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Better Homes and Gardens Season 2025 Episode 38
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FunTranscript
00:00:00Sometimes when you spend a lot of time in a city, it can start to feel more familiar,
00:00:06but at the expense of feeling less surprising. Brisbane, however, continues to capture my
00:00:11imagination. Well, there's someone from this part of the world who's making serious waves
00:00:20right now. She's a DIY superstar who's known for her love of restoring and transforming her
00:00:25beautiful pieces. Tonight, we are going to discover her inspiration plus loads more fabulous stories
00:00:31coming your way on Better Homes and Gardens. Tonight, when picking your next pooch, there
00:00:37are oodles of choices, but there's only one top dog. It can't be. Pick up a little. There
00:00:44are some recipes every budding chef should have in their back pocket, but don't sit down. I love
00:00:50eggs and I love spice, so how do I marry the two together? Well, this is how.
00:00:55A successful garden isn't just about what you put in the ground. So this is the spot
00:01:02that I'm thinking could become the engine room of your garden. It might be Halloween, but
00:01:07Santa's elves are already hard at work preparing for their boss's big day. Kids. Yeah. That's
00:01:14what it's all about. This could be the perfect place for your family. We're an officer and
00:01:20a gentleman who's showing you around with Melissa. We're on the southeast edges of Melbourne in
00:01:27a fast-growing suburb of Officer. And there is just so much going on here. And Clarissa's
00:01:32corn frizzers are really flipping good. It's definitely going to be hard to stop at just one.
00:01:38So much better.
00:01:43Geneva van der Zeel is fast becoming one of the biggest names in DIY and styling with a
00:01:47massive online presence. But if you wander around the streets of Brisbane, you may very
00:01:52well bump into her in her natural habitat.
00:01:55See? This is exactly what I'm talking about. Hello, Geneva.
00:02:03Hi.
00:02:04I am so excited about meeting you. And I think it's hilarious that here you are finding another
00:02:09little treasure. You call me.
00:02:10You must spend half your life doing this.
00:02:12I know. I guess I do. And things like this you cannot pass up when you see on the street.
00:02:18Okay. Well, that sounds like an offer that I can maybe help you get at home.
00:02:21Yes, let's.
00:02:22All right. Well, let's take this off. I definitely need two of us, so it's perfect.
00:02:26Beautiful.
00:02:32So this is where all your amazing transformations happen, hey?
00:02:35This is it. And I feel like this piece has so much potential.
00:02:39Oh my gosh, there is so much to talk about down here, but we want to check up upstairs first.
00:02:43Is that okay? Let's do it. Yeah.
00:02:47This place is gorgeous.
00:02:50It's a little cottage, but we've made it our own.
00:02:57Wow. There is so much to look at. This is beautiful. How old is this home?
00:03:03The house itself was built in 1871, but we've done a lot to it since then.
00:03:07Let's talk a little bit about your story. It is quite remarkable.
00:03:10You originally started out sort of recycling in fashion and became a bit of a fashion blogger.
00:03:15Yes, I started a DIY fashion blog and I honestly thought no one would read it, but it was like the beginning of social media in 2010 and that grew quite quickly. I wrote a book on that and then I slowly evolved into more renovating and home and furniture content.
00:03:32It was so amazing to be able to take my audience on that journey as well.
00:03:35Yeah, absolutely. They'd be loving it. And when you talk about your audience, we're talking about millions of people on social media who follow you.
00:03:42Is that a little bit surreal at times?
00:03:44It is. Yeah, actually. It's quite crazy. But a lot of those people have been following me since 2010. So it feels like my family really.
00:03:52So that must be quite fascinating because I'm sure that there are things that you look at and you do and you're like, they're going to love this.
00:03:57And then you might get, probably in your world, half a million likes. But are there other projects that just totally take you by surprise that people just fall in love with in a big way?
00:04:06Absolutely. Actually, even in this room, this blind got 10 million views. I think they're the projects that people are excited to recreate.
00:04:13So that really achievable ones. Now, you mentioned your first book. There's actually, I can see over here behind us, there's your third book.
00:04:19Yes. Has a process of actually writing books got easier? Because I'm imagining you have come a long way since you wrote your first book.
00:04:26No, you're right. I think the first book, I had no idea what I was doing. By the third, I felt more confident, but it's still pretty hard to do.
00:04:33Yeah. I mean, obviously you have such an amazing sense of style. That has obviously caught my eye straight away. This is beautiful.
00:04:40It was a workbench from a scouts hall out in the country. The lighting my partner found, it's actually from Amsterdam.
00:04:48Oh, wow. Yeah. From like a ship.
00:04:50I recognise this one straight away.
00:04:52Yes. This is a project from the magazine. I've always had this big collection of coloured glassware and I knew that actually it deserved to be on display.
00:05:02I'm looking forward to having friends over and being like, pick your glass for the night.
00:05:06I would pick this one.
00:05:09I want to see more.
00:05:11Alright. This table actually was very sad and orange varnish and had been at the tip shop for a really long time. I think everyone was like not interested.
00:05:22That's amazing. So what was it? Just a pine table?
00:05:25Yeah. Just pine and it was $10.
00:05:27$10?
00:05:28Yes.
00:05:29And now you've made it a centrepiece in your home.
00:05:30Yeah. I feel like if you want to buy a beautiful dining table, it can be thousands of dollars.
00:05:34Oh, 100%.
00:05:35This, I think I did it for less than 50.
00:05:37Oh, that is absolutely brilliant. Oh, you've whet my appetite. What next?
00:05:49Oh, I love this room. This is very cool.
00:05:52Thank you. Yes, our own little retreat.
00:05:54And did you actually make any of the stuff in here?
00:05:56Yes. So we made this floating bed.
00:05:59Nice.
00:06:00All built in and it's got like a very Japanese vibe.
00:06:03It does. It does.
00:06:05And then obviously this one?
00:06:06Yes. So I was looking for something to put on this wall.
00:06:09Yeah.
00:06:10And my audience was like, maybe do a shelf, maybe do a light.
00:06:14Oh, so they give you suggestions for projects.
00:06:16Yes. I love getting ideas from all my followers about what to make.
00:06:19And then I thought like, let's do a shelf light. This is how this happened.
00:06:23A slight.
00:06:24A slight, yes.
00:06:25That is good. You should trademark that.
00:06:28That is brilliant. And the thing about everything you're doing,
00:06:30you're self-taught, aren't you?
00:06:32Yes. Yeah. I'm a student of YouTube.
00:06:34See, I absolutely love that. I think that actually almost makes it more achievable
00:06:38for your audience because you're in the same boat that they are.
00:06:41You're finding your passion and then you're just having a pack.
00:06:43For sure. Anyone can learn.
00:06:44For me, like creativity is like so much more than just making something.
00:06:48It's like self-care. So, yeah, investing the time in it in that way
00:06:52is, you know, you're never going to go wrong with that.
00:06:55To be honest, I think even looking at it that way is really healthy.
00:06:57Yeah.
00:06:58Come on, let's get going with the tour.
00:06:59Oh, wow. This has a totally different feel here.
00:07:17This is the cosy room.
00:07:19Is this the room? Oh, I can see it.
00:07:20Is this the room that you actually went to your audience
00:07:22and asked about knocking down a wall?
00:07:24Yes. I asked people, did they think I should demolish this wall?
00:07:27I feel like most people just said yes because they wanted it to see you do it
00:07:31and see how hard it was going to be.
00:07:32But it has, like, fully transformed this space.
00:07:35I actually really like it.
00:07:36The fact that you have painted your ceiling and the walls,
00:07:39I don't know, it feels like it cocoons you in here.
00:07:41Yes, the green, like that deep green is just so nice
00:07:44and I feel like it's really opened up the house.
00:07:47It used to be a hallway.
00:07:48Now you kind of step into this beautiful room.
00:07:50And is this one of your little creations?
00:07:52This is. This is a TV cabinet that I upcycled.
00:07:55You will not recognise it based on what it looked like before.
00:07:58It was like a double set of shelves, but the top was not good.
