customers lately have commented on the 15th birthday celebration day we had (our Spring garden fair) - so maybe we need to plan a big celebration next year for our 21st!!! Who's in??

What to plant NOW and jobs for the October garden
Living Soil - what it is (and why we make it!)
Growing your vegies from seed
VIP special offer, Photo comp winner, Retailer update & more!

2021-09 September newsletter

Hello & welcome to SPRING! We're enjoying some gorgeous weather, and all the rain has certainly made things GROW! If you have chance to check out wildflowers this year - I believe it's a spectacular season out there. Spring is the perfect time to get planting. We've got loads of heritage seeds for your summer crops, still some rhubarb & asparagus crowns (be quick!), and there's more seedlings starting to trickle through. They take a while to get going in early spring because the weather (especially nights) are cool - so please be a little patient.

What to Plant NOW & Jobs to do in the September garden
Elderflower - useful herb/shrub/tree (and so pretty!)
Legionnaires disease - what is it (and how to reduce your risk)
VIP special offer, Photo competition winner, Retailer update & more!

2021-08 - August 2021 Newsletter

Howdy, Green Lifers! Welcome to August. In the Nyoongar calendar, we're heading into Djilba - which is when the seasons begin to change (towards what we'd call 'Spring'). It is the time of conception; many native animals are breeding now so their young are born into a season of plentiful food. I've noticed some wildflowers like Hovea making an appearance; but others seem a little slower; no doubt the cold & wet we've experienced is a sign somethings are a little later this year. That said, some of the fruit trees are in blossom, and the daffodils are out - so Spring can't be far away! It's a fabulous time to get busy in the garden right NOW to get ready for an abundant harvest in the Summer months. Work you do now to prepare your soil will make all the difference once the hot weather kicks in.

What to plant NOW & a handy reminder for August jobs to do in the garden
Biochar - the benefits for YOUR garden
Stinging Nettle - how to grow (and how to make Nettle Chips - yum!)
Photo competition, VIP delivery special, Retailer update & more!

2021-07 July 2021 Newsletter

Hello and welcome to July - wow, what a start... We’ve passed the Winter Solstice so days are getting longer. We've had another lock down, freezing cold temperatures and... RAIN!! So. much. rain. I know we need it, but it tends to scare the customers away!!! And we've had a number of frosts up our way already - with a few ornamental plants suffering as a result, but they're hanging in with new growth coming through. a

Customer survey - we need your help - tell us your thoughts.
What to plant NOW & handy tips for the July garden
VIP special delivery offer & items on special
Companion planting - gardening myth or mastery?

2021-06 - June 2021 Newsletter

Welcome to Winter! Chilly nights and mornings have arrived ~ and some good rainfall; with the May monthly average reached just in the nick of time! How is your garden going? Ours is thriving; but we definitely need to keep on top of weeds; as the rain has also given them a boost and they seem to grow overnight!

What to grow NOW and a handy reminder of June jobs
Feijoa - useful shrub & tasty fruit
Poo - also useful, but less tasty.
VIP special offer, Retailer update, Photo comp winner & more!

2021-05 May Newsletter

Hello & welcome to May! Autumn is well & truly here - with Winter just around the corner; officially at least! There are always some gorgeous days in May - sunny but not hot; the perfect combination to get outside and enjoy your outdoor space. It doesn't matter how big your area is - you can make it a pleasing sanctuary - your own happy place! Perth Garden & Outdoor Living Festival was on 6-9th May at Langley Park in the City. It was pushed out a week due to Covid restrictions - but luckily the event went ahead & the weather was great! Although GLSC didn't exhibit this year (taking a year off after attending for at least the last 13 years), I did a talk on Sunday on "Overcoming the challenges of Perth's sandy soils to create a healthy garden" - a subject that many of our GLSC customers are very familiar with, I'm sure!

Jobs to do in the May Garden & What to plant NOW
Broccoli - use yer head and get growing!
Grasshoppers - garden pest
VIP special offer, Retailer update, Photo comp winner & more!

2021-04 April Newsletter

Welcome to April and welcome to Djeran (Noongyar season). Djeran season at last sees a break in the really hot weather. A key indicator of the change of season is the cool nights that bring overnight dew. Breezes come from the south, and it's the time of ants - on the wing to begin new colonies. As the season progresses, the nights will become cooler and damper, and there's rainy days to come - which means that traditionally mia mias (houses or shelters) were now repaired and updated and made waterproof in readiness for winter. Banksias start to flower, producing nectar for many small mammals and birds. Traditionally, foods at this time of year included stored seeds, along with the root bulbs of the Yanget (Bullrushes), fresh water fish, frogs and turtles. We trust you had a great Easter long weekend. So far the weather has been warm and very humid; so although it's officially Autumn, it still doesn't quite feel like it. The good news is that you haven't missed your chance yet for Autumn/Winter crops - there's still plenty of time to get your seeds planted and/or buy seedlings ready to grow.

