Why Hemp

The choice of Hemp and Hemp/Cotton blends for the Lilliane Wilde tea towel range was both practical (it is a top quality, anti-bacterial, hardy fabric) and ethical (Hemp plants can be grown quickly, without the need for pesticides and without the need for as much water as cotton alone). The use of Hemp for Industry is second to none! This was shared by a friend over lunch one day and had everyone converted in minutes! I hope it does the same for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZAvYsAXwVM

About three weeks ago I was weeding around the plum tree and thought what a shame that the Cabbages I had planted beneath had bolted. My efficient-self was eager to pull them out and add them to the compost bin. Another quiter-self said, not now. Lucky they didn’t get the yank… as I got a fabulous fright to see two big white Cauliflower faces smiling up at me – seemingly sprouting over night.

I harvested them today and not a bug in sight!

Curried Cauliflower for dinner!

Today while listening to the bush Telegraph on Radio National – Linda Eldredge’s description of working the land while referencing her apps via her iphone and making the paddock her office got the host and in turn myself very excited.

Although determined not to be online 24/7 and therefore holding off the temptations from my phone company to sign up for an iphone, this interview conjured in me some practical uses for Permaculture Design.

For example. Being able to assess a remote property – anywhere on the globe in fact and reporting back a Permculutre design with the aid of video footage.

Also an accurate assessment of lay of the land, climate patterns and topography, while walking the land with a client.

I think it is early days – this interview will provide some inspiration for those (like myself) who are tech wary!

From the kitchen table to the tablet, Nuffield scholar researches real-time technology – Bush Telegraph – ABC Rural (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

I recently came across the Sci-Fi Classic Soylent Green.

This movie came to my attention in an introduction by Thomas Fischbacher for the transcript of Bill Mollison’s PDC Course (see below).

Set in 2022 and made in 1973 it got me thinking about our own 50 year vision. What do we imagine the year 2061 will look like? And will we be eating each other in the form of Soylent Green??

Actually I didn’t expect to enjoy this film… but it had me hooked. And made me appreciate the home cooked meal in front of me. Even though futuristic, this film has a great retro aesthetic – I particularly appreciated the vision of video games in the future – little did they know that Star Ship troopers would have revival in its retro form!

I imagine at the time Permaculture was conceived of these were the topical issues (not star ship troopers but the death of the ocean, over-population, climate change) and they remain pertinent today.

I really appreciated the character of Sol – who spoke of the past (life as we know it) and admitted I could have done more — I should have done more. I think perhaps he speaks for us today – who know all the facts and have this window of opportunity to create change.

3 and 1/2 stars

A good Sunday arvo watch on a rainy day – so long as your mood is up beat !
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070723/

“if we take a close look at our history, the evidence that it by and large manages quite well to explain a large number of observations (such as the collapse of many past civilizations) should give us more than enough reason to stop for a moment and give it some thought. If this is what we really do – wouldn’t that mean that, if we continue like this, then in all likelihood we would ultimately end up being driven to eat the grass and the earthworms from the soil for there is nothing else left which we have not destroyed before? Art has raised this question many times. This is, for example, the topic of the science fiction movie “Soylent Green”.

When we get confronted with such an idea, how do we deal with it? In our western society, there seem to be two widespread reactions to it: The maybe less common one is “the environmentalist’s” of considering this as our inevitable fate, with the only relevant question being whether we can slow down the inevitable degradation enough to retain a reasonable quality of living for the next few generations by curtailing our own exploitation in order to leave something for them to exploit. (Is it inappropriate to associate this thinking to “environmentalists” as strongly as this use of that term in the previous sentence seems to indicate? Most likely so. Still, quite a number of people have views which at least broadly match this concept.) The presently dominant reaction is “the economist’s” of coming up with rational-sounding excuses based on the idea that “our cleverness always found a solution, and always will” – a comforting idea which we all perhaps would like to believe, but which undeniably quite strongly smells of human-ego-off-its-rocker-again, and doesn’t actually fare well when confronted with the evidence. Essentially, this is little more but a thinly disguised head-in-the-sand attitude.i> ” (Fischbacher. T., http://www.soton.ac.uk/~doctom/teaching/permaculture/PDC/index.html)

Another use for a bike!

William Kamkwamba on building a windmill | Video on TED.com

The Olive season crept up on me this year. Was it really one year ago that I was up the ladder in the Olive tree?

This year – Mimi found an article in Vasili’s Good Gardening for Pressing Olives and this is the method I’m working on (See Good Gardening Magazine p. 75). It is incredibly simple – just cover your Olives in Sea Salt – wrap them in mesh (hessian or shad cloth) place over a rack for drainage and put a weight on top to encourage pressing. Leave for 2 weeks – opening up the cloth and checking that all olives are covered in salt ever 2nd days or so. How easy is that? Then wash and bottle the olives in olive oil with herbs (optional).

Lucky for me I had Mama Longo drop in last week and look over my work… “Too much salt – too much salt” and also she advised that my shade cloth was too tightly woven 😦 The juice has been draining, so I am going to stick with the shade cloth I bought – but will keep her advice in mind for next year.

