I have been watching Country Calendar Goes Green, a DVD of organic episodes. Every Saturday evening since TV began Channel One has been showing Country Calendar. City slickers/suburbanites like me watch in awe as farmers talk about stock levels, 4 AM milkings, pasture, drenching and dreaded drought over acres of land 100 times more than I can ever dream of owning.
But I thought maybe I can learn something from the farmers. So I have been taking notes. In these episodes a small handful of farmers farm the organic way and talk about the challenges and triumphs of going organic. A few even say they farm biodynamically, which the presenter tells us is 'organics plus'.
Conventional farming is basically reliant on chemicals - fertiliser, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides.
However biodynamic organic farming, seen as 'fringe' for many, is not only the absence of these harmful synthetic poisons, but involves quite labour intensive practices like - following moon cycles, spraying with preparations of cow horns and manure, homeopathic remedies, letting weeds grow for animals to graze, burning harmful weeds and spreading ashes, diversifying, mulching, and marketing.
I'm not sure if biodynamics is just a fancy fertility cult worshippers are prepared to pay a higher price for and and farmers are jumping on the bandwagon, but maybe there is something in Rudolph Steiner's mysticism. I once tried to read a book of Steiner's philosophies but could make neither head nor tail of it. Something about anthroposophy and earth energies and potentising.
Surely permaculture is not this way out wacky. Because on the surface it seems like the two are similar. If we end up doing downward dogs exercises and corpsing and putting decapitated Buddha heads in our gardens because it balances the Feng Shui then maybe I might think twice about completing the APW.
Which is this Saturday! I am thinking of Permaculture Principle number 6. Produce No Waste
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
And with that I am taking Karyn's free fish guts to this evening's Woodside garden meeting where she will show me what to do with them. Did you know a box of worms cost $45? Organic gardening can be pricy for the masses. I was thinking that's why Prince Charles can afford to do it but the rest of us underling subjects can't. I tried putting in a request for a worm share on Neighbourly and again, nobody had any worms to share. So my old toilet basin is still sitting empty waiting for worm workers for the day I miraculously find a job to pay for their wages.
Sunday, 26 February 2017
Thursday, 23 February 2017
The circle of life
I have been thinking lately of the circle of life. Before rushing out and singing to Elton John's soundtrack to Lion King in the depths of cartoon Africa something of wildlife and nature happens right here in our backyards.
Permaculture Principle 5: Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services
Let nature take its course
As it's nearing autumn and many herbs are going to seed, many fruits are ripening to harvest. I have found I don't really need to buy chive plants as Woodside chives had already gone to seed all I had to do was chop the seed heads off and scatter them to my garden border. The borage was also going to seed so I just snipped them too to put in my border, along with calendula. Thanks nature!
Dad has filled the compost bin with more grass clippings from the lawn so I put a few clippings on my pumpkin/melon/corn bed. I hope I haven't inadvertently returned weed seeds to the soil. Generally I bin the invasive ones that may go to seed but some of them I just uproot and leave on the ground as mulch. Karyn's also showing me how to make fish fertiliser from fish guts.
Carbon Sequestration is another thing I'm learning which basically means a fancy name for putting charcoal/ashes on the soil to improve mineral uptake. Greenies have called it 'biochar' but to me it just looks like charcoal. This is going to help with creating and mantaining soils by adding these natural amendments. I can also burning weeds and use the ashes.
My natural pollination and pest control is basically bees, bunnies, cats and chickens. Atmospheric regulation and local climate means although I have no way of controlling the weather I do pray God who made everything, will blow wind and send rain when it's needed. I am working on purifying water..haven't yet come up with a foolproof rain harvesting plan other than setting some glass jars out to catch the rain, and my production of raw materials so far has been an abundant harvest of mugwort. Everything is looking biologically productive and diverse - it would be anathema for me to even consider gardening for money. If I do that, all I would be growing would be one type of crop after the other for the market and that's no fun.
We take these services for granted because they are provided free of charge by nature - NZ biodiversity strategy
Speaking of being free of charge Myra's horror story was aired on TV3 Newshub the other night about this conman landscape gardener who charged her a $2500 deposit, failed to show up for six months and then hacked her plum tree. Which is why me and Louise are gardening her place for love, because the silly man who just got out of prison (obviously, he didn't learn anything, like how to be honest) promised to refund her money but she only got half back. And he's been cheating 16 other people to the tune of $40,000. Crikey!
Permaculture Principle 5: Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services
Let nature take its course
As it's nearing autumn and many herbs are going to seed, many fruits are ripening to harvest. I have found I don't really need to buy chive plants as Woodside chives had already gone to seed all I had to do was chop the seed heads off and scatter them to my garden border. The borage was also going to seed so I just snipped them too to put in my border, along with calendula. Thanks nature!
Dad has filled the compost bin with more grass clippings from the lawn so I put a few clippings on my pumpkin/melon/corn bed. I hope I haven't inadvertently returned weed seeds to the soil. Generally I bin the invasive ones that may go to seed but some of them I just uproot and leave on the ground as mulch. Karyn's also showing me how to make fish fertiliser from fish guts.
