Birds of a Feather
By Jonathon Howard Some people confuse currawongs with magpies. Both birds are common to our gardens. Both birds are similar in size and are black and white in colour, however, there are significant differences. A keen ‘birdo’ will tell you the black and white colour extends to the top half of a magpie, while a …
The value of a garden
By David Thurley Every year in late January or early February Albury will experience a number of days where the temperature is in the high 30s or the low 40s and we are challenged to keep ourselves and our pets cool. What do we do? The first thing we do is reach for the switch …
Bringing thrifty back
By Melissa Kane I’m bringing thrifty back, which might sound quite presumptuous, but I’ve been using the time during COVID and on the back of Plastic Free July to pause, reflect and examine what going plastic free means for me. Everyone is on their own plastic free journey and I respect that your house means …
Don’t forget the little guys this spring
By Jonathan Howard
In spring most of us turn our attention to the garden and plants. Some of us might look to plant natives with nectar-producing flowers to attract honeyeaters and wrens in the garden.
This spring, I encourage you to do something different – why not install some insect hotels …
Cat enclosures
By Lizette Salmon, Gardens for Wildlife Albury-Wodonga To be purrfectly honest I’ve always been more of a dog person, but having recently visited a dozen cat enclosures, I’m feeling the fuzzies for cats. But first things first. What’s a cat enclosure? Many people think it’s a cage for transporting cats. Wrong. Cat enclosures are outdoor …
Frog chorus
By John Whale It was the hour before midnight, the moon shone brightly and some very welcome rain, which had been falling since I went to bed had finally stopped. From out of a rain drenched garden, I heard a distinctive voice calling out, or more precisely I should say, I heard a unique creature …
Water for wildlife in your garden (not just the big ones!)
By Karen Retra, Wild Pollinator Count Do you provide water for birds and other animals during hot weather? Perhaps a birdbath or shallow dish of water in a shady part of the garden? Don’t forget our insect friends who also appreciate a helping hand. The best way to support flower-feeding insects in your garden is …
Keeping a Christmas tradition alive
By Chris McGorlick The arrival of a nephew in my family has breathed new energy into our annual family Christmas gathering. His excitement is infectious, and I find myself recalling all the things that I used to love about the yuletide before it became hard work. There was so much to be excited about as …
Fallen trees are homes, not hazards
By Jonathon Howard Isn’t it funny how once you notice something, it has flow-on effects? I live on small farm and a dead tree had fallen across my boundary fence some months ago. While I fixed the fence to prevent my sheep escaping, I’d left the rest of the tree lying there as it was …
A tale of two grapefruit
By Graham Parton Recently as an aspiring ethical shopper I faced a choice between two grapefruits on sale at the local food co-op. This is a magnet for the locals who want to support local growers and buy food that is not from “factory farms.” The first grapefruit was from a local farm and was …
Search
About Living Lightly …
Living Lightly is a column in the Border Mail newspaper on Wednesdays featuring local stories about sustainable living.
Here you can browse previous articles.
Keep up to date by joining our email list to receive each Living Lightly article the morning it is published.
