Yesterday I planted some more seeds in my stacking pots - some Lettuce, Pak Choy, Marigolds and Parsley. I put the Pak Choy and Parsley in together - it will be interesting to see how they go.
The stacking pots have 4 levels of 3 growing areas - think of it in terms of 4 triangles stacked on top of each other. I have bush cucumbers in the top - which are sprouting - and then 9 more growing areas in the next 3 levels down. I wondered what to put where. In the end I staggered them in so I have each of the varieties in each of the levels in a spiral-like fashion. I also moved the stack a bit further away from the house so it will get rained on when it rains.
I bought my set of stacking pots from here - Productive Gardens. Their service and delivery was very prompt. I am very happy so far with my pots.
Sunday, December 08, 2013
Saturday, December 07, 2013
Bread Making Dilema
A few years ago Melbourne had a natural gas crisis. Something happened to the supply of it and it became scarce. People were supposed to turn off their gas at the meter and not use it - it was that bad. There even reports in the media about gas supply companies going around and checking people's meters and locking them. I remember my mum was having cold showers as she had no gas to heat water with. If you are wondering what that has to do with the title of this post - I'll get to that I promise.
There were a few items in supermarkets that became scarce too as industry was also affected by the gas shortage - bread being one of them. With a young family I felt that bread was something that we needed to have on hand so I bought a bread making machine. You know the ones - put in all the ingredients, push a button and walk away to come back a few hours later to freshly cooked bread. It was great.
We had some nice looking loaves - small ones - but since I could cook 1 each day we always had fresh bread. The only problem was with the cutting of the bread. We would get slices that were thick at the top and then taper off to nothing. Or they'd be so thick it was like eating half the loaf at once. The kids loved the bread when freshly made but not so the day later when the crust had gone soggy. And we usually couldn't put in the toaster. If we did manage to cut a slice evenly enough and thin enough, nearly half of it would stick out at the top.
The gas crisis didn't last too long and so the bead machine was put away. It did make an appearance every so often, but now I think it was one of those kitchen gadgets that just slowly rust in the back of the cupboard.
I have had a bit of a 'get back to the old days' type of urge these last few years. I really feel that with the way people are mucking up the environment we need to re-skill ourselves with things our grandparents knew how to do. Like growing vegetables and fruits, making clothing (sewn or knitted), making food from scratch.
I do know how to cook a complete meal from scratch - and do it most nights. I can bake a cake, cook a roast, do a casserole (stew), could probably even make jam if I had to. But I have never made bread. Every where I look for bread recipes say it is dead easy and it appears to be so. I have even found a recipe/method that does not use bakers yeast. It's a sour dough bread so you make a starter and add to that to make the bread. Today I bought a ceramic pot to 'grow' my starter in from my local second hand shop.
So now we come to my dilemma. It is 18 days till Christmas and we go away for 3 weeks. So do I start a starter and make some bread between now and then and the last batch use the whole starter and then start all over again when we get back? Or do I not worry about making bread until I get home from our holidays?
Decisions, decisions!
There were a few items in supermarkets that became scarce too as industry was also affected by the gas shortage - bread being one of them. With a young family I felt that bread was something that we needed to have on hand so I bought a bread making machine. You know the ones - put in all the ingredients, push a button and walk away to come back a few hours later to freshly cooked bread. It was great.
We had some nice looking loaves - small ones - but since I could cook 1 each day we always had fresh bread. The only problem was with the cutting of the bread. We would get slices that were thick at the top and then taper off to nothing. Or they'd be so thick it was like eating half the loaf at once. The kids loved the bread when freshly made but not so the day later when the crust had gone soggy. And we usually couldn't put in the toaster. If we did manage to cut a slice evenly enough and thin enough, nearly half of it would stick out at the top.
The gas crisis didn't last too long and so the bead machine was put away. It did make an appearance every so often, but now I think it was one of those kitchen gadgets that just slowly rust in the back of the cupboard.
I have had a bit of a 'get back to the old days' type of urge these last few years. I really feel that with the way people are mucking up the environment we need to re-skill ourselves with things our grandparents knew how to do. Like growing vegetables and fruits, making clothing (sewn or knitted), making food from scratch.
I do know how to cook a complete meal from scratch - and do it most nights. I can bake a cake, cook a roast, do a casserole (stew), could probably even make jam if I had to. But I have never made bread. Every where I look for bread recipes say it is dead easy and it appears to be so. I have even found a recipe/method that does not use bakers yeast. It's a sour dough bread so you make a starter and add to that to make the bread. Today I bought a ceramic pot to 'grow' my starter in from my local second hand shop.
So now we come to my dilemma. It is 18 days till Christmas and we go away for 3 weeks. So do I start a starter and make some bread between now and then and the last batch use the whole starter and then start all over again when we get back? Or do I not worry about making bread until I get home from our holidays?
Decisions, decisions!
Friday, November 22, 2013
Being Prepared in the event of a Major Disaster
I have just read a post over at The Greening of Gavin about being prepared if disaster strikes. And I have to admit I doubt my family and I are - prepared that is.
Yes we have gas in our camping and bbq gas bottles. Not sure how long they would last though.
We have Solar Panels that are portable and will charge the auxiliary car battery so we can have some things refrigerated in our camping fridge. We even have some solar lights and some led strips in the camper that work off the aux battery. There's plenty of candles around and matches too.
The only water we have stored is what is left over in the camper's water tank after out last 6 days away. That tank is only 50-60 litres - not a lot for 5 adults.
As far as stockpiled canned goods go - let's just say I need to do some serious shopping on this front. Awhile ago I did start to put together a stockpile of these sorts of things - pasta and jars of sauce, canned veges, soups, flour, sugar etc. I had intended on having 2 top shelves in the pantry dedicated to these things. The urge to do this lasted about 2 weeks and then I forgot about it. I now have absolutely no idea what is in storage at the moment. I know 1 of the kids found some oats and was having them for breakfast.
My fresh vege garden is currently a joke. there are peas growing, beams recently sprouted and lettuce and spinach going to seed. The tomatoes are still only large seedlings too. Oh and the plum tree has been eaten over by cockatoos. So no fresh vege/fruit to speak of.
God help us if anything like ever happens to my family. We are going to need it.....
Yes we have gas in our camping and bbq gas bottles. Not sure how long they would last though.
We have Solar Panels that are portable and will charge the auxiliary car battery so we can have some things refrigerated in our camping fridge. We even have some solar lights and some led strips in the camper that work off the aux battery. There's plenty of candles around and matches too.
