Most of us are feeling the pinch of today’s economy in one way or another. With the increasing cost of living and in particular the cost of fashion and clothing, we just don’t have the disposable cash to throw around on too many new clothes.

A great way to save money when it comes to buying clothes is to take good care of the ones you already have. Prolonging the life of your garments doesn’t take much more effort than your regular laundry routine. Here at Hills, we’ve knocked our heads together to come up with some simple advice to extend the life of your clothes and keep them looking (and feeling) like new.

When it comes to washing your clothes, try to follow these simple yet effective tips:

• Wash them a little less often! Washing your clothes too frequently will cause colours to fade and fibres to weaken more quickly. A good airing or spot clean may sometimes be all they need!
• Treat stains right away - fresh stains are much easier to remove than old ones.
• Don’t overload the cycle - Not only can it cause damage to your machine, but it also prevents your clothes from getting cleaned properly.
• Ever had an entire load of clothes turn pink? Separate your load into whites, darks and colours to prevent colour bleeding!
• Place all delicate inside a mesh laundry bag.
• Wash your items inside out, in particular jeans and delicates, to protect against colour fading and shrinking.
• Use cold or lukewarm water, as hot water weakens fibres and removes colour. This can also reduce your electricity usage by up to as much as a third!
• Make sure the products that you are using do not contain bleach as it can be too harsh for many fabrics.

Then, after your washing is finished, you should:

• Remove clothes from machine as soon as possible. This will stop them from wrinkling as much and needing more ironing later on.
• Line dry! Tumble drying can overheat your clothes and reduce their elasticity and in some cases, colour too. Eco-dry your clothes outdoors in the natural, fresh air on a Hills Clothesline or inside during the cooler winter months on a Hills Clothes Airer.

When it comes to storing clothes, we’ve come up with a few handy tips to help you here too:

• Don’t leave clothes in a pile on the floor; hang them in cupboards or place them neatly folded in drawers.
• Make sure items are stored away from moths, moisture and sunlight to prevent holes, mould and fading.
• Avoid using uncoated metal coat hangers as they can deform or put holes in your clothes. Instead use plastic or wooden hangers. On the same note, don’t hang items that are likely to stretch, fold them instead to help keep their shape.

And finally, here’s some advice when it comes to wearing clothes:

• Take care when using perfume or cologne as some may contain alcohol or alkaline chemicals which could break down fibres. Spray directly onto your body, and allow a moment to dry, before getting dressed.
• Dress for the task at hand- avoid wearing your nicest clothes around the house, when gardening, cleaning etc.
• Hang clothing on a coat hanger and take it into the bathroom whilst you shower, the steam will de-wrinkle shirts/garments...meaning less ironing. Bonus!

By following these easy tips and making some small changes to your routine, not only will you prolong the lifespan of your clothes and save money, but you’ll have less reliance on energy hungry tumble dryers and reduce your carbon foot print.

Do you have any secret washing/garment care tips you’d like to share? We’d love to know… just leave us a comment on this blog, or share your advice on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/HillsHomeLifestyle

Join Kelly Higgins from Lifestyle Clotheslines, a Hills retailer, as she looks at what clothesline suits the modern home.

A backyard needs to be a versatile, readily adaptable and (unless you’re a keen gardener) potentially low maintenance area. Some of the requirements of a backyard may include:

The Fun – trampolines, kids parties, painting, play dough, cubby houses, scooter riding, reading in the sunshine, picnics, bubble blowing, swings and slides, kids trucks, pebbles, sandpits and ball pits...

The Sporty – basketball, running races, soccer, netball practise, lawnbowls (a nod to my grandparents here, and memories of them trying to arrange their army of grandkids into an afternoon of games), swimming....

The Hospitable – BBQs, wine and cheese evenings, impromptu dinners, birthday gatherings, morning teas for mums, dads and bubs...

The Functional – the shed for tools, the line for drying, the patch to grow the fruit and veg, the spot for the bikes and scooters to live, the kennels for the dogs...…. and still manage to be an aesthetically inviting area.