Carbon Sequestration is another thing I'm learning which basically means a fancy name for putting charcoal/ashes on the soil to improve mineral uptake. Greenies have called it 'biochar' but to me it just looks like charcoal. This is going to help with creating and mantaining soils by adding these natural amendments. I can also burning weeds and use the ashes.
My natural pollination and pest control is basically bees, bunnies, cats and chickens. Atmospheric regulation and local climate means although I have no way of controlling the weather I do pray God who made everything, will blow wind and send rain when it's needed. I am working on purifying water..haven't yet come up with a foolproof rain harvesting plan other than setting some glass jars out to catch the rain, and my production of raw materials so far has been an abundant harvest of mugwort. Everything is looking biologically productive and diverse - it would be anathema for me to even consider gardening for money. If I do that, all I would be growing would be one type of crop after the other for the market and that's no fun.
We take these services for granted because they are provided free of charge by nature - NZ biodiversity strategy
Speaking of being free of charge Myra's horror story was aired on TV3 Newshub the other night about this conman landscape gardener who charged her a $2500 deposit, failed to show up for six months and then hacked her plum tree. Which is why me and Louise are gardening her place for love, because the silly man who just got out of prison (obviously, he didn't learn anything, like how to be honest) promised to refund her money but she only got half back. And he's been cheating 16 other people to the tune of $40,000. Crikey!
Monday, 20 February 2017
Feedback
When I think of feedback I just have this picture of vomit. You feed and then it comes back to you. Or possibly regurgitation. Anyway it's not exactly a pretty picture, but it can be positive or negative.
Perhaps if I ask the right question, for example, do you like my garden? As opposed to, what do you think of my garden? The first question will force people to think yes, they have to say YES whereas if I ask the latter people will studiously ignore me. Then they might later point out it's full of weeds, is missing Shakespeare quotes or some other thing I hadn't really noticed.
I am struggling with the fourth principle a bit in permaculture as it's this.
Principle 4. Apply Self Regulation and Accept Feedback.
The sins of the fathers are visited on the children unto the seventh generation
This all sounds a bit Old Testamenty to me. Or is it, if you throw something holy to the dogs they will rend and bite you, the same as casting pearls before swine? (Negative) but on the other hand, If you teach a man to fish as opposed to giving him one he can fish for more than one day? (Positive)?
All I know is I recently put some plastic pots out, advertised it all on Neighbourly website, the first lot went, hooray, but then the second lot I put out was just sitting there for days and nobody took them, even when about three different neighbours said they'd come and take them. Finally I got tired of seeing those pots sitting outside my gate saying FREE POTS Please Help Yourselves, and nobody helping any, that I took them back.
Is this negative feedback and teaching me to self-regulate, and not buy so many plants? Or maybe it means I am meant to use them for something, like making cuttings for our food forest/orchard.
*brain neurotransmitters swirling*
In other self-regulatory news I have put in more lawn chamomile near the woolly thymes in the driveway bed, as well as adding some snow in summer. Or cerastium, as Bunnings sales assistant girl informs me. I have to know the Latin name you see, otherwise she won't serve me.
Ok ok I'm really bad at accepting feedback. I would prefer it if my plants talked back to me instead of non-gardening people butting their unwanted opinions on me, or maybe...they can write blogs of their own? However, the technology is here, it's all self-regulatory, and you can now post comments on Facebook to your hearts content, and below, and you won't be blocked and I won't unfriend you.
It's like I have read all these brilliant books on Book Chooks and all people want to talk about is what they saw on tv. I even had one so-called friend say 'I'm sorry your program is on at the same time as the tv and the tv program is more important'. Well thanks a lot for that piece of feedback, it's not as if I can change the time just to suit you. And, by the way, I don't think the tv cares to be your friend, but, don't you think that's a little hurtful to tell me some electronic box show you can record is more important than my brilliant show? Come on, TV has advertising we all know it's there to make money yet have I put any product placement in MY show? Do I make any profit from it? Noo. Am I constantly asking you to buy stuff? Like Facebook does?? Nooo.
Oh just accept it Selina. Sigh. Maybe all those sins my fathers did are rebounding on me. Lord have mercy.
Perhaps if I ask the right question, for example, do you like my garden? As opposed to, what do you think of my garden? The first question will force people to think yes, they have to say YES whereas if I ask the latter people will studiously ignore me. Then they might later point out it's full of weeds, is missing Shakespeare quotes or some other thing I hadn't really noticed.
I am struggling with the fourth principle a bit in permaculture as it's this.
Principle 4. Apply Self Regulation and Accept Feedback.
The sins of the fathers are visited on the children unto the seventh generation
This all sounds a bit Old Testamenty to me. Or is it, if you throw something holy to the dogs they will rend and bite you, the same as casting pearls before swine? (Negative) but on the other hand, If you teach a man to fish as opposed to giving him one he can fish for more than one day? (Positive)?
All I know is I recently put some plastic pots out, advertised it all on Neighbourly website, the first lot went, hooray, but then the second lot I put out was just sitting there for days and nobody took them, even when about three different neighbours said they'd come and take them. Finally I got tired of seeing those pots sitting outside my gate saying FREE POTS Please Help Yourselves, and nobody helping any, that I took them back.
Is this negative feedback and teaching me to self-regulate, and not buy so many plants? Or maybe it means I am meant to use them for something, like making cuttings for our food forest/orchard.