00:08:02So I cut it off. Yeah.
00:08:04I was like off with its head.
00:08:06And then I stained it, I added the tiles
00:08:11and I feel like it's just so cute now.
00:08:13I really, really like the tiles.
00:08:14Is that like a regular feature that you sort of do
00:08:17in some of your transformations?
00:08:18I do. I do a lot of tiling.
00:08:20Obviously we just picked up a cabinet on the street
00:08:23that we're going to do a bit of work on.
00:08:25Is tiling something that you're considering for that?
00:08:27Maybe.
00:08:28I think we need to take a better look at it and decide.
00:08:31Sounds like a cute.
00:08:33And that's coming up later.
00:08:37Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
00:08:40Well today it was the egg and it was spicy and green.
00:08:44This is a great example why you should never throw anything out.
00:08:47These are just old fence palings.
00:08:56All right, you've heard of green eggs and ham.
00:08:58This is not that recipe.
00:09:00This is spiced green eggs.
00:09:02So basically I love eggs.
00:09:04Great source of protein and I love spice.
00:09:07So how do I marry the two together?
00:09:09Well this is how.
00:09:14You can use as many eggs as you want.
00:09:16So basically I'm making a hot dish.
00:09:19So I have this for dinner, I have it for lunch.
00:09:22But this, the next day cold, is just as good.
00:09:28I'm going to spice it up with a bit of chilli.
00:09:30Bit of bird's eye.
00:09:31Just roughly chopped.
00:09:33Because we're going to blend it all together.
00:09:34You'll see why.
00:09:37Bird's eye chilli.
00:09:38Little bit of garlic.
00:09:39One to two cloves.
00:09:40I've got one medium clove.
00:09:46So that goes in.
00:09:47I'm going to add a tablespoon of coriander powder.
00:09:54And ground cumin.
00:09:58Salt and pepper.
00:09:59I'm going to add a little bit of lime zest.
00:10:11So obviously if you're not a big fan of chilli, leave the chilli out.
00:10:18So we've got our coriander.
00:10:20The leaf is beautiful.
00:10:21And then we've got the root.
00:10:22Which I've washed.
00:10:23So rather than waste it.
00:10:25What I do is.
00:10:26This is where the green eggs thing comes in.
00:10:29I rip the root and the leaf.
00:10:33So I'll keep that for the garnish.
00:10:34And I'll keep that for the eggs.
00:10:37I've got some mint.
00:10:38So I'm going to use the leaves for the garnish.
00:10:41And I'm going to not waste the stalks.
00:10:43I'm going to use that with the eggs.
00:10:46It will all come clear to you in two minutes.
00:10:48And then I've got to microplane.
00:10:49A good amount of ginger.
00:10:50I don't take the skin off.
00:10:52You know by now.
00:10:53So the ginger is going to give you another little back note of spice.
00:10:55And it's also going to give you a little bit of heat.
00:11:03We've got all our ingredients in the bowl.
00:11:05We've got our blender.
00:11:06You add your egg mix to the blender.
00:11:11Get all your spices out.
00:11:16So that's your stalks.
00:11:18That goes into the blender.
00:11:19And then we're going to add a little bit of sesame oil.
00:11:21Not too much.
00:11:22Just enough to round it off.
00:11:23Give it a little nuttiness.
00:11:25And now what you do is you blend till green.
00:11:29Green eggs.
00:11:30So before I cook the eggs, I'm going to get my salad ready because the eggs don't take that long to cook.
00:11:38In a separate bowl, I'm going to add about two tablespoons of fish sauce to give you a little bit of saltiness.
00:11:44I'm going to add the juice.
00:11:45I'm going to add the juice of three limes and some zest.
00:11:47The juice.
00:11:48So you want quite a lot of lime juice in there because it's going to cut through all the spiciness of the eggs.
00:11:49I'm going to add all the spiciness of the eggs.
00:11:50I'm going to add all the spiciness of the eggs.
00:11:51I'm going to add all the spiciness of the eggs.
00:11:52I'm going to add about two tablespoons of fish sauce to give you a little bit of saltiness.
00:11:56I'm going to add the juice of three limes and some zest.
00:12:11The juice.
00:12:12So you want quite a lot of lime juice in there because it's going to cut through all the spiciness of the eggs.
00:12:18If you wanted some beautiful prawn meat chopped in this, some beautiful crab meat through the actual egg mix, you can just elevate the dish.
00:12:32A little pinch of sugar just to cut through the acid.
00:12:35I'm going to add another little bit of chilli.
00:12:38So this dressing you can make, keep it in a jar, have it in the fridge ready to go.
00:12:42Add our chilli.
00:12:43Another little splash of sesame.
00:12:47I'm sort of entering into Clarissa's territory here.
00:12:51So, hey Clarissa.
00:12:59Give that a mix.
00:13:00A little splash of olive oil.
00:13:10So that's our dressing.
00:13:12So we've got our rocket.
00:13:14Whatever greens you want.
00:13:15Bean sprouts.
00:13:16Very textural.
00:13:18Our coriander and our mint.
00:13:20I'm going to add a good handful of peanuts.
00:13:26So give that a little mix.
00:13:27That's ready to go.
00:13:28And all we're going to do now is cook it and build it.
00:13:31So we want to get our pan hot.
00:13:33Not too hot.
00:13:34It is basically like an omelette, but you're not really going to mess around and be turning it.
00:13:38You're just going to let it bake in the heat of the pan.
00:13:41We're going to serve it in the pan.
00:13:42So olive oil, good glug.
00:13:44I'm going to add a little tiny bit of sesame oil because that will mingle with the flavours.
00:13:55Just let that work around the pan.
00:13:58And now what you do is you add your egg mixture.
00:14:08Just incorporate any of that oil.
00:14:11You want it a bit low, not too hot.
00:14:13So what happens is the herbs and all the garnish starts to cook inside the eggs.
00:14:18So it's not just the eggs.
00:14:19You've got all that veg mix you've blended through.
00:14:24Just let that sit.
00:14:26I'll give it a little bit of lime zest while it's in the pan cooking.
00:14:32A little bit of pepper.
00:14:33But you can see how green those eggs have got.
00:14:40So they've taken on all the flavour, all the spice.
00:14:44This is actually the hardest bit, is getting it from the pan onto the plate.
00:14:51We've been there before, people.
00:14:53We'll do it again. Don't worry.
00:14:56We just let it slide out.
00:14:58He does it again.
00:15:00Thank you. Good night.
00:15:01Now what you do is, you dress your salad with your dressing.
00:15:09Get in there and give it a good mix.
00:15:11Don't break down the herbs too much.
00:15:18So it's actually more about all the garnish that's vibrant and fresh.
00:15:23The eggs have got all the flavour, but it's the garnish and the bean sprouts
00:15:26that's going to add the moisture.
00:15:28You can sort of see where the whole green element's coming from.
00:15:30Obviously the eggs are green, but the garnish is green.
00:15:35Have a little taste.
00:15:36Have a little taste.
00:15:50That is a breakfast dish.
00:15:52That is a lunch dish.
00:15:54That is a dinner dish.
00:15:56That is my green eggs spicy salad.
00:15:58Looking for a ton of fun for the kids and an affordable lifestyle?
00:16:11Well this growing suburb could be your playground.
00:16:14Don't be fooled by the gravel.
00:16:15This area is about to become the engine room of this garden.
00:16:20In this month's issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, why don't you cook up a storm with classic Christmas cookie recipes?
00:16:27From festive Florentines through to a no-fail gingerbread.
00:16:30Plus Matt Moran serves up delicious barbecue pork ribs and a fish and prawn pie.
00:16:36Plus grab this month's issue and get a bonus timeless Christmas 36 page cookbook, including recipes like choc mint pavlova and a pineapple and cherry ham.
00:16:45Grab your issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine out now.
00:16:52So much better.
00:16:55This segment is brought to you by Rich Grove Black Marvel Potting Mix.
00:17:00A premium mix that will deliver amazing results fast.
00:17:03We all know quite often what is happening behind the scenes is not what's happening at the front.
