Christmas Know and Grow Set
Our unique Christmas Know and Grow Pack is comprised of
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A copy of Angus Stewart's award-winning book "Grow Your Own - How To Be An Urban Farmer" (Angus is a popular former Gardening Australia host) and
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Our popular 1 Litre Waterpot Tall Olla with Blue Sky Christmas Topper
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A Root Pouch Navy 39 Litre grow bag.
A total package for the urban farmer growing in small spaces. Angus and co-author Simon Leake are leading experts in horticulture and soil science and share skills and practical advice for getting the best from your edible garden.
Look out for us at Up On The Rooftop featured as a double spread case-study within the book about our early Balcony farming days! We've been so fortunate to have continued our contact with Angus whose gardening wisdom has helped us create a flourishing Balcony garden in a suburban setting.
3 unparalleled products in one bundle that will provide your special person with the best information and advice to grow a great garden in an urban setting -
- One "Grow Your Own - How To Be An Urban Farmer" book by the author, Angus Stewart, these copies come with a personally signed bookplate by Angus.
- A 1 Litre Waterpot olla with Christmas Blue Sky Topper, that provides a constant water supply to your plants based on natural scientific forces which take the guesswork out of watering your plants! 1 Litre capacity
- A 39 Litre Root Pouch grow bag, in the Boxer Line Brown, Navy or Forest Green or Black line with natural fibres. The bags are made of 100% recycled post-consumer PETE water bottles or with natural fibre as in the Black line, are food safe and tested using the stringent USFDA testing criteria, and are BPA free. The unique fabric prevents roots circling so your plant is healthier and able to draw more nutrients and water! Measures 38cm W x 40cm H
For more information about the Root Pouch product see our Root Pouch Collection page
For more information about the Waterpot Olla product see our Waterpot Collection page
*Angus Stewart is an Australian horticulturist, gardening author and former television presenter on Gardening Australia. He is especially interested in Native Plants and has been heavily involved in the breeding of Kangaroo paw
In Angus' words:
Grow Your Own – How to be an Urban Farmer
Many of you, it seems, are keen on growing your own food. This interest seems to be most evident in city dwellers who are increasingly seeking a connection to where their food comes from, and also an awareness that a secure supply of food is not a given for the future. There is also an awareness that children are increasingly disconnected with how fresh food is produced and many parents want to do something about that. So……
Angus visited Up On The Rooftop for his book
PLEASE NOTE: Measurements are approximate and may vary slightly due to the hand machining of the bags; the quantity, compaction and type of soil used.
Ships from Sydney
Excellent Service
Quality Guaranteed
Features
Benefits Of Olla
Installation
CLICK HERE for full information and installation details
The plants get just what they need, right where they need it with no gadgets or sensors required!
How Plant Roots Love Waterpot Ollas (from the Up on The Rooftop Balcony Garden)
How To Use
Solving Your Garden Irrigation Issues
2000 years of olla technology has proven that simple low-tech device can solve important issues such as the irrigation of agriculture. Applied to our urban gardens and rural farm lands, this technique has the potential of getting gardeners through the toughest water shortages and restrictions. Using 50–70% less than normal surface-water irrigation, it makes it considerably better than drip irrigation, and virtually eliminates the surface-runoff and evaporation common in modern irrigation systems.
A clay pot is buried with only the top opening above the soil surface and filled with water. The porous walls of your Waterpot allow for water to dissipate into the soil as needed. Because the pores are small, the water does not freely flow out of the pot.
A suction force is created by soil moisture tension as well as the plant roots. If soil is dry, the water inside the olla will release faster as the soil roots “pull” it out. Likewise, if there is a recent saturating rainfall the water in the olla will remain until the surrounding soil dries. Olla irrigation promotes deep watering and dense root growth which facilitates more efficient nutrient and water uptake. Soil and roots do not go through extreme drying and wetting cycles which prevents bitter tasting greens and cracks developing in tomatoes or melons.
The soil surface remains relatively dry in gardens with olla irrigation which can prevent the growth of weeds and help minimize some unwanted insect populations.
Tips for Using Ollas
• Bury The Waterpot leaving the neck above the pot shoulder remaining above the surface to prevent dirt and mulch from washing inside. Gently pack soil around olla.
• Water from The Waterpot will reach about 30cms from the center point of the olla.