The only water we have stored is what is left over in the camper's water tank after out last 6 days away. That tank is only 50-60 litres - not a lot for 5 adults.
As far as stockpiled canned goods go - let's just say I need to do some serious shopping on this front. Awhile ago I did start to put together a stockpile of these sorts of things - pasta and jars of sauce, canned veges, soups, flour, sugar etc. I had intended on having 2 top shelves in the pantry dedicated to these things. The urge to do this lasted about 2 weeks and then I forgot about it. I now have absolutely no idea what is in storage at the moment. I know 1 of the kids found some oats and was having them for breakfast.
My fresh vege garden is currently a joke. there are peas growing, beams recently sprouted and lettuce and spinach going to seed. The tomatoes are still only large seedlings too. Oh and the plum tree has been eaten over by cockatoos. So no fresh vege/fruit to speak of.
God help us if anything like ever happens to my family. We are going to need it.....
Friday, October 04, 2013
Peas and Beans and Worms
The pea seedlings are doing ok - they are starting to flower and I even had 1 pod. The poor plant is only 6 inches high and yet it is fruiting - if that's the right term. I ate the pod straight from the plant - very tasty.
A number of the peas seedlings have been eaten by something - I presume snails or slugs. So I put down more snail bait and planted a few more seeds. Hopefully that will do the trick.
My beans seeds have started to sprout. 8 very healthy looking seedlings of 1 variety and 6 of another. Yay!! And I noticed that the carrots are beginning to sprout too.
I bought some more capsicum seedlings yesterday too. I will have to plant them later today - after I have done the costumes for Sunday's photo shoot.
I haven't fed the worms in a few days. I figure they have enough to eat with all the newspaper and cardboard and leaf litter that was in the box before they go put in. No Worm Tea as yet - probably not enough Worms and a lot of dry leaf litter/paper to soak it all up. Must check on them.
A number of the peas seedlings have been eaten by something - I presume snails or slugs. So I put down more snail bait and planted a few more seeds. Hopefully that will do the trick.
My beans seeds have started to sprout. 8 very healthy looking seedlings of 1 variety and 6 of another. Yay!! And I noticed that the carrots are beginning to sprout too.
I bought some more capsicum seedlings yesterday too. I will have to plant them later today - after I have done the costumes for Sunday's photo shoot.
I haven't fed the worms in a few days. I figure they have enough to eat with all the newspaper and cardboard and leaf litter that was in the box before they go put in. No Worm Tea as yet - probably not enough Worms and a lot of dry leaf litter/paper to soak it all up. Must check on them.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
I have Worms!
So that probably sounds really wrong and is something you think I shouldn't let the blogosphere know. But seriously I have worms!
Ok, not the sort that a dose of medication will fix.
I have compost worms! There, that does sound better.
500 live wriggling compost worms. Not many I know, but money is a bit tight and that many is all I can afford right now. If I have to I may get another 500 in a couple of months.
Apparently there are eggs in with them and I have heard/read that worms breed quite quickly, so maybe I won't have to but more.
For the moment they are happily (I hope) in their new home. I have laid down some newspaper and some paper that I sprinkled water onto to make it moist. I also added a thin-ish payer of potting mix for them to spread out into. They also have a blankie to keep them warm and in the dark. Though I spose the lid on the plastic tub will do that job.
I am going to let them settle in for the day and give them their first 'meal' later today after I have cut up veges for our dinner.
I love new pets....
The other day I planted out some small potatoes that were left over from last year that were too small to cook and eat. I noticed today that I have 2 spud plants that have self sown from the compost/soil/straw mix that I tipped out into the pansy bed - this mix was what I used to grow spuds in last year. It will be interesting to see what happens with these. I must remember to pile up some dirt/manure/straw around them.
Today I put out some carrot seeds - for want of a better word for it. These are Heirloom Carrots and apparently are different colours - purple, yellow, white as well as the usual orange. They are in with the first lot of beans.
I also got 2 trough pots and planted out some Sweet Peas - just for a bit of extra colour.
Ok, not the sort that a dose of medication will fix.
I have compost worms! There, that does sound better.
500 live wriggling compost worms. Not many I know, but money is a bit tight and that many is all I can afford right now. If I have to I may get another 500 in a couple of months.
Apparently there are eggs in with them and I have heard/read that worms breed quite quickly, so maybe I won't have to but more.
For the moment they are happily (I hope) in their new home. I have laid down some newspaper and some paper that I sprinkled water onto to make it moist. I also added a thin-ish payer of potting mix for them to spread out into. They also have a blankie to keep them warm and in the dark. Though I spose the lid on the plastic tub will do that job.
I am going to let them settle in for the day and give them their first 'meal' later today after I have cut up veges for our dinner.
I love new pets....
The other day I planted out some small potatoes that were left over from last year that were too small to cook and eat. I noticed today that I have 2 spud plants that have self sown from the compost/soil/straw mix that I tipped out into the pansy bed - this mix was what I used to grow spuds in last year. It will be interesting to see what happens with these. I must remember to pile up some dirt/manure/straw around them.
Today I put out some carrot seeds - for want of a better word for it. These are Heirloom Carrots and apparently are different colours - purple, yellow, white as well as the usual orange. They are in with the first lot of beans.
I also got 2 trough pots and planted out some Sweet Peas - just for a bit of extra colour.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Vege bed numbers 5 and 6
Earlier this week I filled up one bed with compost, manure and soil. I also got 4 circular frames for $5 each - I thought was a good bargain.
Bed #5 has 2 frames in it on the south side closest to the cars and I have put in some bean seeds around them. The rest of the bed will get carrot seeds. I'd show you a pic but we all know what dirt looks like, don't we.
I have some left over potatoes from last year that were really too small to cook. I will put these in with the capsicums. Hopefully they will do their thing and give me some bigger spuds.
I have noticed that birds are loving the damp soil and are scratching the straw all over the place. A couple of peas have been eaten and so has 1 more capsicum. I found a slime trail so the culprit is snails. I know exactly how to fix them - bait. I thought the last lot of bait I put out would have done the trick.
The weather here has been cold and wet this week. Great for the garden as I don't have to water, but it means I have less chance of getting bed #6 filled. Early next week is supposed to be dry so I should be able to do it then.
Bed #5 has 2 frames in it on the south side closest to the cars and I have put in some bean seeds around them. The rest of the bed will get carrot seeds. I'd show you a pic but we all know what dirt looks like, don't we.
