Show Notes
🪴 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
More from The Grow It Local Podcast
Episode 10: How to Save Your Own Seeds with Kat Lavers In this episode, Paul chats with Kat Lavers, urban farmer, educator, and passionate advocate for seed saving. From her small suburban block in Melbourne—affectionately called The Plummery—Kat grows around 450kg of food each year and has made seed saving a central part of her gardening practice. Kat explains why saving seeds is one of the most powerful skills a gardener can learn. She demystifies common seed terms (heirloom, hybrid, GMO, open-pollinated), shares practical tips for saving seeds from beans, tomatoes, cucurbits, brassicas, and more, and reveals why preserving biodiversity is vital for resilient future food systems.
Episode 9: An Introduction to Permaculture – with Robyn Rosenfeldt In this episode, Paul is joined by Robyn Rosenfeldt – permaculture practitioner, educator, and founder of PIP Magazine, Australia's premier publication on sustainable living. Robyn introduces us to the 12 permaculture principles, explaining how they apply not only to our gardens but to our homes, families, and communities. With warmth and practicality, she shows us how permaculture is really about designing systems that mimic nature – making life easier for us and the planet.
In this inspiring and info-packed episode, Paul is joined by permaculture educator and perennial plant advocate Morag Gamble shares her wisdom on how to grow more food with less effort by designing your garden around perennials. Morag walks us through the beauty and benefits of perennial gardens—from soil regeneration to biodiversity, resilience, and ease of care. She unpacks how shifting from annual-based gardening to perennial-based systems can make gardening more peaceful, abundant, and sustainable. You'll also hear how her eco-village life at Crystal Waters influences her approach and how perennial gardens are the ultimate act of cooperation with nature. This episode is brimming with practical tips, plant ideas, and philosophical reflections that will leave you itching to get outside and plant something that lasts a lifetime. 🌿 What We Cover: What perennials are and why they matter in the garden
In this episode, Paul chats with Kate Flood, aka The Compost Coach, about breaking down the biggest composting myths and making composting feel simple, achievable, and rewarding. Kate is passionate about helping households and communities turn waste into living soil. She explains how composting is both art and science, and why it doesn't need to feel complicated. From busting myths about citrus, onions, and paper to exploring hot composting, cold composting, and Bokashi, this conversation will equip you with practical tools to build confidence in your own composting journey.
In this episode, Paul chats with the inspiring Hannah Churton, a passionate composter and educator who believes worm farming is one of the simplest and most powerful steps we can all take towards living more sustainably. Hannah takes us inside the world of worm farms – how they work, why they matter, and how you can get started (or improve your setup) today. From troubleshooting common issues to harvesting rich castings for your garden, this conversation will leave you ready to put worms to work at your place.