Jacqui van Heerden

Jacqui van Heerden

Latest articles by Jacqui van Heerden

Reconnect with nature by moon planting

October 14th, 2025 - Jacqui van Heerden

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

September 16th, 2025 - Jacqui van Heerden

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

August 12th, 2025 - Jacqui van Heerden

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 

July 16th, 2025 - Jacqui van Heerden

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

June 17th, 2025 - Jacqui van Heerden

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?

May 14th, 2025 - Jacqui van Heerden

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

April 16th, 2025 - Jacqui van Heerden

“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

March 12th, 2025 - Jacqui van Heerden

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

February 12th, 2025 - Jacqui van Heerden

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

December 11th, 2024 - Jacqui van Heerden

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

November 13th, 2024 - Jacqui van Heerden

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)

October 16th, 2024 - Jacqui van Heerden

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

September 11th, 2024 - Jacqui van Heerden

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

August 14th, 2024 - Jacqui van Heerden

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

July 9th, 2024 - Jacqui van Heerden

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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Kensington’s local food system … a celebration

June 11th, 2024 - Jacqui van Heerden

Kensington has built a local food system with the help of individuals, groups, community organisations and volunteers working together with the City of Melbourne and Victorian Government.

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Have we forgotten our role in cooperating with life?

May 15th, 2024 - Jacqui van Heerden

As Vandana Shiva says in her book, The Gift of Food, “If we take care of all the beautiful beings in our ecosystems, in our soils, we will be nourished in return.”

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Look down: what lies beneath our feet can help restore our climate health

April 10th, 2024 - Jacqui van Heerden

History and research teach how nations have risen and fallen by the fertility of their soil as the human population has increased and, therefore, agriculture demands more of soil.

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Permaculture: one of Australia’s noblest exports

March 13th, 2024 - Jacqui van Heerden

Permaculture provides a positive way forward of how humanity can work with nature to deliver its needs of shelter, food, water, energy and life purpose   

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The right to repair

February 13th, 2024 - Jacqui van Heerden

Repair saves people money, saves resources, creates jobs, prevents waste, and teaches people.

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