Recent articles by Linda Cockburn
![Grow your own pepitas 'Lady Godiva' is one variety of hull-less pumpkins.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/OG 144 Lady Godiva pumpkins_Linda Cockburn-500x500.jpg)
Grow your own pepitas
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It’s easy to turn edible pumpkin seeds into a tasty snack – you just need the right varieties and these tips from Linda Cockburn.
![Storing harvests for winter Bottles tomatoes all ready to be put aside for winter.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Linda Cockburn_storing tomatoes-500x500.jpg)
Storing harvests for winter
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Linda Cockburn writes about different ways to preserve your summer harvests, such as tomatoes, so you can keep on enjoying the results of all your hard work in winter.
![Improve your soil, help the planet We can store carbon in our soil and so help combat climate change.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Healthy soil_kirsten bresciani-500x350.jpg)
Improve your soil, help the planet
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Linda Cockburn believes gardeners have a crucial job to do, storing carbon in their soils. It will help with your harvest, as well as helping stave off the worst effects of the climate crisis.
![Taking care of our planet By supporting the soil we will help the planet.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WW4PR4-500x500.jpg)
Taking care of our planet
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Linda Cockburn says we can all take effective action to bring about necessary change to help our planet. We can start with supporting our soils.
![Tassie Tales 2 Linda and sunflowers](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Unknown-4-500x465.jpeg)
Tassie Tales 2
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After a year’s break, Linda Cockburn once again takes up the story of her family’s self-reliant lifestyle in Tasmania. The roof is just about to go on the sustainable house, the food garden is expanding – and so are the numbers of marauding wildlife
![Strawbales & Sorbets Linda renders the strawbale walls.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/TT1---IMG_7002_Claro1-500x500.jpg)
Strawbales & Sorbets
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We catch up with LINDA COCKBURN and family on their quest for a self-sufficient lifestyle on the Apple Isle. Their owner-built house, being made without the use of concrete, PVC or chemical finishes, is progressing well. Linda and partner Trev are using locally-sourced materials such as clay, straw bales and timber – 400-year-old celery top pine otherwise destined for firewood. In their ‘spare time’ they’ve been making camembert cheese, planting raspberries and dealing with wayward ducks.
![Thirst-quenching gardens Watermelon juice with a hint of strawberry is a winner.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/watermelon-drink2-500x500.jpg)
Thirst-quenching gardens
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LINDA COCKBURN believes in not just growing her own food, but growing her own drinks as well. Here are her ideas for some delicious ‘drinks from the garden’ to enjoy.
![Tassie Tales Linda's strawbale house](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/TT4 - IMG_7019-500x500.jpg)
Tassie Tales
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We catch up with LINDA COCKBURN and family on their quest for a self-sufficient lifestyle on the Apple Isle. Their owner-built house – being made without the use of concrete, PVC or chemical finishes – is progressing well.
![Bug battles Herbs and alcohol can be used to make a tincture to treat head lice.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/IMG_6210-500x500.jpg)
Bug battles
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Whether it’s mozzies, flies or cockroaches, humans are constantly plagued by insect pests. LINDA COCKBURN heads to the garden to find some simple plant-based repellents.
![In their own skins In their own skins](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/F1---bottled_tomatoes-500x500.jpg)
In their own skins
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Linda Cockburn explores simple ways to store your harvests over winter.
![Backyard beekeeping Backyard beekeeping](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/bee_comfrey3-500x500.jpg)
Backyard beekeeping
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Taking on backyard beekeeping has been a steep and sometimes painful learning curve for Linda Cockburn, but it's another satisfying step towards self-reliance.