*brain neurotransmitters swirling*
In other self-regulatory news I have put in more lawn chamomile near the woolly thymes in the driveway bed, as well as adding some snow in summer. Or cerastium, as Bunnings sales assistant girl informs me. I have to know the Latin name you see, otherwise she won't serve me.
Ok ok I'm really bad at accepting feedback. I would prefer it if my plants talked back to me instead of non-gardening people butting their unwanted opinions on me, or maybe...they can write blogs of their own? However, the technology is here, it's all self-regulatory, and you can now post comments on Facebook to your hearts content, and below, and you won't be blocked and I won't unfriend you.
It's like I have read all these brilliant books on Book Chooks and all people want to talk about is what they saw on tv. I even had one so-called friend say 'I'm sorry your program is on at the same time as the tv and the tv program is more important'. Well thanks a lot for that piece of feedback, it's not as if I can change the time just to suit you. And, by the way, I don't think the tv cares to be your friend, but, don't you think that's a little hurtful to tell me some electronic box show you can record is more important than my brilliant show? Come on, TV has advertising we all know it's there to make money yet have I put any product placement in MY show? Do I make any profit from it? Noo. Am I constantly asking you to buy stuff? Like Facebook does?? Nooo.
Oh just accept it Selina. Sigh. Maybe all those sins my fathers did are rebounding on me. Lord have mercy.
Sunday, 19 February 2017
Mahoenui Farm
Yesterday Louise, her husband and I visited Mahoenui Farm. Or rather Mahoenui Lodge as it turns out as it's a luxury farmstay complete with an English style garden, parterre, includes a tennis court, cricket pitch, pond, woodland planting forest glade among the oaks, and olive/stone fruit orchard on which graze sheep.
It's quite amazing and right nextdoor to Mincher. The borders are sweeping the edges in which grow under the shade of various English type trees, hydrangeas, clivia, mondo grass, liriope, masses of clipped hedges, salvias etc.
The parterre has vegetables, of which eggplants are cropping as well as cucumbers, marrows, lettuce, grape covered pergolas, all surrounded by buxus hedging. Bantam chickens roam freely. There's also a cottage garden with masses of delphiniums, and weeping cherry, as well as the requisite english roses and lavender.
It's really quite lovely although less formal than Mincher with curved borders and little woodland walks, many garden seats, but I can imagine that the owners put in a lot of workers to garden this property. I'm not sure if this is an Heroic garden in that the original festival was for GLBT owners to showcase their gardens for Hospice and we didn't want to question the owners too much...we were dying to know how they could possibly afford to do all this, but of course we didn't ask them.
There were about four dwellings on the property of which we imagined, for such an estate, there to be a chauffeur, maid, butler, nanny, cook, housekeeper, gardener...
Anyway! Photos below. Permaculture principles, well it does tick two of them but I did notice their parterre wasn't mulched so maybe they hadn't got round to it, I couldn't see any compost bins although there was a glasshouse and the pergolas were dripping with grapes near the house so was very tempted to pluck a few, but instead I took two photos instead can't really do it justice you need to go wander in yourself!
It's quite amazing and right nextdoor to Mincher. The borders are sweeping the edges in which grow under the shade of various English type trees, hydrangeas, clivia, mondo grass, liriope, masses of clipped hedges, salvias etc.
The parterre has vegetables, of which eggplants are cropping as well as cucumbers, marrows, lettuce, grape covered pergolas, all surrounded by buxus hedging. Bantam chickens roam freely. There's also a cottage garden with masses of delphiniums, and weeping cherry, as well as the requisite english roses and lavender.
It's really quite lovely although less formal than Mincher with curved borders and little woodland walks, many garden seats, but I can imagine that the owners put in a lot of workers to garden this property. I'm not sure if this is an Heroic garden in that the original festival was for GLBT owners to showcase their gardens for Hospice and we didn't want to question the owners too much...we were dying to know how they could possibly afford to do all this, but of course we didn't ask them.
There were about four dwellings on the property of which we imagined, for such an estate, there to be a chauffeur, maid, butler, nanny, cook, housekeeper, gardener...
Anyway! Photos below. Permaculture principles, well it does tick two of them but I did notice their parterre wasn't mulched so maybe they hadn't got round to it, I couldn't see any compost bins although there was a glasshouse and the pergolas were dripping with grapes near the house so was very tempted to pluck a few, but instead I took two photos instead can't really do it justice you need to go wander in yourself!
 |
| Butterfly lands on sedum and dahlias on the sunny side of the woodland border |
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| By the parterre- kitchen garden |
Saturday, 18 February 2017
Free plastic pots come take them...
I have left plastic pots outside my gate for anyone to come take them as not reusing them. The first lot are gone but the second lot are still there..and the box got soggy from the rain. I had so many pots I didn't know what to do with them as am not nursing any plants. But maybe I should start again now have a greenhouse, some seed raising mix and I DO have some german chamomile seeds. However seed raising is an skill I am not the best at - I am a terrible nurse and forget the watering. I need to devise a fail proof system in which I ask Mother Nature to do the task for me.