00:17:10Take this suburban street for example.
00:17:11Pretty normal.
00:17:12Nothing going on out of the ordinary.
00:17:14There's even a couple of planes flying over the top.
00:17:16But one of these houses homes a family that is trying to create their very own backyard farm.
00:17:27Hello, how are you going?
00:17:28Hi Charlie, how are you?
00:17:29I'm well thank you.
00:17:30Hey girls, how are you?
00:17:31Good, how are you?
00:17:32Yep.
00:17:33I like your jungle, Jim.
00:17:34Very nice.
00:17:35Now there's a rumour going around that you are trying to create a backyard farm here.
00:17:39That's right.
00:17:40We're pretty passionate about living sustainably here, growing our own food where we can.
00:17:45You can see we've got here our vegetable patch.
00:17:47Yes, we've got a lot going on in a small space.
00:17:49We do.
00:17:50So at the moment we've got some Asian greens here.
00:17:52Yes, very nice.
00:17:53They look nice and healthy.
00:17:54We've got some cucumbers starting off for the summer.
00:17:56Yes, and some lovely strawberries.
00:17:58Yeah, they've just started fruiting in the last couple of weeks.
00:18:00Yeah, very nice.
00:18:01What is it you like about growing your own produce?
00:18:03There's a couple of things.
00:18:04Living sustainably is really important to us.
00:18:07Using our waste, using our food waste where we can.
00:18:09We've got a couple of compost bins that we cycle through.
00:18:12But I also really like the kids knowing where their food comes from.
00:18:15Yeah.
00:18:16That different food grows in different seasons.
00:18:17Yep.
00:18:18And just understanding that link to the land.
00:18:20And chickens, I see.
00:18:22Yeah.
00:18:23So this is the second part of our small farm that we're trying to create here.
00:18:28I do like backyard chickens.
00:18:29The chickens eat nearly all of our food scraps.
00:18:32So what breed are these lovely ladies?
00:18:34The dark ones are a cross between Australorp and Rhode Island Red.
00:18:38It means they're very friendly and good with kids, but they also lay a lot of eggs.
00:18:42Well, I'm sure they're pretty happy.
00:18:43They've got a magnificent mulberry tree to live under and, you know, a fair bit of space
00:18:47for three chooks.
00:18:48That's right.
00:18:49We do call it the Chook Palace.
00:18:50Now, when I was coming in, I noticed quite a lot of stuff down the side of the house.
00:18:54Yes.
00:18:55I blame my wife for that.
00:18:56She's forever bringing home interesting pieces of wood and metal that she thinks we could
00:19:00use for later on.
00:19:01Well, shall we go and see if we can use any of it?
00:19:03Yeah.
00:19:04Let's have a look.
00:19:05Lou, this grate is absolutely beautiful.
00:19:10Did you pick this up?
00:19:11No.
00:19:12It's a beautiful old grate off one of the heritage houses around here.
00:19:15It used to be the window security grill.
00:19:17You've got grand plans for this garden, but you don't have anywhere to start the garden
00:19:22from.
00:19:23No.
00:19:24No, we don't have a workroom at such.
00:19:25Yeah, exactly.
00:19:26You need a workroom.
00:19:27And there is a little spot by the chicken pen that I was thinking maybe we could transform.
00:19:29Right.
00:19:30Let's go have a look.
00:19:31I'll show you what I'm thinking.
00:19:39So this is the spot that I'm thinking could become the engine room of your garden.
00:19:43Wow.
00:19:44Okay.
00:19:45So like a potting up bench, storage, all that kind of stuff.
00:19:47Stuff that's going to feed into your veggie patch so you can really work on that.
00:19:49You've got the material to work on that later.
00:19:51That'd be amazing.
00:19:52Great.
00:19:53Doesn't allow much now, but leave it with me and I'll call you out when it's looking
00:19:56a bit better.
00:19:57I can't wait.
00:19:58Okay.
00:19:59Good stuff.
00:20:00I'm giving this mulberry tree a bit of a prune just to allow some light into this area.
00:20:22When you're crown lifting a tree it's really important you start at the bottom and work
00:20:25up rather than from the top down.
00:20:26Because that way you're still going to get an attractive looking tree and maximise the
00:20:29light too.
00:20:30Before we start putting in any of our work stations I'm going to level this area up.
00:20:45There is nothing worse than trying to pull up plants on an uneven surface.
00:20:48This kind of slopes towards the front and it's a little bit like this.
00:20:52So I'm going to be putting in a steel edge that's going to return so we can step up onto
00:20:55the area making it nice and flat and perfect for working.
00:21:03To create our level areas I'm just using some steel.
00:21:07As you can see we're nice and flat here with the path and then we'll step up onto this new
00:21:11area.
00:21:12I'm going to leave Graham to finish this off and I'm going to get cracking on our benches.
00:21:19Now I knew what I was getting myself into when I was coming here and I knew that the
00:21:23guys really loved rustic stuff so I actually went and found this table online.
00:21:27Have a look.
00:21:28Here's the proof.
00:21:30There's the picture.
00:21:31I have made some mods to it though.
00:21:33Down below I've added a really simple ladder frame and I've stained that.
00:21:36That's going to allow me to keep tubs underneath for potting mix and things like that.
00:21:39I've rounded the corners so it's nice and safe for the kids.
00:21:42And then I've done some custom work up here as well.
00:21:44A little latch so compost can go straight through.
00:21:47And some grates here but I'll show you that a little bit later on.
00:21:50I do need to do some extra stuff to it so I'm going to put a new faceplate on here.
00:22:00And I'm going to put some shelves on underneath as well.
00:22:07To make this workstation even more special I'm adding a back to it.
00:22:13I've knocked this up out of the same 75x35 as I used at the front and I've stained it
00:22:17to tie in with the rustic look.
00:22:19To finish all that off I'm going to use the same fence palings that I found down the side.
00:22:22I'm going to screw it off to the back.
00:22:25And because this has got to stay outside all the time I'm going to give it a clear varnish to protect it.
00:22:34With the last of the clear coat on this is looking very nice.
00:22:38I'm going to go see how Graham's going.
00:22:40Ah nice and level, well done.
00:22:42It's just in time mate.
00:22:43Thank you very much.
00:22:44Now the best thing about gravel is it's going to allow water into the ground.
00:22:49So this is going to maintain the whole, you know, sustainable feel of this garden.
00:23:00Don't worry I'll go backwards.
00:23:10So Lou we've been pretty busy.
00:23:12Yeah I can see Charlie.
00:23:13Yeah we raised the canopy, allowed a lot more light in, leveled it all out and put down this gravel
00:23:18so all the rain can still get to that tree.
00:23:20It's looking fantastic.
00:23:21But there is one thing I was a bit excited to show you and it's this potting station.
00:23:25I absolutely love it.
00:23:26It's incredible.
00:23:27Yep.
00:23:28So the idea behind it is you've got storage under here for your potting mix.
00:23:31Mm-hmm.
00:23:32And then this comes up.
00:23:33And that hangs up there.
00:23:35Mm-hmm.
00:23:36Now we've got tubs in here.
00:23:38These are 25 litres so they fit a bag of potting mix perfectly.
00:23:41Now when it comes to potting mix there's no point wasting your time with cheap stuff.
00:23:45You've got to get the best quality.
00:23:46And I use the rich road black marble.
00:23:48So what's so good about the black marble?
00:23:51Well, take a look at it for starters.
00:23:53You can tell it's just good quality ingredients.
00:23:56It's got a fertiliser in there.
00:23:58It's got a soil wetting agent in there.
00:24:00And it will just really help all these seedlings come along.
00:24:02Put on really good root growth and make them really strong.
00:24:05So when they go out into the garden, you know, they're robust.
00:24:07Yep.
00:24:08So that goes in there.
00:24:09And we've got our little pots here.
00:24:11They sit over the top of the slatted part.
00:24:13And then when you fill it up, and naturally you'll make a bit of a mess,
00:24:18that all falls down into another tub.
00:24:21So it keeps it nice and clean.
