tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82029304618019770852024-02-28T15:42:13.115-08:00Organic Edible GardeningThis blog is about all things edible and how to grow them, from my experiances as a home gardener and in my job as a horticulturist and teacher in sustainable and edible gardening, follow my mishaps and adventures as I explore organic and sustainable vegetable gardening around the world and practice my findings in Geelong, Australia.lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-11856380263243286102011-09-16T23:37:00.000-07:002011-09-16T23:37:56.258-07:00Spring is in the air the back garden is starting to get planted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqITxY5PAtNlUbw_bR09HNOfj6mrr_poPnHwgSLGt0-9SjXRfVwqzAOcMevo04KzgEtT8gTvIIClOO0Iv2bpmSuGrUZ_l5LVweSx4KopIwO_ycVPs-TMeMdVD3X58Cf9ulC2DVeUVD5Y/s1600/P9170276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqITxY5PAtNlUbw_bR09HNOfj6mrr_poPnHwgSLGt0-9SjXRfVwqzAOcMevo04KzgEtT8gTvIIClOO0Iv2bpmSuGrUZ_l5LVweSx4KopIwO_ycVPs-TMeMdVD3X58Cf9ulC2DVeUVD5Y/s320/P9170276.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Starting the vegetable garden out the back has been a long time coming, but I guess that is what winter is for. The beds are prepared, well most of them, so time to start planting. On the left are some cherry tomatoes, its still a bit early so I have given them a bit of protection with half milk bottle containers. The other half will be turned into plant labels. Tomorrow I start on the compoist bins. I will be building a new zealand box from scrap timber and some bought timber. It will be a four bin configuration, trying to explain it is too hard, so I will just show you the pictures when it is done. Looks like rain too now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTRf98HimYJxtj4lopkij67o6QMPBX4LxHakIPA6AsosOFnBpP60oAHoBEykaTtvAWlxgzyGVENkSGe6WNdPuXX3tNKTBRz-L8BKEILKjr_E7EJMrxLRuwsMkYOzEfms36F3gHMVdT_w/s1600/P9170277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTRf98HimYJxtj4lopkij67o6QMPBX4LxHakIPA6AsosOFnBpP60oAHoBEykaTtvAWlxgzyGVENkSGe6WNdPuXX3tNKTBRz-L8BKEILKjr_E7EJMrxLRuwsMkYOzEfms36F3gHMVdT_w/s200/P9170277.JPG" width="150" /></a>The potatoes in this bed just appeared, I might of chucked some old ones in from the cupboard that were starting to shoot, and I think that is a russian garlic growing through the middle. You can just make out the globe artichoke at the back. </div>
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This bed is VERY shallow I built it on top of a path, so it will be great for growing fast greens. Like lettuce and asian greens. Four different types so far. According to the website gardenate.com<br />
<blockquote>
Easy to grow. Sow in garden, or start in seed trays and plant
out in 4-6 weeks.. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of
the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 27°C. <span class="scale noprint"><a href="http://www.gardenate.com/plant/Lettuce?format=i&zone=1">(Show
°F/in)</a> </span>Space plants: 20 - 30 cm apart
Harvest in 8-12 weeks.Compatible with: Carrots, Onions, Strawberries, Beets,
Brassicas, Radish, Marigold, Borage, Chervil, Florence fennel, leeks.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="avoid">
Avoid growing with: Parsley, Celery , <br />
</blockquote>
No parsley out the back yet, but some growing wild out the front, I should take some photos of what is happening out the front......<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CdlZ2tw_-9vMvkYauFjMRgpw6up0YxIF1RWs_ydX2Tl2_gjgfwVj92wvdLgqJpsOZHZcX0AuVVk6Qgd4YUSoDIKZPMMiV9RxP4pBHggnhg9IIauwLlOCAa_rTUftIpP6lTqkulvybSE/s1600/P9170279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CdlZ2tw_-9vMvkYauFjMRgpw6up0YxIF1RWs_ydX2Tl2_gjgfwVj92wvdLgqJpsOZHZcX0AuVVk6Qgd4YUSoDIKZPMMiV9RxP4pBHggnhg9IIauwLlOCAa_rTUftIpP6lTqkulvybSE/s320/P9170279.JPG" width="320" /></a>This bed is garlic, two sorts the giant russian garlic that was given to me by a lady who claims it has been passed down four generations of her family. The rest is some garlic I bought from green harvest about 5 years ago and it is still going. Behind that bed is some</div>
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lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-47147710425806118922011-08-28T13:02:00.000-07:002011-08-28T13:06:38.413-07:00Esther Dean<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkz5sowQetSNig-2owDXHcm2Nb-WUS85HgPN5h3N5jlPFhKzQC5FYCkNx3TSI2SmQMeqZWCZo2q3Vg3I23TvYsUcfhPc1kX4UnRu4RLJbpCtn0RHudW4j6eVOk1NJ6tLp23whNlr7lGI/s1600/building-a-vegetable-garden-6layers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkz5sowQetSNig-2owDXHcm2Nb-WUS85HgPN5h3N5jlPFhKzQC5FYCkNx3TSI2SmQMeqZWCZo2q3Vg3I23TvYsUcfhPc1kX4UnRu4RLJbpCtn0RHudW4j6eVOk1NJ6tLp23whNlr7lGI/s320/building-a-vegetable-garden-6layers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646000111922599570" /></a>
<br />Esther tells the story of the transformation of her backyard garden.
<br />'You couldn't dig the ground - it was just clay. I suggested to Tom that we make a concrete edge and build a garden above the ground. On the first garden it was only lucerne hay and then compost. Then, after building a frame, I put a layer of paper, about 1/4 inch thick; on top of the paper, padded lucerne hay as it came from the bale and then on top of the lucerne hay a little fertiliser. That was chicken manure. On top of that, about 8 inches of loose straw, a little fertiliser again and on top of that about 4 inches of compost. I planted the seeds and it was just like something magic. The zucchini just grew and grew and the beans just grew - it was incredible what happened.'
<br />lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-70512785818972368942011-08-28T12:39:00.000-07:002011-08-28T13:00:52.073-07:00The devil is in the detail-No Dig Beds
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<br />No Dig Beds
<br />In the front of my garden and in the back I have improved the soil and created raised beds using the No Dig Method developed by Esther Dean in the 1970's in Sydney.
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<br />It's fairly easy to build a No-Dig bed and try to use materials already in your garden.
<br />I am fortunate enough to have a beautiful Liquid Amber in my back garden , a large deciduous tree that produces a mountain of leaves every autumn. So the bulk of the organic matter comes from the tree.
<br />It is important when building a No-Dig Bed to try and use a variety of materials, this makes for better soil.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8LTG__V8YpAUzpJpCGr9HRDpleACU0t0P918FxKr-dEilX6IKmuaMPiWwGIyDUsT2A9rMn3u_aEK1WPPhCJ4qGzT7EYc25LMJu7JW9L7QOFRlSclsDi5oO9-C6OSIsb-iwv55RVPNFI/s1600/P8280256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8LTG__V8YpAUzpJpCGr9HRDpleACU0t0P918FxKr-dEilX6IKmuaMPiWwGIyDUsT2A9rMn3u_aEK1WPPhCJ4qGzT7EYc25LMJu7JW9L7QOFRlSclsDi5oO9-C6OSIsb-iwv55RVPNFI/s320/P8280256.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645996514884425186" /></a>
<br />This garden bed was built using eco timber a pine not treated with arsenic, but a non-poisonous treatment. Some of my garden beds are made using treated pine, but because I have a very healthy soil and lots of bio-active compost full of fungi and microbes and am aware that they will 'lock' up the heavy metals in the soil and make them unavailable to plants and therefore me.
<br />As you can see in the garden bed, it is full of straight kitchen scraps grass and other organic material.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf7T1CBEq4hmoBje9FxD5QbJ0RfMvduw7oA42zIRhty9q7Fs8M9cqqg0kHogcN6ENpcpwuTqy9d_p5gdR2qvSB3mYYGpw8cuZYiGqR_iTBFUI9_kKJtY_MArV6ejnIacIXn8RHE-zYZc/s1600/P8280254.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf7T1CBEq4hmoBje9FxD5QbJ0RfMvduw7oA42zIRhty9q7Fs8M9cqqg0kHogcN6ENpcpwuTqy9d_p5gdR2qvSB3mYYGpw8cuZYiGqR_iTBFUI9_kKJtY_MArV6ejnIacIXn8RHE-zYZc/s320/P8280254.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645997452317107506" /></a>
<br />I then top with a layer of composted mixed manure from Mr Poo, then straw that has been shredded by my 'gals' in the chook house and added with extra nutrients.
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<br />How to build a No-Dig Bed
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<br />Step 1
<br />Mark out the area and edge it with bricks or any material that will contain the soil when it is built. Four square metres is a good size to start, but this can be expanded later.
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<br />Step 2
<br />Cover the entire area with wads of newspaper a good 'herald sun' thick to smother any weeds. Overlap the pages so there are no gaps for weeds to grow through, and avoid using as much coloured print as possible. Water the area newspaper well so that it starts breaking down immediately. I find cardboard is a good barrier too. DO NOT do this on a windy day or you will be driven mad with the blowing paper.
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<br />Step 3
<br />Cover the area with high carbon organic matter, which will break down easily. This could be by pea-straw or crop-straw like rye or canola, grass, leaves whatever is cheap and available. Crop-straw is usually less expensive than lucerne or pea-straw, but is lower in nitrogen. Water the matter lightly.
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<br />Step 4
<br />Next apply a layer of organic fertiliser. Chicken manure is excellent because it has high amounts of nitrogen, which helps the breakdown high carbon materials, but any farm manure will perform the function.
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<br />Step 5
<br />Add a 20-centimetre layer of high carbon material.
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<br />Step 6
<br />Add another layer of manure and again water lightly. Of course you can create as many layers as you like.
