Ain't It Funny...

I have a big old gum tree out the back with a garden around it. i have tried to plant a few things around it with varied success as the gum tree takes all of the available moisture and nutrients. Early last year I stuck a couple of pineapple tops in as I have all over the yard. I have found that this is the best place for them they are growing like crazy. I have moved most of my pinapple plants to this location now and they are all doing well. This must be due to the pineapple plant having a small root system and the gum tree is not interfering too much. Pineapples must also be drought tollerant as I don't give them a great deal of water.

Propagation

Starting a plant from seed is one of the most rewarding experiences in the garden. I am starting some basil seeds in these old egg cartons, they are destined for some guerrilla gardening in some unsuspecting school gardens and maybe the bus stop at the shopping centre. (shhhh don't tell anyone)
This is my cat's garden, this cat mint was planted from a cutting taken from a customer. The cat loves nothing more than to be rubbed over with a few leaves.

I have a spot near the neighbours fence that is bear and I had the idea of planting out some Rosemary as the area doesn't get a lot of water and would need to fend for itself without too much input from me. I was short a few dollars so couldn't buy any to satisfy my immediate needs. Being spring, there was a lot of new growth on my existing Rosemary that is growing under the front stairs (also grown from a piece pinched from a customer). I took a few pieces and planted them in some good compost. That was four weeks ago and they are growing strong, I should be able to plant them out soon.
The most supprising plant I have ever grown from a cutting is a hibiscus, I was driving down a long driveway from a customer and noticed a beautiful hibiscus flower, so as I drove by I stuck out my hand and grabbed a small branch, I stuck this in a pot when I got home some 2 hours later and a few years on it now stand over 2 metres high. When it is in flower I will post a photo.

Front Garden Update

The weather report says there is a heap of rain comming this week so I have taken everthing out of my front garden, I have ended up with a hugh stash of tomatoes, a few spuds and a rockmelon (don't know where that came from? but I'm not complaining)

All of the tomato plants I have put to one side with the green tomatoes still attached. These will ripen up over time so nothing is being wasted.
Into this bed I have now planted some Blue Mini Popcorn some potatoes, mixed heirloom beetroot and yellow squash. I haven't had much success with the squash in other parts of the garden, I have planted my last 5 seeds so we'll see how they go.

Harvesting by the Basketfull!

I've had a busy week this week harvesting heaps of stuff from the garden, as well as the silverbeet I have picked about 3kgs of medium sized tomatoes from my front garden ( the back garden tomatoes are finished now) a feed of beans and a few beetroot.

Every Spare Space

Under the front stairs I have planted a Lemon Grass and Rosemary plants. The lemon Grass helps to hide the air conditioning box and looks better than the bare dirt that was there. It has just rained, it has been the first decent shower for at least six weeks, and only the second shower in about three months, the plants are singing.

My Patch 3

You've seen this part from the other side, I've already started eating some of the tomatoes from here. I made a chicken & silverbeet lasagne using some of the smaller tomatoes from around the yard, silverbeet and herbs picked fresh as well.

Love My Coffee

This is a better shot of my Dwarf Coffee Bean plant. Another lifetime ago, when I was an apprentice, I met my master's mother who at the time was roasting coffee beans harvested from a tree in her yard. I didn't think much of it at the time, now I can't wait to see how it tastes. I will have to do some research on how it is done at home. I will keep you informed as the beans progress.

My Patch Part 2

It's amazing how fast bananas grow, the banana on the left was planted about 30cm high 15 months ago. It is the one in the picture from about month ago, with the big bunch of bananas growning, the chair is there to hold the tree up along with a piece of rope tied to the macadamia nut tree. If you look hard enough under the bananas there is a coffee bean plant that has just flowered also a capcicum. There is also a mandarin tree and off to the right is a dwarf peach, and heaps of basil growing everywhere.

The Problem With Being a Famous Blogger

I'm being threatened by the ladies that work with my wife for a batch of scones and a jar of jam!!! I wonder what's in it for me....

No Dig Garden

The idea of "No Dig" gardening was developed in the 70's by Sydney gardener Esther Dean. I have attached the "Gardening Australia" fact sheet link to have a look at method I used to build my garden. Also a link to the wikipedia site about No Dig Gardening and Esther Dean.

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2214370.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Dean#Esther_Dean

My Patch

Thought I should give you a look around my garden. Last year, at the begining of Winter, I decided to turn a large portion of my yard into productive space. I had read an article about how to make a "no dig" garden in a Gardening Australia magazine and thought I can do that. I had access to manure and made enquires with local services to obtain tree mulch and grass clippings. The hardest thing to find was news paper, I robbed the neighbours, I took great piles of free local news papers from the shops untill I had enought to start. The only thing I needed to buy was Sugar Cane Mulch and Lucerne Mulch which is available at differing prices depending on how far you are prepared to travel for it. As I was working at the time it took me a couple of weeks to build the garden.

In the picture is the 1st stage of what I had produced. The large tree is a Macadamia Nut which was there when we moved in 12 years ago and last year we got the biggest crop which we are still eating 10months on. There is a Mulberry tree there which hasen't produced anything after 2 years. My orange tree has flowered and should produce some fruit this year. There is still some silverbeet growing left over from last year. I will post another picture tomorrow and show you some more.

Mango Season!!!

It's Mango time boys and girls, and you know what that means! Juice dribbling down your chin, down to your elbows all down the front of your shirt. LOVE IT!!!

The girls at the fruit shop have been at it again, I got this lot for a few dollars today. The kids will get stuck into this lot when they get home. I cut off cheeks, score them and put them in a plastic bag for lunches as well.
Of course I have jammed some (and will jam some more). Imagine sitting freezing in the middle of winter eating mango jam on hot fresh crusty bread...

Laundry Balls

Hi all, remember the other week when I said I don't use any detergents in my day to day laundry, well I have just added a banner to this site and I would encourage you all to take a look at it. I've been using them now for over 18months and I have no complaints and I can use the water on my fruit trees without fear of chemical contamination.

What got me interested in them was my wife, she had been conplaining of sore and itchy hands for some time and after trying several creams and other things that had been offered she had still had no success. Once we started using the laundry balls my wifes skin condition improved dramaticly. Not to mention we saved heaps of money not having to buy detergent.

If you want to find out more clink on this link or the banner add at the bottom of the page. It explains in a lot more detail about how they work and also the effects of detergents to our environment.

http://www.laundryball.com.au/index.php?&aff_id=3864