Principle 3 of permaculture 101 is Obtain a Yield. You can't work on an empty stomach
When I look at my garden the yields have been mostly from fruit - tangelo, feijoas, peach. My vegetable yield this year is going to be pumpkin, melon, tomato and capsicum.
My herb yield is rosemary, lavender, thyme, oregano, chamomile.
Edible gardens have become all the rage now and definitely the rewards are great for ones stomach. I do think with dismay how some gardeners totally neglect the edible part of their garden in favour of ornamentals. Yes vegetables and fruit require more care but if you spending that much on ornamentals might as well grow edibles because they can be beautiful plants as well!
I remember visiting Ayrlies and while it is a lovely garden I got back home and wondered where the vege patch was. Maybe it wasn't looking so beautiful or maybe the owner didn't want her veges nicked. Back in medieval times the edible garden was an artform, because they had potagers but it seems that kind of gardening fell by the wayside with the advent of landscapers and industrialisation. Thankfully with the permaculture movement it's making a return. I am now reading 'The Permaculture Handbook' Garden farming for Town and Country. It seems like things are pretty dire in North America where the book is published, you would think for a vast country like the USA they would have plenty but it seems like the land is just wasted on monoculture industrial agrofarming methods. Which is why it's such a dustbowl and everyone there lives on junk food? Hopefully Americans will wake up and start gardening again with aplomb like their British and French counterparts. The only thing they need to contend with is deer. In England it's foxes, in New Zealand it's bloody Pukekos. In France they have no problem cos they eat everything, even snails.
I have just weeded more of the rock bed outside the back door and planted more woolly and emerald carpet thyme, roman chamomile, and oregano. I have also put in (for decorative purposes) echevrias, sedum, lambs ears, more spider plant babies, common thyme, aenomiums, creeping fuschia and catmint. My weedeating Socks Bunny has been helping me keep the weeds down. It seems none of the neighbours are claiming him (or her?) although one neighbour, who works at the Vet, said if we manage to catch it we could take it in and see if its microchipped and then return to its owner if it is, but somehow I doubt it will be. Mummy Cat isn't microchipped. I think only dog owners would go to the trouble and expense as dogs need to be registered but cats, rabbits and chickens have no such requirement.
Anyway off to visit an Heroic Garden in Coatesville today after church so will report back and tell you if it's up to Permaculture standards!
Principle 3 of permaculture 101 is Obtain a Yield. You can't work on an empty stomach
When I look at my garden the yields have been mostly from fruit - tangelo, feijoas, peach. My vegetable yield this year is going to be pumpkin, melon, tomato and capsicum.
My herb yield is rosemary, lavender, thyme, oregano, chamomile.
Edible gardens have become all the rage now and definitely the rewards are great for ones stomach. I do think with dismay how some gardeners totally neglect the edible part of their garden in favour of ornamentals. Yes vegetables and fruit require more care but if you spending that much on ornamentals might as well grow edibles because they can be beautiful plants as well!
I remember visiting Ayrlies and while it is a lovely garden I got back home and wondered where the vege patch was. Maybe it wasn't looking so beautiful or maybe the owner didn't want her veges nicked. Back in medieval times the edible garden was an artform, because they had potagers but it seems that kind of gardening fell by the wayside with the advent of landscapers and industrialisation. Thankfully with the permaculture movement it's making a return. I am now reading 'The Permaculture Handbook' Garden farming for Town and Country. It seems like things are pretty dire in North America where the book is published, you would think for a vast country like the USA they would have plenty but it seems like the land is just wasted on monoculture industrial agrofarming methods. Which is why it's such a dustbowl and everyone there lives on junk food? Hopefully Americans will wake up and start gardening again with aplomb like their British and French counterparts. The only thing they need to contend with is deer. In England it's foxes, in New Zealand it's bloody Pukekos. In France they have no problem cos they eat everything, even snails.
I have just weeded more of the rock bed outside the back door and planted more woolly and emerald carpet thyme, roman chamomile, and oregano. I have also put in (for decorative purposes) echevrias, sedum, lambs ears, more spider plant babies, common thyme, aenomiums, creeping fuschia and catmint. My weedeating Socks Bunny has been helping me keep the weeds down. It seems none of the neighbours are claiming him (or her?) although one neighbour, who works at the Vet, said if we manage to catch it we could take it in and see if its microchipped and then return to its owner if it is, but somehow I doubt it will be. Mummy Cat isn't microchipped. I think only dog owners would go to the trouble and expense as dogs need to be registered but cats, rabbits and chickens have no such requirement.
Anyway off to visit an Heroic Garden in Coatesville today after church so will report back and tell you if it's up to Permaculture standards!
Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Hooray..rain!
I used to love this song called 'Rainy Days and Mondays' by the Carpenters until I started gardening and then realised Karen Carpenter had got it all wrong. Rainy days shouldn't get me down, I should be doing a rain dance and singing, hallelujah my plants are being watered and I don't have to lift a finger!
Which brings me to Permaculture Principle number 2.
Catch and store energy - Make hay while the sun shines
Or in reverse, collect rainwater when it's raining. Duh. How did I not figure it out before? Because otherwise, home economics and the Auckland City Council tell you via a rates bill that you need to pay for it! So on that note I am looking at rainwater harvesting. I could put out buckets to collect this rainwater, and store it for future use, or, I could go for my already brilliant idea of digging a huge hole in my backyard to make a pond whereupon this water may safely be stored (for the wildlife, provided it does not turn into sludge) and any rain that falls on the garage roof be channelled into the appropriate receptacle thus bypassing the stormwater drains and going directly to my plants via my elaborate watering system of filling up a watering can.
