HI Guys, yeah I have been thinking about doing a video for quite a while, more based on how I use biochar in my systems. The lightning fig tree, this is the finest tree on the property and home to many feathered and furry friends. One of the newer vegi garden beds. Wet garden for growing crops like water chestnuts Building up the the oval gardens soil with green manure crops, I did this for three years before starting to grow food in this area. My garden shed, this is all recycled timber and tin from next door, it was a present from my better half Rebecca. Food forest water tanks are behind the shed. Note the Sugar Bag bee hive on the side of the shed. The oval garden, over grown with pumpkin. Crop and drop in action, looking back towards the house from the food forest. Orange tree benefiting from a coppiced legume (cassia). Worm farms, these two bath tubs collect liquid only. Note the Tamarillo tree growing out of the left tub. I have been asked to do an open garden for Brisbane Organic Growers Inc, when I do this I will try and do a Permaculture open garden around the same time.
Did you plant the cassia before, at the same time, or later than the orange tree? Very interesting, I have a few friends in Florida who would be interested in knowing more about your growing methods.
Hi Yes it is Tuscan kale as we eat a lot of it here. The idea behind the symbiotic planting was to see if I got a positive response by growing a legume tree and coppicing it to feed the orange tree. The idea is that when coppicing the legume it releases nitrogen around it's root zone as a shock response which also feeds the orange. I apply the high nitrogen clippings around the two trees, which is also a nitrogen feed but much slower. The two have been growing really well for many years now and the cassia has a large ugly lump where I cut it back 3-4 times a year.
You've called it Black Kale before. Cavolo nero? You collecting your own seed? I'm growing some, it's nowhere as near as tall as that, but they do really well here compared to all the other leafy winters I tried. Is that a new hollow log near the shade structure or have I walked past that before? It's a beauty. Tell me Barry, have your deciduous trees, such as your Mulberry, had their bud burst yet? Seems Spring might be coming early this year...
It's an old log as it's been awhile since I added new logs into the gardens. Next door chopped down a large fig last week so I rocked up as they started chipping and ended up with 4 ute loads of logs and another truck load of mulch. The chipping guys couldn't understand why I wanted the logs. =) I will wait for it to dry out before adding the new logs into the food forest. I have not collected Kale seed before but I do collect heaps of other seed each year. My two black Mulberry trees have tons of small green fruit on them now. They have lost most of their leaf matter but are starting to reshoot now. It should be a bumper Mulberry crop this year. I get should get around 30kg from the two trees. I don't bother with netting them. I am coming up to my tree planting season, yes I am finally planting those trees you gave me, just have to wait for the water table to drop as there is very little oxygen in the soil at present. I have been planning a plant out in the catchment down the end of my place, what I would like to do is plant giant tree's in a series of rings leaving a 50m dia cycle open area in the middle. I want to create a cool space which has a slight opening to the lake. Think a growing stone henge =) Swamp Gums and Figs are two trees that come to mind. Here's the basic idea and placement. View attachment 1414
Well, if you have potting mix and some time, I have some Lomandra hystrix seedlings popping up everywhere. You are welcome to them, I offered to Annette but she hasn't answered yet and they are still in a bucket from when I dug them up. I'd rather they be used than dead. I visited her house to attempt to give her some ideas, she needs lots of propagating matter and mulching plants. I also have a Ficus macrophylla I need to get out of a pot, and a Ficus virens if you are interested. 200mm and 300mm. So, they are shooting, Spring is nearly here. I'll get some cuttings next year.
Bazman, Too cool. I'll pass this information about the coppiced N2 fixer twin for citrus on to my friends down in Florida. Wonder if anyone of them will try it! Very inspiring work. Keep the updates coming!
Hi Baz I have heaps of weeping fig tree seeds if you want them. I thought it was a Moreton Bay fig but SOP told me what it was. I'll pot some up for you if you want. It's a very nice tree.
A post on Biochar will be great - look forward to read it. Youtube vid on Char making - "Jolly Roger' is pretty good.
On Sunday the 9th Sept I am opening my gardens to BOGI members. As I am going to the effort of making the gardens a bit more presentable than normal I thought I would see if there is any interest from Permie groups to maybe do something on the weekend after. 15 or 16th. The site is 30km Nth of Brisbane and is a nice 10 minute walk from Narangba train station. Anyone interested?
Bazman would you contact the Noosa Permaculture people and see if they'd use your place for the monthly garden tour if there isn't one booked for September already? If you are interested PM me and I'll pass on the President's email address.
Hi All I am looking at the AM on the 16th (Sunday). I have spoken to the guys at blitzbrisbane and I will drop a note to NSCF. Eco, yes if you could send me that email address that would be good. I will put together an invite with all the details as I have had a few positive replies so it sounds like it's going to work. A walk around my place generally takes 2+ hours and will include the food forest, water catchment system with swales, native regen, horse management in a permie system, a walk out onto Lake Kurwongbah and my favourite place which is a flooded paper bark forest. We can then sit down in the food forest and have a general talk about garden design and biochar application. I hope we get an inch or two of rain before then so it greens up the place a bit. SOP and Annette. I would love to spend a a few hours garden with you guys, when would suit? Baz
Hi Baz I'm good to help out anytime. Probably would be good if the 3 of us got together and got stuck into the garden altogether to get done whatever needs doing before the BOGI visit. Not this weekend but after that. I'll pm you and SOP. Those BOGI people will love your garden. And yes we need a bit of rain. Even the singapore daisy is wilting! lol cheers Annette