It’s a big ask for what may possibly be a small space, or at least a space that feels small when any number of these activities are going on, often simultaneously, especially with even an average sized family of a variety of ages and interests. Then it’s a battle to find the balance, isn’t it? So how to find the balance between your needs of your backyard and your wants from your backyard, particularly when space is hotly contested.

One way of negotiating an agreement between the two is by choosing the most suitable clothesline. Gone are the days of single option fixed Hills Hoist rotary clothesline (though this is still going strong for a very good reason and continues to be a popular product today!) But there’s not always the room. If rotary clotheslines are what you’re after then you’re in luck – there’s more than one way to get the benefits of the Hills Hoist in your backyard.

Enter the Hills Hoist folding head clothesline range

With models such as the Rotary 6,7 or 8 or the Hills Everyday Villa options. With all the fantastic aspects of the Hills hoist fixed head rotary clothesline (great line length, malleable galvanised steel for durability, superior design for effective and efficient clothes drying just for a start) with the added bonus of having arms that fold down out of the way.

Also available is the ability to completely remove the whole folded rotary clothesline from the base. This way you're not permanently committing to the addition of the clothesline but you're also not doing yourself a disservice when it comes to line space for wet washing. These folding head rotary clotheslines come in different line length and span options keeping the modern family home on a smaller section in mind.

An average sized family should find a sufficient sized line for their needs amongst this range. And on those gorgeous crisp dry winter days, or those bright summer long days the choice can be yours, loads of washing or uninterrupted space to use to it’s greatest advantage. Or a little of both.

If your family (and/or washing load size and frequency) lean towards needing something more permanent with the maximum amount of line length, and the space is there in your backyard for the taking, a fixed head rotary clothesline, such as the Supa A5 hoist will be hard to go past.

With all the advantages of the best-loved details of the Hills hoist design of course, the benefit of this line over the folding head is that it is built for extra strength and durability. This is owing to its permanency being fixed into a concrete pad and not designed with the flexibility of lifting and shifting in mind. Smaller options in this range are the durable, permanently fixed but is the Heritage Hoist 4 which might be the best solution for you.

Whatever your needs may be, the evolution of a great and longstanding clotheslines design is keeping up with the modern home and land area, and the busy lifestyles within. You don’t have to get bogged down in laundry chores or compromise your lifestyle in order to find a balance. Just find the right clothesline. And if the rainy days are getting to you, check out the range of indoor solutions to make sure you never end up with an insurmountable backlog.

For many parts of Australia, the warmer Spring temperatures that we’re currently enjoying provide a great opportunity for us to get back into our gardens and revive them from the doom and gloom of a harsh winter.

The team at Hills love Spring, which has inspired us to tell you about the array of wonderful things you can achieve in your garden during this time. So we’ve put together a checklist of the 10 things that we believe are the “must-do’s” in your garden over the coming weeks:

1. Clean – first things first, it’s important to clean your garden to get rid of sticks, branches and any other debris that may have recently fallen. Spring time is great for a ‘garden spring clean’ and the warmer weather will only make this task easier.

2. Fertilise – as the lawn and other plant species in your garden resume their growth after the cooler months, you will need to supply them with the essential nutrients to help ‘bounce’ back to their full glory. If you’re planning on using any kind of fertiliser, make sure you read the instructions carefully to ensure kids and pets are kept out of harm’s way during this process.

3. Test soil – we recommend that you test your soil (you can buy a soil testing kit from your local hardware store) to see which parts of your garden you might need to add nutrients to before you plant. This will also allow you to plan out your garden and match your plants to the soil type before planting.

4. Weed – now is the time to get rid of those pesky unwelcome weeds that have popped up over the winter months. It’s important to remember that weeds steal important nutrients from other plants, so eliminating them is a must-do task. The use of a Hills Garden Sprayer will help you quickly and easily target the weeds in your garden without compromising your precious plants.

5. Mulch – not only will it refresh the look of your garden bed, but mulch can save you on your water consumption by holding moisture in the soil for longer, meaning you’ll water less frequently. It’s also useful to prevent weeds from popping up in your garden beds. (Tip: make sure you keep mulch clear of the base of plants).