I have some left over potatoes from last year that were really too small to cook. I will put these in with the capsicums. Hopefully they will do their thing and give me some bigger spuds.
I have noticed that birds are loving the damp soil and are scratching the straw all over the place. A couple of peas have been eaten and so has 1 more capsicum. I found a slime trail so the culprit is snails. I know exactly how to fix them - bait. I thought the last lot of bait I put out would have done the trick.
The weather here has been cold and wet this week. Great for the garden as I don't have to water, but it means I have less chance of getting bed #6 filled. Early next week is supposed to be dry so I should be able to do it then.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Vege Patch
I have just renewed my membership to The Diggers Club for the next 5 years. They are a plant catalogue mob here in Victoria. They have a house and garden with restaurant that you can visit, eat in, look around the yard, buy seeds/plants.
I also bought from them 3 lots of different bean seeds, some heirloom carrot seeds and some pink flower seeds. The flowers will go in the main front garden beds and should self seed each year. Years ago I had the same variety but in blue and it kept coming up for years afterwards - in all sorts of spots too.
In looking at my current vege beds the pea seedlings I put in are doing nicely. I have added some marigolds in amongst them. I have no idea if they will be helpful to the peas. They will probably be swamped by them and kark it.
I also planted out 3 Grosse Lisse Tomatoes - bought these from my local supermarket for $1 each (they were trying to get rid of them. I also put some marigolds with them too. These have all been planted in amongst the pansies. Hopefully the pansies will give them a bit of protection until they get going.
The capsicum (bell pepper) plants seems to be getting eaten by something. I have lost 1 that I know of. I don't think it is snails - the bed they are in is heavily mulched with straw and has no overhanging vegetation in which they could hide. Will have to keep any eye on them.
Did I tell you that I have finished mulching all around the 6 vege beds?? I think it looks quite good - nice and neat and tidy - at least for the moment.
I also bought from them 3 lots of different bean seeds, some heirloom carrot seeds and some pink flower seeds. The flowers will go in the main front garden beds and should self seed each year. Years ago I had the same variety but in blue and it kept coming up for years afterwards - in all sorts of spots too.
In looking at my current vege beds the pea seedlings I put in are doing nicely. I have added some marigolds in amongst them. I have no idea if they will be helpful to the peas. They will probably be swamped by them and kark it.
The capsicum (bell pepper) plants seems to be getting eaten by something. I have lost 1 that I know of. I don't think it is snails - the bed they are in is heavily mulched with straw and has no overhanging vegetation in which they could hide. Will have to keep any eye on them.
Did I tell you that I have finished mulching all around the 6 vege beds?? I think it looks quite good - nice and neat and tidy - at least for the moment.
The paler coloured mulch is euci mulch, the darker mulch is fine pine bark mulch. I went with this one for the rest of the area due to the cost - the pine was a good $1.50 cheaper per bag than the euci and it seem to spread further and thicker too.
Monday, September 02, 2013
New Vege beds
Yesterday was Father's Day. I managed to get hubby to mow the grass - he's not really into celebrations of any kind. Birthdays, anniversary's, you name it he basically don't care.
Whilst mowing the grass of the front lawn, he also removed all the grass around the 4 vege beds I have out there. I asked him to do this over Easter - took him this long to get around to it. He cut it down to the dirt - which is good; but he removed the mulch I had around 1 bed - which is not good. I really don't understand why he does things like that.
I got up this morning and put together the 2 new vege bed frames I bought on Saturday. Cut my finger in the process. They got put in place and then I set up the garden edging I bought a while ago to define my vege garden area and the car parking. Went to the garden centre and bought some mulch and some sugar cane straw.
The new beds got cardboard and paper on the bottom and that is covered with the straw. I have spread what mulch I bought around these and half way around the next 2 beds. I need to go buy about 6 more bags of mulch to finish off the job. That's on the agenda for tomorrow.
I think the car needs to be moved back a bit too.
On Saturday I also bought some vege seedlings and put them in - peas and capsicum. So far the birds haven't dug them out.
You can just see the peas in the back left hand bed around the frames and if you look real close you can see the capsicum in the far right bed. This is now full all the way across and mulched with straw. Need to decide on what I am going to plant in that half. I did spy a vacant part of the main front garden bed that could be a good spot for pumpkins........
Whilst mowing the grass of the front lawn, he also removed all the grass around the 4 vege beds I have out there. I asked him to do this over Easter - took him this long to get around to it. He cut it down to the dirt - which is good; but he removed the mulch I had around 1 bed - which is not good. I really don't understand why he does things like that.
I got up this morning and put together the 2 new vege bed frames I bought on Saturday. Cut my finger in the process. They got put in place and then I set up the garden edging I bought a while ago to define my vege garden area and the car parking. Went to the garden centre and bought some mulch and some sugar cane straw.
The new beds got cardboard and paper on the bottom and that is covered with the straw. I have spread what mulch I bought around these and half way around the next 2 beds. I need to go buy about 6 more bags of mulch to finish off the job. That's on the agenda for tomorrow.
I think the car needs to be moved back a bit too.
On Saturday I also bought some vege seedlings and put them in - peas and capsicum. So far the birds haven't dug them out.
You can just see the peas in the back left hand bed around the frames and if you look real close you can see the capsicum in the far right bed. This is now full all the way across and mulched with straw. Need to decide on what I am going to plant in that half. I did spy a vacant part of the main front garden bed that could be a good spot for pumpkins........
Making of a Worm Farm
This is how I have put together my worm farm. It takes a couple of different ideas and sort of mashes them together. Time will tell if it works or not. I see no reason why it shouldn't.
Materials used:
1 large polystyrene box - lid discarded
2 black plastic tubs with lids - only 1 lid is needed, but keep the other one in case the first one gets ruined.
2 empty plastic milk bottles - I am using 2 litre ones.
Scissors
Pencil
Bricks - at least 5, probably a couple more would be better.
A Shady area for it to live in - worms living in plastic don't cope well with heat so shade will help stop them from being cooked.
Some compost
Some shredded newspaper
Worms - I bought mine from a garden supplier
A bit of old carpet or some hessian or anything that is organic and thick - to keep the worms warm - I am using a mat they sell for this purpose.
Drill and drill bit - this is used to put holes in the bottom of the plastic tubs.
What I did:
Take the large poly box and prop it up on some bricks.
