Corn flower

Early morning corn flower.

I love the miracle of corn. Each of these beautiful red hairs is the female pollen receptacle. The male flowers are at the top of the corn plant and the heavy pollen blows down to this female flower. Once each 'hair' catches a pollen grain it will then fertilize one kernel of corn.

Part of the beautiful dance that is corn.

This is my Popcorn that I have had for over 12 years.

Honey harvest

Harvest time.

If we harvest before Christmas we can be sure there will not be poisonous Tutin in our honey. This stuff can be eaten straight from the comb.

Passion vine hoppers suck the sap from the Tutin bush and then in turn bees harvest honeydew from the hoppers. This is especially true during hot summers so after Christmas all honey harvested needs to be tested.

As bees categorize nectar as they store it in their hives then Tutin honeydew can be  concentrated  in small areas of the comb. After Christmas comb honey is a no go.

Corn Understory

This year I planted a dense understory of Red Clover under my Kaanga Ma.

Because this is my sandy top garden I also sheet mulched the paths with long grass.

Two types of mulch to cover the soil, hold moisture and mix up the diversity of flora and fauna. I will keep an eye on the 'living mulch' and possibly turn it into sheet mulch as needed.

The edges of this bed are also planted out with beans and squash.

This garden is an isolation garden to keep some of my seed lines separate.

Corn is up

Corn is up.

Corn needs to be planted in blocks for good pollination. I usually plant four rows minimum. The inside of the beds are kept well mulched.

Frogs

Frogs in the pond are an indicator of life.

Life in that the land is healthy as they are very sensitive animals.

Life in that the weather is warming and I need to get a move on with summer plantings. When the frogs start singing every night I know it is time to strat planting straight into the warming soil.

Kumara beds

Succession at work.

This is my overwintered Kumara bed.

Mustard to clean the soil, feed early wakening pollinators and build up ladybird, parasitic wasp, and hoverfly populations.

Wheat for carbon rich mulch and mychorrizal connections.

Both to keep soil covered and keep weeds at bay.

Next step is to sythe the wheat, broadfork the soil, pull out wheat roots, plant tipu and then mulch with wheat tops. Done.

I only prep a bed when it is ready to plant.

Native hedge

Even though this hedge is in the middle of a busy area (Zone 2) there are no perennial edibles.

It is amazing how fully tuning into the context can give unexpected form. I think this space would have been totally different if I had not used Living Design to allow it to unfold.

This is to be a thick screen to stop eye contact between road and private space. It will be better without people harvesting or even looking for food. Some food plants have been used in the gardens succession but eventually is will be a garden nobody will notice as it supports the many happenings that take place around it.

Entrance design

To do the design we first decided on happenings. Then we mocked them up.
To carry two buckets easily. A gradual stiffening throughout the day. The pictures tell a lot.
Patterns were helpful too. Talking path -so people can easily see where to go.
Shedding path so as you go you can unload vegies to be washed, dirty clothes at tubs, gumboots at back door...........

Raspberry mulch

Rasberries like their mulch acidic. 

These guys were lucky enough to be planted on land that had been grazed holistically for years. I just loosend soil with a broadfork where we were going to plant each cane. Planted rasberries and a little comfrey and then sheet mulched with old fridge boxes an pine needles.

Tree protection

Spot the new trees.

This year we have planted, Almonds, Pine nuts, Walnuts, Oak, Hazel, Peach, and of course the Tagasaste, Alder, various Acacia as support species and loads of natives. (over 400)

As this area has sheep to keep the grass down we built tree guards out of brush. These should act as a mulch as well.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Just bottled up the 20 liters of Apple Cider Vinegar.
This was my first ever go. All I did was roughly chop the apples, cover with water and then leave for 6 months.
A great way to use up apple abundance and also get rid of one more plastic habit.

Garland

Practice for the ball.
A wild garland.

Australian bugs

Wow!! Just got home from a whirlwind 10 days in and around Castlemaine Australia. Talk about eco-shock. The landscape is so different than here.

Loud birds, wildflowers, gold, flying foxes, living design, kangaroos, milking goats, steam trains, Big city, gum trees, rocket ovens, markets..............

Am so grateful for the amazing people who shared how they are interacting with their landscape. I am now inspired and seriously kick starting my summer gardens.

Not to mention guilty for carbon......more trees to plant.

Bamboo fun

We have used all of our bamboo harvested from last year. The list of uses is extensive; bed slats, flute, garden fence, pegs, smoke bomb, scaffolding, tee pee poles, mason bee houses, garden stakes, trellis, berry frame, charcoal holders, spoons, cups, awning poles, tree stakes,......and the list goes on.