6. Plant herbs – the warmer temperatures mean it’s the optimum season to plant your herbs and watch them grow. If you haven’t got a suitable place to plant, why not check out one of the Hills Adda Garden Beds which is an easy, portable and attractive solution for the everyday gardener. You will also need to assess the best conditions to grow the herbs that you choose – some will require full sun, whilst others may need shade. You could even spoil yourself and set up multiple garden beds for a variety of home-grown herbs!

7. Prune – spring is great to get stuck into your pruning, but before you do, ensure your plants have started growing their leaves, so you can easily identify which branches might be damaged or dead. If you have perennials in your garden, now is your opportunity to prune them too (if you didn’t get around to doing it in autumn).

8. Compost – it’s time to put your efforts on composting to good use! If you’ve been adding to your compost daily over winter, what better time to spread it out across your garden? The nutrients from compost will only enhance your plants growth, giving the soil much needed vitamins and minerals.

9. Tools – we often forget that we are only as good as the tools we have to work with, which is why you need to prepare them for the laborious activity that lies ahead. Remember to clean, oil, sharpen and where necessary, renew your tools to ensure optimal performance.

10. Enjoy your garden – you know the saying only too well: “All work and no play”, so we encourage you to take some ‘time out’ to pull up a chair, put your feet up, hands behind your head and simply enjoy the wonders of your very own backyard haven!

Do you have any of your own spring gardening tips that you can share with us too? Why not leave a comment on this blog post, or share you advice on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/HillsHomeLifestyle.

We hope you’re enjoying the spring weather as much as we are. We think it’s one of the best seasons with an array of new growth, sunny days and warmer temperatures. There’s never been a better opportunity to make the most of it in your garden!

In many parts of our country, winter can be a tough season – struggling to stay warm while constantly trying to find room in the house to dry your clothes on a rainy day. However, these are minor issues we face when compared with electrical appliance hazards that can compromise our safety. Have you ever left the house and asked yourself, ‘did I turn the heater off?’ or ‘I turned the iron off right – didn’t I?’

Excessive electricity consumption during the cooler months is common and not only can it hurt financially but is also a danger to your household if over generating appliances by leaving them on for too long and forgetting to turn them off.

It is imperative to know what appliances are most at risk to causing harmful danger in your household and consequently cause a fire, the following rate amongst the most common hazardous scenarios: :

1.      Clothes iron – Left on unattended. 

2.      Gas/electric stoves and ovens – Left on unattended or forgetting to turn the appliance off at the power point causing it to turn on by itself.

3.      Space heaters – Left on unattended for too long, gas leaks or being placed too close to objects such as beds and clothing.

4.       Clothes dryer - Lint build up trapped in the dryer vent or gas leaks

5.      Dishwashers - Control panel failure which can cause the rinse aid to leak into electrical circuits

6.      Microwave ovens – Power turning on without anything in the microwave or hazardous non-microwavable items placed inside the oven when heating food.

7.      Refrigerators – Short circuited switch.

8.      Toasters -Turning on by itself or device jams while toasting.

9.      Washing machines – Water leakage which can cause a circuit board fire.

10.   Electric blanket – Being left on for long periods of time and unattended.

Although we’re not far off emerging from the winter months, safety still comes first. Here are some safety tips to make sure your household is fire hazard free:

Check the national recall list

With lots of cheap brands on the market, make sure you check the national recall list to ensure you don’t have any faulty and fire hazard products in your home.

Clothes dryer

Always clean out the lint trap on your clothes dryer after every use and avoid putting flammable objects in the dryer. It is also important to make sure the dryer vent leads to the outdoors rather than through a wall of your home and lastly never leave a dryer on when no one is home.

Test or replace old electric blankets and appliances

If you have electric blankets or appliances older than 15 years, consider replacing them with new products or discard them as they are more likely to have faults and be potentially dangerous.

Monitor appliances

Don’t leave appliances unattended or left on while leaving the house – even if it’s only for a minute! Many household fires are set off by appliances such as the clothes iron or space heater being left on while no one is home.

Turn off power points

Turn off power points after using appliances, such as toasters and microwaves, before leaving the house to avoid them potentially turning on automatically and starting a fire. 

