Looking forward to Spring and Summer

I've been reading about the goings on in gardens across the US and must admit I'm getting a little bored with winter and am looking forward to the warmer weather.

While I have been pretty busy in the garden and have planted several new fruit trees and planted quite a few veggies etc, now I am impatient to see them grow and flourish. So I can reap the benefits. I have grown cauliflowers and broccolli over winter but have been sadly disappointed I did all the right things i think, i watered and fed them, weeded and tended them and have a huge crop of .......leaves. But alas no caulis, or broccollis'. My Bok choi was great .

Any thoughts or advise would be greatly appreciated.

The Ranuncullis' have stared flowering which is a definite sign that spring is on its way and the days are getting sunnier and very windy too. Our French friends have been painting away and now the house is a sunny yellow with a green trim it looks a lot cheerier than before. Its amazing the difference a fresh coat of paint makes.

Roll on spring. As usual comments and feed back are greatly appreciated.

Introduction to Permaculture

Tomorrow I am going to attend the first part of this Permaculture course with http://www.veryediblegardens.com. If you're living in Melbourne and have an interest in Permaculture, growing your own veggies and want to get in touch with like minded people their website is well worth a visit. They run courses on no dig garden beds, keeping chooks, how to make worm farms and all sorts of other things.
An Introduction to Urban Permaculture
Duration: Two days


Permaculture is a broad design system for building sustainable human habitats, drawing inspiration from patterns in natural systems. Topics covered in this course include context and an introduction to permaculture ethics and design principles, illustrated with topics relevant to home food production and frugal resource use, such as garden design, water catchment and use, urban animals, companion planting, caring for soil. Includes case studies and design examples. Hands-on activities include marking out contours on slopes and making a good compost pile. The course material is broken up with illustrative games and group work. Participants receive a handout covering all the topics on the course and a certificate of completion. The course caters to backyard permaculture but also encourages people to look outside the home for opportunities and resources in the community, to visualise how we can create a healthier and happier urban environment. Also information about how to get involved in the Permablitz network.

Small Projects can have a Big Impact!

As I write this our new friends from France, who are Wwoofers, are working away in the garden preparing it for winter and helping get the weeds under control for the new crop. We have discovered pumpkins, and potatoes in the veggie patch and this weekend will be planting out veggies for the coming winter. It was sadly neglected but now our veggies will be planted and our compost is being turned. Currently we have pumpkins and potates and tomatoes in the garden, and the Feijowa has just starting fruiting for the first time.

This may seem like a small thing but if everyone was doing the same and we all were growing some fruit and veggies in our back yards can you imagine the impact this would have on our environment.

When we buy our fruit and veggies from the supermarket often they come from overseas or interstate, they are brought to a central holding warehouse where they are then packaged and refrigerated ready for re-distribution around the country. All this involves an incredible amount of food miles, and adds to our carbon footprint on the planet. Remember when you grow ,your own or buy local produce you are not only guaranteed to purchase better quality fruit and veggies, but you are also helping reduce our impact on the environment.

If everyone in our street was growing their fruit and veggies and in the next street and on balconies and in backyards all around the suburbs imagine the impact this would have on not only the environment, but also our health.

Sure its hard work and requires effort and planning, but the pluses far outweigh the minuses. Home grown veggies provide more nutrients, it will reduce your food bill in this tough ecnomic climate and it means we are outside working in the fresh air, and they the taste bears of the supermarket fruit and veggies bears absolutely no comparison.

So get involved in growing your own. Get the kids involved and reap the benefits. The satisfaction alone is worth the trouble!!!! Maybe I am preaching to the converted, I suspect so! But i am passionate and enthusiastic and just cant help myself.