The good part about pressing is its quick! Just 2 weeks.

Tis the season to be preserving and speaking with a friend at work – who surprises me each week with another preserving tip – lemons are dead easy to preserve. Here is the photo of my first attempt at preserving lemons. They will last years and are packed with punch for stews, curries even salads. This photo was taken on night 1 – the juices have all now released and you can top up the jar with more lemon juice to cover all the fruit if yours hasn’t filled completely. He also suggests leaving preserving bottle outside – the warmth of the sun helps to speed up the process – although its been soo cold lately I don’t know if its better out or in – but it may be the actual rays of the sun that are working in the process. Will continue to experiment and learn. (For instruction for lemons please see http://www.miyoga.com.au Newsletter #4).

Next? I have some chilli’s that may find themselves bottled up soon.

I had the pleasure of working on a wonderful example of interplanting edibles with non edibles on this largely native garden. It reminded me that veggie gardens don’t have to stand alone – but can enhance the trees / shrubs already in place. I think this is the feel that the Spiral Bed really needs. The pathway in the front native garden demonstrates how you can make the most out of the space you have. By dividing it in two by a narrow path you can walk within the garden and appreciate from within – rather than simply looking from a frontal perspective. The compost bins are also a feature which I would like to replicate with a huge pile wood down the side that needs a use. This property which was once a Dairy is an absolute pocket of country living in Melbourne. Again it reminds me that you don’t need the hobby farm – just start now where ever you are!!

For several years we have received beans at the Yoga Centre.

Just writing this evokes images of Giants and Bean Stalks!!

Well the origin of our Beans is just as magical as the tale goes … Mama Longo!

Joe’s mum has grown these beans for many years and this weekend I was very lucky to visit her home and see the bounty of beans and tomatoes among many other goodies in her garden.

What struck me first was the structure of the tomatoe patch. Unlike my tomatoes which have sprawled from one end of the front garden the the next … Mama Longo has ditched several rows of tomatoes of various varieties along a very practical trellace. This means that watering is well served by the ditch.

However my favourite aspect of the garden was the use of twisted Willow branches to provide a structure for the climbing beans. The branches were Cut from the Longo’s very own Willow (jelous … you bet I was!).

Thank you Mama Longo for the beans and also the inspiration. This is a true Oasis in the North of Melbourne.

Borage
Borago officinalis
Fam: Boraginaceae

Well as Summer draws to an end – the fruiting season may be over – but the Autumn Harvest is just beginning!!!

First crop of the season … Borage Seedlings. We had two Borage Plants which have sprung a family of seedlings in the Buffalo grass – so before I give the lawn a hair cut on the weekend I am planning to pot these little ones up.

The blue flowers of Borage is a great plant to attract Bees into your garden.

I was recently listening to Radio National and heard about the Government’s decision to turn a blind eye to the Asia Honey Bee invasion in the wake of the summer of natural disasters. The Asian Honey bee is reported to colonize at extremely fast rates and is an aggressive stinging bee. With our native honey bee already competeing with the European Wasp this is a real dilemma.

Borage also has a number of therputic qualities – it is associated with courage.

‘A Borage brew would eliminate a person’s sadness and make the person glad to be alive'(Pliny) and is also known as the herb of Gladness.

To relieve grief try a Bath Tea Bag of borage and Thyme.

Borage leaves can be added to Salads – giving a cucumber flavour – however as they are rather hairy leaves chop or blanch the leaves first.

The Blue Flowers are also edible

Borage is a companion plant for Tomatoes (prevents Tomatoe Worm) and Strawberries.

So a good Summer veggie bed may look like –
Tomatoes (Periphery)
Christanthenum (Centre)
Strawberries (edge)
Borage (Centre)

A good tip – don’t plant Borage on a path – push them a little further back as they get very scruffy and it is tempting (yes I can admit to this) to pull them out prematurely and they start to sprawl there way across the bed by late summer.

I have recently have to remove a Honey Bee nest – and speaking to a fellow gardener she made the suggestion that next time I can contact a Bee Keeper and see if they would like to claim the colony and take it home – I’m not sure how this would work – but it has happened and if the bees decide to make home in my garden I will look further into it.

http://www.theage.com.au/environment/animals/plight-of-the-honey-bee-sends-shivers-around-globe-20110211-1aqkm.html

What a crop of Potatoes … this plot was built up with grass clippings / weed waste and then heavily planted with potatoes … the soil is now prime for veg. I have just put a cucumber plant in here – late in the season but will see. Have planted them around various parts of the garden to check what conditions they like best as its my first attempt with cucumbers.

Structure is what makes the large space of Ceres such a success – it was an incredibly hot day to be there – but provided the perfect day to appreciate just how important design is in maintaining a friendly relationship with the elements!

Some design features:

Particularly like the use of rustic with good quality materials.
Found objects are considered and used in with the environment.

