July 22 Deliveries

A gradual awakening after a winter lull saw everything spring to life!!!
No it isn't spring yet but things are definitely buzzing around the garden.

The arrival of one of the biggest water tanks around has signalled the beginning of the water harvesting program. The idea is to collect excess water from the Medical Centre's water tank and out buildings and sheds behind the hospital. As these are situated way up on top of the hill we can gravity feed to the tank which will be placed at the highest point on our garden block and use the water around the garden.

Hot on the heels of that delivery was our loo. It is a toilet kit which will be much easier to get through the council system than the original idea of composting toilets...it has worked out much cheaper too.

We have been promised several huge bales of straw too,
the first 2 have arrived.

On the 22nd a few of us got together and cleaned out the shed to make room for some new tools and stuff for the kids.

A cupboard and shelf unit have been donated and a couple more are on their way!
Should allow everything to have a spot of it's own to be put away after use.

Back at the growing beds the winter rains have seen the greens grow well. Time to eat them up to make room for some quick greens crops before the serious spring planting starts in September.

Plotter's Pleasure May 28th 2011

A chilly start to a Saturday (2.1C) morning that proceeded to become a drizzly morning. A brave band of 5 plotters chatted, swapped ideas and drank coffee!! We also had a few visitors come along for a peek at what we are all about!

These lettuces are about to flower...
...they are still providing some colour.
Drunken Woman is the name of this variety.
mmmm...

The kids were looking for jobs to do...
...an in-situ compost heap was started in one of the big tank beds.

We found this curious little grasshopper...
...he was missing one of his back legs...
...I wonder if he hops in circles????

I do think someone needs to tell Spudnip that you can not grow coffee by planting your coffee cup in your tank bed...despite the Broccoli and Kale doing so well!! Even a brave little chilli plant is still growing after all the frosty mornings we have had already this year.

May 14th Working Bee

Amazing work from a small group saw

the new trees mulched,
shades up on the new beds
and weeds trimmed down.
Well Done All!

Thanks to Spudnip for the photos

May 6 & 7 Working Bees

Planting began on Friday 6th June with more Old Man Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) along the rocky eastern 'top' of the garden. Each hole was dug with a motorised posthole digger as the ground is far too hard and rocky to dig by hand.

Each hole was filled with water then the plants were laid out and later planted.
Along the southern and Northern boundary fences a selection of Eremophilas, Acaias, Melaleucas, Eucalyptus and Callistemon trees/shrubs were planted.

Saturday's Working Bee crew got to work adding the irrigation hoses, covering each young plant with a protective 'hat' (see here) and adding a dripper to each plant! Phew there were a lot of plants. Now the are windbreak plantings on each of the fencelines.

The sleeper lined edge of the top layer of the garden has been planted with some tough flowering plants. Rosemary, Lavenders, Pigface, Silverbush (Convolvulus cneorum), Melaleuca and Acacia. These too have drippers attached. As these plants grow they will provide shelter for other herbs and flowers to be planted for beneficial insect/bird attraction.

The other low children's bed has been planted with some leftover Brassica and Parcel seedlings along with some Tree Onions (Walking/Egyptian Onions) which should provide some interest later in the season when these plants flower with their tiny onions instead of petals!!

There will be a quick Working Bee
on Saturday 14th May
to spread mulch around the new windbreak plants.