Aren't I a genius? Well, no, its just I was very stupid before and living in cloud cuckoo land of suburbia where you just pays your money/bills and don't think about where it really goes.
I've decided since I don't have a lot of money left to go about living I'm not going to pay someone else to do the process of living life for me. Because if my plants depended upon my ability to make said money we would not be surviving for too long.
In other news I have shredded three more sacks of paper (goodbye secret jobs and TESOL worksheets) for mulch. Louise and I have mulched half of Myra's front bed so there still needs to be a bit more to be done so that kikuyu does not grow back and overtake everything in sight. It has already overtake one corner in which some kind of kikuyu bed enclosure appears that I think would make an excellent green playpen for toddlers. It might have been the former chicken run but now it's a mass of kikuyu that has grown so high you can sit on it like a sofa.
After that job is completed with the bark mulch on top so that people can in no way piece together my shredded library papers and accuse me of throwing my higher education away on someone else's garden, we plan to have a day off or day out and check out one of the Heroic Gardens of Coatesville called Mahoenui Farm and marvel at what was once strawberry fields. This weekend! So, if any of you reading this wants to join us and give $10 to the Hospice to look after the terminally ill, you can hop in one of our cars that will leave after church. We will just pray it doesn't rain this weekend.
Which brings me to Permaculture Principle number 2.
Catch and store energy - Make hay while the sun shines
Or in reverse, collect rainwater when it's raining. Duh. How did I not figure it out before? Because otherwise, home economics and the Auckland City Council tell you via a rates bill that you need to pay for it! So on that note I am looking at rainwater harvesting. I could put out buckets to collect this rainwater, and store it for future use, or, I could go for my already brilliant idea of digging a huge hole in my backyard to make a pond whereupon this water may safely be stored (for the wildlife, provided it does not turn into sludge) and any rain that falls on the garage roof be channelled into the appropriate receptacle thus bypassing the stormwater drains and going directly to my plants via my elaborate watering system of filling up a watering can.
Aren't I a genius? Well, no, its just I was very stupid before and living in cloud cuckoo land of suburbia where you just pays your money/bills and don't think about where it really goes.
I've decided since I don't have a lot of money left to go about living I'm not going to pay someone else to do the process of living life for me. Because if my plants depended upon my ability to make said money we would not be surviving for too long.
In other news I have shredded three more sacks of paper (goodbye secret jobs and TESOL worksheets) for mulch. Louise and I have mulched half of Myra's front bed so there still needs to be a bit more to be done so that kikuyu does not grow back and overtake everything in sight. It has already overtake one corner in which some kind of kikuyu bed enclosure appears that I think would make an excellent green playpen for toddlers. It might have been the former chicken run but now it's a mass of kikuyu that has grown so high you can sit on it like a sofa.
After that job is completed with the bark mulch on top so that people can in no way piece together my shredded library papers and accuse me of throwing my higher education away on someone else's garden, we plan to have a day off or day out and check out one of the Heroic Gardens of Coatesville called Mahoenui Farm and marvel at what was once strawberry fields. This weekend! So, if any of you reading this wants to join us and give $10 to the Hospice to look after the terminally ill, you can hop in one of our cars that will leave after church. We will just pray it doesn't rain this weekend.
Sunday, 12 February 2017
Prepare for Permablitz
Well I now have five sacks of shredded library papers waiting to be turned into sheet compost. Except I need all the other greens as well, only mum cut down all the mugwort to dry and so I can't use that. I'm not sure what she's planning on doing with it all.
Today I moved some lambs ears to the rocky bed as they seem to do well there, moved a fuchsia procumbens to trail near the hydrangea, replaced the container with a prostrate rosemary and spider plant and also removed an ailing rose bush to replace with upright rosemary, which I hope will grow into a good size hedge. I've decided to make a hedgerow for my border along the fence, and roses do not cut it as a hedge.
I am now reading 'The Permaculture Handbook' and absorbing the 12 principles of Permaculture.
Principle 1. Observe and interact. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Well looking at my backyard which is going to be the site of my permaculture garden, it seems its very...flat. And boring. Since all the top soil has been scraped away it is not especially fertile, and most of it is lawn. The north facing side of the house which would be best for growing crops has the least bit of land. The soil is clay.
The good thing about it is, its not en entire wasteland. My efforts, such as they are, to establish plants has meant there is quite a bit of diversity and interest, enough for birds, bees, butterflies, cats, chickens, ducks, hedgehogs and now even bunnies to visit my garden.
I have pitched a tent on my lawn to enjoy the summer weather under the tangelo tree which yields a juicy crop. My main issue is, I could grow more food plants and herbs if only the soil were not so deficient and hard clay. But how do I do this?
I am not allowed to put in anymore trees. One I grew from seed, a pear, is always being cut to stump by my parents. Apparently any tree is not allowed to grow too tall. Dad nearly destroyed a fig tree I tried to grow so am not really allowed to risk any. Grapevines grown near the fence did not survive the lawnmower. I would like to espalier a fruit tree on the side of the brick house but not sure which would be best suited.
