Latest articles by Jacqui van Heerden
Cooling our neighbourhoods
Changes in land cover due to increased urbanisation can affect the urban environment and climate substantially.
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Are Indigenous decision-making processes required for new technological advances?
Indigenous decision-making processes have historically demonstrated high effectiveness through community-based, consensus-driven, and long-term sustainable approaches that have enabled resilience over thousands of years.
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The good news …
With powerful nations rolling back climate protections, temperatures soaring and extreme weather conditions increasing, eco-anxiety is on the increase.
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Real versus fake Christmas tree. Which one is better for the environment?
If you celebrate Christmas, Christmas trees are an important symbolic feature of this celebration. Traditionally they offered hope during the long harsh winter months and became a family ritual of decorating and spending time together.
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Harvesting rainwater in the city
In Melbourne our rainy season is usually in spring, a perfect time to build up the ground water for summer so that plants can be hydrated during the warmer months.
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Reconnect with nature by moon planting
Moon planting offers a way to reconnect with nature and her rhythms while reaping benefits for your garden such as greater harvest yields, effective pest management, improved soil health and enhanced germination and growth potential.
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The rise of second-hand shopping
In 2025, one of the most prominent global trends in sustainability is the significant increase in second-hand purchasing and the reuse of products and materials.
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Kensington Repair Hub is having an impact
Our local repair hub has repaired more than 1000 items and kept more than two tonnes of goods and materials out of landfill.
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Kensington Community Compost Hubs process tonnes of organic waste locally
Since 2018, the Kensington community has been building a neighbourhood composting bay system that processes organic waste locally and produces valuable compost for community use.
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Use plants to fertilise and repair your soil
Nature heals itself and certain plants can help restore soil health. Plants have abilities that improve soil structure, enrich it with nutrients and encourage healthier microbial life.
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How should land be prioritised in the city?
Globally, people are flocking to cities creating all sorts of demands and economic opportunities. Along with this unfortunately comes greed.
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Autumn … Waring Wombat Season
“Autumn symbolises the inevitability of change and the beauty of transition. As summer fades away and nature prepares for winter slumber, the autumn season serves as a reminder of life’s ever-evolving nature.”
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Emissions by the richest people are accelerating climate breakdown
One hour of emissions from Australian billionaires’ super yachts and private jets equals what an average Australian emits in an entire year.
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Forest therapy
The practice of forest therapy aims to take us across our self-imposed edges with nature and remember our place within the whole. It guides us to gently once again form a tending relationship with the world around us.
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A time of giving
Let’s make this a time of giving back to the other than human form.
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Our loss of the night sky
For billions of years, all life has evolved, survived and thrived through the steady rhythm of Earth’s day and night.
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Lavender (Lavandula)
Plants are medicine and if we look to nature there are many healing properties offered in nature, which do not require plastic packaging.
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Working with wind
Wind is a pattern of nature. It’s an elemental force that shapes our landscapes and environments. If we observe its effect on the landscape our homes and gardens we can come to understand its force and plan.
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Taking it to the streets
On the streets in cities across the globe, residents are working with governments to jointly shape their streets in efforts to regenerate their cities.
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Gardening with nature
Gardens, full of trees and plants, offer us a perfect opportunity to reconnect to our true selves and remember our place in the natural world.
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