Take 2 x 2 litre milk bottles and cut off 1 side leaving the handle, the lid and the bottom. This goes under the poly box to catch the liquid that should drip out.
Mark bottom of poly box where the milk bottles are to sit....
Poke holes in marked area with a pencil or drill bit or stick. You can just see the holes here.
Sit a couple of more bricks inside the poly box. These will prop up your black plastic tubs which house the worms.
Drill around 12 holes in the bottom of both plastic tubs that are large enough for worms to get thru, yet small enough that the resultant compost (worm castings) doesn't fall thru. I started to use one about the thickness of a pencil but ended up using a metal skewer that I heated up on the gas stove to poke the holes into the base.
Place 1 tub in the poly box on top of the bricks. Put some compost in it and top it with some shredded newspaper. Give it a light spray with some water. I have used some compost and some weeds and some leave litter we had swept up in the carport.
Add in your worms and then put in your first lot of food for the worms. Cover with the mat and put on the lid. I have yet to get my new 'pets'.
The second black tub will be used once the first one gets half full. They are 55 litre tubs and will get quite heavy if they get too full of castings. Once the first one if half full I will put the second tub on top of the first one - take lid off, sit tub on top of the castings/worms - add food to new tub and cover with the mat. The worms should move into the new tub after awhile. How long that will be, I have no idea. The old castings can just sit there until I think all the worms are in the new tub.
It will look like this once both tubs are stacked and in use, though I will be putting 1 lid aside in case the other one gets ruined with use.
The idea of the lid is to stop any vermin from getting in and eating the worms food. It will also help retain heat and moisture. I hope air can get in as I imagine these tubs are not air tight. No one I have looked up on the internet seems to have air for their worms as a concern when they use plastic tubs. Yet the pre-made worm farms both (there's only 2 available locally) state that their lids are vented.
I have 1 concern with this set up - and that is that the poly box will not hold the weight of the other tubs once they get full. I imagine castings weigh a fair bit.
It will be interesting to see how long the black tubs last for as they are not UV stabilised plastic. They cost me $6 each. To buy a worm farm from the local hardware store would cost at least $67 - my set up cost me $12 (I already had the poly box and the milk bottles).
So that's it - my worm farm. I will keep you posted on how it is all going.
Materials used:
1 large polystyrene box - lid discarded
2 black plastic tubs with lids - only 1 lid is needed, but keep the other one in case the first one gets ruined.
2 empty plastic milk bottles - I am using 2 litre ones.
Scissors
Pencil
Bricks - at least 5, probably a couple more would be better.
A Shady area for it to live in - worms living in plastic don't cope well with heat so shade will help stop them from being cooked.
Some compost
Some shredded newspaper
Worms - I bought mine from a garden supplier
A bit of old carpet or some hessian or anything that is organic and thick - to keep the worms warm - I am using a mat they sell for this purpose.
Drill and drill bit - this is used to put holes in the bottom of the plastic tubs.
What I did:
Take the large poly box and prop it up on some bricks.
Take 2 x 2 litre milk bottles and cut off 1 side leaving the handle, the lid and the bottom. This goes under the poly box to catch the liquid that should drip out.
Mark bottom of poly box where the milk bottles are to sit....
Poke holes in marked area with a pencil or drill bit or stick. You can just see the holes here.
Sit a couple of more bricks inside the poly box. These will prop up your black plastic tubs which house the worms.
Drill around 12 holes in the bottom of both plastic tubs that are large enough for worms to get thru, yet small enough that the resultant compost (worm castings) doesn't fall thru. I started to use one about the thickness of a pencil but ended up using a metal skewer that I heated up on the gas stove to poke the holes into the base.
Place 1 tub in the poly box on top of the bricks. Put some compost in it and top it with some shredded newspaper. Give it a light spray with some water. I have used some compost and some weeds and some leave litter we had swept up in the carport.
Add in your worms and then put in your first lot of food for the worms. Cover with the mat and put on the lid. I have yet to get my new 'pets'.
The second black tub will be used once the first one gets half full. They are 55 litre tubs and will get quite heavy if they get too full of castings. Once the first one if half full I will put the second tub on top of the first one - take lid off, sit tub on top of the castings/worms - add food to new tub and cover with the mat. The worms should move into the new tub after awhile. How long that will be, I have no idea. The old castings can just sit there until I think all the worms are in the new tub.
It will look like this once both tubs are stacked and in use, though I will be putting 1 lid aside in case the other one gets ruined with use.
The idea of the lid is to stop any vermin from getting in and eating the worms food. It will also help retain heat and moisture. I hope air can get in as I imagine these tubs are not air tight. No one I have looked up on the internet seems to have air for their worms as a concern when they use plastic tubs. Yet the pre-made worm farms both (there's only 2 available locally) state that their lids are vented.
I have 1 concern with this set up - and that is that the poly box will not hold the weight of the other tubs once they get full. I imagine castings weigh a fair bit.
It will be interesting to see how long the black tubs last for as they are not UV stabilised plastic. They cost me $6 each. To buy a worm farm from the local hardware store would cost at least $67 - my set up cost me $12 (I already had the poly box and the milk bottles).
So that's it - my worm farm. I will keep you posted on how it is all going.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Aug 30 Plantings
Today I put in some peas - 2 varieties, some capsicum seedlings and 3 azaleas.
The pea seeds I put in ages ago were mostly eaten by some thing before they even sprouted, and those that did sprout got attacked by slugs and snails. I even put in more seeds but that same things happened. Hopefully these seedlings will take off.
The capsicums are in bed 4. I added 1 bag of compost and 1 of chicken manure and mixed that around on top of whatever was still in the bed. Then I added 2 bags of garden soil but only to 1 half as it wasn't going to be enough to fill it all. I will have to get some more soil to fill up the other half of the bed.
The azaleas are outside the laundry. We used to have a self sown olive tree - at least I think was an olive. We did get these tiny black berries on it over summer. I am amazed the poor thing actually survived. It never got watered, was in bed only 18 inches wide and next to our neighbours garage wall. If you are wondering why I am talking in past tense about the tree - hubby cut it down once the solar panels got installed. It had gotten tall enough to cast shadow on the roof. So rather than do annual maintenance to cut it back he took the whole thing out. Oh well. It wasn't like we used the fruit from it. He also removed all the mulch from the bed it was in and all that was lying around on the path. I was very annoyed by that. I think I may have mentioned it.