• Place Waterpots every 30cm in your garden for maximum impact.
• Use The Waterpots in planter containers at least 40 cm in size.
• Check the water level frequently and refill The Waterpot as needed. The frequency depends upon the soil type, surrounding plant density, and weather. At times it may need refilling every 7 days or as frequently as every other day.
• The lid over the opening will minimize "evapotranspiration" and prevent mosquito breeding.
• Use Your Waterpot in slightly sandy or coarse textured soils. Soils with high clay content do not dissipate water well.
• If you have a very deep soil it is useful to place a saucer or drainage tray at the bottom of the hole where the Waterpot is to be placed. This impedes water seepage bellow while promoting seepage outward.
• Plant seeds a few centimetres from The Waterpot opening. Water the entire area and continue to surface water until the seeds germinate and continue this until roots are well established
How To Care For Your Olla Waterpot?
We would recommend that if you live in a frost, snow or ice prone area that you dig up the pots up at the end of the growing season to prevent breakage over cold winter months; or if a container garden, that you move the containers to protected spaces. When turning over your soil at the end of a growing season, clean off any clinging roots and scrub to remove any salt or soil build up to free the pores of The Waterpot™ If you have a high mineral content in your soil a solution of 1:1 vinegar and water left inside the vessel for a few hours will help dissolve the mineral build up.
Benefits of Root Pouch bags
All Root Pouch boxer Brown, Navy and Forest bags are made out of 100% recycled plastic water bottles (PET/PETE)
All Root Pouch Black and Grey bags are made of 100% recycled plastic water bottles (PET) blended with clean recycled natural fibres.
Only Root Pouch grow bags are the only bags on the market that are independently accredited tested to the stringent USFDA guidelines for vessels that come into contact with food to ensure the fabric is 100% safe and toxin-free
You can grow your food and medicinals with the confidence that no toxins are in the fabric! This is what makes the Root Pouch brand different from the rest. Root Pouch grow bags are proven to be 100% food safe and BPA free!
The Root Pouch bags are perfect replacements for heavy or bulky ceramic pots , are portable, make great storage solutions and ideal for small space gardens. Other inferior bags on the market are made of geotextile or new plastic.
The fabric container allows air to circulate, which will enable roots to air-prune and prevents root circling resulting in a fluffy, dense root ball with prolific feeder root growth. More nutrients, water and oxygen is available to the plant through this extensive root system!
- Pots can be washed & re-used
- Allows air & nutrients to pass freely through
- Great to use with our Waterpot Ollas range!
- Creates insulation from winter cold or summer heat
- Will withstand UV rays
- Produces bigger yields & promotes vigorous root growth
- Better use of water and nutrients
- Quicker growing times
- Better drainage
- Industrial strength Industrial Lock Stitching
- Available in a range of attractive colours
- Easy to move using sturdy stitched handles
If you have other questions, do check out our extensive list of answers HERE
When a plastic bag is not a plastic bag! Jim Averna, founder and owner explains why Root Pouch bags increase and allow oxygen flow to your plants -
Verified reviews appear at the end of the product page.
What To Grow
Ollas work best with plants with adventitious root systems, which are fibrous root systems and above-ground leaves. The more roots in the subsoil, the better they'll grow and find the Waterpot olla water source.
Examples of such plants are tomatoes, peppers or capsicums, potatoes (and most nightshades), cucumbers, salad greens, kale, herbs, edible flowers, gourds, melons, squash, beans, peas, corn, flowering annuals, shrubs and fruit trees - this is not an exhaustive list by any means!
Plants with taproot systems (one primary root) like carrots, beetroots, radishes, parsnips are less likely to work with Ollas.
Ollas should not be used to sprout or germinate seeds. Seeds and young seedlings need to be surface watered until the root system has developed enough to reach the ollas for regular and efficient watering. This may take anywhere from 2 weeks to a couple of months. You will need to monitor this.
A thick layer of mulch placed on top of the soil is necessary to help regulate the temperature of the soil and minimise evaporation. How often you fill it depends on the plant (some plants are thirstier than others eg Tomatoes), the soil compostion and moisture levels, the weather and many other variables - just keep an eye on the water level every few days or week and the guesswork is taken away!
Measurement Guide
HOW TO USE OUR OLLA WATERPOTS
General FAQ's
When do you process orders?