00:24:22And then when this one fills up you can swap them around and you've got storage
00:24:25and it just works really well.
00:24:26Take your seedlings off the bench and you've just got a lovely little area.
00:24:31That's going to be great for the kids.
00:24:32Yeah, absolutely.
00:24:33I can't wait to show them that.
00:24:34But there is a lot more to do.
00:24:35So I'm thinking storage back here.
00:24:36We're going to screen the water tank.
00:24:38And then I want to teach you a bit about succession planting.
00:24:41Oh, I can't wait to hear it.
00:24:42And that is all coming up later on.
00:24:44Coming up, Geneva shows how there's beauty and joy in creating anything big or small.
00:24:51Do those tutorials about your dollhouses and they have taken off.
00:24:56You may not have heard of the place, but it's set up for families.
00:25:00And yours might just love it.
00:25:02If a family friendly, affordable lifestyle with good connectivity to the city is important
00:25:07to you, well this place has a lot to love.
00:25:09And Clarissa's frying up some feisty fritters.
00:25:13They are a street food snack that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
00:25:18So much better.
00:25:25This segment is brought to you by VIEW.
00:25:28See all properties Australia wide with VIEW.com.au.
00:25:32Look at you for big kids and little kids.
00:25:43Oh, no.
00:25:44See what I'm doing here is just testing it out for the kids.
00:25:47And what do you think?
00:25:48Well, once a kid, always a kid.
00:25:49I'm loving it.
00:25:50I agree with you.
00:25:51But lately we've been enjoying showing you lots of growing and established suburbs all
00:25:55over Australia.
00:25:56Yes.
00:25:57To see what options are available and share some pointers and tips when buying your home.
00:26:01Yes.
00:26:02So if a family friendly, affordable lifestyle with good connectivity to the city is important
00:26:07to you, well this place has a lot to love.
00:26:09Let's go check it out.
00:26:10We're on the south east edges of Melbourne in a fast growing suburb of Officer.
00:26:22And there is just so much going on here.
00:26:24For example, they call this a destination playground and you can see why.
00:26:28I mean I'm talking 10 hectares of walkways, pure adventure.
00:26:32I mean there's something for kids of all ages here.
00:26:34It is absolutely beautiful.
00:26:36And as for transport, well it's got great links to the CBD with an easy commute straight
00:26:41down the freeway or around a one hour ride on the train.
00:26:45The great appeal is you can enjoy plenty of space with a country lifestyle.
00:26:49Plus lots of great little local finds.
00:26:51Oh, let's go find them.
00:26:53I'm feeling connected, yeah.
00:26:58Well I'll tell you what Melissa, this is absolutely beautiful.
00:27:01It's so tucked away.
00:27:02How is all those apple trees when you're driving?
00:27:04Did you see the blossoms?
00:27:06So much colour.
00:27:07So this is Bellevue Farmgate and the Russo family have been growing apples on this orchard
00:27:11for four generations.
00:27:12So beautiful local produce, the cutest little farm shop.
00:27:16They even grow, crush and bottle their own cider and apple juice on site.
00:27:19That sounds amazing.
00:27:21Let's go try some apples.
00:27:23So Ed, there's not a lot of apples, but based on that blossom, it's going to be a bumper
00:27:36season.
00:27:37It looks amazing.
00:27:38But I'll tell you what, one of the added bonuses of living here is you've got even a
00:27:43bigger playground right on your doorstep.
00:27:45You do.
00:27:46I mean, what, 40 minutes that way, you've got the Dandenong Ranges with those quaint little
00:27:49villages and spectacular gardens.
00:27:51Yes, and a short drive south you're in one of Melbourne's holiday destinations, the
00:27:56Mornington Peninsula, with beautiful beaches and scrumptious food.
00:28:00So you really are surrounded by everything.
00:28:02There's something to do in every direction.
00:28:07So Gavin, there's no doubt that Officer has so much to offer and you're a local real estate
00:28:16in this area.
00:28:17Can you tell us who the potential homebuyers are?
00:28:19Well, actually, I've lived here for quite a few years myself.
00:28:22First homebuyers, you look around here at all the properties, they're brand new or a
00:28:26couple of years old.
00:28:27I mean, it's just value for money.
00:28:28That's what it is, right?
00:28:29What are we talking about in terms of local schools, amenities?
00:28:32Because families obviously love this area.
00:28:34Dozens of them.
00:28:35Schools dotted all around the estates and heaps of shops, plus your medical centers as well.
00:28:40They're everywhere in the officer.
00:28:41I guess the big, hard-hitting question is, how much are we looking to buy a home around here?
00:28:46Yeah, Adam, if you had $750,000, you could get a nice four-bedroom house on a 350-square-metre
00:28:51block and the house is probably only five years old as well.
00:28:54So if you can't afford this city and you wanted to move out a little bit further,
00:28:57something you can afford?
00:28:58Yeah.
00:28:59This is your place.
00:29:00I'll be here for you.
00:29:02I'll be here for you.
00:29:03I'll be here for you.
00:29:06And you can make finding your next home even easier simply by downloading the VIEW.com app.
00:29:11So it allows you to shortlist any properties that you're interested in and you can keep
00:29:15track of auctions and anything that's open for inspection.
00:29:18There's so much here.
00:29:19You can even get instant alerts and property insights on the go.
00:29:23So it's really convenient, all in one place.
00:29:25Plus, if you use the map, you can view all the properties that match your search criteria,
00:29:29whether they're for sale or not.
00:29:31So it's really handy.
00:29:32If you're looking to buy into the property market here, then the Office of Central Development
00:29:43has a great family vibe.
00:29:44Yes.
00:29:45Now, Adam, first of all, I need to say fantastic name.
00:29:48You're the developer of this estate, but I am sensing a bit of a theme around here.
00:29:52It's like playground paradise.
00:29:54Yeah, absolutely.
00:29:55Us at Yorland Developments, we have a really big emphasis on playgrounds, as we can see
00:29:59behind us.
00:30:00And it's not the only one littered in this beautiful estate.
00:30:02We've got an incredible one down the road as well.
00:30:05But we build them for our community.
00:30:07We've got little kids running around on Saturdays and Sundays.
00:30:09It just gives you such a great buzz.
00:30:11I love it.
00:30:12And what about for people that have never tried the estate living?
00:30:14What can they expect?
00:30:15Yeah, look, they're great communities, whether it's this one or any brand new Yorland community.
00:30:20They're really well located, amenity at your doorstep, freeway access.
00:30:24Full of brand new parks.
00:30:27Like, they're just great little places to live.
00:30:29So, for people that are wanting to get into this state, what sort of packages can they
00:30:32look at?
00:30:33Yeah, absolutely.
00:30:34All the major builders in Victoria have got house and land packages in this community.
00:30:37We've only got about 50 lots left, so it is absolutely the last chance to get in.
00:30:42Land starts at around 480k.
00:30:45House and land packages, full turnkey, just bring your toothbrush at around $740,000.
00:30:50That's good.
00:30:51I love that, but be quick.
00:30:53Yeah, exactly.
00:30:54All your lights, all your light, all your light.
00:31:02So, Jordan, you're a landscape architect, so part of the team that's put together this
00:31:05incredible play space.
00:31:06Yeah, so we designed this, I guess, play space in the jungle.
00:31:10And then we work from that to figure out what would work the best, and we get the balance
00:31:15between, I guess, longevity and that look and feel.
00:31:17So, for example, we use a lot of steel posts to make sure things last a long time, but we
00:31:23also use the hardwood timber over the top of that to kind of soften it and give it that
00:31:27sense of weathering as it grays off as the playground develops.
00:31:32We like the idea of these paths starting to enclose a little bit.
00:31:35The kids have a sense of, you know, exploring as they walk through the space.
00:31:38Yeah, yeah.
00:31:39There's only one thing left for me to do, and that's to keep exploring.
00:31:41Let's go.
00:31:42I'm not sure if I can do it with these heels.
00:31:46See, more delicate than you.
00:31:49You know what I love about Officer?
00:31:55It's all about family, space and lifestyle.
