Rescued from the Beaks of Death!

Another little visitor to my garden was this tiny gecko. I rescued him from the chook's water bucket before I let them out this morning. I'm glad I saw him as the chooks would have thought him a tasty morsel!

At first I thought he'd drowned but when I reached in with a stick he grabbed it. He must have been very cold because he stayed still long enough for lots of photos.

Although I do think he was eyeing off my Lettuces in this pot.

I love his translucent skin

And those buggy eyes!

I'm glad I rescued this little fellow from those chookies...
...he's now residing in my Herb Garden.
Hopefully to catch lots of little bugs in there.

This isn't the first time I've had to rescue lizards from buckets. Now I've placed shallow trays in the garden for the lizards to drink from. I've put rocks and sticks in them so they can get out of the water by themselves.

I Wasn't Going To....But....

I wasn't intending to plant many early seeds this year, due to the fact we will be away at the time I usually do my first planting out in the garden in October. However, our Garden Club has decided to hold a Trading Table at the Hospital Fete this year and seedling vegetables are always popular.

With this in mind I have planted a few that I already had the seeds for in the seed box and also have placed a small order for some more.

See Food Gardening for Beginners Part 6 - Getting Your Seeds To Grow for more information on growing from seed.

On Tuesday 24th July the following were planted in punnets, margarine containers and cell trays:
Cucumber - Lebanese Mini from Digger’s Seeds
Sunflower - Evening Sun and Giant Russian from Eden Seeds
- some seed that Gringo sent me last year!!
Tomato - Ida Gold from Seed Saver's Network
- Black Russian from Eden Seeds
- Pacesetter from Eden Seeds
Pumpkin - Golden Nugget Home Saved Seed
- Jap from Eden Seeds
Squash - Delicata from Phoenix Seeds
Zucchini - Black from Eden Seeds
Silverbeet - Green Silver O/G from DT Brown Seeds

A collection of herbs and flowers for Companion Planting:
Anise Hyssop from Phoenix Seeds
Basil - Sweet from Eden Seeds
Basil - Purple from Phoenix Seeds
Dill from Select Organic Seeds
Fennel - Bronze from Eden Seeds
Parsley - Curled from DT Brown Seeds
Cosmos - White from DT Brown Seeds
Marigold - Crackerjack from DT Brown Seeds
Nasturtium - Alaska Gold from Digger’s Seeds
Nasturtium - Alaska Scarlett from Digger’s Seeds
Nigella - Blue from DT Brown Seeds
Nigella - Mixed from DT Brown Seeds
Phacelia tanacetifoli from Digger’s Seeds

All the seeds for the frost sensitive plants went into the hot house in polystyrene boxes with glass covers because they need all the heat they can get at this time of the year.

The others have gone into the shadehouse and all except the Silverbeet have gone under glass in there too.

The soil temperature in these pots is exceeding 25C during the daytime (the days have been warmer than usual for this time of the year) Covering the boxes at night should help keep the warmth in at night.

The packet in which the soil thermometer came says this should be warm enough to allow germination. These are the minimum soil temps. required for germination!

I'm hoping this cloud continues to gather because we are on a promise of rain for tomorrow.
Here's hoping

Potting On Greens

Saturday morning's chilly start gave way to a bright sunny day. Just right to get out in the garden.

These greens seedlings were ready to pot on so after making up some potting mix, I was off to find suitable containers;

• cut down milk containers,
• lolly trays,
• margarine containers with holes punched in the bottom
• and even a few cleaned pots.

The following were potted on:

• 9 Di Cicco Early Broccoli seed from Eden Seeds
• 6 Nonnie’s Giant Arugula seed from Seed Savers Network
• 3 Golden Acre Cabbage seed from Eden Seeds
• 4 Ethiopian Cabbage seed from Seed Savers Network
• 12 Coriander seeds from Greenpatch Organic Seeds
• 3 Borage seeds from Select Organic
• 8 NZ Spinach or Warrigal Greens from Home Saved Seeds
  

These were put together and a frame added to put plastic over to keep the days warmth in as the nights are still quite chilly.

Thanks to Lucky and her sister Susan for the hints on using Emoticons in Blogger!

The Best Things Are Free.

One of the joys of having a clear up is finding some treasure!

While clearing Bed 6 on Saturday I noticed this growing under the Cox's Orange Pippin Apple tree.

This lettuce has not only self-seeded here but also survived a seemingly never ending barrage of frosts this winter.
Consider also the fact that it hasn't been watered at all and with our rainfall total for the month stuck on about 13mm, I think this little plant has done remarkably well.

I should earmark it for seed saving to encourage this drought and frost tolerance. The lettuces I've planted out are tiny in comparison.

Just goes to show that self-sown plants, sheltered by weeds, are tough little critters!

Me a Subversive?

