Plastic house
Details
Well designed plastic house offers plenty of space for growing exostic and out of season crops
Date
July 30, 2013
19 results tagged with 'Garden'
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Yurtopian swales
I provide some basic guidance and marked out a short length of swale for Deschia and Daniel. This will infiltrate excess water from their yurt roof into the nearby garden.
May 10, 2013
New garden swale
I still got the swale itch and couldn't stop myself creating a new excavation along the top edge of the garden as a second stage catchment for roof run off. This version has a layer of cardboard that spent a week on the floor under the chook perches.
May 07, 2013
The forest garden tool belt
When wandering around the forest garden I often notice something that needs to be trimmed or weeded or a space where I could plant something. But what if the tools are back in the shed....?
Using a cheap tool belt I have assembled a collection of useful tools and accessories that frequently come in handy.
From left to right:
Using a cheap tool belt I have assembled a collection of useful tools and accessories that frequently come in handy.
From left to right:
- nested plastic plant pots hold larger seeds such as beans and lupins
- secateurs or pruning shares
- jars of seasonal seeds
- serrated sickle
- hand hoe (niwashi)
- small dibber
April 22, 2014
Chooks for weeding and soil enhancement
I have been developing a process that directs the energy (and manure) of the chicken into a specific piece of soil.
Rather than unleash the chickens in the garden I decided to take the garden (at least bits of it) to them.
Rather than unleash the chickens in the garden I decided to take the garden (at least bits of it) to them.
January 31, 2010
Garden expansion
We discovered we need more garden area if we wish to grow sufficient volumes of potatoes to see us through the year. As a result I have spent a number of evenings out in the paddock with a shovel, turning over earth and laying compost and mulch.
I have tried a variety of soil amendments including growing lupins, sheep manure from the neighbors shed and cleanings from the chook house.
I have tried a variety of soil amendments including growing lupins, sheep manure from the neighbors shed and cleanings from the chook house.
June 03, 2010
The Ideal Hoe?
I first heard about the Stirrup hoe from Nelson Lebo during his interview on Two Beers with Steve. As it sounded like a must have tool I set about finding one.
It turns out this hoe is known by many different names, including:
- Stirrup Hoe
- Hula Hoe
- Scuffle Hoe
- Oscillating Hoe
It turns out this hoe is known by many different names, including:
- Stirrup Hoe
- Hula Hoe
- Scuffle Hoe
- Oscillating Hoe
September 02, 2010
Home Made Biochar
A low-tech method for small scale production of biochar, a valuable soil additive.
I used douglas fir cones that I raked up from around the trees, packed in the central canister and 'baked' with a fire of coal and wood scraps from the workshop.
I used douglas fir cones that I raked up from around the trees, packed in the central canister and 'baked' with a fire of coal and wood scraps from the workshop.
September 25, 2010
Starplate geodesic garden structure
Details
It's always nice to have a protected are where birds can't interfere with the growing of produce. We have tried numerous techniques and constructions over the years. One that looks promising (and cool) is this geodesic frame made with starplates, polypipe and plastic netting.
Light, durable and almost circular (5 sided base) this seems like an ideal little garden space for Melisa
Light, durable and almost circular (5 sided base) this seems like an ideal little garden space for Melisa
Date
December 31, 2021
Garden swales
Reconfiguring the garden after some inspiration from Geoff Lawton permaculture DVD.
By laying out the garden beds along the contour we get easy access with improved water infiltration and retention. The width allows for easy reaching to the centre from either side. In the rare instances when we want to irrigate it is simply a matter of flooding the path for a while.
By laying out the garden beds along the contour we get easy access with improved water infiltration and retention. The width allows for easy reaching to the centre from either side. In the rare instances when we want to irrigate it is simply a matter of flooding the path for a while.
July 31, 2015
Forest garden bounty
Details
A nice assortment of root veges foraged from the forest garden while weeding. Includes parsnip, carrot, radish and potato. These make a great roast.
Date
July 17, 2017
The best way to water
The main things to remember are...
- Focus on the root zone
- Apply water only when needed
- Water deeply and thoroughly
- Water in the morning
- Mulch around plants
- Use the right tool
Sprinkling (at high pressure)
Details
It has been really drying out and we have been busy moving hoses to water as many trees and veges as possible.
We have a well with a pump that delivers 25mm of water at high pressure. While I was trying to come up with a way to apply this water gently to the garden I came up with this simple circular terminus mister (click for photo).
It effectively produces a 4 meter high column of mist. Wonderful on a scorching afternoon.
We have a well with a pump that delivers 25mm of water at high pressure. While I was trying to come up with a way to apply this water gently to the garden I came up with this simple circular terminus mister (click for photo).
It effectively produces a 4 meter high column of mist. Wonderful on a scorching afternoon.
Date
December 05, 2010
Garden update
Our garden is bigger and better this year with more planning, improved soil and larger variety of plants in the ground. We are just starting to reap the rewards.
December 09, 2010
Glastic fantastic
This project has been on my wish list for quite some time. With winter fast approaching and aided by our willing workers the new glasshouse is finally complete.
April 28, 2013
Garden working-bee
A group of us gathered to help install a new vegetable garden for Heidi and Nuk out at Gore Bay. Many hands made things progress quite quickly and we were able to create and plant an area directly beside the house for easy access as well as a new contour garden mound in what was lawn.
August 14, 2016
Hugelkultur gardens in summer
Details
Every year, since their construction, our hugelkultur raised woody garden beds have been improving in performance. While waiting for the perennial plantings to establish we have been gardening with seasonal crops including maize, pumpkins, tomatoes, salad, cucumbers and of course lots of beans. Modest additions of straw mulch, trenched in pig manure, compost tea and all plant residues are contributing to the overall fertility of the beds and on occasion where I have exposed the wooden core while digging it is clearly breaking down into a crumbly organic 'compost'.
Date
February 18, 2018
Learn about foodscaping / food forest gardening
Develop an understanding of how to design and implement your own food forest garden with a one on one guided tour and discussion session.
- Explore the extensive, established forest garden at blockhill
- Learn identify, develop and exploit niches to grow a wider range of useful plants
- Discuss mixed and companion planted polycultures and guilds
- Understand plant succession for ecosystem transition and transformation
- Witness beneficial insects and extreme biodiversity
- Meet the chooks, ducks and pigs and see how they fit into the system
- Overview of useful hand tools
2 hours
$80.00
Mila & Mattia
Plenty of energy and enthusiasm for permiculture, Mila & Mattia spent a week of hot summer days helping out in the garden, pruning and mulching and building another Hugelkultur / log mound garden.
If you are looking for a place where you would like to learn about permaculture and sustainable life.. Don't miss Blockhill and, of course, Olmec and Melisa. We did different tasks every day and they are really open to explain everything to you. They are very kind, friendly and knowledgeable. They have very delicious and fresh vegetables and fruits. Sweet animals. The accommodation is beautiful and very clean. We had very good time at Blockhill. Was a real woofing, a real exchange.. Give and receive. So, the only think we can say is Thank you to save our world building an alternative and working life stile. Beautiful project! Big hug for both of you!!
Italy
February 23, 2019