But now I have some pretty azaleas to relace it. Two pinks and one white. I hope they like their new home. My parents have an azalea that was planted over 50 years ago and it is still going strong.
Everything got mulched with sugar cane mulch. I like this stuff. It comes in a big bag and seems to spread quite far.
In a few days I will get more soil and fill up the rest of bed 4. Not sure what veges to put in. Maybe some pumpkins? The pansies and primulas in bed 3 look good. I think I will put in a couple of tomatoes in between these.
I am also thinking of getting 3 more of the same beds to fill up my lawn space. I watered the whole lot the other day with weed kill. It doesn't appear to be doing much yet, but I know it will and it will be fairly sudden. If not, well I will just go over it again
I would also like to do something with the space under the clothesline - we have a large rotary line. There was a plant in that bed but I cut it out as it was getting in the way of the clothes on the line. so now I have weed infested garden bed. The issue I have with this bed is that it is out the back and I'm sure the dogs would dig it up. They get into one of the rose beds and dig around one of them. They are only trying to get cool but it is so annoying. I go out the back and find dirt and mulch all over the path and a dog asleep under the rose bush.
The pea seeds I put in ages ago were mostly eaten by some thing before they even sprouted, and those that did sprout got attacked by slugs and snails. I even put in more seeds but that same things happened. Hopefully these seedlings will take off.
The capsicums are in bed 4. I added 1 bag of compost and 1 of chicken manure and mixed that around on top of whatever was still in the bed. Then I added 2 bags of garden soil but only to 1 half as it wasn't going to be enough to fill it all. I will have to get some more soil to fill up the other half of the bed.
The azaleas are outside the laundry. We used to have a self sown olive tree - at least I think was an olive. We did get these tiny black berries on it over summer. I am amazed the poor thing actually survived. It never got watered, was in bed only 18 inches wide and next to our neighbours garage wall. If you are wondering why I am talking in past tense about the tree - hubby cut it down once the solar panels got installed. It had gotten tall enough to cast shadow on the roof. So rather than do annual maintenance to cut it back he took the whole thing out. Oh well. It wasn't like we used the fruit from it. He also removed all the mulch from the bed it was in and all that was lying around on the path. I was very annoyed by that. I think I may have mentioned it.
But now I have some pretty azaleas to relace it. Two pinks and one white. I hope they like their new home. My parents have an azalea that was planted over 50 years ago and it is still going strong.
Everything got mulched with sugar cane mulch. I like this stuff. It comes in a big bag and seems to spread quite far.
In a few days I will get more soil and fill up the rest of bed 4. Not sure what veges to put in. Maybe some pumpkins? The pansies and primulas in bed 3 look good. I think I will put in a couple of tomatoes in between these.
I am also thinking of getting 3 more of the same beds to fill up my lawn space. I watered the whole lot the other day with weed kill. It doesn't appear to be doing much yet, but I know it will and it will be fairly sudden. If not, well I will just go over it again
I would also like to do something with the space under the clothesline - we have a large rotary line. There was a plant in that bed but I cut it out as it was getting in the way of the clothes on the line. so now I have weed infested garden bed. The issue I have with this bed is that it is out the back and I'm sure the dogs would dig it up. They get into one of the rose beds and dig around one of them. They are only trying to get cool but it is so annoying. I go out the back and find dirt and mulch all over the path and a dog asleep under the rose bush.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Solar Panels and Worm Farms
The solar panels have been up and running for about 2 months now. We have all the gauges in place too so now we can keep a eye on what each panel is doing all by it's lonesome. It sure has kept hubby busy of a night. He likes to 'tinker' with any new toy he gets to see how it works.
I did some pruning yesterday as today is green bin day. We intend on pulling out the front lawn and some of the front yard garden bed so we can easily get cars in and out - we now have 4 of them. So I started to chop up some of the plants in the garden bed. It will be a long process if I only use the green waste bin. It only gets cleared every 2 weeks and I don't believe in packing things in there tightly. I have seen hubby do that and sometimes it gets stuck in the bin.
I also had a good look at the vege patches. I still need to fill the last one with soil and remove all the grass from around them all. I had started to dig up the grass, but I think I will just give it a good weed spray and then cover it with my preferred mulch. So much easier on the back and hands. Won't being do it today though - too windy.
I planted some pea seeds awhile ago. I put in 20 - most of the germinated but nearly all of them have been eaten by snails (I'm guessing). The plot they are in was not mulched so when I do that and plant some more seeds they should grow for me. I'm happy with the way the spinach and the lettuces have grown, though the mignonette ones are still quite small. I picked one last night to have with dinner but since I was not home to finish off dinner it got left in the fridge - oh well it can go on our lunch. I added some spinach to last nights lasagne - eldest asked what it was as she ate dinner, but it has no flavour when cooked with other foods. That's a good thing in my book. The leaves are large and thick, have a have a thick stalk and holes in them. I want to give carrots another go too.
I have been thinking I will get some large-ish pots and plant them up for veges too and put them along the edge of the vege area. That will then give the drivers a visual on how far up the lawn they can go. I have some edging I want to put in to separate those 2 areas and to keep the mulch where it belongs.
I have also been thinking again that I need to put together a worm farm. I found an old polystyrene box we've got lying around that I thought had been thrown out. I checked the internet for make your one warm farms and found 1 that uses such a box. I also found a set up using 4 black plastic tubs with lids that looks promising too. Maybe I can use them together?? To purchase a worm farm would cost around $90 and that's just for the plastic tubs. It's another $35+ for the worms. I figure I can get 3 tubs at $10 each and use them with the found box. If I put the box on the bottom to collect the liquid I can use 2 litre milk bottles with 1 side cut off to drain the liquid into.
With all that I want to do in the garden, it's a shame I don't get any offers of help.
I did some pruning yesterday as today is green bin day. We intend on pulling out the front lawn and some of the front yard garden bed so we can easily get cars in and out - we now have 4 of them. So I started to chop up some of the plants in the garden bed. It will be a long process if I only use the green waste bin. It only gets cleared every 2 weeks and I don't believe in packing things in there tightly. I have seen hubby do that and sometimes it gets stuck in the bin.
I also had a good look at the vege patches. I still need to fill the last one with soil and remove all the grass from around them all. I had started to dig up the grass, but I think I will just give it a good weed spray and then cover it with my preferred mulch. So much easier on the back and hands. Won't being do it today though - too windy.