I do not mow the lawns but Dad has an addiction to fossil fuel that I think he would not easily break. I have not actually seen him walk up to the shops, EVER. If he wants to go to the corner dairy, he drives in the car. He used to drive us to school when we could have walked. I am really paying for this mindset of throw-away convenience with the junk food he fed me and its just his habit that I grew up with.
It will be hard to re-educate him on permaculture ways to heal our suburban nearly 1/4 acre section. But I must start. If the oil runs out one day, he really wouldn't be able to go anywhere he pleases, work or mow the lawn and then I'd be stuck home with him all day and we will get into arguments. Another issue is I am not allowed to grow any trees within the vicinity of the temperature box/ weather station. Aside from that, I can grow most of my food at Woodside, but ideally I need to start replenishing the soil that we have at home. Which means mulch, mulch and more mulch.
Today I moved some lambs ears to the rocky bed as they seem to do well there, moved a fuchsia procumbens to trail near the hydrangea, replaced the container with a prostrate rosemary and spider plant and also removed an ailing rose bush to replace with upright rosemary, which I hope will grow into a good size hedge. I've decided to make a hedgerow for my border along the fence, and roses do not cut it as a hedge.
I am now reading 'The Permaculture Handbook' and absorbing the 12 principles of Permaculture.
Principle 1. Observe and interact. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Well looking at my backyard which is going to be the site of my permaculture garden, it seems its very...flat. And boring. Since all the top soil has been scraped away it is not especially fertile, and most of it is lawn. The north facing side of the house which would be best for growing crops has the least bit of land. The soil is clay.
The good thing about it is, its not en entire wasteland. My efforts, such as they are, to establish plants has meant there is quite a bit of diversity and interest, enough for birds, bees, butterflies, cats, chickens, ducks, hedgehogs and now even bunnies to visit my garden.
I have pitched a tent on my lawn to enjoy the summer weather under the tangelo tree which yields a juicy crop. My main issue is, I could grow more food plants and herbs if only the soil were not so deficient and hard clay. But how do I do this?
I am not allowed to put in anymore trees. One I grew from seed, a pear, is always being cut to stump by my parents. Apparently any tree is not allowed to grow too tall. Dad nearly destroyed a fig tree I tried to grow so am not really allowed to risk any. Grapevines grown near the fence did not survive the lawnmower. I would like to espalier a fruit tree on the side of the brick house but not sure which would be best suited.
I do not mow the lawns but Dad has an addiction to fossil fuel that I think he would not easily break. I have not actually seen him walk up to the shops, EVER. If he wants to go to the corner dairy, he drives in the car. He used to drive us to school when we could have walked. I am really paying for this mindset of throw-away convenience with the junk food he fed me and its just his habit that I grew up with.
It will be hard to re-educate him on permaculture ways to heal our suburban nearly 1/4 acre section. But I must start. If the oil runs out one day, he really wouldn't be able to go anywhere he pleases, work or mow the lawn and then I'd be stuck home with him all day and we will get into arguments. Another issue is I am not allowed to grow any trees within the vicinity of the temperature box/ weather station. Aside from that, I can grow most of my food at Woodside, but ideally I need to start replenishing the soil that we have at home. Which means mulch, mulch and more mulch.
This is the bunny that looks like Socks reincarnated
As long as the bunny eats my weeds it can stay....
Saturday, 11 February 2017
oh my brain...
It was a full on day at APW PDC workshop. See I am abbreviating everything already. Met lots of very interesting people all eager to learn about permaculture, which, FYI is...
'Conciously designed landscapes which mimic the pattern and relationships found in nature while yielding food, energy and fibre'
OR in short and punchy form - Earth Care, People Care, Surplus Share
It is the philosophical brainchild of two Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren who's theory and practice not only applies to gardens, but all our lives. If this isn't mindblowing well according to MIT system scientists Meadows et al who have written 'Limits to Growth' way back in the 70s and predict the earth is set to blow up. Ok not to be alarmist but, people have been measuring the earth's temperature and its been gradually heating up increasingly mostly over the past century - due to greenhouse gases etc and it seems climate change is inevitable.
I just call it Hell kindling, although some people aren't really aware of the reality of Hell, trying to deny it exists, but we do have a name for it, and athiests are calling it 'climate change'. This is the effect of man polluting God's creation. Unless we stop and repent, sadly, its not going to get any better for the inhabitants of the earth, not just me and you but future generations. The sins of our fathers are actually affecting us seven generations down the track.
Now this sin problem is now manifesting in 'predicaments' like..urbanisation, poverty, family dysfunction, water supply, selfies, energy depletion, fossil fuel convenience, weapons manufacture, acid rain, consumerism, greed, pollution, unemployment, debt, erosion, desertification, extinction, disease, etc etc. You get the picture. Arrgh! Stop the planet, I want to get off!
The bad news is our convenient energy supply that fuels our industrial/technological age, crude oil, or fossil fuel, is about to run out. We are resorting to methods like fracking to get this black gold which takes more energy to do than what we get out of it. So what is going to happen when our economic growth is stunted by us not being able to do anything anymore? I.e. electricity run by fossil fuels is no longer, we can't hop on a plane and fly anywhere, cars can no longer run on petrol, freight comes to a standstill, or imagine an earthquake not just affecting Christchurch but a world wide crisis. I said it would blow your mind..