We will start harvesting over the next few weeks. Just before growing season to make sure the new culms get enough light and do not get damaged. 

Entrance transition

I'm loving the path to the garden at the moment.

You transition off our drive under the Tagasaste (which is full of  Bees, Bellbirds and Kereru), past the Grapefruit,  over the drain and you feel there before you even open the gate.

The narrowing of the path (off the drive), preview of destination and sense of slowing down or arriving always invites me whether I am driving past, going to work or passing through to gather food for a meal.

Comfrey understory

This is my second load of comfrey plantings this month. The first was an understory in my citrus orchard and this is destined for a garden edge.

It is great how easily you can create a dense comfrey barrier by planing out root sections.

Bug houses

As small gardeners start awakening in spring I always try and keep one step ahead with nesting places.

This bug hotel is made especially for mason bees, potters wasps, ladybirds, and lace wings.

Next week I really need to make a few bumble bee nests.

Grass

One weeks growth!!

Our sheep never stay long and the grass just springs back. I love looking back down the paddock where they have been and seeing the growth.

I usually move them daily. If grass is grazed once and not too low it will grow back fast. My favorite feeling is that as it is growing it is pumping a large proportion of the energy it makes back into the soil. These root exudates feed the diverse range of micro organisms who then make nutrients available for the grasses growth. Magic!!!

I like to think this aliveness is helped by the diversity of my pasture and the long rotations that allow things to grow back strongly.

Finishing roof

 



Yay!! The roof is up. Talk about delays.

We stained all of the timer and then put up the clear light.
It is great having such a big dry outdoor space. As they say when building with earth 'good hat and good boots'. This should do the job.

Next week we will take down our wonderful bamboo scaffolding clear the sight and start on the wall design.

Compost trenches

A lot of my garden beds have trenches down the middle. These are filled with stalks from my carbon crops, and then seaweed, animal manure, wood ash, leaves, weeds............ depending on specific crop needs and what I have at hand.

In-situ composting that creates a diverse habitat for the many decomposers in my garden, feeds my plants and holds onto moisture.

Pest patrol

I love working with my ducks. They have been busy cleaning up slugs and snails while I get some of my beds ready for spring.

Fence design

Based upon needs (people, soil and plants), time and available space we had already decided how big the beds were going to be and how many we needed.

Before the fence was build we did a little design.

Some of the patterns we knew were;
*central access path (people & wheelbarrows).
*duck and rabbit proof . Sheep proof for short durations.
*private garden (destination -not a thoroughfare).
*separate from berry patch & easy berry picking from path by fence.
*compost space.
*gardener approaches from over here (east).
*water on east side.
*shady south edge.
*drive way openness -set back from main driveway (north edge).
*north-south beds for sunshine.
*optimize space.

Next step was fun. We all moved string, fencing standards and bamboo around. The first decision fell into place (bamboo in front right hand corner) and then we had to get the wheelbarrow out!!

Queen bee

Could not capture the Queens but look at the early season Tagasaste flowers that are feeding them.

On these fine winters days you often get Queen Bumble bees coming out of hibernation for food. Tagasast sre one of htese important food sources.

Post bonfire

You can tell there were lots of bows made in the workshop yesterday. We will not need to gather kindling for a while.

The day after the bonfire is always fun.

We rekindle the embers and burn any remaining wood. Then we have toastie pies for lunch and hunt around for any lost arrows that have not burnt too much.

MIdwinter

This year our midwinter bonfire is a little late.

Yesterday was spent clearing out the brickyard and getting ready for a fun weekend.

It is exciting to see the 'flaps up' ready to welcome people.

On the lay again.

Yay!!!

Chickens are on the lay again.
This time of the year they are tractoring over Asparagus -weeding and fertilizing.

We swap a bucket of scraps for eggs and the Asparagus is right next to the citrus so is usually topped up with Grapefruit and Oranges.

Upcoming workshops

Composting with CReW

Tutor: Louise Shaw

Cost: FREE

Time: 6pm

Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Location: 20 minutes from Whakatane -to be advised on booking.

Bookings:please contact David at CReW. Phone 07 308 5963 OR,  email David@crewonline.org.nz

Hosted by CReW Whakatane. 

Compost is a key that makes the world grow!

We will kick-start the evening by looking at the basic principles of composting; What can be composted? How compost happens? And what finished compost is and does?

We will then take a stroll around the garden to check out various compost heaps to see what composting
looks like in practice and look at some of the different ways you can use compost.

If we have time we will get our hands dirty and construct our own hot compost.