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<br />Step 7
<br />Finally, you will need some good compost to plant the seeds and seedlings into. If there is enough available, the whole surface area of the garden could be covered with compost to about 10 cm. Alternatively pockets of compost can be created for planting so that it can support a new plant while the new garden is breaking down.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCZ4Br1T2PneCHVvlRx7TRRmFFc0i4p2TjICkvSUzY3ConpOmsYxcnAsUe5S2W_7zOOJ2FD6G60rbRsQeBb5TO5AEfTC8ckisVbI2dDw5DQ2tcsUJmLC_161ha4izuTcej-PyL6o0n0o/s1600/P8280265.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCZ4Br1T2PneCHVvlRx7TRRmFFc0i4p2TjICkvSUzY3ConpOmsYxcnAsUe5S2W_7zOOJ2FD6G60rbRsQeBb5TO5AEfTC8ckisVbI2dDw5DQ2tcsUJmLC_161ha4izuTcej-PyL6o0n0o/s320/P8280265.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645998928010824994" /></a>
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<br />The same has been done out the front, but in a more free form way.lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-58486113641292016652011-08-27T23:25:00.001-07:002011-08-28T12:39:12.124-07:00Long time no see, too busy in other peoples gardens<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnHcfIy4p_4RnakNyhSWWEztVDs09cZp0gR-1zAFulWHYlYvKRSmi-Gmwlp6IdG07WxeJ8Ei80Ec9zMdvsD_cp1GAIKnu5lx7OUWmluxbpXJmbVOGouDA7Uki__qhXQXATRkYUKyAGcE/s1600/P8280264.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnHcfIy4p_4RnakNyhSWWEztVDs09cZp0gR-1zAFulWHYlYvKRSmi-Gmwlp6IdG07WxeJ8Ei80Ec9zMdvsD_cp1GAIKnu5lx7OUWmluxbpXJmbVOGouDA7Uki__qhXQXATRkYUKyAGcE/s320/P8280264.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645789537080960562" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlu1b55RTL586b_wiNvta_b8S-2GmiIdIJDpcSz6gHun1_-b446yggfMEcV7ocz41Y2_FXuOtRnTbeI2r7rGW4CbCjytb4TqtQDhy1SYGyrA_40p0kmTld6IBYzxK0nFjD1jIKgIUNxE/s1600/P8280259.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlu1b55RTL586b_wiNvta_b8S-2GmiIdIJDpcSz6gHun1_-b446yggfMEcV7ocz41Y2_FXuOtRnTbeI2r7rGW4CbCjytb4TqtQDhy1SYGyrA_40p0kmTld6IBYzxK0nFjD1jIKgIUNxE/s320/P8280259.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645789535665517810" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LXpgpU8DJ5U3i8x-GntamW-uj-cpbbKoJnd9zrVHNt6EyAXaMZcJPH4QcdN1ma1pS2_1tupyct4xG-JIqgbRcKoL0skK1s7ktVQKtEqOt2Vkkw9NqQ7okDMek7CFNbbGDw_sNs42bPU/s1600/P8280254.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LXpgpU8DJ5U3i8x-GntamW-uj-cpbbKoJnd9zrVHNt6EyAXaMZcJPH4QcdN1ma1pS2_1tupyct4xG-JIqgbRcKoL0skK1s7ktVQKtEqOt2Vkkw9NqQ7okDMek7CFNbbGDw_sNs42bPU/s320/P8280254.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645789529977277698" /></a>
<br />I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and she remarked that she was getting 'bothered' that I hadn't written anything in my blog for a while so it has been a while, I have been REALLY busy.
<br />What have I been up to since I renovated the chook house?
<br />1. Project Worker for Green It Grow it at Cloverdale Community Centre-check them out on Facebook`this invovled teaching edible gardening at TWO neighbourhood houses
<br />2. Doing my Mast of Urban Horticulture, phew, FULL TIME
<br />3. Being Chair of Geelong Organic Gardeners
<br />4. Being President ofGeelong West Community Gardn
<br />5. Talking to Workskil about my new and exciting project
<br />so excuse me I haven't had time to write in the blog
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<br />But since I took leave of abscence from my Masters resigned the two gardening orgs, I not only now have time to write in my Blog, but I have been working in MY garden, yip yipee.lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-12921150684687952112011-01-08T13:12:00.000-08:002011-09-17T22:47:13.344-07:00Chicken Coop Renovations<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaw8XcEOIgfYl11m062ziaLwIoG594UjxEm8Civ2W1ypdiZllfT3ByHesqkhJ6DSryi7mKvnFntwsHZsokLUvDdZ1vAcO6HWRSBytO4O3IIGfTds1yvwOZqLoz48luHcb_NLBuaZqXDHM/s1600/IMGP4847.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559927783755694498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaw8XcEOIgfYl11m062ziaLwIoG594UjxEm8Civ2W1ypdiZllfT3ByHesqkhJ6DSryi7mKvnFntwsHZsokLUvDdZ1vAcO6HWRSBytO4O3IIGfTds1yvwOZqLoz48luHcb_NLBuaZqXDHM/s320/IMGP4847.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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I have had some time off studying and less work with the holidays and decided to renovate the chicken house.<br />
The old one was too shady in the winter and didn’t provide enough cover when it rained it was basically an old shade house, and it meant the chickens had to be allowed to wander the garden for a few hours a day. This means they ‘poop’ by the back door, eat all the strawberries and destroy the garden. However they do eat all the slugs and snails.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzRtowau5WuaKv0u8wqOp9i1bh3KqjDkmru5hN65pUC6L0KiD_u61qdJwD6TtPgxdTVHmOxynioGHY2G2pgPfjvDKCkNWVJSRjD3aCJ1vHKRuDChijQrA-tIIl49Xh_oS6cVRGm7DlqU/s1600/IMGP4851.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559929844870729506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzRtowau5WuaKv0u8wqOp9i1bh3KqjDkmru5hN65pUC6L0KiD_u61qdJwD6TtPgxdTVHmOxynioGHY2G2pgPfjvDKCkNWVJSRjD3aCJ1vHKRuDChijQrA-tIIl49Xh_oS6cVRGm7DlqU/s320/IMGP4851.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
After much thought, I decided to leave the frame of the old shade house, it is solid steel and all welded together, and its in a good location near the London Plane which provides shade and cooling in the summer, but being deciduous lets more sun in the winter.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigL1XE0Z0fHnw1fHJhv3dqBwNCbcR1e3L71g7PILmZ8I72YpnLN8zbzFHxHfzkXkrBNc-jpT3VkYjFbeLNXsrfvz0zDVFkBPyd_IfIsEyYoBqQq6R55RYgXG25kDeC5BnQrJX0fGa0es8/s1600/IMGP4845.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559927195971521586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigL1XE0Z0fHnw1fHJhv3dqBwNCbcR1e3L71g7PILmZ8I72YpnLN8zbzFHxHfzkXkrBNc-jpT3VkYjFbeLNXsrfvz0zDVFkBPyd_IfIsEyYoBqQq6R55RYgXG25kDeC5BnQrJX0fGa0es8/s320/IMGP4845.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nesting box</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQyFh5Qh17SqU9pcWiF4N6iQOB2_pHBpZBB_e6n5lz2MJEwOlqi75DDnEJxgtav9zYu8WxB62jLvfP8Qyt-LmmCnD4RXFiCmdB_uWJnDsLfvhgvbDheDP22IHiILVFbcS4hBnWG_6YKc/s1600/IMGP4844.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559926972129320610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQyFh5Qh17SqU9pcWiF4N6iQOB2_pHBpZBB_e6n5lz2MJEwOlqi75DDnEJxgtav9zYu8WxB62jLvfP8Qyt-LmmCnD4RXFiCmdB_uWJnDsLfvhgvbDheDP22IHiILVFbcS4hBnWG_6YKc/s320/IMGP4844.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
The roof is built out of corrugated iron that was left over from the last garden, all fixed using screws, then it can be used again, I found a large piece at the tip shop, and only had to buy one piece new. I canabalised the shade house for their ‘run’ and plan to plant two fruit trees in there. The girls like to hide under shrubs and eat the leaves and generally play underneath trees. Also they will eat the dropped fruit and prevent pests and diseases.<br />
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A friend gave me some old fencing wire which I plan to grow Chinese jasmine up, beautiful scent and will cope with the shade. There will be a garden bed around the house, and the water from the bathroom, will run into an agi pipe under the bed. I found an enormous roll at the tip shop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AaNkU4IhD9ZGqWg03Zt9ES9KASV3AZqPCZixB0ADfe6eSJ2eLwmIXUlz0JlDA0shscunKmoH0laaysInzQKe37W49m2TFOd14EPDxzuBPgZzy4KfF_rpr5PQgSAa6oVEq52qBNFubiU/s1600/IMGP4848.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559929560730866354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AaNkU4IhD9ZGqWg03Zt9ES9KASV3AZqPCZixB0ADfe6eSJ2eLwmIXUlz0JlDA0shscunKmoH0laaysInzQKe37W49m2TFOd14EPDxzuBPgZzy4KfF_rpr5PQgSAa6oVEq52qBNFubiU/s320/IMGP4848.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown leghorns and Old english game birds, getting into the camera</td></tr>
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The chickens like a bit of privacy and it is easy to access the eggs from outside the coop, this old cupboard is perfect. The boxes are lined with newspaper easier for cleaning and bedding is sugar cane mulch , holes are drilled in the bottom for ventilation.<br />
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The chickens are three different breeds, old english game birds, very feisty they were bred as fighting birds and can be quite noisy, they ahve survived two dog attacks though. A good old isa brown, she is getting on a bit, but is wise old thing. Three brown leghorns, these are great one is a survivor of the dog attack and the other two were recompense from the dog owner. Why cant people control their dogs, ugh, they bark all night and then attack my animals. They now have new security.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYpaKs1ZujWuaGTy-ccO1g-LaomOemt7d_x-lkXr0abWnVrG3M79sSJd-3gu12k9N0yKIftSIdh7E9zDOiGKM2iICJUG1PGvC6R-IynujRGLwuvDjJCprifZoNwUSPUN9MaeZnEdiIpI/s1600/IMGP4849.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559928936914996946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYpaKs1ZujWuaGTy-ccO1g-LaomOemt7d_x-lkXr0abWnVrG3M79sSJd-3gu12k9N0yKIftSIdh7E9zDOiGKM2iICJUG1PGvC6R-IynujRGLwuvDjJCprifZoNwUSPUN9MaeZnEdiIpI/s320/IMGP4849.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
A friend of mine wanted to keep bees but had nowhere to keep them as his wife objected to Bees. I was more than happy. Apparently they produce up to 90kgs a new. I think the end of sugar in my house<br />
