Perennial food plants
on Nov 19, 2009 in Uncategorized They may not be as sexy as some annuals, however perennial food plants make a whole lot of sense & they really help with putting the ‘perma’ in permaculture. I’ve started assembling good information resources on these plants and...

there’s a dam in there somewhere
on Nov 10, 2009 in dam weeds The next major project here is to start clearing out the dam. As the following photos bear witness, it has been completely taken over by Cumbungi Orientalis, an invasive native weed. Actually Cumbungi (or Typha) is a very interesting plant and has a...

the power of rain
on Oct 31, 2009 in weather comfrey frogs lemongrass Monday (26th), the mini-drought in Brisbane did break, 53mm of delicious rain fell here and we’ve been able to throw away the chlorophyll-tinted glasses we had all taken to wearing. Great news…..but of course rain never falls in an egalitaria...

Bring it on
on Oct 25, 2009 in weather Brisbane rain After the disappointment of a couple more storms that failed to eventualise over the weekend, it seems that Brisbane’s four month mini-drought is set to finally end today. The bureau is forecasting significant rain – it’s just a wai...

So many zucchinis, so few doorsteps
on Oct 24, 2009 in recipes vegetables zucchini Anyone that has grown zucchinis will know that, there comes a certain time in late Spring or early Summer, when without really noticing, you all of a sudden, have your very own zucchini mountain. There is a joke about people quietly leaving zucchinis...

Sheet mulching preparations
on Oct 18, 2009 in permaculture manure mulch wattle Sheet mulching is a core permaculture activity – so I suppose it’s probably time I gave it a go. I have no shortage of areas that could do with significant soil improvement – the place that I have settled upon is on the low side of...

Blog Action Day 2009 – Climate Change
on Oct 14, 2009 in climate change ATA Thanks to Julie at Towards Sustainability, I am now aware that today is Blog Action Day on climate change. Blog Action Day is an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day wit...

Aerated cow poo
on Oct 13, 2009 in manure permaculture I’m sure that I’m not the first one to think of this. That is, running dryish cow manure through the shredder. But I’ve got to say, I’m happy with the result!…beautiful soft, fluffy soil enhancer that the veggies should...

Tomato grub exposed
on Oct 10, 2009 in pests vegetables chickens The Grosse Lisse are producing big time right now, although I have been losing quite a few to the Tomato Grub. I think the tomato plants dried out while we were away and so became a little stressed and vulnerable to attack.  Although some grubs were...

Ever so briefly & slightly moist Wednesday
on Oct 7, 2009 in weather Sad James here – yep today’s stormettes didn’t cut it….just 0.7mm lobbed into my rain guage. Hope now turns to Sunday when the Bureau is again calling for showers or a storm. Seems like the weather pattern is changing, but so...