The Grow It Local Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

🪴 Episode 2: Growing in Containers and Small Spaces with Costa Georgiadis

Small space gardening is booming — and in this epsiode, your host Paul West is joined by none other than Costa Georgiadis, Grow It Local's national patron and Australia’s favourite gardening guru. In this episode, Costa shares practical, inspiring ways to grow lush, productive gardens in balconies, courtyards, rooftops, and tiny backyards using containers, clever design, and a whole lot of creativity.

From choosing the right pots and soil to working with microclimates and seasonal light shifts, this episode is a must-listen for renters, small-space dwellers, and anyone looking to make the most of limited growing space.

 

 

🧭 In This Episode

• What defines a “small space garden” — it’s more than balconies!
  
  

• Why containers are a small-space gardener’s best friend
  
  

• How to assess your site using “nature goggles” and microclimates
  
  

• Container ideas: teapots, buckets, crates, drums, and more
  
  

• Using containers to create and adapt microclimates
  
  

• How to garden vertically when you can’t dig or drill
  
  

• Matching plants to your aspect (hot, shady, windy, dry)
  
  

• Soil health in pots: wicking beds, worm farms, and composting hacks
  
  

• Growing food without ground: lettuce trees, silverbeet beasts, and balcony salad bars
  
  

• How to maximise productivity without compromising on beauty
  
  

 

 

💡 Top Tips from Costa

• “Every pot is a microclimate — and every microclimate is an opportunity.”
  
  

• “If you can’t dig, grow up. Think in 3D.”
  
  

• “Observe before you plant. Your garden talks — you just have to listen.”
  
  

• “Small spaces aren’t a limitation — they’re an invitation to innovate.”
  
  

• “Don’t underestimate a humble plastic pail. It could feed a household.”
  
  

 

 

🛠️ Small-Space Gardening Essentials

Element

Costa’s Advice

Containers

Use anything: teapots, polystyrene boxes, barrels, plastic pots, even wheelbarrows. Just ensure drainage and depth.

Vertical Space

Stack, trellis, hang, or raise your containers to build layers and expand growing space.

Mobility

Move your containers seasonally to chase light or protect from heat. Think of it as plant Pilates!

Soil Health

Use high-quality potting mix, feed with compost, worm castings, and top up regularly. Avoid garden soil in pots.

Watering

Use saucers to retain water. Consider wicking pots or water-storing media for wind-exposed balconies.

Plant Choice

Favour dwarf, compact, heat-tolerant, or trailing varieties. Match plant to microclimate.

 

 

🌿 Favourite Small-Space Plants

• Silverbeet – tough, leafy, and shade-tolerant
  
  

• Lettuce trees – lettuces that naturalise and keep going
  
  

• Sunflower shoots – microgreens that grow fast in low light
  
  

• Dwarf tomatoes, bush beans, herbs, chillies
  
  

• Trailing plants for privacy, light diffusion, or visual softness
  
  

 

 

🧑‍🌾 Small-Space Composting Tips

• Use 20L food-grade pails to build layered worm towers
  
  

• Drill holes to allow drainage and airflow
  
  

• Stack them in tucked-away corners or sunny spots
  
  

• Compost scraps right where you grow — no big bins required
  
  

"You don’t need space — you need systems. And a few good pails."

 

 

🗣️ Listener Q&A Highlights

• What can I grow with no direct sun? → Try leafy greens, silverbeet, and microgreens like sunflower shoots.
  
  

• Is air pollution a problem in urban gardens? → Not usually in Australia, but check local data for hotspots.
  
  

• How do I stop mozzies breeding in my saucers? → Empty and refill regularly. Keep water moving and tidy.
  
  

• Any edible plant tips for school kids in cities like Delhi? → Leafy greens and container growing are a great start — and safer than growing in poor ground soil.
  
  

 

 

📚 Resources & Mentions

• 20L buckets from restaurants (hello, upcycled ghee pails!)
  
  

• Veggie Pods – self-watering container systems
  
  

• Reflective surfaces & shade cloths for climate control
  
  

• Landcare groups and local nurseries – great sources for plant selection and community advice
  
  

• Observation and nature goggles – the best tool you already have
  
  

 

 

Inspired to grow in your own space?

• 🪴 Start with just one pot — even a plastic bucket will do!
  
  

• 🌱 Subscribe to the podcast for more grow-anywhere inspiration
  
  

• 📬 Join our newsletter for seasonal growing tips and DIY ideas
  
  

• 📸 Share your small space garden with us @growitlocal
  
  

 

 

 Thanks to our Sponsors

This episode was made possible by our Local Government Partners from around Australia, as well as our friends at Cyclone Tools, Pope and Backyard Farmer

 

🌱 Episode 1: Make this Your Best Tomato Season Ever!

