Sustainability

'We knew nothing about it at the beginning': How Alexis and Marion built their own portable aquaponics garden

By creating a moveable, soil-free aquaponics system, you too can grow leafy greens, strawberries, chillies and herbs in your small apartment.

Alexis and Marion stand smiling in front of their diy aquaponics system set up in their courtyard

How a toilet roll can help you garden plastic-free

Anna Matilda, aka The Urban Nanna, gives you her tips on how to make your garden even greener by reducing plastic waste.

A pile of plastic pots, a bright green plastic watering can and a bag full of soil in soft plastic in a backyard.

'Create your own microclimate': Cost-effective ways to stay warm as energy prices soar this winter

How will you cope with rising energy bills? Avoiding using your heater will become much easier with these handy tips and some simple DIY.

Ellen burns sits on a couch with a cat on her lap, wearing ugg boots, a fluffy blue onesie and holding a mug.

Vodka isn't just for happy hour, it can breathe some new life into run-down garments

With the cost-of-living pressures hitting our wallets left, right and centre, and a push to support more sustainable fashion, don't ditch your favourite threads, fix them.

Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald holding a spray bottle in one hand, and stripy jumper in the other in front of garden shed and tree

Looking to get rid of some old clothes? Consider a 'meaningful donation'

Charity bin drop-off, clothes swap, even selling via your social media platforms — there are several obvious pathways for your clothes post-wardrobe clean-out. But they aren't your only options.

A woman with a surprised expression pokes her head out of a pile of brightly coloured clothes

perspective

My shopping habit was becoming a problem. Here's how my no-buy challenge went

I'd resisted addressing my clothes shopping habits for a long time because I simply didn't think I would be able to stop.

Kellie smiles and looks away from the camera. She wears an orange shirt and is surrounded by clothes, shoes and bag.

Lawn isn't the only option: Ground cover alternatives to give your backyard a shake-up

There's lot to love about lawns. They can keep your house cool, and a big backyard is well cemented as part of the Great Australian Dream. But sometimes you need a change.

A little jack russell dog running on a lush green lawn

Kate travels the world out of a carry-on backpack. Here's how you can too

Avoid checked baggage fees and delays by bringing only a carry-on bag on your next holiday. All you'll need to do is build a travel capsule wardrobe.

Collage of 3 carry-on only outfits: denim shorts with black tank, short with pink shirt, and flowy white set with pink shirt

Unwrapping the problem: Practical tips to reduce plastic use

How are you tackling waste this World Environment Day?

A hand holds out a resuable water bottle above a pile of rubbish.

Winter is here. This is why you should consider knitting your way through it

No matter how old you are, what your background is, where you live or what size clothes you wear, knitting is for you. And it won't take you long to get the hang of, either — just ask these four makers.

Karen sits while knitting wearing a multicoloured, chunky knit cardigan next to a basket with wool and a fluffy white cat.

Affordable (and warm) ways to build your winter wardrobe

If your knee-jerk reaction is to jump online whenever you need something new, it's worth knowing there are more affordable and sustainable ways to secure clothing.

A young woman with curly brown hair wearing a brown coat, with graphic designs of a cardigan and scarf behind her

Don't get caught out with a flat tyre: Here's how to DIY bike service

Jumping on your bike can be an easy way to factor out paying for petrol, parking or public transport, but sometimes it needs a little love to keep it in tip-top order.

Andrew Stark smiling wearing a pink cap and black tee standing in front a rack of bikes

Duration: 4 minutes 24 seconds

Eggs-traordinarily simple ways to make your own chicken feed

Supplementing your flock's diet with homemade extras is super thrifty, and can also make their eggs more nutritious and delicious.

A woman squats down in her garden, with four chickens at her feet and one in her arms.

More than half of Australians are recycling coffee cups incorrectly. Here's the right way

While most of us think it's important to pop our waste in the right bin, we're having troubles getting it right and experts says it's actually a bit tricky.

A pair of hands, with pale painted nails, holding a brown coffee cup with green and yellow artistic swirls around it

Waste not, want not: These food-scrap recipes are delicious and reduce waste

Food scraps! Everyone ends up with them. But your leftover carrot tops and potato skins don't have to go to waste. Here are four delicious scraps-based cooking ideas to explore.

Bowl of creamy corn chowder topped with fried potato skins and coconut cream, vegetarian slow cooker meal.