Flammable items

Never leave flammable items near a stove burner as this can be a fire waiting to happen.

Space heaters

Never dry clothes on a space heater! Run the heater on an extension cord and ensure it is placed at least three feet away from flammable objects such as clothing and bedding. Select a space heater with a "tip switch" as this feature mechanically shuts off the heater if it is knocked over and prevents the likelihood of a fire.

Hopefully you have taken several of these steps in your home already to ensure you not only have a cosy home but a safe one too. For some more important tips to promote a safe household, we encourage you to check out the YouTube channel for Fire and Rescue NSW, where you’ll find some great videos on fire safety in the home.

http://www.youtube.com/user/firebrigades

Overall, by implementing these safety tips, while always using common sense, home fires can be prevented.

If you have any other useful and relevant tips we haven’t mentioned in our blog, we would love to hear from you in our comments section below.

Caro Webster is mother to a boy and girl who perplex and amaze her in equal measure.

She is the creator of the blog Caro and Co., which recently won the title of Australia’s best Parenting Blog. She is also a monthly contributor to Australian Country Style magazine.

She is a freelance writer, author, fanatical gardener, foodie and a passionate believer in the magic of nature, outdoors and unstructured play.

Caro has worked in a variety of industries including advertising, politics, the not-for-profit sector and publishing. She is currently working on a second book about the power of imagination and a third about a girl who loves dirt.
You can connect with her:

Website: www.caroandco.com.au
Twitter: http://twitter.com/salisburydowns
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/salisburydowns

Photo courtesy of Katrina Crook

When I was very little, I decided to run away. I remember feeling very cranky with my Mum. The specifics of why have long since been forgotten, although I’m fairly certain it had something to do with being made to change out of my beautiful, sparkly party dress and back into dull play clothes. I do recall very clearly, packing a bag. It contained; one pair of knickers, a pair of click-clacks, a packet of whiz fizz, my toy bunny, a towel, a packet of matches (in case I needed to light a fire for warmth) and of course, my beautiful, sparkly party dress.

I asked my sister if she would like to come with me but she was quite content to stay inside playing with her Holly Hobby doll. She was never one for grand adventure.

As I stepped out the door, with, I might add, a fairly determined swagger, I scanned our back garden looking for the perfect place to escape. It had to be somewhere I was certain never to be found. And bang! There it was. My mother had not long before hung a week’s worth of washing, including all the bed linen on our Hills Hoist. The sheets were a whisper away from touching the ground, creating a perfect series of tunnels in which to set up my hideout. It took me about an hour to arrange my new home, during which time I had to reassure my toy bunny that we would be “just fine” and also to change back into my beautiful sparkly party dress. It took only a further 30 minutes for Mum to discover me as she came to collect the now perfectly dried washing off the line. No matter. It was beginning to get dark, my party dress was starting to itch, my tummy was rumbling and I’d forgotten food (Whiz fizz, despite its deliciousness is not a food).

Trees make great hideouts

In the 5 years I've been writing about the importance of connecting kids to nature and outdoors, I've asked everyone I come across (upwards of 500 people) to name a time in their life when they were filled with an unbridled sense of wonder or joy. Around 98% have responded with stories and memories of being outside in some form. Generally they were by themselves or felt they were by themselves. Mum may well have been keeping watch from a distance, (as I suspect mine was when I made my escape to the Hills Hoist), but importantly the respondents didn't have a sense of this. They all recounted feeling as if they were exploring and discovering at their leisure, in a deliciously secret kind of way. Some took a trusted friend or sibling. Most stated that they felt they were discovering something for the first time and the intense pleasure it gave them. They felt empowered, thrilled and immensely content.

Our Hills Hoist, c. 1950 and still going strong!

Many Australian adults also recounted stories of the role the iconic Hills Hoist played in their childhoods and now plays in their own children’s lives. From swinging on it (and getting into terrible trouble with Mum); helping her hang out the washing as punishment for the swinging, counting the pegs as you went; running through the drying clothes; using it to make a tent, whooping around it making wild Cowboy and Indian noises, or, like me, naively believing it was the perfect permanent bolt hole.