In our very first episode, host Paul West is joined by permaculture gardener, educator, and tomato-loving legend Hannah Moloney. Hannah takes us on a deep dive into the wonderfully complex (and joyfully chaotic) world of growing tomatoes at home. From choosing seeds to building microclimates and preserving your harvest, Hannah shares decades of hands-on wisdom 

Whether you're a first-time grower or seasoned gardener, this episode is packed with tips, hacks, and inspiration to help you grow better tomatoes — with less stress and more joy.

 

 

🧭 In This Episode

• The importance of seed diversity and how to access heirlooms
  
  

• Choosing between determinate vs. indeterminate tomato varieties
  
  

• The lowdown on heirloom vs. hybrid seeds (and busting myths about GMOs)
  
  

• Hannah’s go-to DIY seed-raising mix (including regional tweaks)
  
  

• How to build microclimates: from sunny kitchen benches to DIY cold frames and greenhouses
  
  

• The trench planting technique that will change your tomato game forever
  
  

• Fertilising tips: when, how, and how much
  
  

• A practical, no-fuss approach to trellising tomatoes
  
  

• Dealing with pests, blossom end rot, and the dreaded fruit fly
  
  

• How to harvest, ripen, and preserve your crop (even the green ones!)
  
  

• Seed saving 101 — and the funky trick involving paper towels
  
  

 

 

💡 Top Tips from Hannah

• “There’s about 100 right ways to grow a tomato — find the one that works for you.”
  
  

• “Lay them down, not deep! Trench planting in the topsoil layer = more roots, better plants.”
  
  

• “Be ruthless with seedlings. If they’re floppy or pale, let them go.”
  
  

• “Good soil and a biodiverse garden are your best defense against pests.”
  
  

• “Preserve your harvest — future-you will thank you in the depths of winter.”
  
  

 

 

🛠️ Resources & Mentions

• DIY greenhouse ideas using salvaged windows and bricks
  
  

• Seed saving using fermentation method
  
  

• Favourite heirloom: the elusive ‘George’ tomato from Tassie
  
  

• Liquid feeds: worm juice, seaweed, weed teas
  
  

• Wicking beds & warm-climate mulch tips
  
  

• Garden folklore: eggs in the planting hole and tomatoes that grow sideways!
  
  

 

 

🗣️ Listener Q&A Highlights

• Fresh sawdust? Only if it's aged — fresh can suck nutrients and suppress growth.
  
  

• Best potting-up mix? Boost compost and add seaweed or worm juice once true leaves appear.
  
  

• Wicking beds? Brilliant for dry regions — just match bed depth to tomato type.
  
  

• Fruit fly? Healthy plants + netting + good garden hygiene.
  
  

• Cockatoos? Netting, dog patrol, and “cosh” covers.
  
  

 

 

🔥 If you enjoyed this episode:

• 🌱 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss an episode!
  
  

• 🍅 Share it with a fellow tomato grower
  
  

• 💌 Join our newsletter for monthly gardening guides and workshop invites
  
  

• 🧑‍🌾 Tag us on Instagram with your tomato tips and garden setups
  
  

 

 

🎙️ About Our Guest

Hannah Moloney is a permaculture designer, educator, and author based in nipaluna/Hobart. She’s the founder of Good Life Permaculture, a passionate advocate for climate-positive gardening, and a familiar face from ABC TV’s Gardening Australia.

📚 Learn more at www.goodlifepermaculture.com.au

 

Thanks to our Sponsors

This podcast has been brought to life thanks to the support of our Local govenemnt Partners from all over Australia as well as our friends at Backyard Farmer, Cyclone Tools and Pope

Welcome to the Grow It Local podcast, connecting you with Australia’s most inspiring growers.

 

That’s what it’s all about here at Grow It Local. We're on a mission to get more people growing sharing and eating locally grown food and this podcast is about helping you to become a better grower 

 

In the coming weeks, we’ll be releasing episodes featuring an all star cast of inspiring growers and gardeners. Each episode will focus on a particular topic, so you can expand you mind, grow your green thumb and become a better grower. 

 

You won’t want to miss an episode so please hit the follow button, that way you’ll know every time that we share a new episode.

I’m so excited to share this with you and can’t wait to launch our first two episodes on Friday August 22.

In the meantime, you can head on over to our website growitlocal.com to check at all the incredible information that we have there that is all about helping you to become a better grower.

 

LAUNCHING >>> August 22

 

💧 Episode 4: Wicking Beds 101 with Sophie Thomson

Want to grow more food with less water, less effort, and fewer failures? Enter the magical world of wicking beds — the ultimate low-maintenance gardening system, especially for hot, dry, or tricky growing conditions.