What to plant NOW & a handy reminder of Autumn gardening jobs
Sambung - Longevity Spinach (and miracle plant?)
Armyworm - know thy enemy!
VIP special offer, Retailer update, Photo comp winner & more!

2021-03 March 2021 Newsletter

Welcome to Autumn - well, officially anyway! In the Nyoongar calendar, we're still in Birak - or 2nd summer. Their knowledge of the land and how it changes with the seasons is quite accurate - we know there's usually some hot days in March. However, I'm sure you've noticed that the days are getting shorter, and the angle of the sun is changing ever so slightly. We can tell we're on the cusp of a change. Gardeners get quite excited in Autumn - it is a FABULOUS time to be growing!

What to grow NOW and a handy reminder of Autumn gardening jobs
Chilli Thrip - a new pest in your garden?
Mugwort - a profile on this interesting herb
VIP special offer, Photo competition winner, Retailer update & more!

2021-01 January 2021 Newsletter

Happy New Year! We hope you had a great Christmas and maybe had some down-time to relax. We're back in full swing for 2021; and let's hope it's a great year! We've been at our "new" Wilson Road site for a full year - can you believe it? While there's a lot we've accomplished in that time, there's still more developments & improvements coming as time and budget allows - so watch this space! How has your garden coped with the heat? We've certainly had some hot days; and I know our garden has suffered. And as for these easterly winds... urgh! So drying and damaging. At home, we were very overdue with getting shadecloth up, as we had some structural improvements to the framework to do - and you know how one thing always leads to another, right? Well finally we've got over half of our vegie patch protected. We've got cucumbers, pumpkin, tomatoes and basil that have been struggling, and strawberries that have barely hung on - but they should all do much better now, and I can think about a few more things to get in the ground. [Never too late to have a go, right??]

What to grow NOW & a handy reminder of January gardening jobs
Watermelon - refreshing & good for you!
VIP special offer
Photo competition, Retailer update & more!

2020-12 December 20 news

Hello & welcome to DECEMBER! In the Noongyar culture, it's the start of Birak - the first summer season of easterly winds and cooling sea breezes - the regularity of which made it suitable for cool fires to burn the land; which aids germination, cleared areas for access and hunting (while regrowth provides grazing for native animals), and to reduce fuel for wildfires. The rains are easing up and temperatures are rising. Many young animals are around - fledglings have left the nest, and reptiles are shedding skin as they grow. Spring was certainly strange in recent weeks - with cooler days (and very cool nights!) and more recorded rainfall in November than ever before! (more rain than in July and almost as much as August!). Plants are definitely confused - cooler weather will delay germination of seeds, delay ripening of crops, and we're seeing a fair bit of blossom end rot in tomatoes due to the rainfall. And then there's the powdery mildew on cucurbits...ah - the joys of gardening! There's always SOMETHING to keep an eye on!!

Jobs to do in the December garden & what to plant NOW!
Gift ideas for green thumbs
Tips to prep for summer
VIP special offer, Retailer update, Photo comp winner & more!

2020-11 November 20 news

Hello & welcome to NOVEMBER! As we steamroll towards Christmas and Summer and the end of 2020 - what a year it's been... More than ever before our gardens have become places to help us get in touch with nature and its rhythms; and for some, the love of gardening has been ignited for the first time. As I write this, the weather has returned to a Winter-like temperature, and we've received a very nice drop of rain which helps the new plantings along nicely. And a big THANK YOU for voting for us in the 2020 Organic Consumer's Choice Awards - we WON the title "ORGANIC SPECIALIST" thanks to receiving the votes from so many of our lovely customers. It's an honour to have such amazing support.

What to plant NOW & Jobs to do in the November garden
Spring Pests & Diseases - how to manage them organically
Photo competition winner, Retailer update
VIP Special offer, and more!

2020-10 October News

Hello and welcome to October! We're right in the heart of Spring - and I've been amazed (again) at the speed of growth in the garden at the moment. It seems the minute you turn your back, things are doubling in size. We've gone from waiting weeks and months for cauliflower heads to form, to being overrun with them - but it's a nice problem to have!! I hope you've been enjoying your garden, too! We've been exceptionally busy at GLSC this Spring - Remember we're open 6 days 8.30 - 4.00pm (closed Sundays) so come on in anytime for in store shopping. There's no charge to borrow one of our trailers (just remember to bring in your drivers license) if you want to pick up bulk soil or mulch.

What to grow NOW & a handy reminder for October gardening jobs
Top Tips for Tasty Tomatoes!
New products, Retailer update & Photo competition Winner
VIP Special offer, & more!

2020-9 September 2020 Newsletter

Such a busy time in the garden & life seems to ramp up at this time of year too. It won't belong before we start seeing Christmas decorations in the shops - but between now & the traditional festive season, there's LOADS to do if you want to be harvesting fresh garden produce by then, and enjoying a healthy, green outdoor space over the summer - when you're entertaining outside and can really enjoy it. This month we hope to inspire you to get out there and get dirty!