<img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AaNkU4IhD9ZGqWg03Zt9ES9KASV3AZqPCZixB0ADfe6eSJ2eLwmIXUlz0JlDA0shscunKmoH0laaysInzQKe37W49m2TFOd14EPDxzuBPgZzy4KfF_rpr5PQgSAa6oVEq52qBNFubiU/s320/IMGP4848.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 164px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 982px;" width="72" />lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-39934097843981082182011-01-06T21:23:00.000-08:002011-01-06T21:25:30.138-08:00Blueberry FactsFruit Fact Sheets<br /><br />Fruit<br />Blueberry<br /><br />Vaccinium sp<br /><br />They have the highest antioxidant levels of any fruit and high in vitamin C. They are expensive in the shops, but are relatively easy to grow in the home garden. They are a relative of the rhododendron and produce delicate bell like pink to white flowers. In autumn the leaves turn red, orange and copper, as well as edible they are highly ornamental. They require a good winter chilling, and although self fertile, will produce larger berries when planted with other varieties.<br /><br />When to Plant<br /><br />Best planted during the cooler seasons, preferably during winter. Plant deeply that is above the soil line of the pot, (long stem planting), this ensures good root development and protects the root ball from drying out. Add plenty of organic material to the soil before planting.<br /><br />Position<br /><br />The plant originates in North America so won’t cope well with strong Australian sun, so best planted in dappled shade.<br /><br /><br />Soil Preparation<br /><br />They require a soil pH of 4.5-5.5, that is an acid soil, although the hybrids are more forgiving of an alkaline soil. If they are mulched with pine needles that will reduce the pH of an alkaline soil.<br /><br />Care<br /><br />Blueberries have a fibrous root system, so it is very important that the roots are not allowed to dry out. Mulch well with acidifying mulches, such as oak leaves or pine needles.<br /><br />Pruning<br />Do not allow them to produce fruit for the first two years, so that the plants energy is put into the roots and stems. After 3-4 years the stems become unproductive and should be pruned at ground level or cut to a vigorous side shoot. Keep the centre of the bush open and cut out any week, weeping or dead wood.<br /><br />Harvesting<br /><br />They yield 3.5 kg per bush, between December and March.<br /><br />Common Problems<br /><br />The blueberry suffers from very few pests or diseases. Birds will eat the fruit, so bushes are best netted to protect the harvest.<br /><br />Varieties<br />Bluerose-tall and extremely prolific, harvest Dec-Feb 2.4m H x 2m W<br />Reveille-A smaller bush, delicious and sweet, harvest Dec-Jan 1.8m H x 1.5m W<br /><br />Brigitta- Has masses of large, sweet, pale blue berries ripening around the same time. Yield can be 6-9 kg when mature. Harvest Jan to Feb. 2m H x1.5m W<br /><br />Northland'-has a very dark flesh with a wild-berry flavour becoming sweeter the longer they hang on the bush. Very hardy to extremes of heat and cold. <br /><br />Nellie Kelly- is a delightful, evergreen bush producing pink flowers during the winter and delectable fruit in late spring and summer. The bush is frost tolerant and needs to be planted in areas where overnight temperatures drop below 5C degrees during winter as this helps to promote the flowers. 1m H x 1m W<br /> <br /><br />Sources<br /><br />Clive Blazey and Jane Varkulevicius The Australian Fruit and Vegetable Gardenlilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-39885551332121320172011-01-06T21:13:00.000-08:002011-01-06T21:22:50.991-08:00Chicken CoopI have had some time to breathe recently, well it is the holidays from uni, so the girls have a new house. Mostly built from recycled materials, (except for the posts)and basically I cannibalised the old shade house. The run now provides them with more shelter in winter and more sun. Plan to plant two fruit trees in the run the provide more shade and interest for the girls, well then they can pick their own. Also plan to plant a wormwood in the run, a cutting from the plant out the front.lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-4572288525161849032011-01-06T21:09:00.000-08:002011-01-06T21:13:49.292-08:00Radio ShowIn the pursuit of ever more exposure, and being a total media slut. I now am involved in a local radio show Dig It, on Pulse Radio 94.7FM Saturdays 10-11 AM. Listen in for all things horticultural, and myself talking on fruit and veggies. Only available to those in the Geelong region, although has a wider range depending on the weather!!!lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-83371523300091147652010-11-25T21:16:00.000-08:002010-11-25T21:17:24.869-08:00PumpkinsVegetable Fact Sheets<br />Vegetable <br />Family Curcurbitaceae<br /><br />Pumpkin <br />Cucurbita maxima.<br /><br />Pumpkins can be confused with squashes, such as zucchini and button squash. The Butternut pumpkin is actually a gramma (Cucurbita moschata), a group of Cucurbits that includes the often curvy trombone squashes (The vegetable not the instrument), and these are climbing vines and look similar to zucchini. They can be planted out after the last frost. As the stems and leaves have very high water content, frost will kill the plants overnight. They originate from Central and South America. The Aztecs used to grow Corn, Beans and Pumpkin together and recent studies have found that eating these three foods together, they act as a protein. Unknown in Europe until the time of Columbus, pumpkins were first introduced to early American settlers by native Indian tribes, and were almost certainly part of the first American Thanksgiving. They are identified from other cucurbits by their more rounded form and less prickly foliage. They are grown for their hard skinned long keeping fruits, (up to eight months) but the shoots, tendrils, flowers and seed are also edible.<br /><br />When to Plant<br /><br />Aug - Jan. The seed will not germinate below 16oC and will rot in cold wet conditions. Germination occurs in 7-10 days. The pumpkin seeds can be soaked for 1-2 hours in warm water before planting, this will help with germination. Adding a couple of drops of liquid seaweed will also help with germination. The seed should be sown sideways or tip down, half in the soil. The seeds can rot off if over watered, so make sure the soil remains moist rather than soaking. Some people like to provide bottom heat to help the seed germinate. This would be more useful in a colder climate to extend the growing season of the pumpkin, as some need 150 days to reach maturity.<br /><br />Soil Preparation<br /><br />The soil should be prepared the winter before sowing by adding lots of half rotted compost, pumpkins do not like over rich soil. They do well in No-Dig Gardens. One method is to mound up your soil into little hills, make a well in the top and plant your pumpkins into the well. Or create small round no-dig beds in a bare or weed infested section of your garden and the vigorous vine will smother the weeds. There is a theory that pumpkins will out compete blackberries.<br /><br />Spacing and Depth<br /><br />Plant your seedlings or seeds, in groups of 2-3 spaced at 1.5-2m intervals, unless they are the clumping sort such as the variety Golden Nugget, that only has a spread of 1m. <br /><br /><br />Care<br /><br />Home gardeners and others frequently become confused because many of the blossoms do not set fruit. They need to understand that the male and female parts are in separate flowers and only the female flowers produce fruits. Plants bear male and female flowers on one vine. In poor soil a pumpkins can be fed liquid seaweed or compost tea once a week. Pinching out growing tips promotes branching and increases fruit set. Pumpkins are pollinated by insects but can be hand pollinated to ensure purity, select female flowers and brush them with the male flowers, then cover them with pantyhose or a paper bag to stop cross fertilisation. Once the fruit is set it can be uncovered, labelled and left to mature. Putting straw underneath the developing fruit can prevent rot.<br /><br />Harvesting<br />High-quality winter squashes and pumpkins are associated with maturity, so they should not be harvested until they are fully ripe. Fruits subjected to a hard frost will not keep, so harvest should be completed before cold weather. Clip the pumpkin from the vine keeping at least 5cm of the stalk intact.<br />Storage<br /><br />Store only those fruit that are free of cuts, wounds, and insect or disease damage. Immediately after harvest, the fruit should undergo a ripening or curing process to harden the shell. Curing involves leaving the pumpkin in the sun and allowing it to dry completely. A curing period of about two weeks at 75 to 85 degrees F with good circulation is desirable. Storage should then be at 50 to 70 degrees F with humidity between 50 and 70 percent. <br /><br />Common Problems<br /><br />Flowers that form, then fade and fall off indicate poor pollination. Too much heat or rainfall can cause this. In this case hand pollination is nesssacary. Mildew diseases can attack the foliage, but if the plant is fast growing, leaves will be replaced. When the plants are becoming defoliated, improved air circulation and adding potassium is useful. Wetable sulphur can help solve mildew.<br /><br />Varieties<br /><br />Tonda padana-from NW of Italy, attractive winter squash, keeps well, good for soup, gnocchi or roasting<br /><br />Matina di Chioggia-winter squash from near Venice, 2 kg fruit with sweet flesh, a good keeper<br /><br />Jap- Excellent firm bright yellow flesh, then grey green shell, known in USA from 1860's, popular in Australia's hotter climates. 110 days to harvest<br /><br />Jack-be-little -Tiny 5-7cm, sweet orange flesh, deeply ribbed flattened orange fruit, delightful miniature, appealing table decoration and craft, shelf life to 12 months, dried on the vine. 85-110 days to harvestlilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-43135381680894079832010-11-02T01:03:00.001-07:002010-11-02T01:20:42.657-07:00Eat Your Garden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxJJmlC8R4clHwDiAFUoxqGl4FwS1OE8Ztwmr3RZZ35MEt6npej9mj_Xe-_hhB_JqkApvAZvKGDoYwdmJlTtk8S_JyjOJCRKtxwwvoqA2S_TD8VkxJJfB7nPr925VfK-ToO1ec-Vgcag/s1600/EYG+trace.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxJJmlC8R4clHwDiAFUoxqGl4FwS1OE8Ztwmr3RZZ35MEt6npej9mj_Xe-_hhB_JqkApvAZvKGDoYwdmJlTtk8S_JyjOJCRKtxwwvoqA2S_TD8VkxJJfB7nPr925VfK-ToO1ec-Vgcag/s320/EYG+trace.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534861422630110322" /></a><br />Recently I have started teaching a class called Eat your Garden, with Monica Winston, great fun, she is a permaculturist and we use permaculture principles and create gardens and people learn as they make. This garden we created a waffle bed as used by the Aztec Indians. <br /><br />In this picture you can see we have dug out a flat area, the idea is to catch the rain and let it drain slowly away into the soil, got me thinking about how I recently learnt about Plant Function Groups and their different adaptations to the amount of water they live out their life cycle in? e.g. water plants-grow, pollinate, reproduce and germinate all under water, whereas others are more adaptable and can live in water or without water all very interesting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotErhFoq_B-9pemu3Gh2V14EWdDFACy5InQwXm7ZuyLsA9fVbz5scVBPe-GJGwVRuO9VGgBYKaKNNb5Lln3R1X1IWWzR32N5NWs9i724EDVpaUg01MiCiOa0G1B4UcYYgO1kwQQHZf04/s1600/IMG_3361.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotErhFoq_B-9pemu3Gh2V14EWdDFACy5InQwXm7ZuyLsA9fVbz5scVBPe-GJGwVRuO9VGgBYKaKNNb5Lln3R1X1IWWzR32N5NWs9i724EDVpaUg01MiCiOa0G1B4UcYYgO1kwQQHZf04/s320/IMG_3361.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534863429250728898" /></a><br /><br /><br />Then we added some left overs from the Geelong Show a mixture of manure and straw<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHh4VGtOP-X4du-Pum26703XVjf4ROnu_PTcDGX4Ah7ac4G_n3hP_ea9GT2MxYJFhM2RnyZJR3rUrzVxTck871vWBwHogoDMROWcLAEC6uvw6M9V1QRMxvCDHpBIQ-jYnrdofUFqaF_Q/s1600/IMG_3364.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHh4VGtOP-X4du-Pum26703XVjf4ROnu_PTcDGX4Ah7ac4G_n3hP_ea9GT2MxYJFhM2RnyZJR3rUrzVxTck871vWBwHogoDMROWcLAEC6uvw6M9V1QRMxvCDHpBIQ-jYnrdofUFqaF_Q/s320/IMG_3364.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534862803744215426" /></a><br />Half completed <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOuchZtN3bSrr1mzZCNL3H-moHll8Mc4vveWjfm6EXWcaERiQTX1dXqE6NG9OjR_DS5OE2tXU9vT-q5R6mvB4jmyI4BE5oR1xiDnWfyJHHHVarxMeyQnkVhrQFI1Xau86Nk-K-z5rixw/s1600/IMG_3376.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOuchZtN3bSrr1mzZCNL3H-moHll8Mc4vveWjfm6EXWcaERiQTX1dXqE6NG9OjR_DS5OE2tXU9vT-q5R6mvB4jmyI4BE5oR1xiDnWfyJHHHVarxMeyQnkVhrQFI1Xau86Nk-K-z5rixw/s320/IMG_3376.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534863983330108162" /></a><br />and then we stopped for tea.