I planted some pea seeds awhile ago. I put in 20 - most of the germinated but nearly all of them have been eaten by snails (I'm guessing). The plot they are in was not mulched so when I do that and plant some more seeds they should grow for me. I'm happy with the way the spinach and the lettuces have grown, though the mignonette ones are still quite small. I picked one last night to have with dinner but since I was not home to finish off dinner it got left in the fridge - oh well it can go on our lunch. I added some spinach to last nights lasagne - eldest asked what it was as she ate dinner, but it has no flavour when cooked with other foods. That's a good thing in my book. The leaves are large and thick, have a have a thick stalk and holes in them. I want to give carrots another go too.
I have been thinking I will get some large-ish pots and plant them up for veges too and put them along the edge of the vege area. That will then give the drivers a visual on how far up the lawn they can go. I have some edging I want to put in to separate those 2 areas and to keep the mulch where it belongs.
I have also been thinking again that I need to put together a worm farm. I found an old polystyrene box we've got lying around that I thought had been thrown out. I checked the internet for make your one warm farms and found 1 that uses such a box. I also found a set up using 4 black plastic tubs with lids that looks promising too. Maybe I can use them together?? To purchase a worm farm would cost around $90 and that's just for the plastic tubs. It's another $35+ for the worms. I figure I can get 3 tubs at $10 each and use them with the found box. If I put the box on the bottom to collect the liquid I can use 2 litre milk bottles with 1 side cut off to drain the liquid into.
With all that I want to do in the garden, it's a shame I don't get any offers of help.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
going green
The other week we had Solar Power installed on our roof.
It's not connected to the grid yet and there is a slight problem with the electricity meter, but we have solar.
Somehow the meter is reading both what the panels are generating and what we are using as all being power used from the grid. Apparently it is not uncommon in the early stages, at least until the meter gets reprogrammed by the power supply company. Seems rather stupid to me.
We have to wait anther week at least for our electricit retailer to do their bit and then another 2 or 3 weeks for the electricty provider to reprogram the meter. Then we will be turning on the solar panels and saving some money.
We went with a 4.5kw system - that's 18 panels - with micro inverters. These inverters mean that no matter what panel is in the shade - or even partially shaded - all the other panels will work to their full capacity. Other inverters apparently work as one, so if 1 panel is shaded the amount of power taken from the rest is the same as the one in the shade.
The panels we got - forget what brand they are - have the capacity to produce power earlier in the morning and later in the day, when compared to others. They do however not produce as much power in the middle of the day. It all evens out in the end; but what it means for us is that we can start to generate power earlier and stay generating power later than some other people. It has something to do with the shape of the cell in the panel - I think.
They cost a fair bit given the size of the system but we should over the year not actually pay for electricty. So given the size of our current bill - around $400 per quater - we should have this sytem paid off in 5 to 6 years.
It's not connected to the grid yet and there is a slight problem with the electricity meter, but we have solar.
Somehow the meter is reading both what the panels are generating and what we are using as all being power used from the grid. Apparently it is not uncommon in the early stages, at least until the meter gets reprogrammed by the power supply company. Seems rather stupid to me.
We have to wait anther week at least for our electricit retailer to do their bit and then another 2 or 3 weeks for the electricty provider to reprogram the meter. Then we will be turning on the solar panels and saving some money.
We went with a 4.5kw system - that's 18 panels - with micro inverters. These inverters mean that no matter what panel is in the shade - or even partially shaded - all the other panels will work to their full capacity. Other inverters apparently work as one, so if 1 panel is shaded the amount of power taken from the rest is the same as the one in the shade.
The panels we got - forget what brand they are - have the capacity to produce power earlier in the morning and later in the day, when compared to others. They do however not produce as much power in the middle of the day. It all evens out in the end; but what it means for us is that we can start to generate power earlier and stay generating power later than some other people. It has something to do with the shape of the cell in the panel - I think.
They cost a fair bit given the size of the system but we should over the year not actually pay for electricty. So given the size of our current bill - around $400 per quater - we should have this sytem paid off in 5 to 6 years.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
I hate days when
I can't be stuffed to do anything. They are such a waste of time.
Like today for instance. It is 2.15 in the afternoon and I am still in my pj's. I can't be bothered getting dressed.
I have a list of things that I should be doing that is a mile long, but I can't be bothered to do any of them.
I am not depressed today, not sad or lonely. I am just stopped.
That's the only way to describe it.
I can't even go back to bed to have a nap, wake up and start the day all over again as I am not the slightest tired.
There is nothing that I can think of that I should be doing that has me the slightest bit interested.
There's the hand piecing of a mini quilt - nope,
The cutting up of some fabric for calisthenics and then overlocking it - nope,
The sewing a bit more of a blue and white quilt - nope,
The putting a charity quilt of my frame and starting it - nope.
So what on earth am I going to do?????
I can't even be bothered going shopping - that would mean having to get dressed.........
Like today for instance. It is 2.15 in the afternoon and I am still in my pj's. I can't be bothered getting dressed.
I have a list of things that I should be doing that is a mile long, but I can't be bothered to do any of them.
I am not depressed today, not sad or lonely. I am just stopped.
That's the only way to describe it.
I can't even go back to bed to have a nap, wake up and start the day all over again as I am not the slightest tired.
There is nothing that I can think of that I should be doing that has me the slightest bit interested.
There's the hand piecing of a mini quilt - nope,
The cutting up of some fabric for calisthenics and then overlocking it - nope,
The sewing a bit more of a blue and white quilt - nope,
The putting a charity quilt of my frame and starting it - nope.
So what on earth am I going to do?????
I can't even be bothered going shopping - that would mean having to get dressed.........
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
Vege garden update on April 9's post
I have made some in roads to my list of things to do out the front that I posted about on April 9.
I have started to dig up the grass and lay down mulch. This is hard work and it is a standstill at the moment as I have to wait to get the green rubbish bin emptied. That will happen this Friday. Ok so I don't really have to wait, but I would rather put the grass straight into the bin than have to heap it up somewhere and then double handle it into the bin once it is empty.
The corn is all removed and cut up. Most of it went into a vege bed to compost down, some went into the bin.
I have filled 3 of the 4 beds with compost, manure and soil. Just waiting on the last pumpkin to die off so I can deal with the last bed. It may have to have a green manure crop in it over winter.
The leaves down the sideway got swept up by hubby. I found him putting them into the green waste bin. I was so upset by that. It should have all gone onto the garden bed as mulch!! He even raked up / scraped off the mulch under our lone olive tree. He has no idea about gardening at all. Sometimes I believe that we have no common goal in life - but that is a whole other post.
