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PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Gardening Australia-Cottage Gardens with Patch from Scratch (1996)

Gardening Australia-Cottage Gardens with Patch from Scratch (1996)

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Released 11-Jun-2004

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Documentary Main Menu Audio
Rating Rated G
Year Of Production 1996
Running Time 122:56 (Case: 120)
RSDL / Flipper Dual Layered Cast & Crew
Start Up Ads Then Menu
Region Coding 1,2,3,4,5,6 Directed By None Given
Studio
Distributor

Roadshow Home Entertainment
Starring Peter Cundall
Mary Moody
Neville Passmore
Malcolm Campbell
Colin Campbell
Case Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI $29.95 Music None Given


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame Full Frame English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio None
16x9 Enhancement No
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles None Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

    The ABC's Gardening Australia television program has been extremely popular for many years now, offering down-to-earth and simple advice on all facets of gardening. Without resorting to some of the fancier tricks and showbiz style entertainment antics of its commercial television rivals (especially that other backyard show also seen on a Friday night), the program has built up quite a following with its helpful advice and straight-talking methods. Hosted by gardening legend Peter Cundall, and with presenters from all around the country, Gardening Australia is without a doubt the only truly national gardening television show.

    Now it's available on DVD, but unlike the old VHS cassettes you could previously purchase, you now get the benefit of two separate hour-long episodes on the one DVD. This DVD features one episode dedicated to cottage gardens, while the second episode features host Peter Cundall demonstrating how to successfully create an organic vegetable garden from scratch.

    Cottage Gardens (61:15)

    This hour long episode made in 2000 is dedicated to the world of cottage gardens. The team of Peter Cundall, Mary Moody, Neville Passmore, Malcolm Campbell, and Colin Campbell bring you everything you need to know about planning your garden and selecting the right sort of plants, and then how to maintain it to achieve that cottage look. Various gardens around the country are visited, just to prove that the cottage look can be achieved under a variety of different climatic conditions.

    Patch From Scratch (61:41)

    Produced in 1996, this is an interesting hour-long episode that sees Gardening Australia host Peter Cundall create a brand-new organic vegetable garden from scratch. Filmed over a period of some 18 months, it sees Cundall first select the ideal location (a boring stretch of lawn which he soon digs up), the preparation of the soil, and then the subsequent selection and planting of crops. Over the next year and a half the progress of what he has planted is monitored and he also explains the various techniques (such as crop rotation and clever use of mulches) that promote greater crop yields. Each season is dealt with separately so you know exactly what you should be doing and when. He plants all manner of crops in what is quite a small patch including tomatoes, corn, peas, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, and onions. His method for growing sweet potatoes using newspaper and straw simply laid upon the grass is remarkable to say the least.

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Transfer Quality

Video

    Originally broadcast on ABC television as far back as 1996, this video transfer in presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. It is not 16x9 enhanced.

    While it certainly won't set any new standards for clarity, this is a reasonably detailed transfer that is only limited by the eight-year-old source material. Thankfully there is very little grain to contend with and there is no low level noise.

    The colours are bright and vivid, which is especially pleasing with the multitude of lovely coloured flowers on display in the first episode.

    No compression artefacts are present. Other artefacts are also absent.
   
    There are no subtitles.

    The disc is dual layered with the layer change positioned between episodes.

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    A fairly basic audio selection graces this disc. We get an English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo soundtrack as the only option.

    Dialogue is the dominant audio component here and it is handled well with no obvious problems. There are also no audio sync issues.

    There is a little background music, but it is barely noticeable.

    There is no surround or subwoofer use at all.



Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

Main Menu Audio

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

    This disc is not available in Region 1.

Summary

    Another in the Gardening Australia series, this DVD again features two episodes on the one disc. For the cottage garden lovers or those wanting some expert tips on just how to create a successful vegetable patch from scratch, this is the DVD for you.

    The quality of the video is excellent, despite the source material being up to eight years old.

    The audio is nothing spectacular but handles the job required with ease.

    There are no extras.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Darren Walters (It's . . . just the vibe . . . of my bio)
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Review Equipment
DVDLoewe Xemix 5106DO, using RGB output
DisplayLoewe Calida (84cm). Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL). This display device is 16x9 capable.
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL).
AmplificationHarmon/Kardon AVR7000.
SpeakersFront - B&W 602S2, Centre - B&W CC6S2, Rear - B&W 601S2, Sub - Energy E:xl S10

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