The good news is permaculturalists are one step ahead of this and taking steps to 'power down' and slowly but surely restore the earth with our green fingers planting and caring for the land so that our carbon dioxide respiration is now going the other way by photosynthesis. Or something like that. I don't know, my brain is about to explode. More later!
'Conciously designed landscapes which mimic the pattern and relationships found in nature while yielding food, energy and fibre'
OR in short and punchy form - Earth Care, People Care, Surplus Share
It is the philosophical brainchild of two Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren who's theory and practice not only applies to gardens, but all our lives. If this isn't mindblowing well according to MIT system scientists Meadows et al who have written 'Limits to Growth' way back in the 70s and predict the earth is set to blow up. Ok not to be alarmist but, people have been measuring the earth's temperature and its been gradually heating up increasingly mostly over the past century - due to greenhouse gases etc and it seems climate change is inevitable.
I just call it Hell kindling, although some people aren't really aware of the reality of Hell, trying to deny it exists, but we do have a name for it, and athiests are calling it 'climate change'. This is the effect of man polluting God's creation. Unless we stop and repent, sadly, its not going to get any better for the inhabitants of the earth, not just me and you but future generations. The sins of our fathers are actually affecting us seven generations down the track.
Now this sin problem is now manifesting in 'predicaments' like..urbanisation, poverty, family dysfunction, water supply, selfies, energy depletion, fossil fuel convenience, weapons manufacture, acid rain, consumerism, greed, pollution, unemployment, debt, erosion, desertification, extinction, disease, etc etc. You get the picture. Arrgh! Stop the planet, I want to get off!
The bad news is our convenient energy supply that fuels our industrial/technological age, crude oil, or fossil fuel, is about to run out. We are resorting to methods like fracking to get this black gold which takes more energy to do than what we get out of it. So what is going to happen when our economic growth is stunted by us not being able to do anything anymore? I.e. electricity run by fossil fuels is no longer, we can't hop on a plane and fly anywhere, cars can no longer run on petrol, freight comes to a standstill, or imagine an earthquake not just affecting Christchurch but a world wide crisis. I said it would blow your mind..
The good news is permaculturalists are one step ahead of this and taking steps to 'power down' and slowly but surely restore the earth with our green fingers planting and caring for the land so that our carbon dioxide respiration is now going the other way by photosynthesis. Or something like that. I don't know, my brain is about to explode. More later!
Tuesday, 7 February 2017
Librarians Anonymous
So far I've got two sacks full of shredded library papers. I'm going to mulch Myra's bed with them so the kikuyu grass can't spread. Myra's front bed includes, an angel trumpet tree, manuka, lavender, philendron, echeverias, roses, lemons, borage, australian frangipani, and a few succulents and bulbs.
So far the mulch seems to be working in Ferndale and no unruly weeds have been sprouting amongst my pebbles. Another bed has the shredded library paper treatment in which I am going to drop more oriental lilies I've decided.
Loretta has been getting into gardening and has asked me to go up to Palmers Planet with her but seeing as its so expensive I think Mitre 10 may be a better option (it is right next door). If I go to Palmer's Planet I end up wandering around the expensive lifestyle options and wondering who's got a spare $5000 to drop on a spa pool or water feature. To go with the garden of course. My uncle? He just dug a giant hole in his backyard.
Am looking forward to the APW course this weekend where I will learn philosophy and design. I expect it will be pretty highbrow stuff judging by the jargon in the Powerpoints. Of course its all very technical but I wasn't expecting to learn a whole new language.
Here are some new words.
Gaia
Co-Evolution
Eco-sustainability
Karma
The Eco-Flower
Co-housing
Osmotic
Bioregion
Energetics
Cybernetics
Well at least there's no library words like
Primary Sources
Information Retrieval
OPAC
Thesauri
Inverted File
Alphanumeric Arrangement
Monograph
Abstract
Metadata
Authority Control
Populated Records
which are all going to end up as mulch for my flowers.
So far the mulch seems to be working in Ferndale and no unruly weeds have been sprouting amongst my pebbles. Another bed has the shredded library paper treatment in which I am going to drop more oriental lilies I've decided.
Loretta has been getting into gardening and has asked me to go up to Palmers Planet with her but seeing as its so expensive I think Mitre 10 may be a better option (it is right next door). If I go to Palmer's Planet I end up wandering around the expensive lifestyle options and wondering who's got a spare $5000 to drop on a spa pool or water feature. To go with the garden of course. My uncle? He just dug a giant hole in his backyard.
Am looking forward to the APW course this weekend where I will learn philosophy and design. I expect it will be pretty highbrow stuff judging by the jargon in the Powerpoints. Of course its all very technical but I wasn't expecting to learn a whole new language.
Here are some new words.
Gaia
Co-Evolution
Eco-sustainability
Karma
The Eco-Flower
Co-housing
Osmotic
Bioregion
Energetics
Cybernetics
Well at least there's no library words like
Primary Sources
Information Retrieval
OPAC
Thesauri
Inverted File
Alphanumeric Arrangement
Monograph
Abstract
Metadata
Authority Control
Populated Records
which are all going to end up as mulch for my flowers.
