a not-a-post post

Can't believe it's been two months since even the most basic post. Which leads me to two observations ...

1. the beauty of gardening - or working on one's land more generally - is that it's a wonderful and rewarding distraction whether or not it comes with much conscious thinking and reflection

2. the reason I like permaculture is because it justifies being lazy! Or at least, it encourages daydreaming and planning and productive work without getting bogged down in work for work's sake

Perhaps the rhythm of picking, tending, gazing, wandering is enough. For now. Looking back on most of the posts and updates here, it's about plans and hopes and work for the future - perhaps I've forgotten to enjoy and record the pleasures of when it all works! So here's a mea culpa post and with that I'll start updating some other pages ...

January floods

Have finally gathered some photos of the 2011 flooding. Will let the pictures tell the story. Starting with a little dog who has had to get used to full dams and the curiosity of running water on the property.

kim chi convert

Prompted by an excess of cabbages, and following Claudia's great example, have been exploring homemade kim chi. Now onto my second batch, with the first batch pictured here. Googling has thrown up lots of recipes, suggestions, and tips, and the confidence to mix and match ingredients, which apparently is 'traditional'. Also threw up a scientific article declaring kim chi one of the world's five healthiest foods.

nature[strip]'s bounty!

From the nature strip - cherry plums. No idea how old these two trees, one of them now died back completely, but Katie tells me they'll have been the root stock of garden plums. Though there's no guarantee they give good fruit, we've been lucky.

bean-anza!

Broad beans - the gift that keeps giving! After a good crop last year, saved seed was used to start a new crop. Both a veg bed crop and some planted experimentally beside one of the orchard trees flourished, after a nervous wait for germination.

the colour of summer

While spring saw a veg patch enlivened by the purple flowers of chives and sage, and there's still traces of purple in the artichokes and eggplant, surely this - gold and luscious, almost drinking up the sun - is the colour of summer. Here zucchini flowers peep out from their leafy mounds, the new bed such a pleasure to spy from my bedroom window each morning, and enjoy whenever out at the clothesline. First zucchinis are just being picked.

the joy of cooking

Okay, so lots of people cook with stuff from their garden. Me included. But this one felt special - it's rare, here, to be able to rely solely on the garden, at least not for a traditional fully cooked family meal, especially outside autumn's bountiful peak.

surprise gift from Barb

Arrived home after a spell away to discover a milk crate of irises, which had to be from Barb next door. On a tour of her garden last month - an overflowing, colour-filled vision of cottagey plants cheek by jowl with native shrubs - she'd asked if I'd like any of the white bearded iris she felt needed dividing, and who am I to look a gift horse etc etc ...

more lovely shallots

Shallots now in full flower, leaves starting to shrivel, and close to harvesting. Bobbing about at hand height, perfectly proportioned to fit in the palm of a hand, can't help giving these an affectionate clasp whenever I walk past, and get a tickly hand massage back!

cherry tree slugs

Nasty slimy black slugs have appeared on pear and apple tree leaves. Turns out they're 'cherry tree slugs', the larvae of the black and yellow sawfly, and can be quite damaging. A bit of a google and I've put together some notes and ideas. Sounds as if initial hunches - squishing them and a spray of pyrethrym - weren't too far off the mark. Will try one of the drying techniques next, and monitor - both presence and extent of any damage.

brave little fig

If this thing can actually grow, I will be stunned. But thrilled. One of two figs (my favourite fruit tree of all) planted into pots last year and then replanted into garden, this one is on the levelled 'terrace' to west of house - which is basically compacted clay and sand fill. Planted into a mound of soil and compost, extended regularly with compost form the bukashi system, it has finally come back to life with spring rains.

playing lady bountiful

Almost the best bit of having a productive garden - giving it away! Couldn't resist taking and posting this: a collection of herbs (mint, thyme, lemon balm, sage, chives) some in blossom, and silverbeet leaves (as clearing last of them) in a gift bag to take to friends as a housewarming present.

tank and beyond

Now that tank is installed, we can take stock on the impact around it. Sure I did plans on paper, but there's nothing like seeing it in situ. With first heavy rains, it immediately became apparent that water flows and pools behind the tank, so paths/channels have been roughed out above to redirect water from orchard into the veg area, and thoughts turned to environment immediate round the tank itself.

the baby faced killer

Here she is, Bella the rabbit-killing beast of Fryerstown. Who'd have thought it. Not me, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. Unfortunately, also heard it, the squeals of poor bunny in its death throes. My cityness severely exposed by resulting panic. Dead bunny now buried deep in a veg bed to decompose. Hmmm. Will see how that goes....

my new favourite plant?

Starting to develop their flowerheads are the shallots grown from last year's cloves. Though fighting for space with monstrous cabbages and silverbeet, they make lovely punctuation marks poking from the leaves. Love these extravagant pixie-hat curlicues and plump little cupolas. The stems themselves bend and curl - I can't resist sliding my hands along them as I pass - and the whole effect just makes me smile!