Did you have a favourite place to explore, play or hide when you were a child? What is your favourite outdoor memory? Do you have a Hills Hoist? Are you still tempted to swing on it every now and then like I am? I’d love to hear all your stories. And if you haven't experienced the joys of having an icon in your back garden here's something exciting. My friends at Hills will give one lucky reader of this post, the chance to win a brand-spanking new clothes line valued at over $250 - 1 Hills Rotary 6 Ocean Breeze Hoist to be precise.

For your chance to win; simply leave a note on this post recounting your play outdoors story (or that of your child’s). It doesn’t have to involve a Hills Hoist. The winning entry will be the one that makes my 10-year-old son snort with laughter or exclaim “cool, awesome, sick” or some such overused adjective.

Until next time

Caro

James Middleton is the writer at AussieGreenThumb.com where he writes articles on a wide range of gardening topics, such as '6 Ways To Attract Wildlife'

James focuses on recommending the use of plants suited to the Australian climate and providing top gardening tips for everyday people.Hills
 

I’m sorry to say, but you are probably mulching wrong...

It seems everywhere you turn, some gardening guru is asking 'have you mulched your garden?' Mulching seems to be enshrined as the 'top tip'among gardening green thumbs. The problem is, this often leads to people mulching wrong.

'Mulching wrong' you ask? Is that even possible? Well, yes. You see, the thing with mulching is that you need to be clear on why you are mulching. There is usually a particular reason why someone chooses to bite the bullet and invest in mulching. When this happens, it

makes sense that you choose the right mulch for your desired outcomes.
 
 
The top 5 reasons you might add mulch to your garden

1. Improving the water supply to your plants. A healthy layer of mulch reduces the evaporation of water from the soil.

2. Improving the soil structure by adding nutrients. Plants use up nutrients over time and certain mulches double up as a great source or organic matter to enrich your soil.

3. Impeding the growth of weeds. A thick layer of mulch limits the ability for weeds to grow through.

4. Improving the aesthetics of your garden beds. The right mulch can improve the aesthetics of your house immeasurably.

5. Somewhere to dump your grass clippings or garden waste. Your garden beds seem like as good a place as any.

Even though most mulches provide a wide array of benefits, you need to be clear on the primary benefit you are hoping for when choosing which mulch to use.

Here are the top 4 types of mulch and why you would or would not use them.

Top 4 Types of mulch

1. Hay/Straw/Sugarcane

   Reasons you would use it - Improve soil structure, improve water supply, impede weeds. This type of mulch provides plenty of organic material to improve your garden.

   Reasons you would not use it - Aesthetics, this type of mulch doesn't tend to look as good and it breaks down quickly, leaving bare soil again unless you top up regularly.

2. Woodchips/Bark/Mixed woods

   Reasons you would use it - Aethetics, Improve water supply, Impede weeds, dump tree waste. Most mulches that you buy from a shop or garden centre are this variety. Choose the right one aesthetically and you will have a long lasting garden look.

   Reasons you would not use it - Improve soil structure. Though this type is organic, its biggest benefit is that it breaks down slowly and this means it adds very little to the soil.

3. Manure/Compost/Garden Waste

   Reasons why you would use it - Improve soil structure, dump garden waste. Some of the best organic matter to add to your garden are manures and composts. As they break down they release important nutrients into the soil for your plants to use.

   Reasons why you would not use it - Aethetics, impede weeds. Due to the nature of manure, it doesn't tend to smell that nice when first laid and this can detract from the look and feel of your garden. Manures and compost can also carry weed seeds and therefore rather than impeding weeds can actually increase them.

4. Stone, Pebbles & Rocks

   Reasons why you would use it - Aesthetics, impede weeds, improve water supply. This is the least recommended form of mulch simply because it is not organic. However, is is usually the longest lasting. If you are going to go down this route, pick wisely. It is very hard to work in and around rocks and pebbles after the fact.

   Reasons why you would not use it - Improve soil structure, dump garden waste. This type of mulch adds nothing at all to your garden. If laid on top of weedmat or black plastic it can also limit the water supply to the ground below.