00:31:58Yeah, and you get all that, but it's still affordable, so a great way to get into the
00:32:02market.
00:32:03And you know what that means?
00:32:04The ball is in your court.
00:32:05Last time, what did you say?
00:32:07I might have kicked your butt last time.
00:32:08Yeah, you did.
00:32:09On the ship.
00:32:10It's not going to happen again.
00:32:11Oh!
00:32:12She did it again!
00:32:14Every time!
00:32:15Every time!
00:32:16We've got this beautiful, golden, crispy, sweet, salty yumminess.
00:32:26Rose, Gia, have you guys done any planting before?
00:32:29Yeah.
00:32:30What have you grown?
00:32:31I've grown some sunflower seeds.
00:32:32They look magnificent.
00:32:35To catch up on any stories you've missed, plus find lots of pet training tips and tricks,
00:32:40as well as loads of cute animals and exclusive content, check us out on 7 Plus.
00:32:54Corn fritters are a favourite for brunch here in Australia.
00:32:58But if you've travelled to Bali, you might have seen Indonesian corn fritters.
00:33:03They are a street food snack that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
00:33:08I'm using fresh corn.
00:33:15You can use frozen corn or canned corn, but it does make your betta quite wet.
00:33:24So if you were going to use one of them, just make sure you drain them properly.
00:33:33That's very easy.
00:33:34Just cut them like so.
00:33:36Do not throw these corn cobs because I use them in stocks.
00:33:40They make your stock really sweet.
00:33:42So put them in a little bag and then put them in the freezer.
00:33:46And when you're making your stock, just chuck them in.
00:33:48In a bowl, the corn goes.
00:33:54Two crushed garlic.
00:34:00Got four chopped shallots.
00:34:02And cafe lime leaves gives it the beautiful zesty taste.
00:34:11It really does give another dimension to these corn fritters.
00:34:16Take the middle part out, which is the stem.
00:34:19I've rolled the leaves together and I'm just slicing them thinly.
00:34:26Thinly.
00:34:31It goes in.
00:34:35I'm using coriander today.
00:34:39I'm using the stem so nothing is wasted.
00:34:42The other thing that you can use, which you might find quite strange, is celery leaves.
00:34:49A lot of the recipes that you find for Indonesian corn fritters
00:34:54calls for celery leaves.
00:34:57That goes in.
00:35:01Chilli, of course.
00:35:03That's my thing.
00:35:04You can adjust the chilli to your liking.
00:35:10We have spring onions.
00:35:13Now all of these are going to give this fritters a beautiful crunch
00:35:18and then you're going to taste all of the herbs in it.
00:35:21It's going to be delicious.
00:35:22Next, we've got coriander seed powder.
00:35:26About half a teaspoon.
00:35:28It smells so earthy.
00:35:30And I'm going to mix it together.
00:35:35Next, three eggs.
00:35:36This particular batter is not meant to be too wet because what I want it to do is I want this to have a crispy outer layer.
00:35:49Next, I've got some rice flour, 40 grams of it.
00:35:50What the rice flour does is it makes it crispy.
00:35:5280 grams of plain flour.
00:35:5580 grams of plain flour.
00:35:5680 grams of plain flour.
00:35:5780 grams of plain flour.
00:36:01outer layer. Next I've got some rice flour, 40 grams of it. What the rice flour does is it makes
00:36:10it crispy. 80 grams of plain flour. Next I've got some sugar, a couple of teaspoons.
00:36:31A dash of white pepper, and a big pinch of salt.
00:36:45My pan is nice and hot. In goes enough oil to shallow fry it. Now about a golf bowl
00:36:56size, and just slide it in.
00:37:13Keep it on low heat because I want it to cook right through. As you can see it
00:37:18doesn't take very long. Keep flipping them and making sure that it is nice, beautiful,
00:37:29golden brown before you take them out.
00:37:41Okay. To go with your Indonesian corn fritters, I am going to make a nice fresh salad. Starting
00:37:50off with a sugar loaf cabbage. I love fresh cabbage. Slice it into a quarter and I'm going
00:38:04to slice it very thinly. But if you have a mandolin, use it.
00:38:09Next, gnashy pear. That's going to give it a bit of sweetness. If you don't have gnashy pear,
00:38:26you can also use an apple.
00:38:27I like that it's got the different textures and also the different flavours.
00:38:39To dress it, a juice of half a lime, a splash of white vinegar, a sprinkle of sugar, and a crack of
00:39:09sea salt. And then just for the freshness, I am going to add some mint leaves.
00:39:28Last but not least, I'm going to zest a lime.
00:39:32Okay. Going to use my hands to mix it. I can just smell the mint. I can smell the zest of the lime.
00:39:47We've got this beautiful golden, crispy, sweet, salty yumminess here. And to complement it, we've got this beautiful zesty salad.
00:40:06Now, all we've got to do is taste them.
00:40:15Mmm. It's definitely going to be hard to stop at just one.
00:40:30Rose, Gio and I are going to tell you all about succession planting.
00:40:33With tomato plants.
00:40:36So this is where I shoot all my courses for Geneva's DIY school.
00:40:42In this month's issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, celebrate a vintage and retro revival.
00:40:47The magazine's own Geneva van der Zyl shows you how to make a wall-mounted storage rack,
00:40:52perfect for displaying your vintage glassware.
00:40:54And textile artist Fleur Wood shares tips on finding inspiration when you're stuck with a creative project.
00:41:00Grab your copy of the Better Homes and Gardens magazine out now to get a bonus 36-page timeless Christmas cookbook.
00:41:07I've been hanging out with upcycling queen Geneva van der Zyl in her gorgeous Queenslander home.
00:41:22But her studio is where all the creative magic happens.
00:41:30So, Jo, this is the creative studio.
00:41:33Do you know what? I get an absolute sense for that.
00:41:36This is such a beautiful space.
00:41:39So, Collective Gen, I mean, obviously you're wearing them.
00:41:42Tell me about this.
00:41:43So, Collective Gen is my creative workwear brand and we have a collection of overalls.
00:41:48You can see all the colours we've got there.
00:41:50I just love wearing them.
00:41:52They're so comfortable.
00:41:53They're so good for creativity, making, creating and just hanging out.
00:41:57And obviously coming up with the whole brand has come through people asking you where to get them from.
00:42:02Well, I always wear overalls, but I could never really recommend the ones I was wearing because they weren't perfect.
00:42:07So, we decided to create our own line and we really focused on the details and making them super comfortable.
00:42:12There are so many strings to your bow, which brings me to this corner.
00:42:16I have seen some of your little online videos with your dollhouses and honestly, you are obsessed.
00:42:23Is that okay to say?
00:42:24Yes, I am.
00:42:25It started with one back in 2022 and it's gotten a little out of hand, I have to be honest.
00:42:30What do you love so much about them?
00:42:32Why have they captured your imagination and literally millions of other people as well?
00:42:36I think that there's just something so joyful in small things and you get to create a whole space in miniature.
00:42:45You know, your dream space.
00:42:47Yeah.
00:42:48And you can do it.
00:42:49There's no budget requirements.
00:42:50And there's a bit of fantasy that's involved as well.
00:42:52Yes.
00:42:53I mean, the treehouse one is next level, isn't it?
00:42:55This is what I did last Christmas because I was giving my daughters the Bramley hedge books.
00:43:00I don't know if you're familiar.
00:43:01They're little mice that live in a tree.
00:43:03And one of my audience was like, why don't you take it up a notch and make her the dollhouse?
00:43:09And I was like, look, I got to do it.
00:43:11So, it took three weeks.
00:43:12Unbelievable.
00:43:13And then what are you going to do for this Christmas?
00:43:15Can you give us a little teaser?
00:43:16I don't even know yet.
00:43:17Okay.
00:43:18Yeah.
00:43:19Usually the idea comes, like, days before.
00:43:21No way.
00:43:22Like, in December, usually I'll try and think about it, ask the audience and stuff.
00:43:26So, TBD.
00:43:27Oh, my God.
00:43:28That's amazing.