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxe6E6Epf5IPkjnYXAbKDiZUEKibd-UCrQqs0Yf0IWwOP5oOeGY5kVW2O3CEs9n1AWJgqsNWg8EfIYj9iDvlSfWvdSY4-3SufwIc_KyXSZl94BTeo5MqMbvDvi-saOqBbvepzsZ6En5o/s1600/IMG_3379.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxe6E6Epf5IPkjnYXAbKDiZUEKibd-UCrQqs0Yf0IWwOP5oOeGY5kVW2O3CEs9n1AWJgqsNWg8EfIYj9iDvlSfWvdSY4-3SufwIc_KyXSZl94BTeo5MqMbvDvi-saOqBbvepzsZ6En5o/s320/IMG_3379.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534863986756636514" /></a>lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-61634699314607228592010-10-14T22:51:00.001-07:002010-10-14T22:59:40.164-07:00Seniors Day Geelong West Community Garden<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TrPir1ea5Yjw13jVZtbX0gPNb2K3u76LaDB2B3Yayg7v9XknZq-R9edRa9zpLo3F-4fbNl0hCzcUNtl7IgLWZt4zEWOsfjNjXWJxcMudXSdEFvC5L97VD800Y_ASNYvGtqCJWOhVxeU/s1600/DSCF0544.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TrPir1ea5Yjw13jVZtbX0gPNb2K3u76LaDB2B3Yayg7v9XknZq-R9edRa9zpLo3F-4fbNl0hCzcUNtl7IgLWZt4zEWOsfjNjXWJxcMudXSdEFvC5L97VD800Y_ASNYvGtqCJWOhVxeU/s320/DSCF0544.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528148195428134450" /></a><br />Seniors Day at Geelong West Community Garden<br />“A community garden is a place where people come together to grow fresh vegetables, share gardening knowledge, make new friends, and take part in a creative outdoor activity.” <br />Kevin Ayrey, Landscape Architect, City of Yarra<br />Community Gardens are a valuable resource for the local community in Geelong West, and provide many other services apart from locally grown organic Vegetables.<br />This was clearly seen at the wonderful Open Day at Geelong West Community Garden on the as part of Seniors Week. It was great to see the children from Ashbey Primary School interacting with the seniors of Geelong West. <br />My main query was where were the seniors? These older folk seemed remarkably spritely and energetic-I put that down to them all being keen gardeners, gardening as an activity is well known for keeping you young at heart and fit and healthy. Interestingly, research has shown that interaction with gardens-even just visiting reduces your chance of dementia by 20%.<br />It was a good afternoon, the students from Ashbey were polite and helpful handing out cake and sushi, and the seniors really enjoyed looking at the gardens and sharing their knowledge.<br />Many came from over community gardens such as Grovedale, and chit chat on the importance of community gardens, how to grow better potatoes and what is that plant, were had over tea and cake.<br />A raffle was drawn and prizes of pot plants and watering frogs were given out.<br />The gardens will be open again to the general public for Pako Festa.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1m8DDoBuBRF366QvlAXbSW9s75tCU1uiv9iP3bnEdikTuPdrxE2Uy1xWSaQ550aSX3MYYeUzzB9zihWjSaH8jWwVwrPZPRsjEoTyooPgT5ptM0dEi318jxB3PKBzFLKpI_8NNj5QQ8w/s1600/DSCF0530.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1m8DDoBuBRF366QvlAXbSW9s75tCU1uiv9iP3bnEdikTuPdrxE2Uy1xWSaQ550aSX3MYYeUzzB9zihWjSaH8jWwVwrPZPRsjEoTyooPgT5ptM0dEi318jxB3PKBzFLKpI_8NNj5QQ8w/s320/DSCF0530.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528148317784992050" /></a><br />Maggie Ryan and Katie Gillett enjoying the 'high tea' at Geelong West Coomunity GArdenlilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-83916891229215419342010-10-03T14:01:00.000-07:002010-10-03T14:06:37.503-07:00ECOFEST<span style="font-weight:bold;">ecofest </span><br /><br /><br />Saturday 9th October, <br />2010 <br /><br /><br />10am – 3pm <br /><br /><br />Green Market Children's activities <br />Information expo Good food <br />Practical tips for going 'green' Fairtrade products <br />Good conversation Discussion Forums <br />Chook feeder competition Movies <br />Speakers Plants & Pea Straw <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">31 Douglass St, Herne Hill </span><br /><br /><br />For more info visit ecofest.wordpress.com <br />or email ecofest.wh@gmail.com <br /><br />An activity of Western Heights Uniting Church<br /><br />Geelong Organic Gardeners will have a stalllilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-82548522443760975822010-09-22T16:27:00.001-07:002010-09-22T16:43:45.549-07:00The Rain is a double edged swordMint, Russian Red Kale, Garlic, and Potatoe Onions<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwfCzd4ho8_OsfHpB-ofLyHgJXYN6peNWzQUsf1ChP6wZoYRj2GFrUiC2l_LEMNvGHW57p3XwVEkawnFGlXW0I1t6xiJLxj0s1VuL58WMeOm_i4WzrWa2uEDFXrLDwlNFjR7HlJKt1NU/s1600/IMGP4451.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwfCzd4ho8_OsfHpB-ofLyHgJXYN6peNWzQUsf1ChP6wZoYRj2GFrUiC2l_LEMNvGHW57p3XwVEkawnFGlXW0I1t6xiJLxj0s1VuL58WMeOm_i4WzrWa2uEDFXrLDwlNFjR7HlJKt1NU/s320/IMGP4451.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519884126906887858" /></a><br /><br />I am on holidays at the momment which means more time for gardening!<br /><br />Have done quite a bit of work at home and have started weeding the plot. As you can see below a combination of rain and well fertilised soil has meant the weeds have gone ballistic and these photos were taken after weeding. My chickens are happy, with the weeds- they have eaten every thing at home. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnHaR3UAU0Qm539eCa4h0epCqc3VcUxqRG-dAPj1e6kvKObT2juaDKdPUba9tlzy9SpsThGnZ6ujUmpsTYE27-biZLAqCiITmCqtg9hOzE5pb2d5GgGLRAtfR5lcYgwTS8EMmEfJrCYw/s1600/IMGP4450.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnHaR3UAU0Qm539eCa4h0epCqc3VcUxqRG-dAPj1e6kvKObT2juaDKdPUba9tlzy9SpsThGnZ6ujUmpsTYE27-biZLAqCiITmCqtg9hOzE5pb2d5GgGLRAtfR5lcYgwTS8EMmEfJrCYw/s320/IMGP4450.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519884125475154690" /></a><br />The picture above is my green sprouting broccoli, I like it because you get lots of these little heads, great for stir frys or rissito and they taste better than the large heads.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gK4rmBxCsBLsomKpXu5UzsF82V_9WZ1UCDlCPtleroqoBq2XDuzUQOORRqPGYT_fAvAISBihWKxnl3NS7FRQve-Q9GlFp-e_ZaiFsDMXF-8gteW_9NGkOZlaiCEnHpr5JsUEkTLdL08/s1600/IMGP4456.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gK4rmBxCsBLsomKpXu5UzsF82V_9WZ1UCDlCPtleroqoBq2XDuzUQOORRqPGYT_fAvAISBihWKxnl3NS7FRQve-Q9GlFp-e_ZaiFsDMXF-8gteW_9NGkOZlaiCEnHpr5JsUEkTLdL08/s320/IMGP4456.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519884133433852322" /></a><br />To the right is some fennel that was given to me by a friend, I love to eat the seeds and the bulbs are great too, next to that is some purple broccoli. Just peaking round the edge are some cos lettuce. I dont grow brassicas in the summer as it is too hard keeping the aphids away so eat lettuce like it is going out of fashion.lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-44657540114871366402010-09-22T16:14:00.000-07:002010-09-22T16:26:58.898-07:00Clive Blazey-without picturesUNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE<br />MASTERS OF URBAN HORTICULTURE<br />GARDEN HISTORY AND DESIGN<br />DR A.VALE<br />Clive Blazey-A Subversive Gardener<br />K. S. Drummond-Gillett<br />Sept 2010<br /><br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br />Introduction<br />Clive Blazey is the CEO of the seed company ‘Diggers’. Initiating in an early interview from The Age, there have been numerous references to him in the media as a subversive gardener. A subversive person seeks to overthrow governments or institutions. I would argue that Clive Blazey follows trends, rather than creating them and uses his skills in economics and marketing to benefit his business. Nevertheless his widespread publicity on heritage edibles and backyard vegetable production has educated many members of the general public. He has highlighted the benefits of edible gardening to both the individual and society as a whole through frequent interviews, books and public events. His widespread popularising of edible horticulture is evident in the 35,000 membership of Diggers Club, the largest garden club in Australia. This increasing customer base is noteworthy in a time of decreasing membership in such organisations. His business is based on 3 sites, a farm in Seymour, Heronswood and The Garden of St Erth; two of which are important historical gardens in their own right. These gardens serve as collections of plants, demonstration gardens to illustrate the main principles behind Diggers, locations to hold workshops and talks. Both Heronswood and Garden of St Erth feature nurseries and cafes. <br /> <br />The Founding of Diggers<br />Clive Blazey was born in 1948, the son of Alan Blazey founder of Hortico. He studied Economics and Commerce at Melbourne University and led Clive to begin his career as marketing manager for Hortico. This foundation in business is what probably determined the later success of Diggers. In 1978 the family company was taken over by Yates and this was perhaps fundamental to Clive Blazey’s future cynicism with corporate culture. Disillusionment with the superficiality of commodity culture was the prevailing theme in the society of the time. The 1960’s had seen gardening turn from a functional action, to a product based activity, where the garden became less about ecological issues and more about decoration, the garden had become another room to be filled with comsumerables. <br />Clive and his wife Penny started Diggers Club, as a small mail order seed business, on half an acre in Albert Park. The Blazey’s desire to circumvent big business and start their own mail order company was a most likely combination of business savvy and personal need. The mail order business bypassed the dominance of major retailers in the garden industry, and enabled them to provide rare plants for a niche market. <br />Heronswood<br /> The success of the business determined the need for more land and in 1982 they bought Heronswood, Dromana, Vic and established it as the base of their operations. In addition Heronswood provided them with a venue to experiment with plants. Heronswood was already an important historical garden (Fig 1). The building and landscaping was designed by Edward La Trobe Bateman, the first Lieutenant Governor of Victoria. The Blazeys developed Heronswood into eight display gardens, highlighting perennials, annuals and cottage garden plants.