Well they say when it rains it pours, and it seems spring really is full of promise, and good news!
And I’ve definitely got some exciting news to share. Drumroll…. I’ve joined ABC Organic Gardener as their cool climate writer, beginning with the Spring issue, number 160. Out of just a handful of writers chosen to represent the different climate zones across Australia, I’ll be one of them — writing eight columns a year from the rhythms of a cool climate garden.
It feels a little surreal, to be honest. I’ve been reading this magazine for years. It’s one of the very few that has always stayed true to what matters — grounded, seasonal gardening knowledge you can take straight outside. No fluff. Just practical wisdom and inspiration from gardeners around the country. To now be adding my voice to that mix feels both humbling and pretty thrilling.
A huge thank you to ABC Organic Gardener magazine and to Chloe Thomson (@beantheredugthat), the brand new editor, for inviting me into the fold. I’m so looking forward to working alongside the other writers, whose work I’ve admired for such a long time.
What cool climate gardening means to me
A productive garden is not only a source of beauty and what the garden offers. It is a way to live well. Cool climates ask us to be considered and seasonally responsive. We work with short summers, crisp nights and soil that asks for patience. The work becomes an experience of attention.
We observe light, water, wind and shelter. We create microclimates to extend the season. We choose plants for resilience, structure, scent and food. We build soil and the rest follows.
My approach is design led and hands on. I think in spaces, edges and rhythm. I use simple seasonal tasks to keep things moving. I lean on the quiet, layered architecture of a compost bay, worm systems that hum away, and planting that serves more than one role. This is how I’ve come to understand how to grow vegetables in a cool climate — through design thinking, daily practice and a willingness to keep observing.
What to expect in my column
Each column will be seasonal and written through a cool climate lens — practical, design-aware, and rooted in what’s happening right now. You can expect:
Timing that matches short growing windows — from when to start warm-season crops indoors, to when to direct sow cool-season staples.
Succession strategies for steady harvests — lettuce, rocket, mustard and more to keep greens coming.
Soil and compost care that’s do-able and regenerative — turning compost, top-dressing with worm castings, cutting down green manures before seed.
Fruit and berry tasks that matter in cool climates — thinning blossoms, tying canes, frost protection, even small tricks like cockatoo deterrents.
Design thinking folded into the everyday — creating microclimates, working with frost pockets, using shelter and mulch to hold warmth and moisture.
Checklists you can take outside — clear, seasonal action points so your garden stays productive and abundant.
Every column will be written for cool climate gardeners who want their spring, summer, autumn and winter to work harder — showing how to grow abundantly even with shorter seasons and lingering frosts.
An invitation to the community
More than anything, I hope the column feels like a conversation. Each garden is different, but the challenges of frost, short summers and fast shifts of season are ones we share.
So I’d love to hear from you: what cool climate questions are on your mind this spring? Seedlings, frost, wind, succession planting? Tell me what you’re experimenting with — your insights will help shape what I write next.
Continue your gardening journey with me
If this resonates with where you’re at in your own garden, I’d love to welcome you into a workshop. Explore current workshops here. They’re designed to give you the skills and confidence to grow with beauty, abundance and purpose.
If you are building your garden from home right now, my ebooks on Wicking Bed Gardens and Introduction to Backyard Chicken Keeping offer practical step by step guidance that pairs well with the workshops.
You may want to check out my related content below:
Redefining Productive: What it means in my Garden
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Thanks so much for following along.
Natasha xx
