Any experienced permaculture people near Hornsby, Sydney?

Hi all

I haven't been here much lately, with time taken up with kids etc and not much time for internet, although I do check in and read the threads every now and then. Anyway ...

I live near Hornsby on a quarter acre block. I have heaps of fruit trees planted in the back yard, with some of them set up in rows for espaliering - and ready to be pruned and tied on, and some separate. The main veg garden is the front yard, although it is mostly weeds at the moment. I have three blueberry trees and one fig tree waiting to be planted when I decide on a position for them all. We back onto bush and quite a big part of our property is bush, with a lot of that having weeds that should be removed. I also have four kids, with two of them under 3.

So my reason for posting here ... I am having trouble deciding where to put these last trees, and would also love some advice about other things, such as the espaliering and the bush. I don't have spare cash at all to pay someone, but I do cook - all organic, including bread and other stuff (I'm sure lots of people here do that too) and I sew all of our clothes and could possibly barter some sewing or some fabric - I have lots of hemp fabric etc.

Is there anyone nearby who knows lots about
fruit trees and their positions,
the issues with planting near bush, possibly if there is any way I can use some of the bush area,
planting on small blocks (ie putting trees close together, etc)?

I would love an hour of your time for some advice - just a simple wander around looking at what I've done and giving me your suggestions - perhaps in exchange for some baking or something like that???? With the potential to perhaps exchange some sewing or fabric for help in the garden if we both end up being interested in doing that after our initial discussion. You can look at my blog at fionasews.blogspot.com if you want to see some sewing (but remember that clothes that are cheap in the shops can take a while when homemade - important when thinking about an exchange).

I am trying to keep up with the garden with very little help, and finding it impossible. If there is anyone who would like to suggest an exchange that would be useful to you too, please let me know. At the very least, I would love some advice or someone knowledgable to bounce ideas off occasionally.

Fiona

 

Re: Any experienced permaculture people near Hornsby, Sydney?

Join up with Permaculture Sydney North, and you'll be automatically added to the Hornsby sub-group. Then host a meeting at your place and you'll have plenty of informed opinions to work from!

 

Re: Any experienced permaculture people near Hornsby, Sydney?

Thanks for the suggestion.

I did think about that before. I would love to be involved in a group like that - was a member of Cropo in Coffs before I had kids. Was putting off joining until the kids were a little older because I can't really go to evening meetings or reciprocate a working bee at this stage. That will be something that I definitely do in the future. I just need an opinion on the blueberry and fig trees and the espaliering of the other fruit trees sooner then that!

Just looked again at their site though so I'll have another think about it.

Fiona