Each participant will go home with; an understanding of the basic principles behind composting so they can improve on or start an effective composting system in their backyard.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL
To book a spot please contact David at CREW. Phone 07 308 5963 OR, email david@crewonline.org.nz For more information visit: facebook.com/crewonlinenz.

Worm farming with CReW

Tutor: Louise Shaw

Cost: FREE

Time: 6pm

Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Location: 20 minutes from Whakatane -to be advised on booking.

Bookings:please contact David at CReW. Phone 07 308 5963 OR,  email David@crewonline.org.nz

Hosted by CReW Whakatane.
Worms are the intestines of our earth.

In this workshop we will learn all about these amazing creatures, what they need to be happy and how we can create a variety of ‘farms’ to make them work for us.

We will wander through my garden and have a look at some working worm farms and set up a home-made worm farm from scratch.

We will then look at some of the different ways we can use vermi-cast to supercharge our garden; seed coatings, foliar sprays, biochar,...

Each participant will go home with; some amazing new knowledge on these powerful workers and the knowledge to set up their own vermi-composting system for their backyard.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL
To book a spot, please contact David at CReW. Phone 07 308 5963 OR, email david@crewonline.org.nz For more information visit: facebook.com/crewonlinenz

Companion Planting

Tutor: Louise Shaw

Cost: $20

Time: 5.30-8pm

Date: Tuesday 1st of December

Location: 20 minutes from Whakatane -to be advised on booking.

Bookings: please email louise.shaw@blueduckdesign.co.nz.

This garden based workshop will start by delving into companion planting techniques and how they create thriving gardens. We will then walk around the garden and orchard to see first hand what companion planting looks like in practice.

We will cover the basics of; succession planting, guilds, cover cropping, crop rotation, beneficial insect plantings, mychrozial connections,…..and you will come away with your own guild of seeds/seedlings to take home. 

Please remember this is an outside workshop. Bring a small container to put your seeds/seedlings in and be prepared to get your hands dirty.

For bookings please email louise.shaw@blueduckdesign.co.nz.

Pottery

Second firing of the year.

Winter sun

Low winter sun angles mean it is time to change the angle of our solar pannels.

I love the wild plants growing around this suntrap. Avacado, Bamboo, Banana, Fejoa, Yacon, Cerimoya, Pineapple, Pawpaw, Tea.......

I'm especially in love with my clumping Bamboo which has new culms coming up at the moment. I cannot get two of my hands  around the culms. Cannot wait for three years when they have strengthened so we can build with them.

Mid-winter

What a way to spend an afternoon. The harbor was beautiful -if very cold.

We caught enough flounder for lunch the next day and then went to the beach to warm our feet around a mid-winter, full moon, musical fire, with friends.

Warmth for the soul as well.

Crop Swap

Yay!!!
What a celebration. The first ever Crop Swap in Whakatane. Over 20 gardeners showed up and shared herbs, plants, seeds, fruit and veg.

It is slowly evolving to meet the needs of our town. Today it changed to incorperate Timebank trading. It is going to be fun seeing how this event grows and changes over time.

Cannot wait to see what shows up in a couple of weeks time.

Builders

Lucky we had Toby and Finn around to lift the bathroom beam into place.

Things are getting exciting.

This weekend we got both beams up and most of the rafters.

All that thanks to a steady stream of visitors, WOOFers, music and great food.

Harakeke

The colours in our old flax leaves are beautiful. These guys are growing beside the drive so we get to see them every day.

This plant is my one soft weaving flax. The others have a much higher muka content and the bushes are a lot more upright.

Abundance

A quick gathering session around the farm to show off some of the abundance.

This is the photo used for our first Crop Swap advertising. Thought I would make it authentic by using crops grown in this bio-region in this season.

Kumara harvest

During the growing season Kumara vines should be lifted or they put down roots where they touch the soil. These roots turn into small Kumara and stop the main Kumara from fattening up. The more roots the smaller the Kumara.

I did not do a good job of lifting the vines that were on the beds. I think next year I will put down a thick layer of newspaper in the middle of the beds to discourage these small roots and save the time untangling and lifting vines.

They were put to good use and have made a great addition to our meals.





This year I used a small Broadfork from Crafty Gatherer to dig my Kumara. It made a beautiful job and the beds were then scattered with green manure seeds raked and DONE for winter.

The Kumara were placed in a nest of Kumara vines, covered and left to cure for three days before being individually wrapped and stored in my cob food shed.

Weekend away means music

Packing for a weekend away means making sure the Cajon's, Ukulalie's, guitar's, flutes and of course poi are all packed.