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Figure 1 Dromana "Heronswood" Latrobe Parade May 19 1964 <br /> <br /> Diggers did not develop an interest in Heritage and Rare Vegetables until much later. Initially Diggers primary trade was focused on drought tolerant cottage garden plants. Once again Clive showed his business acumen by capitalising on the revived interest in cottage these plants. It was not until the late 90’s that Heronswood featured the ornamentals aspects of vegetables in the planting schemes (Fig. 2). This integration of edibles as ornamentals draws inspiration from the French Parterre design concept, most famously seen at the Château de Villandry, France. <br />Figure 2 Parterre Garden at Heronswood <br /> <br />Heronswood provided a microclimate not found anywhere else in Victoria enabling Diggers to establish a garden of unusual plants imported from all over the world. <br />Exotic plants in Australian Gardens<br />Digger’s is known for its collection of heritage fruit and vegetables, but initially started selling exotic perennials and annuals. Many of the non-edible plants Diggers sell are considered weeds at some level in Australia. It is interesting that while Clive Blazey often promotes sustainability and climate change in the garden through his articles in The Diggers Catalogue and interviews in the press, he never mentions the obvious solution of native and indigenous plants. These plants require very little input, in terms of water, fertiliser and other recourses and are therefore by their definition sustainable. Diggers stock almost no Australian Native Plants. <br />Whilst there is a place for exotic plants in Australia, the Horticulture industry has a responsibility to not introduce environmental weeds, and put the native biodiversity at risk. Indigenous people would argue that ‘Bush’ Tucker is the sustainable answer to food security in Australia. The arguments used to support Diggers plant choice by referring to other countries introduction of non-native plants fails to take into account the weed problem that some of these plants have become in these countries. Japanese Knotweed, Fallopia japonica one of the most endemic weeds in the U.K. and is mandatorily reportable to the Ministry of Agriculture was introduced as an ornamental plant from Japan. <br />Seed Savers<br />In 1990 Clive visited the Seed Savers Exchange run by Kent and Diane Whealy in Deborah, Iowa, America, where he met with David Cavagnaro their farm manager. In 1992 David came to Australia as the keynote speaker at a camp out on the farm at Trawool near Seymour. <br />The seed saving movement had arisen out of the 1970’s environmental movement and a desire to return to ‘pure’ plants with a distinct genetic heritage. The increasing interest in organic productive gardening was a response to growing concerns about the ‘purity’ of food. <br />This initial campout led to links with the Australian seed saving movement, run by Jude and Michael Fanton and other members of the Australian Organics movement. Festivals at Heronswood were to later replace these campouts. Blazey’s work in searching for heritage vegetables harks back to the early productive gardener in Australia, attempting to select varieties that were suited to the Australian conditions. <br />Research into heirloom vegetables<br />It was at Trawool where Digger’s ran the tomato trials that formed the basis for the first book, The Australian Vegetable Garden. Dr Will Trueman, (PhD relating to Native Fish), ran the tomato trials at the Heritage Seed Farm. The elemental change in plant breeding occurred after the 2nd World War when American plant breeders began to breed vegetables specifically designed for transport and a long shelf life, instead of for taste. The advent of the supermarket exasperated this problem, offering fruit and vegetables from around the world, in and out of season, but reduced the varieties. The research done at Diggers concentrated not just on taste, but also yield, days to first fruit and traditional techniques used in tomato growing. This work led to interest from the commercial seed growers and the introduction of heritage tomato varieties into the wider seedling market; such a Russian Black and Tommy Toe. These research trials proved the high yield of some heritage tomato varieties and their suitability for the Australian climate. The work continued with research into other groups of vegetables such as Brassicas.<br /> There are two other important seed companies in Australia, Eden Seed and Phoenix Seed, both established previously to Diggers interest in rare and heirloom Vegetables. Eden Seeds have a wider variety of seeds and also offers organically certified seeds, seeds in bulk and a much wider range of gardening books. Their work is primarily in selling product and they do not have demonstration gardens, workshops or promote the advantages of productive gardening. The other company is Phoenix Seed and they sell extremely rare varieties not found anywhere else in Australia. There are other seed companies in Australia specialising in Heritage vegetables these two have been established the longest.<br />Books <br />Clive Blazey has published 5 books; two have been in collaboration with Jane Varkulevicius, a Horticulture graduate with over 25 years industry experience. A constant theme throughout his books is a return to the previous motivation of productive gardening. <br />From the arrival of the first Fleet, gardens were a means of livelihoods for settlers, a source of food and a way of learning about their new environment. . Australian’s back gardens continued to be a means to provide nutritious and tasty food for one’s family until the availability of cheap supermarket product in the 1960s. One of the most enduring Australian gardening books, Brunnings Australian Garden states,<br />“The establishment of a vegetable garden to augment household supplies, is an asset to every home” <br />Clive Blazey’s first book was on drought tolerant and cottage garden plants, it was these plants that led to the initial success of Diggers. His later books concentrate on vegetable gardening.<br />Garden of St Erth<br />In 1996 Diggers took over The Garden of St Erth, Blackwood, Vic. This garden was started in 1968 by Tommy Garnett, Clive Blazey’s former headmaster of Geelong Grammar and regular columnist in The Age, Melbourne (FIG. 3).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Figure 3 Garden of St Erth, 25th Oct 1984 <br /> <br /> The Garden already housed an extensive daffodil collection, containing plants bred by Alistair Clark, Leonard Buckland, and Eve Murray. Ironically Tommy Garnett is known for his use of Australian Natives in a garden setting, and the Garden of St Erth now features almost no Australian Natives. The Garden had a completely different microclimate to Heronswood, from freezing winters to harsh burning summers and gave the Blazeys a chance to expand their range of plants (FIG. 4). <br /><br /><br />Figure 4 The Garden of St Erth today <br /> <br /><br />The later years saw the garden develop into a demonstration garden that illustrated how much food (fruit and vegetables) could be grown in a small space. <br />Climate Change<br />Gardeners are aware of the changing ecological conditions in Australia. Clive Blazey has often written on climate change and reducing our carbon emissions through home food cultivation. Clive Blazey is influential in educating the general public on how they can reduce the carbon produced by farming, by growing food at home. The current agriculture system is both vulnerable to climate change and a factor in its initiation. <br />This doubt surrounding our future food security, relates back to previous times of precarious food accessibility in Australia. It is a recurring theme throughout the history of gardening in Australia. It could be said that the current issues surrounding food security and climate change reflect a state of society previously seen during wartime. During the Second World War agriculture could not meet the needs of private food requirements. <br />Defiant Gardens<br />Defiant gardens are said to be,<br /> “Gardens created in extreme or difficult enviromental, social, political, economic, or cultural conditions”. <br />Productive gardens were initially a means of earning a livelihood for the early colonists, but as life became more stable in Australia gardens became less practical and more ornamental. Edible gardening resurfaced during the 2nd World War when food production again became a necessity. At this time (1943-44) 30-40% of gardeners were producing their own vegetables and fruit. Gardening began to change at a practical and ideological level. The modern interest in backyard production is due to a number of previously mentioned factors.<br />These debates on wider environmental and social issues have been held on gardens throughout Australian history, and are also fundamental to Clive Blazey’s written work and business. The fundamental paradox of a garden is neatly outlined in this statement from Holmes et al’s work; Reading the Garden,<br />“One of the paradoxes of the private garden is the extent to which others have sought to control its site and significance. The negotiation between public control and private meaning lies at the heart of the garden: individual investment in this space will always entwine broader cultural resonances with personal understandings, memories and traditions” <br />School Gardens and Education<br />Not since the Dig for victory campaigns of the 2nd World War has education in productive gardening been as widespread in Australia. The last few years have seen Diggers concentrate on educating the general public on the techniques of productive gardening, with demonstration gardens at Heronswood and the Garden of St Erth, monthly workshops and the sale of ‘how to’ books. The baby boomers were a generation that lost the art of growing food with the rise of cheap supermarket food negating the economic need for backyard production. The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the ongoing support of the successful project at Collingwood College, and to introducing Kitchen Gardens into other primary schools. Diggers is a supporting Partner with the foundation, and this probably led to the formation of the ‘Little Diggers Club, the children’s section of Diggers, providing easy to grow seeds, children’s garden tools, workshops and other activities.<br />The social conscience of Diggers<br />The last 2 decades in Australia has seen a dramatic rise in backyard production of food. The 1980’s saw a trebling of vegetable seedlings from 1976. This is chiefly a movement amongst the well educated and professional classes, who ironically were time poor but access to large amounts of land. For those at the lower end of the social economic scale the opposite is true. Diggers have not ignored this fact and offers a discount seed pack for health card holders. Members also receive substantial discounts on stock and free entry to the display gardens.<br /> <br />Conclusion<br />Gardening is now seen as providing more than food and aesthetics, but tending to our physical, moral and spiritual needs. Diggers engages the general public in productive gardening, and in doing so involves them in an movement that is more real than any of the activities of the commodity led culture. Ironically Diggers taps into this need for an authentic lifestyle by selling their customers more products. Gardens have become more than a place to grow plants, but sites for Life, Home, Work, Hope and Beauty. <br />Clive Blazey can be seen to play an important role in educating the wider public on the benefits of edible horticulture and the important role it will play in the future social and environmental climate. It is important to remember that he is running a very successful commercial enterprise and utilises peoples growing interest in backyard production to support his business. <br /> <br />References<br />Newspaper and Magazine Articles<br />Brettle, Kyla. “The Grassroots Activist”, The Age Sunday Life 29 April 2001 pg 8-10<br /><br />"Garden Clubs: is the party finally over? “ (Cover story). Australian Horticulture 6-8. 