Well I couldn’t stand it any longer and have re-installed the cabbage butterfly traps – They have had a great munch on the Sunflower leaves – so at least those aren’t edible!! I had to completely cut down my native passionfruit vine due to their infestation – that was it war was declared – here are some of my army – armed with skewers and a cleaver disguise (simply cut white plastic bags into small strips and tie as a ribbon around skewers, or if the plants are established on poles – I have even tied some to the actual plant – which I wouldn’t recommend in very humid climates) – its simple – I’m not convinced yet how affective it is – I do believe that companion planting is the solution here – and am working at getting the combinations right. At the moment I have got the Sunflowers next to the Corn with the Pumpkin as an understory. The Blueberry and some lemon grass are getting on very well and are shading under the leaves of the pumpkin.

Well the sun returned! The surge of energy to get in the garden followed.

Here are the remaining steps that saw the drive completeted.

1) Finish the ditch
2) Fill with first Newspaper then weed mat – I used the newspaper to anchor the weedmat down either edge of the ditch – in otherwords – the weedmat had something to anchor itself on and fold over and tuck down. It was made a lot easier by using a lot of newspaper (thick) and wet. Keep hosing on a hot day to keep it from shifting.
3) More twigs – oh now prep work (grab a cuppa, a chair and sit in the shade) = cut wire coat-hangers into 2 and cut off the rounded head…
These are pushed down over the twigs -which I am going to add to as I collect more cuttings – as I think they are just a wee bit too shallow at the moment – and likely to sink further over time.
3) Even out the remaining soil and add dynamic lifter / dolomite lime to the bed
4) I covered the bed then with more wet newspaper to keep the weeds at bay … a tip of dear Peter Cundall – use a fork to aerate the newspaper – now make sure to lift your irrigation hose (if you have one) first – to avoid punctures!
5) Mulch, Mulch, Mulch

It was the most perfect conditions to complete the job as all of the rain was nicely trapped beneath the mulch. I am thrilled with the results – and most importantly it means that the front will be weed free – at least for long enough to get mowing and weeding the back garden – and so another cycle begins yet again!

The garden is thriving with produce and completely content with the gentle rain.

I took it in this afternoon and considered how blessed – to be safe. To have food, on the table and growing in the garden.

My thoughts and prayers go to the people, the pets, the livestock and the wildlife of Northern Australia.

We have prayed and prayed for the rains. Now we pray for safety from the floods.

May balance be found within and without and may we savour what we have.

Be Safe. Be Well. And ever humbled by mother nature.

The drive way has been on my mind for a while – then as I was walking past the huge pile of mulch each day – it occurred to me to pull up the ground cover and mulch – giving the plants more form, preventing weeds and keeping moisture in. Also I have a dream of putting edibles along the drive for visitors and students to pick as they wish.

Dilemma #1 If I were to mulch this bed it would most likely continuously fall off the bed and onto the drive way – especially with digging birds

Dilemma #2 If I were to edge the drive it would be prone to damaging tyres of the cars if they were to mount the bed – and also damage the edging.

Solution: The nesting method that I used in the Front Key Hole garden, using twigs and old cuttings to create a soft edge.

Dilemma #3: This edging method I have found if prone to weeds and being spread – the twigs don’t behave and stay in one spot!

There were two solutions to this: Firstly I dug a ditch and lined it with thick newspaper followed by weed mat, creating a gutter like ditch. I placed the twigs along the gutter and then – my most genius solution to date… wire coat hangers were cut and bent to hold the edge in place – allowing you to simply lift and re-fill with more twiggs as need be.

This project is just getting started – a progress report to follow

1/2 a green bag – and that was just what was at eye level – there is enough for the possums and the humans to each have their share! Last year I put in a ditch around the drip line and filled it with Agi-Pipe. I haven’t needed to flood the ditch this year with the amount of rain we have had. We really didn’t know if the plum tree would survive. But it has thrived!

Instruction for making pots for seedlings out of Milk Cartons – see photos below…

The first step is easy and obvious – cut the bottom off and voila – your first pot is made – simply puncture a few holes for drainagel

Next to make the best use of the top half cut off the spout

Slit the sides about half an inch down on each corner

Now fold the flaps out to create a crease line

One flap at a time work around the carton in a circle lowering and fixing the sides into the middle, fixing the last flap underneath the first.

Experiment with how far down you need to make the slits in order to get a perfect little drainage hole in the middle!

And start asking your friends to save their milk cartons!

A great Christmas gift – or as the students at the yoga centre are going to receive them as “pots of potential” – as the basil this year has been very slow to germinate.

John Hardy: My green school dream | Video on TED.com

A recent search for mulch lead me to a free service – 5 cubic metres delivered to the door!!! The request was 5th priority – which meant when the mulching company has a surplus of mulch you can have it delivered. The front garden is now complete. I shovelling the old mulch onto the surrounding garden beds (it is a good idea to add dolomite / blood and bone to keep the soil sweet after combining it with old mulch). I replaced the weed mat and although not in the front – in the back I am planning to place newspaper down in addition to weed mat. Have a bucket of water handy to dunk the news paper to avoid it flying off as you lay it is a great help.

It looks and smells great – and it hasn’t stopped raining all weekend so it is now firmly set in place. Cheers to Chen for supervising the operation.

Now for the back…..