Though mulching provides a wide range of benefits, it is very important that you understand the pro's and con's of each kind of mulch so that you choose a mulch whichprovides the benefits you are after. Mulching can be expensive. It is for this reason that it is important you don't choose the wrong mulch for your context because it can be a very costly mistake to fix if you choose a mulch and then realise you can't stand the sight or smell of it! Work out why you are wanting to mulch first, then choose a mulch that suits. If you approach mulching this way you will both improve your garden and mulch correctly for your context.

In recent years, we’ve noticed Australian gardeners embracing their ‘roots’ by choosing to grow native plants in their home gardens.

Over the course of many thousands of years, Australian native plants have endured heatwaves, damaging rains, floods, bushfires and drought, yet their natural resilience and sturdiness has made them survive these extreme climate conditions.

These facts, plus autumn (which we are currently in!) being one of the best times to plant native species, inspired us to take a closer look at the benefits of native plants and how they work in sync with the Australian landscape, climate and way of life.

Water savers

Native plants have developed a strong resilience to whatever the Aussie climate throws at them, meaning they'll require much less water than exotic plant species during the summer months. With water a precious resource, native plants offer the opportunity to cut down on usage, while ensuring the garden emerges thriving after the hot summer.

Evergreen

Most native plants are evergreen, meaning they will stay green and lush throughout the year, even winter months when Australian gardens often lose their luscious spark. Some natives flower in the winter months like Grevillea and Native Hibiscus giving the garden a mid-year burst of life!
 
Wildlife

Native plants are a magnet to wildlife such as birds, butterflies, bees, insects and native mammals. Many species emit a natural aroma that actually attracts wildlife to the garden, essentially improving the eco-system and ecological health. We think it will improve the look of your garden too, being a hive of activity with creatures far and wide!

Flowers

One thing you are sure to love about native plants is the rich and diverse range of flowers offered by many of the native species available. With beautiful colours including rich purples, bright yellows and deep blues, many native plants will actually flower year-round. We’ve found this to be one of the greatest incentives to go native.
 
Economical  

Despite common perceptions that all plants are expensive to buy, you’ll be surprised to find that native plants are actually quite easy on the bank account! Most local nurseries stock a selection of native plants, and they tend to grow quickly once planted, which gives a great bang for your buck.
 
Natural insect repellent

We seem to be continually fighting mosquitoes, particularly in summer months, so we were thrilled to discover that native plants such as Mozzie Blocker, Citronella Geranium and Pyrethrum actually act as a natural repellent. By emitting an odour,that is only  faintly sensed by humans, mosquitoes are automatically deterred making them ideal plant options for the outdoor entertainment area.  

The autumn weather is an ideal time to plant natives in the garden, given the soil is still warm from the hotter months but with an air temperature and sunlight that is more forgiving – so get planting!

We came across this clip that gives you great insight into Australian Native Wildflowers - definitely worth watching if you’ve never realised how diverse native plants can actually be:

If you’ve got a success story or photograph of your native garden, we’d love to hear about it – share with us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/HillsHomeLifestyle or leave a comment below.

For generations, Australians of all ages have enjoyed the benefits of the traditional backyard with many maintaining that it was where countless childhood memories took place.  However, as the temperature plummets, parents often struggle to find ways to get their kids away from the television and outdoors.

When we think of kids, two words come to mind – energy and fun. But you might ask, what is the easiest way to get them involved in the garden while feeding their endless need to remain occupied and entertained? Well we’ve come up with a few suggestions – check them out:

Build a worm farm

If there’s one thing kids’ love, it’s the opportunity to get dirty. Building a worm farm not only educates kids on the living organisms in their own backyard, but it is a good opportunity to get muddy and have fun. Creating an eco-system also requires ongoing care presenting them with a great way to encourage ownership and responsibility.

Make a bird feeder

Not only is creating a bird feeder to encourage natural wildlife fun it also allows children to observe and learn about the species of birds that live in their region. Using an old plastic bottle or milk carton to make a bird feeder is a creative exercise for the kids and once complete will give them something to monitor, maintain and interact with in the garden.