In this episode, your host Paul West is joined by gardening legend Sophie Thomson (from Gardening Australia) as she walks us through everything she’s learned from 12+ years of building and experimenting with wicking beds — from cheap DIY setups to portable IBC builds and community garden mega-projects. If you’ve ever been curious about wicking beds, this is the episode for you

 

 

🧭 In This Episode

• What exactly is a wicking bed, and how does it work?
  
  

• How wicking beds save time, water, and effort — especially in harsh climates
  
  

• Why they’re ideal for renters, small spaces, and concrete courtyards
  
  

• DIY options: IBCs, fridges, styrofoam boxes, washing machine drums, and pallets
  
  

• How to avoid common pitfalls (e.g. overheating, poor wicking, bad soil)
  
  

• Wicking bed anatomy: inlet pipes, overflows, reservoirs, geotextile, and soil
  
  

• Why soil quality is absolutely critical
  
  

• How to grow in wicking beds year-round — even during 45°C summers
  
  

• The great wicking bed addiction (you’ve been warned!)
  
  

 

 

💡 Top Tips from Sophie

• “Wicking beds make gardening easier — and addictive.”
  
  

• “Get the soil right, or the system won’t work.”
  
  

• “Think of your veggies like premmie babies — they need gentle, even care.”
  
  

• “Every part of the bed has a purpose — respect the layers.”
  
  

• “Clad your IBCs to block light, cool the soil, and extend the life of your bed.”
  
  

 

 

🛠️ Anatomy of a Wicking Bed

Component

Purpose

Reservoir

Holds water at the base of the bed, allowing plants to wick moisture from below.

Geotextile Fabric

Separates soil from reservoir and prevents fines from clogging the system.

Inlet Pipe

Delivers water directly to the reservoir without wetting foliage.

Overflow Pipe

Prevents waterlogging by draining excess water at the soil line.

Optional Drain Valve

Allows complete drainage — great for flushing salts in arid zones.

Soil Layer

Needs to be rich in organic matter to ensure proper wicking.

 

 

🔨 DIY Options Covered

• IBC tanks (cut in half) — strong, durable, and portable
  
  

• Washing machine drums — compact, upcycled, and water-efficient
  
  

• Old fridges — stylish with a custom collar (community garden favourite)
  
  

• Styrofoam boxes — great short-term option, but not UV stable
  
  

• Commercial inserts like WaterUps — increase water-holding capacity
  
  

• DIY inserts made from plastic pallets and nursery pots
  
  

• Self-watering pots — mini wicking beds perfect for tomatoes and herbs
  
  

 

 

🌿 What Grows Best in Wicking Beds?

Best suited for:

• Lettuce and salad greens
  
  

• Bok choy and leafy Asian greens
  
  

• Kale, chard, and silverbeet
  
  

• Herbs that don’t like drying out
  
  

• Tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant
  
  

• Compact cucurbits like mini pumpkins or gem squash
  
  

• Crops you want fresh and tender (not bitter or bolted!)
  
  

More care required for:

• Carrots and seeds (need top watering to germinate)
  
  

• Tiny root veg or shallow-rooted crops
  
  

• Extra-large, sprawling plants like tromboncino (they'll take over!)
  
  

 

 

🗣️ Listener Q&A Highlights

• How deep should my soil layer be? → 30cm is the sweet spot. Big crops can handle 50cm.
  
  

• Do I need to change the soil over time? → Not if you consistently add compost and organic matter.
  
  

• Can I fertilise through the reservoir? → Yes — seaweed, worm tea, or diluted organic feeds work well.
  
  

• What about fruit trees in wicking beds? → Possible with full IBCs, but picking height and nutrient draw are issues.
  
  

• Can I build these on concrete? → Absolutely. Wicking beds work on any flat surface.
  
  

 

 

📚 Resources & Mentions

• Sophie Thomson on Gardening Australia
  
  

• Sustainable Gardening Australia’s worm wicking bed how-to
  
  

• DIY insert options: WaterUps, plastic pallets, nursery pots
  
  

• Cladding tips: timber slats, insulation, weed mat (if cool climate)
  
  

• How to upcycle: sourcing second-hand IBCs, salvaged materials, dump shop treasures
  
  

 

 

Ready to build your own wicking bed?

• 💧 Start small with a self-watering pot or repurposed drum
  
  

• 🧰 Hit the tip shop or FB Marketplace for IBCs and materials
  
  

• 📬 Subscribe to the podcast for more how-to growing episodes
  
  

• 🌱 Join our newsletter for wicking bed plans, videos, and seasonal planting guides
  
  

• 📸 Share your setup with us on Facebook or Instagram @growitlocal

 

 

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This podcast was made with the incredible support of our Local Government partners from around Australia as well as our friends at Backyard Farmer, Pope and Cyclone Tools

 

🐛 Episode 3: How to Rewild Your Patch with Mel Logozzo

What happens when you stop trying to control your garden and instead invite nature to take the lead? In this episode, your host Paul West is joined by rewilding champion and bug-loving gardener Mel Logozzo about how to transform any space — from a tiny yard to a sprawling verge — into a thriving habitat.

