Are there any backyard veggie gardeners here?

[cookie1]

It sounds lovely INAID.

[achookwoman]

INAID,  sounds lovely with kids involved. 
I picked a bucket of lemons yesterday as they were pulling the tree over.  Have had to prop the tree up as the soil is very wet with all the rain we have had.  Water cart now off the Polaris so can now fill the back with garden rubbish and branches from the Gum trees.
Cool but not raining today. 

[Bedlam]

Too many lemons, a nice problem to have chookie.  I would like to try making some lemon powder with the dehydator. There is a huge lemon tree in a paddock close by laden, i keep thinking i will ask if i could purchase a bag full.  It looks neglected. But i am not brave enough.

[judydawn]

I'm sure they won't mind you having some lemons Denise, those with trees are usually happy to share them around.  Unfortunately my neighbour's overhanging lemon tree hasn't produced any decent lemons for a while now and at the moment there is not 1 lemon to be seen on it. 

[Cuilidh]

You are going to have to do something about that situation, Judy.  Perhaps you could sleep walk and accidentally arrange for a judicial scattering of fertiliser in the middle of the night one night?

[judydawn]

I think it's roots used to be watered from this side when I had lawn out the back Marina, now with fake lawn it's missing out.  That's when it started to go downhill but I would have thought the roots by now would well and truly have reached the water table as that's not far down where we are.  It took the chap not long at all to reach it when sinking a bore when we first moved in here.

[goldfish]

Judy, citrus trees are shallow rooted . . . the poor old tree needs its nutrients and water from the surface so it probably is sulking, or it could be any one of a dozen other causes. Have you thought about maybe a dwarf lemon in a pot? 

[judydawn]

I have a dwarf orange/mandarine tree GF (still very much a dwarf though) but until this year I had a ready supply of lemons so I haven't given it much thought.  It will probably be easier for me to just buy some from time to time as I'm not doing much cooking these days and I could pick up a bag at the local veg market, squeeze and freeze the juice and freeze some zest as well I guess.  I'd then have it on hand if  I needed it.

[goldfish]

Probably a good idea, Judy   Sometimes, just shopping for what we need like that is much more practical. . . 

[goldfish]

This site was passed on by someone on my FB page - a brilliant idea IMO, not to mention a wonderful commentary on community spirit!!  an 8 unit vegetable garden based on the mandala or keyhole method of gardening. Chris also uses his set up as a chicken tractor.  A fantastic idea for any backyard or, on a larger scale, for a community garden.  Fox proof, possum proof, bandicoot proof . . . !!

http://www.strongbuild.com.au/indexe17.php?x=DIY~|^`14

This is presented in 4 parts by Chris Francis from Strongbuild, a building company in Berry, NSW
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the blog section on the Strongbuild website, Chris has some videos that take you through making the sections for a unit he's preparing for A Taste of Paradise Organic Farm, a non profit organisation set up by Tim Francis (no relation) to help underprivileged young people develop solid life skills, in particular how to grow nutritional organic food.   Go to this link below, but then click on the video and it will take you to the YouTube video which is larger and a little easier to see

http://www.strongbuild.com.au/blog1.php?x=BLOG~|^`24

Chris assures that the plans will eventually become available on the website for these, and any money raised from the sale of these plans will go directly to A Taste of Paradise Organic Farm.

(When you've had a good look at these links, make sure you take a look at the home page of Strongbuild at some of the homes these people are building!!   )

I've just tried them and the links don't work directly.  When the page comes up, just go to the DIY button :(toward the right hand side) for the first section, and to the BLOG (far right) for videos on construction . . . .

[achookwoman]

Have spent the afternoon in the garden,  weeding and cleaning up.  The 2 chooks keeping me company.  Cold but sunny.
GF ,  need to spend some time on that link, thanks.

[Nikkit]

After over 50mm last night and 30 - odd mm in the week prior, I think I can now start deciding on what to plant for winter veges. Miss 12 said "spuds first".

So happy it has rained and my paddocks are looking green. Feeling like getting into the garden now 

[achookwoman]

Another day in garden , yesterday and today.  Cutting out Blackberries. Planting Garlic today.  Going to rain again tonight.
Wallaby visited last night and ate the onion top just outside kitchen door.  Very selective.  Hope they give it belly ache.  He has 25 acres of grass to eat.

[gertbysea]

But he WANTED the onion top!

Gert

[achookwoman]

But he WANTED the onion top!

Gert

So do I. ,!