Costa Georgiadis: the gardening guru bringing wildlife back to the ’burbs

He’s one of Australia’s best known backyard identities and he is transforming the way we look at the city outdoors.

Costa Georgiadis is a living example of what he preaches, having created a biodiverse wonderland in his own backyard in Bondi.

The backyard pool has long been transformed into a pond for local Peron’s tree frogs, plus there are native and honey bees, dragonflies galore, a myriad of birds swooping in to visit, a couple of chickens and literally thousands of worms.

“By separating food scraps you are improving soil with the compost you make,” he says.

“By doing this you are taking a big step in reducing the amount of water needed because the soil is hydrated. Trees are growing around you so you don’t need to use aircon to cool the house.

Gardening guru Costa Georgiadis. Picture: Tim Pascoe

“The birds come because of the trees.

“Then the pollinators come back into the suburbs. All this, because you didn’t put food scraps in the bin.”

In his book, Costa’s World, he breaks down the practical things we can all be doing to make a difference, although he says children are already on board, taking the older generations to task.

“Two kids at the end of my street come to see my chickens, frogs and bees. One day they were running barefoot on the soil and little Maxie was saying it was so spongy. I said, “Maxie, how good does the fresh soil smell?’ Like a comedian, he says, ‘Yeah, it smells like Costa’. That’s better than an OBE, an Emmy or an Oscar. That’s the highest award or recognition I could get.”

Costa Georgiadis at his Bondi home. Picture: Tim Pascoe

AT HOME WITH COSTA GEORGIADIS

Who: Landscape architect, environmental educator and television presenter Costa Georgiadis. Where: 1930s original home in Bondi, NSW, with a backyard that is sustainable and biodiverse.

Favourite thing: I collect food scraps from multiple houses in the street and put them into the worm farm.

Inspiration: The home is a bit retro and dated, but very comfy.

Home is: I love what I do, so if I am in a garden anywhere, I feel at home. I just tool around and do my thing.

COSTA GEORGIADIS’s FAVOURITE THINGS

Pink/red stool

Once was pink. Picture: Tim Pascoe

That used to be pink and as small children we would all sit on it. It has been in my family for as long as I can remember and when the first grandchild came along it was painted red, but I have only known it as the pink stool.

Potato peeler and knife

Sentimental knife and the world’s potato peeler. Picture: Tim Pascoe

I have never known a better potato peeler than this one, it peels like nothing else. It is my favourite peeler in history. And my dad always had a butter knife like that, buttering corn or toast. When I use that knife, I know someone is close.

Leaf cutting board

‘Gravity and presence.’ Picture: Tim Pascoe

That was made by friends’ dad in Austria. I had lived in Austria for seven years building nature ponds and roof gardens. When I went on a Europe tour I met up with his family and he gave me this. It’s got gravity and presence.

Leather satchel from japan

‘All the kids have one. Picture: Tim Pascoe

Japanese school kids all have these bags and they are made of the most incredible quality and precision. I was in Okinawa when I saw it and thought it was a bargain at $24. My conversion was wrong, I paid $240. I’m told all the top models in New York carry this bag.

Retro Thermos

Retro cool. Picture: Tim Pascoe

This is a glass Thermos that we’ve had since the ’70s when as a family we would drive from Sydney to Broadbeach in the school holidays. I really value it and I use it, particularly during filming when you can’t leave the set.

Shovel

20 years hard labour. Picture: Tim Pascoe

The edges that were square are now rounded from all the hard work it has done. It’s had 20 years of wear and tear, and it’s got plenty more years of work ahead of it.

Camera tripod

‘My world’. Picture: Tim Pascoe

This is part of my world now. It enables me to do live broadcasts on social media. It means I can spread the word about biodiversity and recycling, and engage with thousands of people who can then become part of the movement.

Organics bin

Only bin you need. Picture: Tim Pascoe

I don’t even need to put my council bins out because I don’t have any garbage. I look at how I can use food scraps and recycle everything I can. Even when I go travelling I put food scraps in a Tupperware container until I can get to a community garden.

Originally published as Costa Georgiadis: the gardening guru bringing wildlife back to the ’burbs