The chooks are still free-ranging about the yard and have made it abundantly clear that I will not be able to press on with any garden plans until I have acquired some fencing to keep them out of my best laid plans. They are merciless in scratching out tender young plants. So, to keep myself... Continue Reading →
We have a water tank. We have a pump. We have irrigation pipes. But will it all work once we get it all connected? I hacked my way through tangled jasmine and ivy vines to find the pump... ...with my trusty kitchen scissors, since my secateurs disappeared long ago The plug looks a little sad... Continue Reading →
The Wildes have done what we do best (or at least, do regularly): moved house! And while it was a bit sad leaving some of the plants that were just starting to fruit at the old house, I'm excited about the new opportunities this house brings. At the old house we were dealing with a... Continue Reading →
So my last post was about the “broadcasting” method of seed planting - that is, simply chucking the seeds on the ground. The results were underwhelming. In fact, nothing grew. So what did I learn from this experience? It took a bit of ‘observation’ (one of the key permaculture principles - “observe and interact”) to... Continue Reading →
Gardening is, generally, speaking, a lot of hard work. It's especially hard when you're struggling to find the time and energy to devote to the endeavour. One thing I've always found particularly laborious and off-putting is the whole process of getting new seeds started: planting them carefully into punnets to start, prepping the veggie patch... Continue Reading →
Out with the old, in with the new! I'm late to the game {for reasons} but I figure it's better late than never. So, without further ado, here's what I'm getting up to in the garden. The Tomato Patch Last year I discovered the pre-existing veggie garden at the top of the yard doesn't get... Continue Reading →
The chooks and the duck free range these days, traversing the breadth and depth of the backyard at their leisure - including, until recently, the veggie patch. While they didn't seem much interested in eating my little seedlings, they wreaked havoc simply with their scratching around and bumping into things and occasionally tweaking off a... Continue Reading →
Peas, beans and other climbing plants need support structures to grow up. Looking through Bunnings, the metal trellises were out of our budget, so we looked at bamboo poles to make our own. They were upwards of $5 each! We'd pay more than just buying a pre-fab trellis! It was time to think outside the... Continue Reading →
The first step I started a permaculture design course this year - something I've wanted to do for years. I was raring to go - as a hands-on learner and frenetic "doer", I was ready to dive straight in and start building our glorious backyard farm. Class started, and I quickly learned the first, vital... Continue Reading →
Where The Wilde Things Grow 