Child of the Planet

 

Update on what's been happening on the property. Drag the mouse pointer about in video to 'look around'. Last springs walkabout is here .

Trees were stripped of leaves over winter, so I took the opportunity for a ‘hard prune’. Cleaned up around the trunks and added some coffee grounds.

Local council reckons my front garden could be flooded at some point due to rising sea levels, so I’m getting plan B ready. I have a spot in the backyard where I’ve been improving the sand.  Cleaned out the grass roots and stones. Added ash, comfrey, mulch, coffee grounds, and some Rok Solid.

 Was curious as to what the garlic looked like underground with all the rust attacking the leaves. Not very promising...

 

Getting some sprouting happening. Added a plastic hoop cover to keep the warmth in, and it allows me to control how much water gets to the seeds. Slugs are a problem, so the gaps at the base of the plastic lets the birds in to go hunting. The net is to protect the seeds from the birds. Since the first lot germinated, I’ve extended the tunnel house and planted some more seed.

 

I’ve decided to plant soybeans. I’ve done some research on the net, and talked with other people that have tried to grow them locally. This bed has been sitting fallow so I’ll clear out the cardboard and mulch to plant the seeds.     Covered the whole thing with a net to keep out the black birds.

Wildly different growth of the different types of garlic, with the Creole ending up the most developed at this point.  I'm thinking that I might harvest it at the end of the month. Rust has started to get pretty bad, so I'm pruning off the lower leaves.  Cleaned out the weeds, and gave it all a good hit of seaweed tea.  Read about the types of garlic and the planting here

I'm planting my borlotti beans in amongst the corn to see if I can get some 'three sisters' action going on. The beans are supposed to use the corn stalks as supports.