Your summer diversity challenge!
As we enter the peak summer growing season in Tasmania, challenge yourself to introduce diversity into one area of your system:
- In the Garden: Dedicate a small area to a polyculture or guild. Plant three or more complementary species (e.g., corn, beans, and squash, or tomatoes, basil, and marigolds) in the same small space to see how they support each other.
- For Pests: Instead of reaching for a single solution, introduce plant diversity that attracts beneficial insects (like dill, fennel, or yarrow) to naturally manage pest populations.
- In the Kitchen: Diversify your preservation methods. Try pickling one type of vegetable, drying another (using solar or a dehydrator), and freezing a third, rather than relying on a single technique.
By celebrating and cultivating variety—in our plants, our resources, and our community—we build systems that are not just productive, but fundamentally resilient to whatever the future brings.