The peas have been planted with frames for them to climb up. I have also planted out 2 types of lettuce, some spinach and some pansies and primula. Still need to throw down some carrot and pak choy seeds. I wonder if I could mix them up and sew together??
I have purchased and edging to define where the vege garden is. There will be enough left over to put an edge around the gun tree in our nature strip.
That is all to update on my April 9 list. Still a way to go, but I will get there.
I got a gardening brochure the other day. It always makes me want to plant out more things. Like apple trees, roses, nut trees, etc. With an unresponsive garden wise hubby I wonder if that would be possible.......
I have started to dig up the grass and lay down mulch. This is hard work and it is a standstill at the moment as I have to wait to get the green rubbish bin emptied. That will happen this Friday. Ok so I don't really have to wait, but I would rather put the grass straight into the bin than have to heap it up somewhere and then double handle it into the bin once it is empty.
The corn is all removed and cut up. Most of it went into a vege bed to compost down, some went into the bin.
I have filled 3 of the 4 beds with compost, manure and soil. Just waiting on the last pumpkin to die off so I can deal with the last bed. It may have to have a green manure crop in it over winter.
The leaves down the sideway got swept up by hubby. I found him putting them into the green waste bin. I was so upset by that. It should have all gone onto the garden bed as mulch!! He even raked up / scraped off the mulch under our lone olive tree. He has no idea about gardening at all. Sometimes I believe that we have no common goal in life - but that is a whole other post.
The peas have been planted with frames for them to climb up. I have also planted out 2 types of lettuce, some spinach and some pansies and primula. Still need to throw down some carrot and pak choy seeds. I wonder if I could mix them up and sew together??
I have purchased and edging to define where the vege garden is. There will be enough left over to put an edge around the gun tree in our nature strip.
That is all to update on my April 9 list. Still a way to go, but I will get there.
I got a gardening brochure the other day. It always makes me want to plant out more things. Like apple trees, roses, nut trees, etc. With an unresponsive garden wise hubby I wonder if that would be possible.......
Peas please
Dear Mother Earth,
Today I planted some pea seeds. I would really appreciate it if you could/would allow them to grow properly and nice and strong so that I can enjoy some home grown peas. They are in planted out in my 3rd front garden vege beds. I have even put in some decorative frames for the pea plants to twine themselves up. I promise to water and feed them once they have sprouted.
Kindest regards....
Today I planted some pea seeds. I would really appreciate it if you could/would allow them to grow properly and nice and strong so that I can enjoy some home grown peas. They are in planted out in my 3rd front garden vege beds. I have even put in some decorative frames for the pea plants to twine themselves up. I promise to water and feed them once they have sprouted.
Kindest regards....
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Vege garden
will now be turned into flower beds - at least for over winter. I know I can plant veges that will grow in Melbourne winter - but not those that we would eat. Maybe I will do 2 beds with veges and 2 with flowers.
I already have 1 bed all filled with compost, manure and soil and planted with Primula and Pansies. Another bed had tomatoes in it - the bugs liked them - the tomatoes have been pulled out and chopped up back into the bed and then all that has been covered with lucerne straw. The idea is to cover the straw with manure and lots of compost and soil.
The corn is still planted although it is all dead. I have harvested around 20 ears. We have eaten some - not that sweet to eat. The youngest commented on how full the corn is compared to store bought. Here's some that I picked a month ago.
The rest I have put into the freezer. They are actually quite long.
I have also harvested all the potatoes - not happy with these either. Most are really small - bite sized is best way to describe them - and they have quite dirty looking skin. Maybe I will try them again next year - maybe not.
Yesterday when I was planting out the flowers I noticed that I have 1 lonely small KENT pumpkin grown from seeds saved from a store bought one. It's about 7 inches across. I have sat it up on some bricks in an attempt to keep the bugs from eating it.
In checking a website called gardenate.com I have found that I can grow peas, spinach, pak choy, lettuce, carrot as we eat these. I have tried broccoli in the past with no success. So once I chop down the corn I think I will put in peas (will need a frame of some sort), carrots, lettuce and pak choy.
So......Jobs to do in the front yard :-
in no particular order.......
Since the eldest now has a car we really need to get cracking on making proper car parking for 4 cars. The only way we can think of doing this is to rip out the front lawn and lay down some gravel. Having 2 cars in the car port, 1 behind them and the fourth on the nature strip means lots of shuffling of an evening so the first person to leave of a morning can get their car out. Having car parking on the front lawn is the easiest way. It may look ugly, but it is the best option. And then if the overseas child comes home and gets a car that puts us at 5 cars!! oh boy...
I already have 1 bed all filled with compost, manure and soil and planted with Primula and Pansies. Another bed had tomatoes in it - the bugs liked them - the tomatoes have been pulled out and chopped up back into the bed and then all that has been covered with lucerne straw. The idea is to cover the straw with manure and lots of compost and soil.
The corn is still planted although it is all dead. I have harvested around 20 ears. We have eaten some - not that sweet to eat. The youngest commented on how full the corn is compared to store bought. Here's some that I picked a month ago.
The rest I have put into the freezer. They are actually quite long.
I have also harvested all the potatoes - not happy with these either. Most are really small - bite sized is best way to describe them - and they have quite dirty looking skin. Maybe I will try them again next year - maybe not.
Yesterday when I was planting out the flowers I noticed that I have 1 lonely small KENT pumpkin grown from seeds saved from a store bought one. It's about 7 inches across. I have sat it up on some bricks in an attempt to keep the bugs from eating it.
In checking a website called gardenate.com I have found that I can grow peas, spinach, pak choy, lettuce, carrot as we eat these. I have tried broccoli in the past with no success. So once I chop down the corn I think I will put in peas (will need a frame of some sort), carrots, lettuce and pak choy.
So......Jobs to do in the front yard :-
in no particular order.......
- remove all grass from around the vege beds and lay down a thick layer of mulch.