Oh gosh now Crazy Mumma has nominated me for a "Frugal Subversive Award". CM said:
" Of course my nomination naturally includes Doc by default ;-) Cheers! "
So I reckon Doc can do 2 of the tags, just to be fair of course!!!

According to a dictionary meaning this award translates as:
"A radical supporter of political or social revolution (by) Avoiding waste"

Or as Rhonda (who initiated this award) put it:
"bloggers who consistently turn their backs on consumerism to live frugally in a creative and authentic way. These bloggers have made me think in innovative ways about my own life and how I can make a difference making, reusing, and just saying "no" to mindless spending."

So for my tag I've chosen Bean Sprouts a newly added link on my list but a site full of great "Frugal" ideas, and an amazing list of links!

MEME RULES
1. When you are tagged, write a post with links to three blogs who have inspired you with their frugal creativity or innovation.
2. In your post, please link back to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme and save the award graphic.
3. Leave a comment or message for the bloggers you’re tagging, so they they know they're received the award.
4. Display the Frugal Subversive Award badge to identify your blog as part of the movement that is turning its back on consumerism at any cost.

Little Visitor

My attention was caught this morning when I thought I saw some movement out the corner of my eye.

Look who I found!

At first I thought it was a Willy Wagtail. These cheeky little birds are quite common in our region but rarely venture into my garden (something to do with the Black Ninja I suspect!!).

This little bird was different but just as cheeky.

After serious consultation with my bird bible 'The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds' I now believe this little fellow to be Grey Fantail - Rhipidura fuliginosa, actually a close relative of the Willy Wagtail - Rhipidura leucophrys.


He stayed long enough for me to photograph him. For which I thanked him. He wasn't scared of me and in fact he nearly landed on my shoulder. He is welcome in Scarecrow's Garden as his favourite food is insects so hopefully he'll take a liking to some of the bugs in my vegetable patch.

According to the fact sheet from Birds in the Backyard Grey Fantails often migrate North in winter to warmer areas of Australia, so I'm glad this one decided to visit my garden.
"The Grey Fantail occasionally visits densely-planted urban gardens, particularly during the winter migration. Often makes use of eucalypt trees."

He must have liked the gum trees in the garden!

Thank you little bird.
You made my day!

Eat Green

Homegrown the only way to go!

I've just heard an interesting interview on the radio. Chuck Berger from the Australian Conservation Foundation was speaking about the environmental impact of the foods we eat. Here's a link to their web page with the full story but some interesting points were raised (and taken into more detail on the site; click on each point for a link).

1. Reduce Animal Products
2. Choose unprocessed or unrefined foods
3. Eat what you buy, don’t waste it!
4. Choose organic
5. Bring the paddock closer to your plate

It's interesting to note that most of this can be achieved by growing your own food in the backyard.
Especially for point 5. Even using containers in small gardens will help reduce the impact of what you're eating on our environment!

The ACF site also has an interesting page called Green the Garden with ideas for making your garden more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Bloggers for Positive Global Change Award

Rhonda over at Down--- to---Earth has nominated me for a Bloggers for Positive Global Change Award.
Thank you Rhonda!
I don't usually participate in memes or tags. But I've had a long think about this one. OK a very long think about it!

Here are some good blogs I've been reading for a while and a couple of new ones too. I guess it doesn't matter if they've already been nominated they can have another one!! :)

The first is Allotment Lady in UK.
It was from reading her blog about her large allotment (and her chickens) and all the great things she does with her harvests that inspired me to begin blogging.
I know she doesn't like memes and tags either but I'll nominate her anyway.

Next is Lucky's Duck Farm.
Lucky's keen on growing veggies and keeping poultry but lives in the suburban outskirts of Adelaide (our capital city). I hope her blog encourages other city folk to grow more of their own food.

I've been reading another English blog for a while now.
Sustainable Garden
As the owner's profile reads:
"We will look back on these times as a kind of dark ages. We will wonder how we ever allowed ourselves to live this way, with no thought to our impact on the world around us. "
I have to agree with him there!

The next blog Garden Desk
I've only just found but the owner Marc is working on another great site. He's collecting blog entries on vegetable growing from around the world and presenting them Here on the Veggie Garden Info site. I'm sure this will become (it already is) a valuable reference tool!

The final nominee is a very new blog by a fellow Aussies Living Simply member and it's called Our Patch. Ali and her family have got some interesting things happening in Queensland Australia where it's warm enough to grow lot's of vegetables in the backyard all year round!

This bit I've copied from Rhonda's site. ;)

Fellow Positive Global Change Award recipients, it’s easy to participate in this meme. At minimum, you can proudly display the BPGC badge (Click here for the image url) on your blog and bask in the glow of our collective good will. If you are sharing the kudos, however, please make sure you pass this list of rules to the blogs you are tagging.The participation rules are simple:
1. When you get tagged, write a post with links to up to 5 blogs that you think are trying to change the world in a positive way.
2. In your post, make sure you link back to so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Leave a comment or message for the bloggers you’re tagging, so they know they’re now part of the meme.
4. Optional: Proudly display the “Bloggers For Positive Global Change” award badge with a link to the post that you write up.