2010<br />Blazey, Penny. “Diggers the first 25 years: Penny Blazey’s homely account of how the women at Digger’s got the Upper Hand” Accessed 28 August 2008 at www.diggers.com.au<br />Blazey, Clive. It’s Now or Never, Diggers Magazine, Dromana, Vic, Diggers 2009<br />Latreille, Anne. Handing on St Erth, The Age, (Melbourne, Australia), March 9, 1996<br />‘Landscape Australia’ The Heron Seeks the Heights, Landscape Australia 1988 vol 2 pg 169-164<br />Rickard, Simon. Can an “Australian Garden” be planted with non-natives? Diggers, www.diggers.com.au Accessed at http://www.diggers.com.au/articleCanAustralianGardens.shtml 13th Sept 2010<br /><br />Books and Reports<br />Amani K. Ahmed A. and Krystyna A. Johnson (2000) Horticultural development of Australian native edible plants Australian. Journal of Botany, 48, 417–426<br />Blazey, Clive and Varkulevicius, Jane The Australian Fruit and Vegetable Garden Dromana, Vic. Digger's Club, c2006<br />Blazey, Clive. 2007 “Gardening in Australia, Annual Convention Speech” Autumn Catalogue pg 21-27 Accessed on line www.diggers.com.au at 3 Sept 2010 <br />Blazey, Clive. It’s Now or Never, Diggers Magazine Dromana, Vic, Diggers 2009 Accessed http://www.diggers.com.au/articleItsNowOrNever.shtml on 7 Sept 2010<br />Gaynor, Andrea. Harvest of the suburbs: an environmental history of growing food in Australian cities Crawley, W. A.: University of Western Australia Press, 2006.<br />Holmes, Katie. K, Susna. Mirmohmadi, Martin and Kylie (2008) Reading the Garden, The Settlement of Australia Victoria, Australia: Melbourne University Press.<br />Helphand, Kenneth I. Defiant gardens: Making gardens in wartime, San Antonio, Tex. : Trinity University Press, c2006.<br />Larsen, Kirsten, Ryan, Chris and Abraham, Asha Bee, Sustainable and Secure Food Systems for Victoria: What do we know? What do we need to know? VEIL Research Report No.1 (Summary) April 2008 Accessed at http://www.ecoinnovationlab.com/uploads/attachments/018_VEIL_Food_Report_-_Summary.pdf 7 Sept 2010<br />Aitken, Richard “Heronswood” In The Oxford companion to Australian Gardens , edited by Richard Aitken & Michael Looker. Oxford University Press, published in association with the Australian Garden History Society, 2002<br />Cross, Rob. and Spencer, Roger. (2008) Sustainable Gardening Collingwood, Vic CSIRO Publishing <br />Timms, Peter. (2006) Australia’s Quarter Acre; The Story of the ordinary suburban garden<br />Melbourne, Au, The Miegunyah Press<br />Figures<br />Figure 1 Parterre Garden at Heronswood 7<br />Figure 2 Garden of St Erth, 25th Oct 1984 13<br />Figure 3 The Garden of St Erth today 14lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-53300809174548496762010-08-23T18:05:00.000-07:002010-08-23T18:23:40.171-07:00Spring is here-sort ofWhile all the rain we have had is fantastic, <span style="font-weight:bold;">everytime</span> I mean to get out into the Garden it is raining!!!!!<br />Which I should't really complain about. The garden is starting to develop, finished the last of the trellis and lattice for the fence-now what to plant to grow up them, I am thinking passion fruit and kiwi-or another edible climber-or one with flower and scent??? pandorea pandorea maybe? I love that plant and you get flowers top to bottom.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bjDhI5VWMkfm1EYTIB9TqHy00-FSxhdsx1SXcZSRnDWLt0OKGkova_XTM7BXDuq3i2WD_sYtTBxQVxFxH_wKhs79Y4bL2x-csyiUBb5btk7vTJLXvVLkUz_En3BQQajqs0QSe-xQL1Q/s1600/IMGP4151.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bjDhI5VWMkfm1EYTIB9TqHy00-FSxhdsx1SXcZSRnDWLt0OKGkova_XTM7BXDuq3i2WD_sYtTBxQVxFxH_wKhs79Y4bL2x-csyiUBb5btk7vTJLXvVLkUz_En3BQQajqs0QSe-xQL1Q/s320/IMGP4151.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508777944169834466" /></a><br /><br />I found an edible native, <span style="font-style:italic;">Kunzea</span> , apparently it taste like apples- I think that would look nice in the front garden. Got a <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5f8cebf-zM324Hh0wWRoockQV0QYFTXPqe8iI5K9Ngt4GwL9A8c8WyyHfsjOQlVPMLMIy5LFy-L7O2auBqJoNHtagfTRNcyrMEqlkf8L-aF2oI_raxZ-X8sovGWvTr_wTIgmwnV22TY/s1600/IMGP4148.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5f8cebf-zM324Hh0wWRoockQV0QYFTXPqe8iI5K9Ngt4GwL9A8c8WyyHfsjOQlVPMLMIy5LFy-L7O2auBqJoNHtagfTRNcyrMEqlkf8L-aF2oI_raxZ-X8sovGWvTr_wTIgmwnV22TY/s320/IMGP4148.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508778427643787522" /></a><br /><br />beautiful Lisbon Lemon tree from work for the front garden, also planted one marjoram plant at the base- a bit of companion planting- and will go nice in risotto with the preserved lemons I will make from this tree.<br /><br />According to the label, prefers a warm sunny position in fertile free draining soil-and apparently is vigorous growing with medium fruit...but I will graft more citrus onto it as it gets bigger<br /><br />Pricked out some seed- flame lettuce from Diggers and Kailaan from Eden Seed, as a side note I am writing a bio on Clive blazey for uni and his influence on the growing sustainable/edible gardening movement, will post a link when it's finished.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-hF8DBmTwIlbyZ3jFwAegjdGhkApkvgL3F8H44S4qfnuEKm99Y8gLjDfQm02JjDoLVRrSwTy_7zRMVHDbfk4XD2Q7aBZgwBdeIfitEqzy_0LCmGyl-hqPWs-gcLUHl0sHkr2FOl5LVA/s1600/IMGP4149.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-hF8DBmTwIlbyZ3jFwAegjdGhkApkvgL3F8H44S4qfnuEKm99Y8gLjDfQm02JjDoLVRrSwTy_7zRMVHDbfk4XD2Q7aBZgwBdeIfitEqzy_0LCmGyl-hqPWs-gcLUHl0sHkr2FOl5LVA/s320/IMGP4149.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508780009013983250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1cEi-9j9aBaX8exmgV65V27hrDvdb65v7LNX_X-wWo4D7xTEBs1lz5L1uvpoipoMRhicyvftAvbaxbn1t76vTB6NEbFglwH_SFnR5Hj7PHA9VXq_USZHabCYlo6g_C3ZTblIkszj6do/s1600/IMGP4150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1cEi-9j9aBaX8exmgV65V27hrDvdb65v7LNX_X-wWo4D7xTEBs1lz5L1uvpoipoMRhicyvftAvbaxbn1t76vTB6NEbFglwH_SFnR5Hj7PHA9VXq_USZHabCYlo6g_C3ZTblIkszj6do/s320/IMGP4150.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508779999646040594" /></a><br /><br />Sowed a few tomato and eggplant seeds-they are not all for me some I will sell when they are bigger..<br />Tomatoes-Siberia, Russian Red, Giant Tree Tomato, Stupice, Yellow Perfection, Paul Robeson,Tommy Toe, Budiah<br />Eggplant Classic Black, Easter Egg, Ping Tung Long and Louisiana Long Green<br /><br />I have grown these before- and love Louisiana Long Green, great for pizza<br /><br />Will post pictures as they developlilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-90490487055048089732010-07-21T22:57:00.001-07:002010-07-21T23:05:07.760-07:00Adventures in Geelong West Community Garden<span style="font-weight:bold;">Garlic</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-hoLA2q4dAJkimIa6MMZtL4RFOD3ksVukuADRqTGY7ZxUVmX_7Lg6SlekqhcPLNi9O4kewT1Ia_4JVihzfN_GV8l50x1w5PkvvrcnFFtUPIAyGFlBap4a9FZfoTeu2mofxqGor2e_38/s1600/IMGP4060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-hoLA2q4dAJkimIa6MMZtL4RFOD3ksVukuADRqTGY7ZxUVmX_7Lg6SlekqhcPLNi9O4kewT1Ia_4JVihzfN_GV8l50x1w5PkvvrcnFFtUPIAyGFlBap4a9FZfoTeu2mofxqGor2e_38/s320/IMGP4060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496606386782378130" /></a><br /><br />It's been a whole WEEK since I visited the plot with my mum and got her weeding. Was feeling a bit down, so I went to see how things are going, well needs a weed quite clearly. As soon as the weather picks up, I will get down there and spend a couple of hours weeding. Also I have some cos lettuce seedlings that wouldn't fit in my garden at home...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihl1iQd5-QBVWkn3nIIhEar9tXr-iH71NdhdDwJpUM_dMK1qWmnh__Zy1ayKoD8VEJQbbk_Dd-qk-pWmCJC6-IzAS20gVeQxGsQ-MFNpP-dQ-WGLtilP0ECHlDwdP2WQvQXg2xbQNcp-U/s1600/IMGP4059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihl1iQd5-QBVWkn3nIIhEar9tXr-iH71NdhdDwJpUM_dMK1qWmnh__Zy1ayKoD8VEJQbbk_Dd-qk-pWmCJC6-IzAS20gVeQxGsQ-MFNpP-dQ-WGLtilP0ECHlDwdP2WQvQXg2xbQNcp-U/s320/IMGP4059.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496606844990210258" /></a><br />And there is a space.................could cram in a whole punnet there, found another spot for some herbs too, the broccoli is ready to pick, and there is also a spot for potatoes<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5rPkvUdSrdgVH7ivQKCtNToZJ__JPh3eL3sji6C9TT5nkKopOizn7fF94rTZ2jUON54TAK0J8Yaa_3fErzQu8MdOEfO4ULUwAYqPgsJSWvumpMlqhZByH0x6GuzMLwCSgnjA4pQeTgk/s1600/IMGP4063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5rPkvUdSrdgVH7ivQKCtNToZJ__JPh3eL3sji6C9TT5nkKopOizn7fF94rTZ2jUON54TAK0J8Yaa_3fErzQu8MdOEfO4ULUwAYqPgsJSWvumpMlqhZByH0x6GuzMLwCSgnjA4pQeTgk/s320/IMGP4063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496607262139334034" /></a><br />Hmm, back to Uni next week and looks like I will be busy-need more seeds..and a cold frame......lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-85540830872771770502010-07-21T22:31:00.000-07:002010-07-21T22:53:36.474-07:00Changes in the gardenMulch, mulch, mulch<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYyxwJI5TujBeEX8qHNVVXxulOWZZRYgarRH9w0liJ6jLyl8EUp853nekPC6QHc8erS3-HsABW7zpLgfVBdxC9DYaZVUwwAwVxOCq2NwWJ5GrT_RnJ7b6HQKIR5rvrzKDMArLF-5pC6I/s1600/IMGP4054.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYyxwJI5TujBeEX8qHNVVXxulOWZZRYgarRH9w0liJ6jLyl8EUp853nekPC6QHc8erS3-HsABW7zpLgfVBdxC9DYaZVUwwAwVxOCq2NwWJ5GrT_RnJ7b6HQKIR5rvrzKDMArLF-5pC6I/s400/IMGP4054.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496602167984847026" /></a><br />This week I went crazy and got rid of the lawn at the front of my house. My friend Mal, who grew up with a Croatian father who planted vegies in the front garden, is disgusted, I threaten him with pumpkins on the nature strip!! Well it was kinda a long term plan, I drove to Visy in Geelong, they have ENORMOUS bins outside, full of cardboard fantastic for sheet mulching. Then I ordered 4m2 of Forest Blend Mulch (recycled Green Waste to you and I) and spent a couple of happy hours spreading it across the lawn. The neighbors kid was very helpful, gave him a little bucket a spade and he helped out, even his mum came over and watched making sure he wasn't too rambunctious, he was good at spotting the litter and once I had pointed out to him what was 'organic i.e. was once a plant and what was rubbish, he seemed convinced that wood was rubbish, didn't seem to understand it was once a tree. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRszc3gOV1aHXVyG7awNmt5rwf0jC_VisTIERT5S8kSQ5NwA4zZQ5uTGiAyFYCeTlubZTtQPktFb_MaLL6A8IPM0PSiPJN20SRGb3tZLS-GNz5a7TdoKoJtNBYy1IkoaqW8pGOeUVYvEk/s1600/IMGP4055.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRszc3gOV1aHXVyG7awNmt5rwf0jC_VisTIERT5S8kSQ5NwA4zZQ5uTGiAyFYCeTlubZTtQPktFb_MaLL6A8IPM0PSiPJN20SRGb3tZLS-GNz5a7TdoKoJtNBYy1IkoaqW8pGOeUVYvEk/s400/IMGP4055.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496602360769167778" /></a><br />The fruit trees are now happily mulched, and I gave them a good feed of liquid seaweed. I had an old wheel barrow in the back garden and I decided that it wasn't really useful in the state it was in, so now it is living under the Red Flowering Gum-<span style="font-style:italic;">Eucalyptus ficifolia</span>, planted up with Spearmint-<span style="font-style:italic;">Mentha spicat</span>a<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTsGxB9m1B7L9FwOr3pGaBsdhlAfLpZJjgjOom4_-27l6pDbCc174_PjMraL0Kr-lAbDQSUE3UDs9pJ8D1wUBKWI624tbyDfCfjFizdl48KGtPozNzyYzGiHNM_50ZBa2zSHPVbIm2os/s1600/IMGP4056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTsGxB9m1B7L9FwOr3pGaBsdhlAfLpZJjgjOom4_-27l6pDbCc174_PjMraL0Kr-lAbDQSUE3UDs9pJ8D1wUBKWI624tbyDfCfjFizdl48KGtPozNzyYzGiHNM_50ZBa2zSHPVbIm2os/s400/IMGP4056.