Kindly refer to our Shipping Information for all shipping questions
Do you accept returns?
Please refer to ourReturns Policy
How do I make changes to an order I've already placed?
Send us an email to info@upontherooftop.com.au and changes may be possible if your order has not proceeded to fulfillment. Don't place two orders because sometimes we will not see two consecutive orders due to our processes and you will then receive two shipments and pay 2 shipping fees. Send us the email as soon as you can.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Normal shipping times may be affected many factors outside of our control including high volumes going through the postal services or extreme weather events. We fulfill orders as quickly as possible and usually within 3-4 business days. We cannot accept responsibility for delays after the parcel leaves our warehouse. The confirmation email we send you allows you to track the progress of your parcel throught the frieght partner systems. Please allow enough time (and more) for your order to arrive if there is a need to receive your parcel quickly.
We generally only offer standard post however, if you nevertheless require Express post please send us an email and we will invoice you the postal charge prior to fulfillment.
Why we generally don't have sales
Click Frenzy! Single’s Day! Black Friday! Cyber Monday etc! Why will you not receive an enticing email at during those times?
You know that famliar cycle of annual sales - it’s the exhausting time of year where your inbox fills with sale offers, social advertisements offering discounts and SALE is the most popular 4-letter word. Despite the retail pressure, as a brand we are committed to rarely going on sale and we’d like to take a moment to explain why.
Integral to our business are the values of authenticity and sincerity. Authenticity to us means being transparent in what we communicate and always looking for opportunities where we can improve. We always try to do what feels right as a brand and in line with our values. Kindness means treating everyone with understanding and respect, from our suppliers to our customer and everyone in between.
With these ideals in mind, first, we want to ensure that we can offer ALL of our customers the lowest possible price all year round. To do so, we design, produce, and price our products to their true value and we do not price our products to go on sale. Besides guaranteeing fairness for all our customers, it also helps us ensure that we are paying our suppliers fair and living wages.
We think that there is nothing more frustrating (in retail) than when you buy something and then see it on sale 2 weeks later! We don’t want our community to feel that buyer's remorse, so we try to keep it consistent for everyone, year round.
Additionally, the past few years have been very challenging for small businesses and you will have read that many businesses, both bricks and mortar and online, have closed their doors due to staffing issues and spiralling costs that are beyond a small businesses' ability to recoup and make a profit to make it worthwhile. Price increases are the only way for many to survive the escalating operating costs. We too have had to dig deep to try to make ends meet and yet not compromise any of the quality of our products or service. To partake in endless "SALES" cycles means we simply don't have fat in the system to weather the increases elsewhere in the accounts.
Our sales are usually to clear slow moving lines, promote an aspect of gardening or celebrate an event, or to clear some space in the warehouse.
We have created or insist that all our products are high-quality items that will work as expected season on season, year on year and we stand behind every item sent out. We check every order as thoroughly as a busy fulfillment process can allow and if there is a problem, we invite customers to let us know..."don't be sad or mad".
Have you considered the impact of your packaging on the planet?
We sure have! You will notice when you receive your order that the boxes containing your Waterpot Ollas is fairly basic. No fancy printing, no designer construction...just a box with a sticker or simple instruction card. Here at Up on The Rooftop we don't see the value in investing too much in attractive packaging - the products are beautiful enough!
The composition, recycle-ability and/or biodegradability of our packaging is of utmost importance to us...so important that we invested in a state-of-the-art shredder to provide useable void fill from our shipping cartons and packaging from other businesses in our building!
Our corn starch packing peanuts and post satchels are home compostable in your compost or worm bins under the Australian Standard AS5810/ABAP 20001. Recycled shredded paper, cardboard filling and cartons are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. Our clear tapes are biodegradable film with an organic adhesive liner, making it non-toxic and eco-friendly. It has been certified by REACH, RoHS & FDA. Please note the tape is not home-compostable so should be removed from the boxes before adding to the compost bin or worm farm.
Our bespoke tissue paper is printed with soy ink and is acid free and we are a member of the Eco Packaging Alliance and entitled to display the stamp that certifies our tissue packaging as environmentally friendly.
Please consider how you dispose of the packaging - worms will love eating it, your compost bin will enjoy the cardboard and paper carbon. It all goes back into the soil and growing great food and plants!