17 - New attempts, this time with MULCH!

After these last few weeks of trial and error in the garden we have smartened up a little. At least it feels like we have. We have decided to clear 2 small growing areas and try another sample sight, using the same ideas as which worked before and adding in the mulching concept which had eluded us. As a result we have two small plots with a range of seeds getting some very personal care from the two gardeners. We haven’t used beer for pests yet because we didn’t want to lure the snails to the new stuff with a free beer. I had the idea it may attract the pests as a high in energy food source. You can see on one area we have left some onion type plants in because we saw no sense in removing good growth we were not going to eat.

These are some photos of the new plots, fingers crossed our knowledge aides us.

16 - Stringybark Rowville

Craig, his Girlfriend and I went to the local Stringybark festival today.  Being a loyal Rowvillian I haven’t been to one that I can remember but Craig had work done with VIEL on show and the lovely and local Organic Grocer said he was having a stall this year because it was going to be a ‘sustainability’ fair this year.

As you can tell by the photographs it was fairly entertaining. Besides the people in suits there were some good informative stalls around such as the creeks and rivers stall (photographed), which showed how water pushed pollution from one area to another and small problems spread and made a large problem. It was really interesting because you could see the blue dyed water running down the roof of a home and into specific spots so that the guide could inform the visitors about the problem and solutions.

A managed to sign the petition for better public transport again, I wonder if in the long run it will be better for me not to waste the paper.

Most stalls were ultimate aiming at children and families so I was rather on the outer for some parts, especially the cool activities which I could only watch and take notes for future lessons.

Several stalls had some very trendy looking stuff made from rubbish such as wallets, plate and bags. I really liked the idea but all of the rubbish and goods came from Indonesia so I wonder whether it’s just trendy or actually environmentally friendly.

Without a doubt the coolest part of this stall was the waste system in the eating area. You would get a proper plate and a team of scouts or local sports team members would collect your dirty plate when you’re done from either a piling station as you left or a scout needing those extra plates and glasses. This worked with the entire range of food on offer, and it was rather bust for the size of the place. No rubbish paper plates were used. Imagine that effort on a scale like the Melbourne Show, that’s got to save some major one off waste.

It was just so brilliant because I had never even wondered, not once, until I saw it I would of assumed there was no better way than the current way. Goes to show the power of habit, and consumerism I guess too.

15 - Hard times

It seems we are doomed to failure with anything but out possible potatoes (rather confirmed potatoes now) and lots of garlic. Everything else has withered away and died, leaving only little bits of buried plastic as evidence they once existed.

I do like garlic and rosemary roast potatoes but I think ultimately out current strategy has run us a little dry. Dry being my point. I have foolishly only just connected the water saving strategy, what I saw a CERES and what is going wrong with our veggie patch…NO MULTCH! There was nothing to keep the top of the soil moist and hence protect the fragile new growth In the future we intent to test this idea as we do not want to waste another few weeks to no avail. Also the little white bits in the photographs are egg shells, one of Craig’s family members put them there with the belief they would help deter pests…I do not subscribe to that voodoo. I have to logic to back up my claims other than “Why wouldn’t snails like eggs?”

14 - CERES

As a class we all went to CERES today and had a grand tour. It was rather interesting and another good place to get information.  I was amazed at how they cleaned their waste through water to be reused, a feat I would not risk attempting without 10 qualified people to guide me…not a mess you want to make. Lots of good things were going on, bike repair, organic store, renewable power, school programs and more. The 2 other highlights though where the sloping compost which was layered and apparently very well organised and the aquaponics. Aquaponics is short is where the fish expel nutrients, the water is filtered through seedlings and special rocks with the seedlings taking the nutrients and leaving others and the stones filtering bacteria, then the water goes back to the fish as they need it again. It’s the circle of life but with fish, plants some pipes and bacteria filtering stones.

I may have gotten muddled with the Aquaponics but either way it was interesting to see.

The down side of CERES was that it has nothing to do with my community. Why can’t my community have a centre like CERES? Or better!

13 - Organic Shopping

Because of my upcoming assignment on organic food I visited the local Organic Fruit and Vegetable store in Upper Ferntree Gully. It was a real eye opener and has given me a lot more direction with my own personal ‘sustainable’ mindset. The owner of the store was extremely happy to talk about his store in detail such as the accreditation, how it is operated, customers and competitors. The idea was to simply get myself a little orientated in Organic produce as out gardening skills won’t produce food any time soon and I need to have some base knowledge of what it can look like, but it turned into a rather long discussion. It turns out my local organic produce store is that place to go for information on all sorts of environmental issues as many of the customers are into such issues and either talk or wasn’t to leave behind information, or links to communities of like-minded people. 

Other than some great links to permacultre and organic foods the proprietor explained how each of his produce items differed to the store bought in looks and treatment, allowing some taste testing too. It has been a good experience to have, I am sure everyone should know that an entire box of bananas should not look the same or so perfect. I have not eaten organic foods until today (on purpose) but surprisingly I think I am a little converted, although the wallet says no.

In terms of my ‘sustainable’ mindset I am a little worried about my own relationship with food and other people’s relationship with food.  I hadn’t realised how uncomfortable I was with food, something which quite clearly should not be.

12 - Slugs and Bugs update

So plates where not the smartest idea. It seems you catch more slugs and snails with bowls. So with this improvement we have learnt that if we simply applied some common sense at some point we may work more efficiently. I guess we need to even out the playing to working ratio.

11 - ANTS

I forgot to mention the ants. As you can see from the picture I would have good reason to forget about them. It seems my camera cannot take photos of things so small. But the point remains more insect’s means healthy soil, at least that is where out train of thought has led us. Which means that the lack of growth must be from something else?