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496603059079376786" /></a>lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-54033563625965684422010-06-22T23:01:00.000-07:002010-06-22T23:25:41.155-07:00Bare RootedVery exciting day today, WEDNESDAY..but that is not that exciting , but no exams or schoolwork for four weeks. Celebrated by going and picking up the four fruit trees I had ordered. Well three fruit trees and an olive(in honor of my grandmother who loved all things Greek), and they are planted. I got a <span style="font-weight:bold;">Picual</span> Olive Tree, but would really like a <span style="font-weight:bold;">Kalamata.</span> <br />"A very dense, bushy tree, producing medium sized fruit, that is suitable for both pickling and oil extraction. The Picual olive will start to bear from an early age, and in high numbers. Suitable for cold climates." http://www.engalls.com.au/Olives/tabid/70/Default.aspx<br />A double grafted plum, Mariposa and Satsuma. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mariposa</span>-A Japanese blood plum with dark red flesh and large fruit if thinned. The flavour is excellent, the skin glossy red and it has a egg shaped fruit. Will crop over a wide range of climates. Pollinator Satsuma <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Satsuma</span>-Red to purple flesh with a freestone. The flavour is good, the growth vigorous and its bears particularly well, in fact to get large fruits it may require thinning. The firm juicy flesh has a sweet spicy flavour. Self pollinating. 350 - 400 hours chill. Bears November to early December.<br />A four grafted apple, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Gala, Red Fuji Naga FU2, Pink Lady and Jonathan</span>. Also not forgetting the Almond. Will keep them small for netting and picking, well medium size I think I would like a lemon and a mandarin too. But patience. And a grapefruit. Might move the Apricot-it is a rare one a Blenheim.lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-38839150434147152162010-05-08T21:18:00.000-07:002010-05-08T21:23:36.580-07:00Autumn in the GardenFirstly, I have left my job at Geelong Botanic Gardens, mostly to peruse my studies, (in my usually over achieving way I thought I might do a Masters in Urban Horticulture), with working full time and all the other demands on my time, it got increasingly obvious that something had to give, and the paid work was on the bottom of the list! I will start up my classes again and am going to be setting up a community garden at Cloverdale Community Centre. Seems that the universe is pulling me that way. Strange how long this summer has been, the hot days kept coming back, which means I was able to grow sweet corn for that little bit longer. The garden is starting to take shape, here and at home. It takes about a year in a garden before you can really start to see how things work, how that unique little micro climate is just slightly different from everyone else around you. Everyone at Geelong West was most impressed with my corn.<br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhQRl_mwDHfLUbtG83nn3jNqIzGfYe75N5K5VE6MMC8aqiNr9mVr6I8YY17rCNSFHKaHbNGY7KmpgHXsdCJSPriyRKTu345l5A4hocwOR5roqTdKJu9sa2k44wyd67fd5REI0u8B5jdk/s1600/IMGP3921.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhQRl_mwDHfLUbtG83nn3jNqIzGfYe75N5K5VE6MMC8aqiNr9mVr6I8YY17rCNSFHKaHbNGY7KmpgHXsdCJSPriyRKTu345l5A4hocwOR5roqTdKJu9sa2k44wyd67fd5REI0u8B5jdk/s320/IMGP3921.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469120582909757058" /></a><br /> Have to keep reminding them that this is what I have done for my living for the past ten years so I should be pretty reasonable at it by now. The idea with this space is the paths of bricks and herbs mean I don’t have to step on the growing beds, keeping the soil light and friable. In front of the corn is some potatoes, not sure which type, I will find out in a few months. <br />Last week I added 2 enormous bags of sheep manure, the garden gets things like this and pea straw delivered and buying in bulk means we get a cheaper rate. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFBKyoLFkQzpk5_bSu_e9hCV6zlA7IGmUKaGvYIuTovPHy_mZ8U-Z3Uv7f6aW6QzHW2PkK1yH7X6XjeYl86dDhrA0Ufl2LzJuBizG85XGQP0jJHnSYZjW1xGwZgZ0ZHaYn-MTaooLPpo/s1600/IMGP3920.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFBKyoLFkQzpk5_bSu_e9hCV6zlA7IGmUKaGvYIuTovPHy_mZ8U-Z3Uv7f6aW6QzHW2PkK1yH7X6XjeYl86dDhrA0Ufl2LzJuBizG85XGQP0jJHnSYZjW1xGwZgZ0ZHaYn-MTaooLPpo/s320/IMGP3920.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469120586748743858" /></a> I poured it liberally over the garden, and other follow plotters were surprised at the amount I had used. I shrugged and replied that it doesn’t means it will work! The herbs seem to be working ok, put some snail bait down as with the rain, the hungry buggers decimated the French beans. Still enough pods on the two kinds for next year, Butter Bean and Brown Beauty both seem to do remarkably well in Geelong. The Brown Beauty is from saved seed, and unsurprisingly does so much better than the bought seed. <br /><br />The broccoli seems to be taking a long time to head up, and that was from saved seed, so with Brassicas tendency to cross pollinate (they are the sluts of the vegetable world), I am a little bit concerned they might be something else….time will tell. I dug in so much compost and the benefits can be seen in the plant growth and unfortunately the weeds, still from the nettles and mallow I know this means my soil is fertile and high in iron and nitrogen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkb7SyV1u3RLi5Nx9RziWpjxV0GQbu9Kvh0JLZGn7c5A7ezF0AUeFiE1wZgLdZb5zFtsB6fehPW4da0pezfaCdvWjKlNUMm_Z5RGIYdVUSyfYvLeL8pGU4xn3l-FrFcQsEL1Buhfc72A/s1600/IMGP3922.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkb7SyV1u3RLi5Nx9RziWpjxV0GQbu9Kvh0JLZGn7c5A7ezF0AUeFiE1wZgLdZb5zFtsB6fehPW4da0pezfaCdvWjKlNUMm_Z5RGIYdVUSyfYvLeL8pGU4xn3l-FrFcQsEL1Buhfc72A/s320/IMGP3922.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469120599883234578" /></a><br />In between the bricks can be seen growing thyme and oregano, two types the Greek and Wild oregano. The Greek has a much higher flavour and oil content or as I have been learning in my plant science class-the secondary metabolites-Terpenoids that give herbs their taste and aroma, it is a defence mechanism against insect pests, and is stored in glandular hairs (trichomes). The Greek oregano can be distinguished from the wild by the slightly hairy undersides of the leaves.<br />I guess now I will have more time for all things edible, and should be able to post more often.lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-20745085349584300652010-02-19T15:48:00.000-08:002010-02-19T15:55:27.296-08:00Growing Vegetables from SeedGrowing Vegetables from Seed<br /><br />• Growing vegetables from seed is fast and cost effective, one packet of seeds can contain up to 200 seeds and cost as little as $4<br /><br />Germination of a Seed<br />Germination is the beginning of growth of a seed. The seed must have the right level of warmth and moisture to begin to germinate. First, the seed leaves absorb moisture which allows the food reserves to become available to the new plant. It can then produce a root so that it can find its own water, followed by a shoot which develops from the plumule, which will allow it to absorb light. The plant needs both water and light to grow. <br />Sometimes, the seed leaves, or cotyledons, remain below the surface of the soil, as in germination of a Pea, below. This is called Hypogeal Germination. <br /> <br /><br /><br />In some species, the seed leaves remain on the new shoot and are brought above the ground, as in germination of the Ash tree, below. This is called Epigeal Germination. <br /> <br /><br />Ref:<br />http://theseedsite.co.uk/germinating.html<br /><br /><br />Germination requirements<br /><br />• Water to re-hydrate the seed and for the growing seedling. The seed compost needs to be moisture retentive<br />• Oxygen is required by the seed for respiration (breathing) The seed compost must be well aerated and well drained<br />• Warmth is required different seeds require different temperatures, tomatoes for instance require 20+ to germinate, most good seed companies will provide germination temperatures<br />• Dormancy needs to be broken this can be called ‘stratification’, some seed needs to be pre soaked or scarified to break dormancy<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Materials<br /><br />• Seed raising compost<br />• Containers<br />Squat pot or modules, some seed such as tomatoes can be sown direct<br /><br />• Tools<br /><br />Labels and pens<br />Sieve<br />Fine watering spray<br /><br />• Growing environment<br />Cold frame, glasshouse or mini green house, i.e. seed raising kit<br /><br />Sowing seed in containers<br />• Fill container evenly with compost<br />• Make level by tapping or striking off<br />• Firming<br />• Sowing either one seed per container or evenly broadcast over tray<br />• Cover with sieved mixture normally to the depth depends on the size of the seed<br />• Watering-gently with a fine spray<br />• Label-name, origin , date<br />• Environment-cover with glass or put in mini propagating case<br /><br /><br />Seedling Diseases<br /><br />• Damping off<br />Caused by bad hygiene make sure all pots are washed with beach<br /><br />Seedling Pest<br /><br />• Mice<br />• Slugs<br /><br />Sowing Direct<br /><br />Seedbed<br />• Level<br />• Friable<br />• Moisture retentive<br />• Well drained and aerated<br />• pH 6.5-7.5<br /><br />Making a seed bed<br /><br />• Weed<br />• Cultivate<br />• Firming<br />• Levelling<br />• Fertilising<br />Sowing<br />• Broadcasting<br />When seed is sown scattered over a site<br />• Sowing in drills<br />Sowing in lines<br />Make a furrow with a hoe<br />Seed can be mixed with sand to ensure even spacing<br />Rake back soil and water<br />Row should be labelled with date<br />Soil depth depends on the size of the seed<br />After Care<br /><br />• Labelling<br />• Thin seedlings<br />• Weed control<br />• Irrigation<br />• Shadinglilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-37230112936462366282010-01-17T12:44:00.000-08:002010-01-17T13:15:55.507-08:00Dispite the heat new life begins to show.<span style="font-style:italic;">I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation. It was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a hill of beans thrusting aside the soil, or a rose of early peas just peeping forth sufficiently to trace a line of delicate green</span>. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mosses from and Old Manse<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkpJHHKyWOCAm1aWDhnUAbhf97egJgZTMlMQc7IsiPqvkHkucS1LZvAjBwmk4lwuTJbESnnQbSjp3eJMEyvlktA1LhNKR88Sq8wz361Ih3pEu30yI-8b_sj3whyphenhyphen5OnHyXtYrUMaCmmgQ/s1600-h/IMGP3870.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkpJHHKyWOCAm1aWDhnUAbhf97egJgZTMlMQc7IsiPqvkHkucS1LZvAjBwmk4lwuTJbESnnQbSjp3eJMEyvlktA1LhNKR88Sq8wz361Ih3pEu30yI-8b_sj3whyphenhyphen5OnHyXtYrUMaCmmgQ/s320/IMGP3870.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427819567808542866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeOcmG8rElmZxVaf7Ne5CUO4mXosLVYeKaU3XlToxFO3EyHkgjLTR884UJHB8XP_wEAJsiA-gpKPdySywjNcqVRDmvnhnmt9uffpf7E_tzPE3QVKtxLdD06rNE6L-8YFlEIlcxnzqJvE/s1600-h/IMGP3869.