00:43:29So, obviously, I mean, you do those tutorials about your dollhouses and they have taken off.
00:43:34Like, unbelievable.
00:43:35Is this where you shoot them down here?
00:43:36Yes.
00:43:37So, we also have Geneva's DIY School.
00:43:41So, this is our shooting space for all the courses.
00:43:44It's where the magic happens.
00:43:45Yeah.
00:43:46So, how did that actually come about?
00:43:47Because you were already uploading lots of little projects and different things.
00:43:50Yeah.
00:43:51Well, I guess forever I've been uploading small tutorials.
00:43:55Yeah.
00:43:56But what I noticed was that people actually want to learn a skill in detail.
00:43:59Yeah, okay.
00:44:00So, for the last few years, I've been working really hard to build all the courses on the
00:44:04courses platform.
00:44:05We currently have mosaicing, embroidery, obviously the dollhouse one, which is super popular,
00:44:10furniture upcycling, and we just launched the sewing one, which has also been so popular.
00:44:15If you've ever said, I wish I could sew, I'm here to help.
00:44:19Do you know what is extraordinary about this is, you're originally a town planner.
00:44:23Yes.
00:44:24Like, I'm just, all the things that you've been reeling off today that you are doing.
00:44:27Because we haven't even mentioned that you're now part of the Better Homes and Gardens family.
00:44:30Yes.
00:44:31I am now the creative projects editor in the magazine.
00:44:34And I get to bring a fun project to the magazine every month.
00:44:37See, I think everyone who's watching this is like, ah, she's definitely the right girl for the job.
00:44:41I hope so.
00:44:42What about during COVID when you started off the terracotta phase?
00:44:46Can you just talk us through what happened with that?
00:44:48Yes.
00:44:49During COVID, I randomly painted a couple of vases and it kind of set off this whole craze all over the world.
00:44:56I think we were all stuck in our homes and just looking for something small and easy to do.
00:45:00Ah, I came up with a bit of a recipe for the paint.
00:45:03You take, um, house paint and you add baking powder to it.
00:45:06Creates this, like, amazing texture.
00:45:08Paints it onto anything and gives it, like, a clay look.
00:45:11So, yeah.
00:45:12And then you're right, because people all over the world were copying and doing their versions of it.
00:45:15It became this, like, terracotta community.
00:45:17Love it.
00:45:18And I noticed a lot of people started with that project.
00:45:21It's so easy.
00:45:22And then, since then, they've really started experimenting with DIY.
00:45:26So.
00:45:27Watching you and the creativity, listening to the creativity of how you approach things,
00:45:31has me completely fascinated to see what you're going to do with the cabinet that we picked up.
00:45:35I'm excited.
00:45:36Yes.
00:45:37I'll always make you smile.
00:45:42I'll always make you smile.
00:45:46This is such a beautiful piece and there's so much potential.
00:45:49I feel like a lot of people would be like, no, it is totally ruined.
00:45:53But I see there's so much we could do to this piece.
00:45:56So, is there any hard and fast rule?
00:45:57Like, would you look at this and go, okay, I have to restore it to its former glory?
00:46:01I think there's a few ways to go with this.
00:46:04You could definitely go the restoration route where you sand it back, restain it,
00:46:08and just completely refinish it, fix some of the broken pieces.
00:46:11Yep.
00:46:12Or equally, you could go really wild and use tiles or paint to create like a very statement piece for your home.
00:46:19That just makes me so excited to see what you end up doing with this.
00:46:22I am going to be glued to your pages.
00:46:25Coming to a tiny screen near you.
00:46:27Coming up, this garden was once kicked to the curb, but Charlie's unleashing its potential.
00:46:42If you can get creative with things laying around, you can get some fantastic results.
00:46:46And these toys have lived a few lifetimes, but they've still got more love to give.
00:46:51Let's drop these off and visit the incredible volunteers who are ensuring the magic of toys continues.
00:46:57This segment is brought to you by Rich Grove Black Marvel Potting Mix, a premium mix that will deliver amazing results fast.
00:47:12We are in a family garden, which is also a bit of a backyard farm.
00:47:16We've got this amazing mulberry tree and some chickens, but they really want their veggie patch cranking all year round.
00:47:21So, we're doing a behind the scenes area. An engine room, if you will.
00:47:25We've already levelled it and put some steps in for easy access.
00:47:28Crown lifted the mulberry tree to let some light in and put in this fantastic potting bench.
00:47:32But every good behind the scenes garden needs some storage, and luckily enough for us, the concrete slab was already in.
00:47:37So, we're just going to put a shed on it.
00:47:47There you are, mate.
00:47:48Thanks. You didn't take too long there.
00:47:50No.
00:47:51Well, it certainly is a tight squeeze, but it fits perfectly.
00:47:54It maximises the space, and it's going to take all the bits and bobs that we need for a garden hidden away.
00:47:59Yeah, I'll get those jaws.
00:48:00Yeah, bring them over and I'll load them up.
00:48:03Great.
00:48:06Now, these shelves were actually found down the side of the house.
00:48:09And this goes to show you don't need to buy stuff to make a practical area.
00:48:13Oh, the fit is absolutely perfect.
00:48:15Look at this.
00:48:30If you can get creative with things you find lying around, you can get some fantastic results.
00:48:37Do you remember this frame that was down the side of the house?
00:48:39Well, we're going to use it to screen out the water tank.
00:48:41I know what you're thinking, there's a few holes in it, but this is going to make the perfect framework for a green wall to cover this up.
00:48:47To hang our metal frame on, we've knocked up a timber frame.
00:49:01Now, this is out of H3 treated timber, which is external grade, it just can't go in the ground.
00:49:06Happy to go on the ground, so to keep it off the ground though, just to make sure it lasts a little bit longer,
00:49:10we've got some metal stirrups, which I'm just going to screw it off to when G tells me it's all nice and plumb.
00:49:15How are you looking?
00:49:16Yeah, good?
00:49:17We're good.
00:49:29All right, our screen's looking nice and sturdy, and I've got a few more bits and pieces to come in here.
00:49:33Once that's all done, I'm going to get the kids in to help me pot up the pots, which will turn this into a green wall.
00:49:45All right, girls, come on in. Gia, Rose, how are you?
00:49:54Good.
00:49:55This is looking a bit different, isn't it?
00:49:57Yeah.
00:49:58Now, tell me something. Have you ever done any gardening before?
00:50:01Yes.
00:50:02What have you done?
00:50:03I planted some sunflower seeds.
00:50:05Some sunflower seeds. Can I take a look at those?
00:50:08Oh, these are looking very good, and I like your little watering system too. Now, how long ago did you do these?
00:50:16Um, a couple of days ago.
00:50:19A couple of days ago. So it's going to take a while before they get big, isn't it?
00:50:23Can we maybe pot up some seeds now, ready for your new veggie patch?
00:50:26Yeah, sounds good.
00:50:27How about you pop that one back and we'll get into this seed, shall we?
00:50:30Right, do you want to grab me the sieve that's just around there as well?
00:50:33Okay.
00:50:34Okay, so when we're doing our seedlings, it's really important to get really good quality potting mix,
00:50:40because we've got to give them the best start in life, don't we?
00:50:42Mm-hmm.
00:50:43Think of your little brother Val. He needs all the good food he can get, and that's all in this potting mix.
00:50:47But what seedlings don't like is, well, they like to put their roots out into nice, fine potting mix,
00:50:52so if there's lots of big bits in it, you don't want that.
00:50:54So can you get the scoop and pop some of this potting mix into here?
00:50:58And then you, little lady, are going to shake it.
00:51:10So you see all these little bits of pine bark?
00:51:12Yeah.
00:51:13That's all fine for when you pot up, but for seedlings, what we see underneath,
00:51:16see all the bits that have dropped through?
00:51:17Yeah.
00:51:18Now that's really nice and fine, isn't it?
00:51:20Yeah.
00:51:21So let's take some of that, take a scoop of your hands like this,
00:51:24and pop it into these trays right here.
00:51:32Okay, now we're going to do some seeds. What do you want to do? Should we do tomatoes?