Mel shares her journey from paved-over suburbia to a lush, biodiverse sanctuary filled with buzzing bees, flowering natives, predatory insects, frogs, and yes… even aphids (on purpose!). Whether you're keen to grow food spray-free, attract more pollinators, or just be a lazier gardener, this episode is packed with insights into rewilding your garden for both productivity and biodiversity.

 

 

🧭 In This Episode

• What rewilding your patch really means
  
  

• How to create a balanced backyard ecosystem (even in small spaces)
  
  

• Why more pests = more predators (and why that’s a good thing)
  
  

• Practical ways to bring in more native insects, birds, and frogs
  
  

• Layering your garden like a food forest — natives and edibles together
  
  

• The role of invertebrates as ecosystem indicators
  
  

• How Mel grows food without using a single spray
  
  

• Why dead plants and weedy corners are ecological goldmines
  
  

• Creating habitat: logs, ponds, bug hotels, and bare soil
  
  

• Why you don’t need to freak out when aphids arrive
  
  

 

 

💡 Top Tips from Mel

• “You can’t have predators if you don’t have pests.”
  
  

• “Rewilding is lazy gardening — the less you do, the better.”
  
  

• “Not all sprays are created equal — even organic ones disrupt balance.”
  
  

• “Diversity = resilience. The more life you invite, the less work you’ll have to do.”
  
  

• “Don’t rip everything out! Even dead plants are habitat.”
  
  

 

 

🛠️ Practical Rewilding Ideas

Element

Rewilding Tip

Trees

Plant large natives like eucalypts to feed and shelter wildlife.

Flowers

Grow a mix of flat, tall, humble, and daisy-shaped blooms for year-round pollination.

Habitat

Add logs, ponds, bug hotels, or just leave a weedy patch alone.

Soil

Avoid mulching every inch — ground-nesting bees and insects need bare soil too.

Ponds

Even a repurposed bath or pot can attract frogs, dragonflies, and mosquito eaters.

Veggie Patch

Let some things flower and go to seed. It's free food for insects.

 

 

🐞 Mel’s Rewilding Essentials

• Don’t spray – not even organic solutions like neem or soapy water. They harm beneficial bugs too.
  
  

• Plant densely – fill every space with something. More layers = more habitat.
  
  

• Observe first – don’t assume a bug is bad. Learn what it is and how it fits into your ecosystem.
  
  

• Build balance over time – your predators may not show up this week, but they will.
  
  

• Work with your soil – raise veggie beds if needed, but leave other areas wild and untouched.
  
  

 

 

🐝 Mel’s Favourite Insects

Mel is a self-confessed invertebrate nerd. She champions:

• Aphids (yes, really — they feed the good guys)
  
  

• Blue banded bees and their cheeky parasite, the cuckoo bee
  
  

• Dragonflies, solitary wasps, and parasitoid flies
  
  

• Ground-nesting native bees (70–80% of native bees nest in the soil!)
  
  

• Spiders (passive predators that keep everything in check)
  
  

"There’s no such thing as friend or foe — it’s all about balance."

 

 

🗣️ Listener Q&A Highlights

• How do I get rid of cooch grass? → Persistence and deep digging
  
  

• What’s the best path material for rewilded gardens? → Lawn, mulch, logs — whatever fits your climate and feet
  
  

• Where can I learn more about bugs? → Try iNaturalist, Facebook insect groups, or Dennis Crawford’s books
  
  

• What about spider mites? → Let ladybirds and tiny native predators do their thing
  
  

• Can you buy beneficial insects? → Yes, but Mel prefers to let nature handle it
  
  

• How densely should I plant? → Dense! Think nine plants per square metre — or more
  
  

 

 

📚 Resources & Mentions

• RewildingSuburbia.com – Mel’s website

• iNaturalist.org – for plant and insect identification

• Your local council’s flora/fauna surveys and native plant lists

• Dennis Crawford’s books and resources on Australian garden insects
  
  

 

 

If this episode fired you up to garden a little wilder:

• 🐝 Follow Mel on Instagram @rewildingsuburbia
  
  

• 🌿 Leave some aphids on your plants and watch what shows up
  
  

• 🧑‍🌾 Subscribe to the podcast for more grow-at-home inspiration
  
  

• 📬 Join our newsletter for seasonal tips, community workshops, and more
  
  

 

 

Thanks to our Sponsors:

This podcast was made with the incredible support of our Local Government partners from around Australia as well as our friends at Backyard Farmer, Pope and Cyclone Tools