Some pics from the South East Bio Regional Permaculture convergence

Heres some photos Ill add some captions when I get the time.

Monthly Gathering On HOLD due to Fathers Day

As most of us have Fathers Day commitments, we have decided to put our monthly Garden Gathering, that was due to happen on Sunday the 3rd - on hold until further notice.

So.... Don't forget your Dad... Buy him something nice, tell him he's right (for a change), and give him a hug.

We will let you know if we decide to hold our Garden Gathering later in the month - so check back for updates. Or let us know if you want to be included in our emailing list if your not already.

All the Best ... Maddog.

Garden Kitchen construction update.

Some serious work was done last weekend - materials were gathered and volunteers hooked in to get the base of the pizza oven filled and our crazy recycled cement paving put in place around our oven base and poles and levels set ready to fill in to make the kitchen floor. Thanks to Andrew for taking charge and directing all the crew.

There is plenty more to do so we will be there this weekend if anyone wants to come along and help.

The raised bed experiment.................

Inspired by our community garden and a book called "One Magic Square"  by Lolo Houbein. I decided to build a 1 meter square vegi garden in my back yard and see just how much it could produce.

 This solved a few problems 1 while I have been doing lots of vegi gardening at the community garden I wasn't actually doing it in my own back yard...this was because of a few reasons. My wife likes a nice neat garden and vegi patches often don't fit that description, I have dog that always seems to find the vegi patch more of a lounge room e.g. a place to lay in the sun on top of nice soft soil, and I have chickens that I regularly get let out to free rang the back yard.

30/6/2011

So my solution was to make a small neat but productive vegi patch that would be in a handy spot, in full sun away from the neighbours tree roots that sucked the life out my previous vegi patches and up a bit higher to make it easy to get to for me... but harder for the dog & chickens to get to.

So after investigating various materials I decided to go for a raised bed build from recycled hard wood which I simply sanded with a grinder fitted with a flap disk to quickly smooth the surface off and removed any sharp splintery bits and it gave the wood a nice look.

I didn't bother treating the wood figuring that as its hard wood it will probably last longer than my need for this particular structure.

I simply cut to size and drilled and bolted it all together (that way I can take it apart if needed) basically a wooden box sitting on the grass.

I used heavy uprights posts in the corners letting them stand higher so I could use them as a frame to throw shade cloth or plastic to protect the seedling or make an instant mini green house.

I also added a flat edge at the top as place to sit on or put your tools etc on while tending the vegies.

Once constructed I used the usual no did method to fill up the 1 meter square box and pocket planted straight into some hand fulls of compost. so stay tuned .....

My chickens happily free ranging - they haven't noticed the vegi patch yet as its out of there view.

So far so good the vegies are going good & no weeds or pests !

Reminder - our next Garden Gathering 7th Aug

See you at our next Working Bee or Garden Gathering as we have decided to call them from now on.

Be there Sunday 7th of August from 10am

South East Bio-regional Permaculture Convergence August 2011

South East
Bio-regional 

Permaculture 

Convergence

 

 

South East solutions

The South East offers many of these examples and this Bioregional Convergence will pool together that collective knowledge and facilitate structures that help to continuously disseminate knowledge back to local communities.

Delegates attending will have the opportunity on the Sunday to visit six properties in the Bega Valley that demonstrate many of these solutions.

Why a South East Convergence

Within the South East region there are many bioregions that are operating independently of each other and this event is an opportunity for us to network, share information and develop strategies to better integrate our collective activities.

For more info     Go to the web site

THE NEXT WASTE NOT FRUIT & VEG SWAP ON SUNDAY 19th JUNE

Oops sorry this post is a bit late.... But for all you late night web surfers that didnt realise, the Swap is on tomorrow Sunday 19th 10am till noon.
It is supposed to be a nice day so come and check out the garden there is lots growing. bring any excess fruit or veg or just come for a chat and a coffee at the garden cafe.