Paper pots

I was given a fantastic product for Christmas. A paper pot press.

It is really easy to use and I was very keen to trial the finished product. As soon as the moon was good for leafy greens I had to plant some seeds, rocket and mizuna and lettuce.

The strike rate was good, the next trial is how they work in the garden.  When I did plant some out, I tore off the excess paper at the bottom of the pots......I planted out some cucumbers but it may have been the 40 degree day that thwarted this trial.......not still there after 3 days.

Note the paper pots near the trellis, empty of cucumbers. I will have to replant and continue to observe.

There's still plenty of plants to choose from in this trial. I have been working on increasing the leafy greens in the circles and I have also been doing a trial in the design and planting of the circles.
Digging out the circle into a donut shape, and planting around the edge, mulching in the hollow.  I will have to save that thought till the next post...might have some positive results by then.

Compost

I do love a good compost heap. I get very excited about making soil and I prepare all my own soil here for my seedlings and advanced plants. My compost heap is very important in this process. I use a simple 3 - 1 recipie, 3 dried material to 1 manure. I use the wheelbarrow as a measure. I very rarely put any weeds in the compost even though I like a hot compost and in theroy all the weed seeds would be destroyed, I do not like to tempt fate. I also always mow the leaves before they go in the compost so they can break down quickly, and I make sure I wet all material as it goes on the heap, this seems to speed up the process also.

 This is Mini Moo. She was hand reared in the backyard and is now a free range, lawn mower. The bonus is she fertilises where she goes, unfortunately she goes in the shed a lot and theres not much need for fertiliser in there.

Food Forrest

When I was weeding the other day, I was excited to find many self sown tomatoes. As I enthusiastically weeded near and around them I realised that the weeds were keeping the soil from splashing on the plants protecting them from wilt. So, I made sure they were heavily mulched after weeding to keep them nice.

My weeding was rewarded, look what I found!

I am using the permaculture system devised by "Linda Woodrow" which is a series of circular gardens which are serviced by a "Chook Dome". It does have it's advantages as the chooks clear and fertilize each garden bed in preparation for planting. There are also difficulties with watering as the plants grow they block the sprinkler, I am learning to work with the circles. My husband becomes frustrated with a garden that he can't easily find the fresh and ready veg. He is also not keen on my habit of letting some veg go to seed. But he was impressed with the tomatoes.

Cos Lettuce flower head. Maybe they will grow themselves next season.

I am always well protected in the garden. Shelia is never far away. One of the first commands she learned was"off the garden". I just have to train the new dog to do the same.