00:51:36Sounds good.
00:51:37Yeah, do you like tomatoes?
00:51:38Yep.
00:51:39Yep, absolutely. Okay, let's find a packet of seeds.
00:51:41There's about 400 seeds in this packet.
00:51:44400?
00:51:45Whoa.
00:51:46They're tiny.
00:51:48Tiny, tiny, tiny.
00:51:49What you want to do is poke a tiny little hole in.
00:51:53That's it.
00:51:54We're going to do each one, and then you're going to pop one seed in there.
00:52:05All we just need to do is push some soil back over so they're completely under cover.
00:52:10So how often do you have to actually water them?
00:52:12Great question.
00:52:13So they need lots of water.
00:52:14They need that to be, the potting mix to be kept nice and moist.
00:52:17So we'll give them a good mist.
00:52:19But this has got a wetting agent, so we know that all of it's going to get soaked when we do it, which is great.
00:52:23Do you want to grab the hose?
00:52:35Perfect.
00:52:36What are we going to do now, Charlie?
00:52:38That is a great question.
00:52:39What we're going to do is we're going to pop these into that hothouse over there,
00:52:43because seeds really like to be nice and warm, and we don't want to drop them, do we?
00:52:47Okay.
00:52:48Okay, nice and slow.
00:52:50Pop them there for bed, and they will grow nicely.
00:52:53They're going to take about two weeks before they start to turn into seedlings,
00:52:57but if you can't wait that long, you can just buy them like this.
00:53:00Yeah?
00:53:01Should we pop some of these up?
00:53:02Sounds good.
00:53:03Okay, great.
00:53:12There we go.
00:53:13Now, what I want one of you to do is to hold that upright by the leaves and put potting mix around it, okay?
00:53:23There we go.
00:53:28This is excellent, girls.
00:53:29Now, these are probably two months older than the ones that just went in there,
00:53:35and then in maybe six weeks' time, they're going to be looking like this.
00:53:39So, it's really important to think ahead when you're gardening.
00:53:41That's called succession gardening.
00:53:42So, if you want tomatoes for summer, you need to be doing the seeds in spring,
00:53:46and then at the end of spring, you need to start thinking about summer,
00:53:49and then summer thinking about autumn, then autumn thinking about winter.
00:53:52Wow, we're going to use this area a lot.
00:53:55You sure are.
00:53:56And I'll be honest, I'm a little bit jealous.
00:53:57I'd quite like something like this at my own house.
00:53:59But how about I tidy up here, you go get mum, and we'll show all we've done.
00:54:02Sounds good.
00:54:03All right, see you soon.
00:54:04Step.
00:54:05Step.
00:54:06Step.
00:54:07Come all the way to the back.
00:54:08Keep them closed.
00:54:09Okay.
00:54:10Turn around.
00:54:11And open them up.
00:54:12Wow!
00:54:13Did you girls do this?
00:54:14Uh-huh.
00:54:15They have been very busy.
00:54:16It looks amazing.
00:54:17And then behind you, we've screened off the water tank.
00:54:22Mm-hmm.
00:54:23So they're herbs.
00:54:24They can stay there the whole time.
00:54:25They're just on pots.
00:54:26You know, you'll be able to take them to the table, take them in and bring them back
00:54:29out.
00:54:30Over in this corner, we've got a little hothouse, a little greenhouse.
00:54:35Beautiful.
00:54:36Then on the other side, we've got a bit of a storage bench underneath and hardening off.
00:54:40So when the seedlings have grown up a bit, you can pop them on and pop them there, just
00:54:45so they can live there for a couple of weeks before they go out and see a new veg patch.
00:54:50Ah, perfect.
00:54:51Perfect.
00:54:52Yeah.
00:54:53Yeah.
00:54:54Yeah.
00:54:55Yeah.
00:54:56Yeah.
00:54:57Yeah.
00:54:58Yeah.
00:54:59Yeah.
00:55:00Yeah.
00:55:01Yeah.
00:55:02Yeah.
00:55:03And I don't think you've noticed what's behind us as well.
00:55:04Oh, my goodness.
00:55:05You're right.
00:55:06So everything you need is stored in here and your lawnmower and all that sort of stuff.
00:55:08So all out of sight, out of mind.
00:55:09It's going to be amazing.
00:55:11I can see you guys using this for many years to come.
00:55:12So can I.
00:55:13This place is so much fun.
00:55:14It must be what it's like to be here.
00:55:15Yeah.
00:55:16Yeah.
00:55:17Yeah.
00:55:18Yeah.
00:55:19Yeah.
00:55:20Yeah.
00:55:21Yeah.
00:55:22Yeah.
00:55:23Yeah.
00:55:24Yeah.
00:55:25Yeah.
00:55:26Yeah.
00:55:27Yeah.
00:55:28Yeah.
00:55:29Yeah.
00:55:30Yeah.
00:55:31It is so much fun.
00:55:32It must be what it's like to be in Santa's workshop.
00:55:36The latest issue of the Better Homes and Gardens magazine is out now and it is all about
00:55:40heritage blooms and timeless tips.
00:55:42Learn how to make your garden overflow with flowers and lush foliage in the warmer months.
00:55:46Plus, find out how to create a charming cottage garden and take a nostalgic trip through
00:55:51houseplant trends across the decades.
00:55:53Grab this month's issue to get a bonus 36 page timeless Christmas cookbook for affordable
00:55:58yet impressive festive meal ideas.
00:56:00Grab yourself a copy of the Better Homes and Gardens magazine which is out now.
00:56:03I want to introduce to you the most popular dog breed in the whole of Australia.
00:56:22It's a Cavoodle.
00:56:23They're a great little dog.
00:56:25They are actually a cross between two purebred dogs.
00:56:28On the one side you've got a poodle.
00:56:30Now that could be a toy poodle or a miniature poodle.
00:56:33And on the other side you've got a Cavalier King Charles.
00:56:36They come in a whole range of different colours.
00:56:38This is one of the most popular colours.
00:56:40They look like what?
00:56:41What do you think they look like?
00:56:43Teddy bears.
00:56:44And everyone had a teddy bear once, didn't they?
00:56:47Treasure.
00:56:48That is what you are.
00:56:51Control my golden star.
00:56:56They're very well suited to small areas.
00:56:58So people living in apartments or small houses with very little backyards, ideal.
00:57:03On the other hand, they'll be fine on a bigger area too.
00:57:07Is there any maintenance with one of these dogs?
00:57:10Yes, there is a bit.
00:57:11But there's maintenance with every dog.
00:57:13They need a clip about every six weeks or so.
00:57:16And you can clip them short or you can clip them long.
00:57:20So that's the maintenance.
00:57:21Are they easy to train?
00:57:23Yes, they are.
00:57:24They'll train quite well.
00:57:25Sometimes the recall is a little bit difficult.
00:57:28But like everything else, if you go to a puppy preschool and follow that up with a dog training club, then you'll have a dog that's very handleable.
00:57:36And it's important to be able to handle your dog.
00:57:39What's involved in getting a dog like this?
00:57:41My sweet love.
00:57:44You gotta hold on me.
00:57:47Oxygen.
00:57:49All right.
00:57:50We get the dog home.
00:57:52Make sure we've got good fences.
00:57:53Make sure we've got good locks on the gates.
00:57:55Make sure the dog can't get out and under the gate.
00:57:58Confine the dog in a small area to start off with.
00:58:00One or two rooms in the house.
00:58:01And you need to provide water bowl, food bowl in an area where the dog can access them quite easily.
00:58:09You need to provide the right sort of food.
00:58:11And that needs to be a puppy food.
00:58:13This little pup's about eight weeks of age.
00:58:15So you can start training when you get this puppy home, probably at about 12 to 16 weeks of age.
00:58:20You've got to teach your dog to walk on a lead.
00:58:22But these days, I prefer to use something like a harness.
00:58:25It actually fits around the dog's lower part of the neck, the chest, and over the front legs and behind.
00:58:30Stops any pressure on the dog's throat.
00:58:32I think they're ideal.
