Sydney green thumbs encouraged to get growing

Sydneysiders are encouraged to adopt eco-friendly lifestyle changes and green garden DIY jobs as part of a City of Sydney competition launched this week (September 18).

Lord mayor Clover Moore urged Sydney households to take part in The Good Hood competition by embarking on sustainable initiatives such as starting your own herb garden.

She commented: "This is a fun competition to encourage people to make small lifestyle changes that when added up can contribute to  big reductions in the city's environmental footprint.

"It can be as easy as putting food scraps in a worm farm, using energy-efficient light bulbs, growing herbs or vegetables, re-using old products, using a car-share vehicle or walking or riding to work."

The competition, launched on a new website called thegoodhood.com.au, has three categories including reuse and recycle, made and grown and green and go.

A number of prizes are up for grabs such as a dinner for 20 at a Surry Hills restaurant, $1,000 worth of car-share travel and an eco-friendly television chair.

To take part in the competition and discover your inner-green thumb, why not experiment with starting your own veggie or herb garden?

Spring is the perfect time to get busy in the garden, with growing conditions perfect for artichokes, potatoes, chives, rhubarb, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, salad onions, leeks and lettuce.