Recycling keeps garden green

By Melissa Grant
LES Fleming’s garden is enough to make most people green with envy, but the Ahern Rd resident can safely assure neighbours that he is no water Wally.
In fact, Mr Fleming should be made a pinup boy for his efforts in saving that precious resource.
Mr Fleming doesn’t let a drop go to waste, and employs various methods to keep his garden lush all year round.
“We put a box in the shower, catch water in a bin from the downpipe and wash most of our clothes by hand, putting the excess water on the garden,” he said.
“If only we could catch toilet water,” he joked.
When the Flemings do use the washing machine, they are able to reuse 180 litres of water, which most people would simply let run down the drain.
“I take the washing machine outside and pump the water straight into a wheelie bin,” Mr Fleming said.
The Flemings’ garden, which consists mainly of roses, begonias, geraniums and ferns, is watered only about once a week, using about a litre of water for each plant.
“A lot of people save water and just toss it on the garden.
“It is also about technique if you loosen the garden with a fork first the water goes much deeper into the ground,” Mr Fleming said.
Although the Flemings’ garden is green, their lawn is a different story altogether.
“We tend not to worry about the grass; our lawns are pretty bare so every bit of rain helps,” he said.Do you have any watersaving ideas? Email the Gazette at editorstarnewsgroup.com.au or write to PO Box 9, Pakenham.