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeOcmG8rElmZxVaf7Ne5CUO4mXosLVYeKaU3XlToxFO3EyHkgjLTR884UJHB8XP_wEAJsiA-gpKPdySywjNcqVRDmvnhnmt9uffpf7E_tzPE3QVKtxLdD06rNE6L-8YFlEIlcxnzqJvE/s320/IMGP3869.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427819561670958754" /></a><br />Well in a short space of time the main work in the garden is completed. Being a renter it is nice to have a plot of land that one can make long term plans with. My gardens at home have always been planted on a year by year basis, never knowing if the landlord is going to sell the house from under me. Still have plans to buy somewhere soon, but with a very small garden, so permanence is a factor that I will soon have to take account of in my gardening . <br />As you can see from the photos the ground has been dug over, and while it is not something I advocate, once is all this plot needed, it also is the only way to dig out the couch grass. That really is the only weed I worry about, as it produces a hormone that inhibits plant growth. I brought some more compost for the potatoes, and leveled it on top; really need another bucket to top it up. Sticking to my principles I am not digging in the compost just laying it on top.<br />The whole area, which is 5M x 5M, has been divided up into 6 areas, 8 if you include the 2 small raised Beds at the back. Starting on the left side, from front to back I have sown,<br />1. Bush Beans, Butter Bean and Slenderette<br />2. Brassicas, Broccoli and Kale (although they haven’t actually been planted and are still in seedling form in a punnet at work)<br />3. Soy Beans, more a green manure than a crop<br />And on the right side<br /><br />1. Potatoes- Cranberry Red, I originally bought the seed from Diggers Club, (www.diggers.com.au) it is a very tasty potato, so far great for roasting, and in a potato salad<br />2. Sweet corn-Early Chief<br />3. Beetroot-Golden and Early Wonder, have grown both before successfully.<br /> <br /> I am really am surprised how little time I spend here, about 2 hours a week and it is very productive. I have been coming an hour before watering time although I think I only need half an hour. We shall see.lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-27824514661622495372010-01-01T20:31:00.000-08:002010-01-01T20:46:03.494-08:00Work in Community Plot<span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Many gardeners will agree that hand-weeding is not the terrible drudgery that it is often made out to be. Some people find in it a kind of soothing monotony. It leaves their minds free to develop the plot for their next novel or to perfect the brilliant repartee with which they should have encountered a relative's latest example of unreasonableness. ~Christopher Lloyd, The Well-Tempered Garden, 1973</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_rWSLMKbIw6uUs3VL9jGkNw3CQcoIhvdNC14oidj8ULqmTDOVMP2uh4jMMxGxjcrYycVx3u-Mxq2dVehOeDn8FukvnQFz3ClUTqY28xAuPwL-jOFl3yhrx3Q34S12DV5bj7E_H-aOec/s1600-h/IMGP3863.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_rWSLMKbIw6uUs3VL9jGkNw3CQcoIhvdNC14oidj8ULqmTDOVMP2uh4jMMxGxjcrYycVx3u-Mxq2dVehOeDn8FukvnQFz3ClUTqY28xAuPwL-jOFl3yhrx3Q34S12DV5bj7E_H-aOec/s320/IMGP3863.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421997968684539730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6RSemg7P4T9LTuTDqInK9_a-FR8xsfByLYhIOQmeaET3LpDOG8z_5oHt7B8xBuuhAXGhAT-quIXnOsn1YmRSv7MNlnLRxRIbV5kc36sOuDyI2K1eDKqAuYiROJJEPvs7hyphenhyphenrNg261KHY/s1600-h/IMGP3862.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6RSemg7P4T9LTuTDqInK9_a-FR8xsfByLYhIOQmeaET3LpDOG8z_5oHt7B8xBuuhAXGhAT-quIXnOsn1YmRSv7MNlnLRxRIbV5kc36sOuDyI2K1eDKqAuYiROJJEPvs7hyphenhyphenrNg261KHY/s320/IMGP3862.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421997964517280450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ76w6-egJaTqHpERZo-gX0IrZSlPQDBiO30qeZeH8vvUNoxlqFR11qy88sb8UbQEGFN5EO7Fk5SYI1FrIFBwKWFvMcTzPJEbcY3Xw9FW6bOP3TwwoiZCe7oFviajO17LVrO9cw6P9oLc/s1600-h/IMGP3860.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ76w6-egJaTqHpERZo-gX0IrZSlPQDBiO30qeZeH8vvUNoxlqFR11qy88sb8UbQEGFN5EO7Fk5SYI1FrIFBwKWFvMcTzPJEbcY3Xw9FW6bOP3TwwoiZCe7oFviajO17LVrO9cw6P9oLc/s320/IMGP3860.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421997953043407634" /></a><br />Today I started to tidy up my plot at Geelong West Community Garden. I had already drawn up a plan of what I wanted to do while I was in the Philippines. I had decided to go a traditional 6 bed rotation system, with two small and thin beds at the back for climbers, such as raspberries or beans. I arrived and discovered two weeks had produced a ton of weeds! Never mind, I measured and marked out where the path would go built two small raised beds at the back. One Bed is completed dug over and covered with pea straw ready to go. I will so some seed in punnets and sow in about 2 weeks. The problem now is what?lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-10533407191002133032009-12-31T18:13:00.000-08:002009-12-31T23:06:56.128-08:00Vegetables in the PhilipinesVegetable Markets<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigehvaWN6idSQsxGTe8kaOvG4nLzI1wozK0d3mZoivx4qJk7NKp3q3tVfGAL60b1ruYuzb27FMNbvckKJIKLgGpfsc2GROT8zNH2cYr4WjpuqxnCLMRIyHHT3_UhRzUuI9zj0CljU22tQ/s1600-h/IMGP3271.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigehvaWN6idSQsxGTe8kaOvG4nLzI1wozK0d3mZoivx4qJk7NKp3q3tVfGAL60b1ruYuzb27FMNbvckKJIKLgGpfsc2GROT8zNH2cYr4WjpuqxnCLMRIyHHT3_UhRzUuI9zj0CljU22tQ/s320/IMGP3271.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421593052290501794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqp3_BYZsVunBhbjoA_60YoeFlCNcK33kaMaUlTJArUMsqH1C1INqL3vXxkKESm-BbpxhppWALT0M_zqbDxRvgdUpr99d51twJcT4dmPQaHeV46lTk-rB1Y4XHZxT1RiVa9Se-eAAPZI/s1600-h/IMGP3270.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqp3_BYZsVunBhbjoA_60YoeFlCNcK33kaMaUlTJArUMsqH1C1INqL3vXxkKESm-BbpxhppWALT0M_zqbDxRvgdUpr99d51twJcT4dmPQaHeV46lTk-rB1Y4XHZxT1RiVa9Se-eAAPZI/s320/IMGP3270.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421593042675932786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OhGcLO-D5YFMcELrPwHZNR7ppBItvs0EOXpO5NM_Tm6P1360H-1EaynxPN9RSc2NOlxfdyeJD3GlJ-ivjb48a91JOWnhmldwZNYr0G99utIQZlkeQj9ky1YO97E9jV22u8JU2c983tM/s1600-h/IMGP3261.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OhGcLO-D5YFMcELrPwHZNR7ppBItvs0EOXpO5NM_Tm6P1360H-1EaynxPN9RSc2NOlxfdyeJD3GlJ-ivjb48a91JOWnhmldwZNYr0G99utIQZlkeQj9ky1YO97E9jV22u8JU2c983tM/s320/IMGP3261.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421593037883620178" /></a><br />I had a wonderful time in the Philipines, took lots of photos of vegetable gardens and the market. Will hopefully have another trip in about a year and see some more. The picture below was a chicken stall in the local market in San Fernando, I especially liked the coloured boxes for carrying the chooks. My sisiter told me that at easter you could buy coloured chicks. Not too sure about that, but maybe they are punk chickens and like the colours.lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-38667302876530024142009-12-09T22:15:00.000-08:002009-12-09T22:26:10.732-08:00New Beginings Geelong West Community Garden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohwXWrM89uNN0akMnUihwkuFkR9mu27ASsEviCSPJUVe7AGNF8-f7RRtWQzfOibXjdydTf1zvh3HgQpM395_PT5-1uT2ivluf_k9Qqjvz-s84AxObtBNYVk1nvMmNkEVdKVy9A2V3Nhk/s1600-h/The+Begining.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohwXWrM89uNN0akMnUihwkuFkR9mu27ASsEviCSPJUVe7AGNF8-f7RRtWQzfOibXjdydTf1zvh3HgQpM395_PT5-1uT2ivluf_k9Qqjvz-s84AxObtBNYVk1nvMmNkEVdKVy9A2V3Nhk/s320/The+Begining.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413487934292549538" /></a><br />Oh the excitement, a while ago, I put my name down for a plot at Geelong West Community Garden, because one cannot grow enough vegetables, and being a renter I often have to re-start my garden, and can miss out on a season. I moved house last February and had to dig up all of my tomatoes, so sad. So my name came up, well there were people ahead of me, but they all declined????<br /><br />So I got a plot. Unfortunately I am off to the Philippines for a couple of weeks, expect lots of photos of exotic food plants. However when I return, work will start. I think my garden will be fairly conventional. I am going to divide the bed into 6 areas, with a brick or paver path (depending what turns up on free cycle). The it will be a 6 bed rotation system, growing everything from potatoes to cabbages... Watch this spacelilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8202930461801977085.post-80899650980896640582009-10-25T12:56:00.001-07:002009-10-25T13:03:50.549-07:00Thats the front and at the back<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXLD1rvWSbrGNayUGAGenwOf9vYNGoUOqZBzwW6qBmdwNk_SHwsU3ebgOttCdlbWgcc2EvW3C8h3VLUEQA526HzaV_m9bFc2PfHqT_Gda3j_Fnqy3txpKlRmSGJQ4_i9iu6ZG-TKp73U/s1600-h/IMGP3019.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXLD1rvWSbrGNayUGAGenwOf9vYNGoUOqZBzwW6qBmdwNk_SHwsU3ebgOttCdlbWgcc2EvW3C8h3VLUEQA526HzaV_m9bFc2PfHqT_Gda3j_Fnqy3txpKlRmSGJQ4_i9iu6ZG-TKp73U/s320/IMGP3019.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396630377933047634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFkuND4UdC7fW8r5tzavwtxBGofb2efjZfBQSnYnW6RJH7ZQOkVGWfSjvOX0Z2S_VH6_YIVvhuK8cuCV8YEjqs8NTsv9759KL-APDUxIc6VSStQjzpqqqjS-fkxH8ZM69ycwdrEM4RsM/s1600-h/IMGP3017.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFkuND4UdC7fW8r5tzavwtxBGofb2efjZfBQSnYnW6RJH7ZQOkVGWfSjvOX0Z2S_VH6_YIVvhuK8cuCV8YEjqs8NTsv9759KL-APDUxIc6VSStQjzpqqqjS-fkxH8ZM69ycwdrEM4RsM/s320/IMGP3017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396629221737242850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoDD7bdERC_MVmbU42qAXb0S_vHnamlu1S0NB9lRn_yZN7443MPraSPRp63I3-oRiLOjWO7fVR05gGReloTRM36WX0LFMmGrLEwpC80XAGK0b8JBEW26Nw_wRzbdnugGk2N_8E2IKbgY/s1600-h/IMGP3014.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoDD7bdERC_MVmbU42qAXb0S_vHnamlu1S0NB9lRn_yZN7443MPraSPRp63I3-oRiLOjWO7fVR05gGReloTRM36WX0LFMmGrLEwpC80XAGK0b8JBEW26Nw_wRzbdnugGk2N_8E2IKbgY/s320/IMGP3014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396629218004052962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7oPeaW5FohbAIiqXk11_aQM3li-_FbwwLFf-UY1tCVU1hi1V3wMVlv9553qEpkWTgkyCWJLb6GE3J0G2SKjL7LnA2iwaCMbrxIQcMaBUbsUelFwDvZlfrCJwisqPqRFamzodviSYQoY/s1600-h/IMGP3009.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7oPeaW5FohbAIiqXk11_aQM3li-_FbwwLFf-UY1tCVU1hi1V3wMVlv9553qEpkWTgkyCWJLb6GE3J0G2SKjL7LnA2iwaCMbrxIQcMaBUbsUelFwDvZlfrCJwisqPqRFamzodviSYQoY/s320/IMGP3009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396629214475563730" /></a><br />Behind the house, the garden is starting to grow too. The GIANT Allium, is Russian Garlic, given to me by a lady that I met on an Introduction to Permaculture course. It is enormous, each clove is the size of a normal garlic bulb. It has a milder flavour and roasted and eaten like an oniion. It is has been in her family for four generations, amazing. There are lots of varieties of heritage vegetables like this in australia, some of them have even become extinct in their original country. One of the many reasons why seeed saving is so important. The poatoes in their cages are doing well with all this rain.lilyflaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06386280558099180059noreply@blogger.com1