Monday, 6 February 2017
Life's companion - Rosemary
I am going to try Karyn's herbal rosemary recipes...sounds yummy
Rosemary Honey
Cut up fresh rosemary and place in a jar.
Heat enough honey to completely cover leaves and leave standing preferably in a warm place for 1-2 weeks.
Rosemary Fruit Punch
Mix 5 teaspoons of fresh rosemary and 1/2 cup of sugar in 6 cups of pineapple juice.
Bring to boil then simmer for 5 minutes.
Cool and strain.
Add 1 1/2 lemon juice and 3 cups of water.
Serve in a large bowl with 1 litre dry ginger ale.
Rosemary Honey
Cut up fresh rosemary and place in a jar.
Heat enough honey to completely cover leaves and leave standing preferably in a warm place for 1-2 weeks.
Rosemary Fruit Punch
Mix 5 teaspoons of fresh rosemary and 1/2 cup of sugar in 6 cups of pineapple juice.
Bring to boil then simmer for 5 minutes.
Cool and strain.
Add 1 1/2 lemon juice and 3 cups of water.
Serve in a large bowl with 1 litre dry ginger ale.
Saturday, 4 February 2017
Oh my gourd!
Something's or someone has been attacking the passionfruit vine! Yesterday was down at the Woodside garden and was happy to see the two passionfruits we planted starting to trail toward the arch yet one was losing all its leaves. It's a bit of a mystery, they are two different varieties and it seems the Black Beauty is losing the race while Golden Passionfruit still sports all its leaves.
We have a new arch after the old one broke due to some enthusiastic monkeys. Or maybe they were small humans. Not sure. Little munchkins seemed to be picking our silverbeets as well so Jacqui made a sign saying 'Don't cut our silverbeet you are killing them! Pick the outer leaves only!' Perhaps she should paint another sign saying 'Stop stripping the passionfruit! You are killing it!' but I'm not sure if the culprits even know how to read.
In the passionfruits bed we decided to give them companions of beans, both dwarf and purple climbing. I had attempted to sow scarlet runner beans in the same bed a few weeks ago but the seed packet said the seeds expired in 2000. Unless they miraculously revive, I don't think we'll see them sprout any time soon.
Another plant that has been attacked recently is one of the plum trees. Apparently it is beetles according to Kings Plant Barn doctors diagnosis of the leaves, so Jacqui is spraying it with Bugtroll.
I suggested we try neem tree granules/powder instead at the roots for immunity. I don't think a sign would work there either. 'Stop eating the plum tree leaves! You are killing it!'
Talking of killing or rather culling, the neighbours noticed our orchard looking a bit wild because it hasn't been mown, so Jacqui is asking around if anyone has a scythe. They are those tools that look like the Grim Reaper. It's to trim the paspalum. So please if anyone has one lying around not using we would like to borrow it. This is entirely for gardening purposes mind you we are not putting on a Halloween production. I don't know what we would call it if we did. 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay?' Or maybe Celebrity Plant Death Match - Wheat Vs Tares.
On the brighter side after our Book Chooks herb talk of life's companions I would like to share Karyn's herbal recipes but that's another post..
We have a new arch after the old one broke due to some enthusiastic monkeys. Or maybe they were small humans. Not sure. Little munchkins seemed to be picking our silverbeets as well so Jacqui made a sign saying 'Don't cut our silverbeet you are killing them! Pick the outer leaves only!' Perhaps she should paint another sign saying 'Stop stripping the passionfruit! You are killing it!' but I'm not sure if the culprits even know how to read.
In the passionfruits bed we decided to give them companions of beans, both dwarf and purple climbing. I had attempted to sow scarlet runner beans in the same bed a few weeks ago but the seed packet said the seeds expired in 2000. Unless they miraculously revive, I don't think we'll see them sprout any time soon.
Another plant that has been attacked recently is one of the plum trees. Apparently it is beetles according to Kings Plant Barn doctors diagnosis of the leaves, so Jacqui is spraying it with Bugtroll.
I suggested we try neem tree granules/powder instead at the roots for immunity. I don't think a sign would work there either. 'Stop eating the plum tree leaves! You are killing it!'
Talking of killing or rather culling, the neighbours noticed our orchard looking a bit wild because it hasn't been mown, so Jacqui is asking around if anyone has a scythe. They are those tools that look like the Grim Reaper. It's to trim the paspalum. So please if anyone has one lying around not using we would like to borrow it. This is entirely for gardening purposes mind you we are not putting on a Halloween production. I don't know what we would call it if we did. 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay?' Or maybe Celebrity Plant Death Match - Wheat Vs Tares.
On the brighter side after our Book Chooks herb talk of life's companions I would like to share Karyn's herbal recipes but that's another post..
Wednesday, 1 February 2017
Photos of the fernery!!
Dad took these photos.
Yea for Dads. He made sure the plants said 'cheese'. More to come...
Yea for Dads. He made sure the plants said 'cheese'. More to come...
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| New pebble mulch - and library papers |
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| Bird's eye view |
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| Lambs ears and thyme by path |
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