What to plant NOW & Jobs to do in the Spring garden
Citrus Gall Wasp - Clay Spray is something new to try!
Harvest Club 2020 - your organic garden in a box
VIP special offer, Retailer update, Photo comp winner & more!

2020-08 August newsletter

Welcome to August. In the Nyoongar calendar, we're heading into Djilba - which is when the seasons begin to change (towards what we'd call 'Spring'). It is the time of conception; many native animals are breeding now so their young are born into a season of plentiful food. In our local bush, Acacias are flowering, and some of the other wildflowers like Hibbertia and Hovea are beginning to flower, too! Every week at this time of year, the bush comes alive with something else flowering. It is the time of year in the South West of WA that we're still having rainy days and cold weather, but there's also cold, clear days that can bring gorgeous blue skies and perfect conditions for gardening.

What to grow NOW & a handy reminder of August gardening jobs
Roses - time to prune! An expert gives us her advice.
Vertical Gardens - on the up and up!
VIP special offer, Retailer update, Photo comp winner & more!

2020-07 July 2020 news

We're now in the middle of Winter; and while we've had some rain, there's also been some gorgeous sunny days. It really is a fabulous time to garden in Perth; without the harsh sun and heat putting our gardens under stress. We've passed the shortest day of the year now; so little by little, there's more daylight hanging around. Your plants will be noticing, and as the seasons turn it won't be long before Spring is here! The changing seasons really are wonderful, if we stop and take the time to observe nature! We've got some great tips this month on how to grow organically by encouraging birds & insects to your garden.

Jobs to do in the Garden, and What to plant NOW
Bean Leaf Roll Virus - what is it?
Biodiversity in your backyard
Photo competition, VIP special, Retailer update & more!

2020-06 June News

The nights are getting colder now. Temperatures are starting to really drop at night and that means we are starting to cook those hearty winter recipes like casseroles and soups to keep us warm. I'm sure your garden benefited from recent rains and I hope survived the storms unscathed. In the Noongar culture, June means the start of Makuru season (June-July). The coldest and wettest time of year known as the fertility season as animals prepare for winter breeding. The first rains begin, the westerly winds come and the Noongar people moved more inland to hunt. If you missed our Facebook posts, we have had some new infrastructure built. We have installed a new concreted undercover area to keep our bulk products safe and protected over the winter months (see photo below). We've still got more to do - more improvements will enable tighter quality control and enable us to bring in new bulk products in time. And speaking of new products - we have had some new household & personal products come onto the shelves! A fantastic new range of natural products from Herbon and a new range of Shampoo Bars from Shampoo with a Purpose.

Jobs to do in the June garden & What to plant NOW
New Products - for a cleaner, greener home!
Seasonal pests - slugs & snails
VIP special offer, Photo competition winner & MORE!

2020-05 May Newsletter

Wow - what a roller coaster the last few months has been ~ April was so busy we didn’t get time to publish the newsletter and we send our deepest apologies to those who have been waiting! On a brighter note we have noticed a lot of new members signing up and would like to welcome you all to the Green Life family. What a strange Easter and Anzac we all experienced in isolation this year! With most of us home and spending time in the garden I wonder how much our gardens have grown? On a creative note World Naked Gardening Day was on Saturday the 2nd of May and my only comment is wow didn’t we get innovative in isolation this year.? With the first week of May we experienced some strong winds and rain (how did your garden survive?) But we're grateful the weather cleared up in time for Mother's Day.

Jobs to do in the May Garden & What to plant NOW
The DIRT on what makes good soil.
VIP Freebie & Photo competition winner
Retail stockists, Covid-19 updates & more

2020-03 March Newsletter

We're living in strange times! GLSC has now implemented a 'closed door policy' - this means we are still trading, however our premises are no longer open to the public. We are offering (as we always have) a delivery service, and other products (including trailer loads of soil) can be purchased by a click & collect system. There's never been a more important time to garden. Welcome to our March newsletter.

Jobs in the March garden
What to plant NOW
Top 10 'Bang for your buck' Winter crops
VIP special offer

2020-02 February newsletter

Welcome to February! We've entered the Noongyar season of Bunuru - 'second summer'; the hottest part of the year with little or no rain, and hot easterly winds - and a cooling sea breeze (if we're lucky!). It was the time of year the traditional people lived near the water, and fish/aquatic foods made up a lot of their diet. It's also the time of the Marri flowers; and for those of us living around the hills, it's certainly a spectacular season for blossom this year. Farmers say that indicates a wet winter is on its way... we'll see! For gardeners, it's a season of 'hanging in there!' - keeping gardens alive, and planning for Autumn, which officially is only a month away. We know weather can be hot right up into April, day length is shortening, nights are generally cooler, and there'll be a change in the air before much longer. So check out all the things you can do and be prepared for your best ever Autumn in the garden.