Create a raised vegetable garden

Investing in a raised garden bed can be worthwhile for many reasons, especially when it comes to educating children on the origins of fruit and vegetables. Purchasing a good size bed like the Adda Garden Bed is a great start followed by selecting suitable plants such as tomato bushes, cucumber and zucchini plants, and even Raspberry bushes.

By allowing children to take part in the planting and maintaining of the garden bed, they will gain a deeper appreciation of the values of home-grown vegetables and what it means to be sustainable, as well as developing a taste for new and different fruit and vegetable varieties.

Tree planting drive

A great way to get the whole family active and involved in the garden is to organise a tree planting day, whereby kids have the opportunity to learn about the sustainability of trees and what they mean to our environment.

By participating in a tree planting drive, you can provide your children with an understanding of how and why wildlife rely on trees as a habitat, as well as encouraging them to be responsible for nurturing and caring for the trees until it mature.

Build a bean tepee

As we know, children love creating cubby houses whether it’s using mum’s old sheets, a cardboard box or beneath the dining table their active imaginations can transport them into a whole different world.

A bean tepee is the ideal project when it comes to building a cubby house that is sustainable and fun! Find a suitable area in the garden then simply use bamboo sticks and some wire to form a secure tepee stand that is safely embedded into the ground.  Surrounding this you can plant a bean bush which overtime will grow nicely over the tepee to create an ideal green and edible retreat for the kids.

Unusual containers

Don’t let a lack of pots and other gardening materials hold you and your children back from having fun in the garden. Recycled items such as plastic bottles, old shoes and tyres can be easily recycled to plant in. It’s also been said that the use of unusual containers can be more engaging, holding the kids attention for longer while inspiring them to think more creatively.

Through some of our tips in this blog, we think it’s easy to get your kids active and involved in the garden. Not only will it create endless hours of fun, but will also help children to develop creative and sustainable skills they can carry with them throughout their lives.

How do you get YOUR kids active in the garden?

Comment on our blog post below, or log onto our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HillsHomeLifestyle and leave your tips on our wall!

For this blog instalment, we decided to have some fun by taking a closer look at the trials and tribulations of backyard cricket, what it means to Australians, and some tips for the most discerning of players!

It’s no secret that Australians not only love their sport, but are also a highly competitive breed. Whilst the intent of backyard cricket is to have some fun in a social setting, the average game quickly escalates into an all-out series - not for the faint hearted.

We asked ourselves, what is it about backyard cricket that has come to be a quintessential part of our way of life?

After some thought, we felt enthusiasm stemmed from memorable summers filled with backyard barbeques, park and beach outings combined with our passion for the traditional game – bringing to life this Australian institution.

Backyard cricket itself is loosely based on the official game, but with many improvised actions in place of the ‘real deal’. Over time, Australian’s have created techniques and incorporated individual style to make every game different from the next.

The beauty of backyard cricket is it a fun game that both the skilled and unskilled can take part in – this has inspired us to compile a list of the fundamentals to help create the ultimate backyard cricket bash:

1. The pitch – Unlike the official game, where there are specifics on dimensions and surface, the pitch in backyard cricket can be any stretch of ground that is long and flat. Players need to scope out a suitable spot along with any convenient object to act as the stumps, suggestions include as a bin, a chair or a tree. Obstacles, such as plants, sheds or trees, are permitted in the field but not on the pitch.

2. Teams – In backyard cricket, there are often no defined teams – the most likely scenario will be the batsman against the rest. If the need arises to have two teams, it will most likely be lost over a couple of beers, so it’s our suggestion that you stick with the usual case of selecting one batsman per round and alternating.

 3. Equipment – Australians tend to be relaxed when it comes to selecting equipment for backyard cricket the one fundamental rule being you must use a bat. Without a bat, the game must be forfeited. In terms of the other equipment, we need not be fussy. A tennis or rubber ball is preferable particularly as it’s easier to use and less likely to inflict injury when compared to a cricket ball.