Now I have to let all my nominees know!

Fruit Tree Winter Pruning

Before and after pruning shots of Cherry (top) and Apple trees.

Doc's made a start on pruning our fruit trees. Most of these trees are over ten years old now and are mainly pruned for height and tidiness.
Branches that are growing over pathways and anything over head height is removed.
Attention is paid to fruiting buds to allow for a crop each year and also allow for netting where required. See our Cherry Tree net/frame here.

See the full story on Doc's Blog here.

The Colours Of Winter

July is our coldest month here and by now things have almost stopped growing. At least the pests aren't very active either.
The last weeks of June were quite cold and it's bringing out some glorious colours in the leafy vegetables.

The Russian Red Kale has gone from grey-blue to nearly red.

The Red Silverbeet is even darker now.

Just today I noticed my Lemon Thyme has gone half red!
It still looks healthy though!

After a warm and wet start to this month we now back to frosts and maximum temps of about 12C.
As soon as the sun shines for a short time the bees are out and about.

The rosemary bushes are a favourite for them.

While the sun is shining I make a bee-line for my little hot house.
I have some interesting things happening in there...more on that later!

The seed catalogues are starting to arrive and the study can begin in earnest.

I've roughly mapped out where to plant what next spring but I haven't decided on varieties yet. Gets exciting to think of all the potential harvest. The only uncertainty is whether or not our current water restrictions will remain. If they do I shall have to reduce the size of the garden significantly to allow for hand watering. This could be done and would make for an interesting challenge. Other gardeners in Australia had these restrictions last year during summer.

June Journal Notes

Saturday 2nd June Min 8.3°C Max 12.4°C
1 mm Rain
5 Eggs
Built compost heap on bed 10 where Tomatoes will be grown next year. Compost made with straw, cow manure, nettles comfrey and marshmallows. Watered with rainwater/seaweed extract/fish emulsion/Epson salts.
See Blog entry:

Ninja says the compost heap is warming up nicely!

Monday 11th June Min 0.4°C Max 12.8°C
3 Eggs
Turned the compost heap to aerate and re-moisten adding r/water/molasses and urine
See blog entry

Saturday 16th June Min -4.6°C Max 15.0°C
7 Eggs
See Garden Log entry for 16 June 07

Sunday 17th June Min -1.4°C Max 11.6°C
7 Eggs
According to Thomas Zimmer's Moon Planting Guide this weekend is time for Greens planting.
I planted seeds of:
Borage seed from Select Organics
Coriander seed from Greenpatch Seeds
Nonnie's Giant Arugula - Rocket seed from SSN No. 2917BA
Ethiopian Cabbage seed from SSN no. 2025B
Golden Acre Cabbage seed from Eden Seeds
Di Cicco Early Broccoli seed from Eden Seeds
Chervil seed from New Gippsland Seeds
A test planting of home collected seeds of the 3 types of wormwood I grow:
Tree Wormwood
Roman Wormwood
Common Wormwood
These were all planted in punnets and watered with a Rainwater/Epson salts mixture. Pace into the hothouse. The wormwoods were covered with a clear plastic container to keep them warm.
Later Lettuce seedlings (Red Velvet x 6, Red Coral x 9 and Gold Rush x 20.) were planted into boxes under the Back Pergola and into a waiting Tank Bed in the Dog Pen garden. These were watered in with a Rainwater/Seaweed solution mixture.

Lettuces in boxes under the back pergola

Friday 22nd June Min 1.7°C Max 11.2°C
1 mm Rain
8 Eggs
Winter Solstice 3:38 am the longest night and shortest day for the southern hemisphere.
The coldest time of the year down under. From now on the days slowly become longer triggering different growth patterns in plants. The lengthening days will tend to make Spinach plants run to seed, it means that garlic now puts more energy into bulb formation instead of leaf formation that it has been doing until now and after the solstice is usually the time for planting Long Keeping Onions. Many people plant Potato Onions on the shortest day of the year and harvest them on the longest day in December.

Saturday 30th June Min 6.3°C Max 13°C
Full Moon 11.20pm (Aus CST) Blue Moon for June
.5mm Rain
7 Eggs
Tonight’s second Full Moon for this month makes it a Blue Moon.
Turned the compost again see here:


A summary of egg totals and weather details:

194 Eggs from the new girls.
The old girls are still resting. We lost another one last week (Chippee the mad Bantam) so there are only 6 old girls left now. Most of these are over 10 years old now.

Lowest Minimum Temp was -5.0°C The mean minimum was 0.8°C
Highest Maximum Temp was 15°C The mean maximum was 12.1°C

Rainfall total was 7.5 mm for the month with the average being 34.1 mm
The photo below is from the weather bureau’s nearest weather station 10kms away. Click to enlarge to read it!