00:58:34And on top of that, you've got a lead to attach to it.
00:58:36What about having some fun with your dog?
00:58:39It's important, isn't it?
00:58:40Some toys?
00:58:41Okay.
00:58:42So that sort of toy would be just the ideal thing to give a first puppy.
00:58:46And I'll tell you something interesting.
00:58:48They will keep hold of that toy as they grow up.
00:58:51Do they have any major problems with this particular breed?
00:58:54No, not really.
00:58:55If you are buying from a reputable source, be that a reputable breeder or a PIAA pet shop,
00:59:01then you are ensuring yourself that you are buying a healthy, reputable puppy.
00:59:06And after all, that's what everybody wants.
00:59:08A healthy pup that's going to live a long and wonderful life and be part of your family.
00:59:14And you can't beat a couple of them.
00:59:16The fun and learning that happens when kids play with toys is absolutely magic to watch.
00:59:33But what happens when they get a little bit older and move on from their favourites?
00:59:37I mean, we've all seen Toy Story.
00:59:40But there is another chance for toys here at the Peninsula Toy Repair Group.
00:59:44They have been repairing and recycling toys since 1975.
00:59:48And that is 50 years.
01:00:00Oh, hello. How are you?
01:00:01Hi, Terry. Looks like I've interrupted morning tea here.
01:00:04Yes, not a problem.
01:00:05But, yeah, this is what we do on a morning.
01:00:09I think you've brought us a donation.
01:00:11I have brought a donation and I would love to learn more about the charity from you.
01:00:15Yeah. We accept toys in any condition and we try to bring them back as new.
01:00:20And then we give them away to charities, not-for-profit organisations.
01:00:23Some go around the world, different countries in Africa.
01:00:27And then there's Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea.
01:00:30So this is what we like, a box of things to go through and we'll repair them.
01:00:35What wonderful work you do.
01:00:37And there are so many benefits.
01:00:39You're keeping all these toys out of landfill but also making so many children happy.
01:00:43I'd love to have a look at the various stations you have.
01:00:45It's so heartwarming wandering these aisles and there's a real sense of nostalgia,
01:00:55especially when I stumble across things from my own childhood.
01:00:58Does anyone remember Care Bears?
01:01:00I'm also finding lots of things from when my own kids were younger
01:01:03that they used to love playing with this, with all their little matchbox cars.
01:01:07The thing I love the most though is how much care goes into this process.
01:01:11The volunteers take so much time to sort all the toys out.
01:01:15All these boxes even have their own labels.
01:01:18It's really beautiful.
01:01:19Hello, so what happens over here?
01:01:37Well this is the games and puzzles section and we replace missing parts.
01:01:43Ensure that the dice is in there or the cards are there so when they open it it's just like new.
01:01:48So that's one I've just finished and then I'm going to go over to these and start on them.
01:01:53So what happens if there isn't a piece that is supposed to be in there?
01:01:56There's not a piece there.
01:01:57We've got spare parts up there that I go to and replenish them.
01:02:02Clean them up making sure they're in good order.
01:02:05One of the things I really enjoy is knowing that there's going to be youngsters getting these puzzles
01:02:11that they wouldn't or the games that they wouldn't.
01:02:14And you must get a lot out of this.
01:02:15I do.
01:02:16Yeah.
01:02:17A big deal.
01:02:18Well, kids.
01:02:19Yeah.
01:02:20That's what it's all about.
01:02:30You look hard at work over here.
01:02:32Yeah, yeah.
01:02:33And what great work it is because bikes are so expensive.
01:02:36They certainly are.
01:02:37And there's lots of them get thrown out only because there's a tiny little thing wrong with them.
01:02:42You know, even if we can't fix it we can separate the parts for recycling.
01:02:45And what's your background to be able to know how to fix the bike?
01:02:48To know how to fix the bike, being a kid, had bikes, used to ride them in all sorts of places
01:02:53which meant we had to pull them apart, fix them and go back out again.
01:02:56But professionally as an engineer that helps as well.
01:02:59What are some of the common problems?
01:03:01It depends on the bike.
01:03:02Rust's a big one.
01:03:04Brakes don't work.
01:03:05Gear cables are broken.
01:03:07So we can replace repair.
01:03:10On this one it looks almost perfect.
01:03:13But you go here and you've got so much wobble in there, we've got to fix that.
01:03:17Front brakes needed adjusting but I've just done that.
01:03:20That's one of the things we make sure that even if they don't look pretty when they leave here that they work.
01:03:26There's a container outside going to Ghana and they wanted, if they could, 200 bikes.
01:03:32You must get a lot out of it I imagine.
01:03:34Yeah, no, it's great giving back.
01:03:35I mean, I've worked for a long time.
01:03:38Now I'm continuing to give something to the community by doing this.
01:03:41Well, well done.
01:03:42I'll leave you to it.
01:03:43Okay, thank you.
01:03:44And I'll move to another station.
01:03:45Now, Henry, what are you up to?
01:03:58Oh, a little bit of a cleaning.
01:04:00A lot of the toys that come in need just a dust off to make them presentable
01:04:06and some need a bit more of a deep clean and a bit of a scrub to make them
01:04:10so we can give them out to the charities.
01:04:12If someone goes into an op shop where a lot of these toys end up, they want to know it's hygienic.
01:04:17So we've got washing machines for the soft toys and things like this.
01:04:21We'll scrub them down as best we can.
01:04:23I enjoy the camaraderie and the social interaction.
01:04:28It's just nice to have an interest that keeps your mind active and socialisation.
01:04:33Wow, Terry, what a fantastic team you have around you.
01:04:44But I think I've figured it out.
01:04:45They all love playing with the toys.
01:04:47Well, they do that.
01:04:48And they remember some of the toys as well.
01:04:50And they say, oh yeah, I remember this when I was a child.
01:04:53I'm sure there's lots of people watching this who love this story and want to help you out.
01:04:58How would they go about doing that?
01:05:00Well, as you know, we're a charity not for profit.
01:05:02So we don't actually sell any toys.
01:05:04We give them away or give them away for free.
01:05:07So we just rely on the general public, public donations.
01:05:11So if there's anybody out there got anything to spare, well, yeah, we'd really appreciate it.
01:05:17Thank you so much for having me, Terry.
01:05:19This place is definitely Santa approved.
01:05:21And it just goes to show that no matter how old you are, playing with toys is still a whole lot of fun.
01:05:25Come on, Woody.
01:05:26I have been having the most sensational day catching up with Geneva van der Zeel.
01:05:42She is a DIY queen, an absolute superstar and the most beautiful person.
01:05:47And after we found this amazing cabinet on the street, I couldn't, you know, leave without actually helping her.
01:05:52Start a transformation of it.
01:05:54Let's face it, Jo, you needed to do something for the close-up.
01:05:57This is why this girl is going to go very far in this industry.
01:06:00You are bang on the money.
01:06:01It has been a joy though.
01:06:03We'll see you next week with more Better Homes and Gardens.
01:06:05Bye.
01:06:06See you later.
01:06:07Oh, my work here is done.
01:06:09Finished.
01:06:10She's looking beautiful.
01:06:15Next time, can you really live in paradise all year round?
01:06:19Or does it get boring?
01:06:21If you love the ocean and the waterways, we may have just found your dream location.
01:06:26In the search for his favourite fruit, there's no limit to how far this man goes.
01:06:31I'm on the road to find Australia's best mangoes.
01:06:34I'm doing this for you.
01:06:36Plus, Adam's getting his holidays done early and he's hit the road to help you plan yours too.
01:06:43It's not just nature and the fresh air that I'm chasing.
01:06:46There is a whole heap of adventures to be had around here.
01:06:49If you want to make an entrance, your front door has to dress the part.
01:06:53We'll take the front of this house from pretty and neat to wow.
01:06:59And has Dr Harry finally found someone as crazy about chooks as he is?
01:07:04But how many birds do you think you might end up having?
01:07:07Oh, maybe just over a thousand.
01:07:12That's next time on Better Homes and Gardens.
01:07:15That's next time on Better Homes and Gardens.
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