We’ve also uncovered a couple of basic rules when it comes to backyard cricket and whilst they can be loosely followed, it is important that you don’t let too many rules get in the way of fun:

- Runs – there is actually no emphasis on scoring runs in backyard cricket, it is more about how well and how long the batsman can stay in without being caught out.

- One-hand-one-bounce – depending on the fieldsman’s skill level, the “one-hand-one-bounce” rule may come into effect, whereby if one misses on their first attempt, they can try again after one bounce but only with one hand.

- Six and Out – if the batsman hits a ball over the fence or any other terrain which is deemed inaccessible, they shall be automatically classified as ‘out’.

 - Force in numbers - More team members are permitted to join the fielding team if it is determined that the current batsman has been in too long.

It’s no secret...there are backyard cricket fanatics from around Australia that truly get into the spirit! We found some great examples of this online, check out this clip below:

This backyard cricket set up has to be one of the best we’ve seen, but we’d also love to see your backyard cricket pitches too – upload your photos or videos on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HillsHomeLifestyle and we’ll feature the best setups in a follow up blog.

Overall, backyard cricket makes us laugh, have fun and enjoy our way of life. We think that is the most important part of the game, and the reason behind its everlasting legacy in our country – We’d love to hear your backyard cricket stories, do you have any unique rules we haven’t featured in this blog?

We’ve recently been investigating a few different ways Australians can help preserve the planet for future generations, and believe it all starts with saving our most valuable natural resource – water!

Australia is the driest continent on the planet, but we also have a population per capita that rates amongst highest water consumers in the world. So it comes as no surprise that, with global water consumption set to double in the next 20 years, we face major challenges in the sustainable future of our country.

It is estimated that on average, around 43% of household water used is in the garden during the summer months when rain is sparse. We all know how lucky we are to have the great Australian backyard, but with the effects of drought, global warming and a growing population, gone are the days where we can take this lifeline for granted.

There’s absolutely no need to let the garden suffer and die over the hotter months, instead it’s all about Australians being smarter and more efficient when it comes to looking after our pride and joy.

Through our investigations, we’ve discovered some simple ways to preserve our precious resource – water:

1. Investigate – Do your homework! Find which plants grow and thrive best in your region and climate, and those that do well with your specific soil type. Having plants that adapt to your specific conditions will mean they require less water, and less effort on your behalf.

2. Garden beds – A vital water-saving technique is to create garden beds by grouping plants that have similar watering needs. Before planting, research to identify these similarities and plant accordingly.

3. Correct tools – By watering the garden using a trigger hose or watering can, you will only water where necessary, significantly reducing the wastage that often occurs between garden beds of plants.

4. Technique – Simple and effective, water at the base of plants rather than the leaves, this will allow moisture to absorb into the soil and reach the roots.

5. Eliminate weeds – Weeds can steal essential water from the plants that need it most, meaning you’ll be watering more often. Use a garden sprayer to help eliminate weeds at the source, allowing plants to get the water.

6. Mulch – A fantastic way to lock moisture into the soil is to cover the garden bed with mulch, ensuring that the soil remains moist for up to 70% longer whilst also helping to prevent the growth of weeds.

7. Drippers – Install a water-saving dripper irrigation system to water plants – this will ensure the water goes exactly where required, without wasting through off-spray.

8. Cleaning – The number one gardening sin is to use a hose to clean driveways or paths. This chore can be just as easily carried out with a broom or rake, in the interest of saving water.

9. Water crystals – Adding water crystals to soil can improve water retention by up to 40% in the warmer months, leading to less watering on your behalf. You can buy these from your local gardening or hardware store.

10. Don’t over water the lawn – Many Australian’s over water their lawns too regularly; only water it when necessary! Test this by walking on it – if the impression of your footprint stays in for more than five seconds, it’s thirsty. If not, hold off! Automatic sprinklers are the best way to effectively and evenly water a lawn.

11. Timing – The golden rule – Don’t water in the middle of the day when the sun is at its hottest. Water either late at night or early in the morning to avoid water evaporation and wastage.

By following a few of these easy steps, you can be effective in cutting water consumption drastically and help maintain a sustainable future for our nation!

If you have any water saving tips we might have missed, that you use in the garden, please leave a comment below and share with us.