- cut down/remove the corn and chop up
- add 1 bag of manure to each bed
- add heaps of compost and soil to each bed (I really need them to be full of soil as I can't wait for it to be made anymore)
- sweep up the leaves from down the side and compost them (probably in the vege beds)
- make up (or purchase) a frame for peas and plant out pea seeds
- plant out carrot, lettuce, pak choy seeds
- put an edge between vege beds and car parking area
- rip out lawn to make car parking
- rip out all plants behind letterbox
- remove existing garden edge behind letterbox
- redo garden edge along front up to letterbox
- weed front garden and redo mulch (this was last done around 5-6 years ago)
Since the eldest now has a car we really need to get cracking on making proper car parking for 4 cars. The only way we can think of doing this is to rip out the front lawn and lay down some gravel. Having 2 cars in the car port, 1 behind them and the fourth on the nature strip means lots of shuffling of an evening so the first person to leave of a morning can get their car out. Having car parking on the front lawn is the easiest way. It may look ugly, but it is the best option. And then if the overseas child comes home and gets a car that puts us at 5 cars!! oh boy...
Monday, March 11, 2013
Vege Update
So my hanging tomato has finished - it's all skinny and brown. And the corn out the front is ready for picking (I think). And the tomatoes with the corn are being eaten by bugs and not by us.
This year has been rather a failure in the way of putting food on the table. So I didn't plant lots of vege varieties, but the weather has beaten me this time. Hubby asked the other day about the corn and the potatoes - when do they get harvested. I told him it's been to hot to get out there to do it and I plan on doingit on Thursday. Well that was last week and Thursday was too hot also. I'm hoping for a break in the weather this Thursday so I can pick the corn, harvest what spuds have grown (I'm doubful of getting many) and turn over the tomatoes. They are just not worth the watering.
In fact I have become so disillusioned by this whole process that I am thinkg if turning the vege beds into flowers beds. At least they give me some ejoyment.
Mind you things would be a lot easier if I had some help with it all. The grass/weeds are growing like mad around the beds andhubby no one thinks to get out the wipper snipper to cut them back. And asking just gets a grunt for a reply. I refuse to learn how to use that thing (or the lawn mower) as that would be 1 more thing for me to do around here. Moan moan, whinge whinge.
so that's veges for March 2013 - maybe I will get inspirated (thanks cup cake queen for that word)..
This year has been rather a failure in the way of putting food on the table. So I didn't plant lots of vege varieties, but the weather has beaten me this time. Hubby asked the other day about the corn and the potatoes - when do they get harvested. I told him it's been to hot to get out there to do it and I plan on doingit on Thursday. Well that was last week and Thursday was too hot also. I'm hoping for a break in the weather this Thursday so I can pick the corn, harvest what spuds have grown (I'm doubful of getting many) and turn over the tomatoes. They are just not worth the watering.
In fact I have become so disillusioned by this whole process that I am thinkg if turning the vege beds into flowers beds. At least they give me some ejoyment.
Mind you things would be a lot easier if I had some help with it all. The grass/weeds are growing like mad around the beds and
so that's veges for March 2013 - maybe I will get inspirated (thanks cup cake queen for that word)..
Monday, February 11, 2013
hmmm
Got on the scales this morning - I am now 4 kilos lighter - woo hoo.
This has inspired me to keep doing what I am doing. Maybe, just maybe, I will get to my goal weight.
This has inspired me to keep doing what I am doing. Maybe, just maybe, I will get to my goal weight.
Thursday, February 07, 2013
Garden update
Oohh, it looks like I have corn ears...... Not on me, silly, out in the front yard. I checked them just before and it appears I have quite a few coming along. Not sure how to tell when they're ready to pick - any suggstions??? Not every plant has female flowers just yet. Some are only just getting their males flowers at the top.
And my tigrella tomatoes out the front are having slightly larger fruit than the one out the back too. These were laying down all over the place, so I got some frames and put around them to lift the plants and fruit up off the ground. I did manage to accidently break off 1 large stem with numerous fruit on it - oh well. They still have flowers too, so that's promising.
The plant out the back looks like it's about done. No more flowers and the fruit is quite small. I guess the experiment with an upside down plant did not go so well. Probably a lack of water and thus nutrients.
One of the dogs has been digging in amongst the roses - she's trying to find somewhere thats a bit cool to lie in. If she doesn't stop this habit soon, she will dig up the poor things! Been thinking it's time they got pruned, had compost put around them and then mulch laid down. Dog will love that - all those good smells.
And my tigrella tomatoes out the front are having slightly larger fruit than the one out the back too. These were laying down all over the place, so I got some frames and put around them to lift the plants and fruit up off the ground. I did manage to accidently break off 1 large stem with numerous fruit on it - oh well. They still have flowers too, so that's promising.
The plant out the back looks like it's about done. No more flowers and the fruit is quite small. I guess the experiment with an upside down plant did not go so well. Probably a lack of water and thus nutrients.
One of the dogs has been digging in amongst the roses - she's trying to find somewhere thats a bit cool to lie in. If she doesn't stop this habit soon, she will dig up the poor things! Been thinking it's time they got pruned, had compost put around them and then mulch laid down. Dog will love that - all those good smells.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Vege Garden Update after xmas hols
Well I was midely surprised that the vege patch survived both the heat and the eldest treatment. I know she is no gardener.....
The corn is now around 2-3 feet high, hopefully it get bigger - i'n not sure how tall it should grow.
The pumpkin is looking good - no flowers yet but i'm hoping.
We have picked a few tomatoes from the tigrella bushes. They are not as large a tomato as I thought they would be. Maybe not enough water or nutrints in the soil???
We did lose a strawberry plant due to the heat - oh well it was a number of years old and in the same pot. And I think one of the rhubarbs is dead. It got chewed even before we went away.
The spuds are nearly ready for harvesting, I think. At least the bushes are going yellow, but 1 has started to reshoot!!
We have an old birds nest fern down the sideway - it has severe sunburn on most of it's fronds the poor thing. Hopefully it will be ok.
Not much hot weather this week. I hope those affected by bushfires are all safe.
The corn is now around 2-3 feet high, hopefully it get bigger - i'n not sure how tall it should grow.
The pumpkin is looking good - no flowers yet but i'm hoping.
We have picked a few tomatoes from the tigrella bushes. They are not as large a tomato as I thought they would be. Maybe not enough water or nutrints in the soil???
We did lose a strawberry plant due to the heat - oh well it was a number of years old and in the same pot. And I think one of the rhubarbs is dead. It got chewed even before we went away.
The spuds are nearly ready for harvesting, I think. At least the bushes are going yellow, but 1 has started to reshoot!!
We have an old birds nest fern down the sideway - it has severe sunburn on most of it's fronds the poor thing. Hopefully it will be ok.
Not much hot weather this week. I hope those affected by bushfires are all safe.
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