Chitting potatoes

Yesterday I decided to chit some seed potatoes: Sebago, Royal Blue and Dutch Creams. I am interested in whether this will lead to a significant difference in harvest time or yield. My mother said that her father routinely chitted his potatoes and I suspect that was because of a shorter growing season being in Holland at approximately 52 degrees whereas I am at 38 degrees. In any case I would like to do the experiment. So I planted some without chitting yesterday and will plant the chitted ones in about a month.

Today I planted a hellebore and a male and female mountain pepper indigenous to this area. It will be several years before it fruits. I also planted a rootstock apple MM106 which I would like to propogate by stooling. Really I am experimenting and trying to take notice of what happens to increase my knowledge

A very productive day

This was a seed planting day. So here is a list of what I sowed:
swede, celeriac, bulb fennel, salsify, parsnip, carrot (2 types), beetroot, onion. Also some kale and angelica. I also prepared a bed of Dutch Cream potatoes and planted out some perennial broccoli.

And today we had an energy audit done. We found that we have been using 4 kWh per day and that we could make our house more comfortable without using more energy by getting insulation and verandahs/eves on the north facing windows for summer. I am also quite interested in finding out more about this site My Home Energy.

Distractions from the farm

It was clear that it would happen, that there would be days when we would be distracted from all the work we have to do here. Over the last several days there have been some duties that have taken us away from here but I hope now that this is over. Of course no matter how much we are away there is the normal stuff that has to be done everyday like getting wood and feeding and looking after the chooks. I noticed three mornings in a row that the fox had come calling, leaving scat and scratch marks near the chook run gate. This is making us ever more vigilant. More windbreaks have been made and the installation of the kitchen bench have taken up some time. But now I have a sink that works and that is very good. It will be good when we get the new window and get the plastering and painting done too

On Saturday we went to the Coal Creek Farmers Market but didn't take anything to sell as the remaining silverbeet was very small. Sunday was the vegie packing and then we went to buy K a bike to ride to work. Looking forward to working in the garden tomorrow

Solar Panels and sick chooks

This evening we went to a meeting of the West Gippsland Permaculture Group where there was a talk on solar energy by Geoff Boadle. It was very worthwhile and got me think about reading my smart meter to work out how much energy we consume during daylight hours. Once we know that we can choose a solar system that could supply that amount of energy. I am looking forward to getting an energy audit done so we know where we can use less energy and we have an appointment for that for Friday week.

More windbreak constructing today and cleaning up of the potting shed. One thing I didn't realise until we moved here was how good it is to have a shed of my very own.

Because Alexander the rooster is sick I have been investigating what I can do to make sure he (and the rest of the flock) have all the nutrition they need. So I went to get some Apple Cider Vinegar today. and looked up what Pat Coleby has to say. I found this discussion about what we can feed animals in Australia to make up for deficiencies in the soils.

Windbreaks, shelterbelts etc

Today was dedicated to the construction of some windbreaks for trees being compromised by the strong northerly and westerly winds. We are trying to establish some microclimates while the trees are young so we put shadecloth onto some old gates the partially block the wind. We need to do this for most trees we have planted especially when they get their leaves. I have planted  some windbreaks as well (a double row of tagasaste in the orchard.) Eventually we need to plant a lot more. Some interesting ideas.

Images found on Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/pin/265782815478777434/

Permie Walk and Talk and planning for the future

Today we had a fantastic learning experience. We participated in a permaculture walk and talk on our property with an experienced permaculture teacher Tamara Griffiths. First she interviewed us and made headings on pieces of paper as we talked to find out what was important to us. The most important things from her point of view was water and access. As it happened we were also interested in water. We went for a walk discussing things that had been causing us problems such as the strong northerly winds that have shredded some established plants with Tamara pointing out opportunities that existed for us and possible solutions to our challenges. We discussed keeping cattle and planting fodder trees for the cattle in advance, finding out about the water distribution mechanisms that previous farmers here had put in place and recognising the reasons for the placements of dams. We know we want to revegetate the water courses and keep cattle away from them. We looked at the possibility of growing mushrooms and also plants that are particularly suited to wet areas. We know we have to make/grow windbreaks whenever we plant anything. A phrase that sticks in my mind is start at the back door and work your way out. We saw some interesting wildlife, a pair of Pacific Black Ducks and a Superb Fairy Wren family. We also saw the burrow of the land yabby or burrowing crayfish. There was some frost this morning near us but not near the house. It was cold and sunny.

Vegie packing

Part of our wonderful community here in South Gippsland is Grow Lightly. Grow Lightly recognises that "People must eat, and we believe it’s important to make truly fresh food available; to reduce food miles to an absolute minimum; and to recognize the environmental cost of food production."

As they were on the lookout for local growers of organic food, we were very happy to meet up with this group so that we can sell the food we grow to people who subscribe. The bags that will be distributed to the families that have subscribed are packed on the Sunday morning and distributed to drop off points around South Gippsland. This morning our contribution was 10 bunches of silverbeet and 4 bags of salad mix.

This afternoon we weeded and mulched the garlic some more and then went for a walk to enjoy the sunny cold afternoon.

Observation of Seasons

After yesterday's post on the weather I have thought about seasons. Despite experiencing the coldest day in 6 years yesterday it is clear that spring is coming. The deciduous trees are showing the change of colour that indicates that flowers and new leaves are not far off (budswell). The birds are calling for mates getting ready for spring. there is a feeling in the ground of quietness just before the plants take off. I know that there are jobs that have to be done to make sure I am ahead of that burst of growth that will come when the weather warms up that little bit. I know that grass will explode and I will have to mow (we have not yet changed all the lawn into garden but that will come). The weeds are getting ready to take off, I can just feel that suppressed energy.

But Elaine Ingram has the answer to that, I was pleased to find out.

Today we went to a grafting workshop in Warragul, thanks to the West Gippsland Permaculture Group and we grafted a Cox's Orange Pippin onto a MM106 rootstock.

As well as learning to graft and actually doing a graft we were able to take some cuttings on offer. This afternoon I planted Chilean Guava, red currant, gooseberry, oca, pepino, jostaberry and a boysenberry. Some books I must look up at the library are The Complete Book of Fruit Growing in Australia, Growing Fruit in Australia, and The Apple Book. I was also pleased to learn about some forums where I could learn more:  Daley's Fruit Tree Forum and Fruits, Rare Fruits, Orchards and Exotics at Cloud Forest Cafe.

This afternoon we weeded and mulched the garlic after planting the tree and the cuttings. The weather was cold yet sunny with very mild wind.

Why do farmers complain about the weather?

It really has been an introduction to farming this winter. Before we lived on a farm and tried to make a living from the farm I occasionally wondered why farmers always seemed to be complaining about the weather. But now I know that all of our work is dependent on the weather. The extremes in the last few days of severe cold, wind strong enough to almost blow your eyelashes off and constant rain has had an impact on the vegies I can harvest, whether I can let the chooks out or not and the jobs I can do. We had set up a small plastic greenhouse for seedlings until we can get out polytunnel organised and that blew over in the wind. It is now tied down to stakes.

1st July 2014 (photo 1)

I often think that a cloud like to sit on our mountain (as seen in the photos on July 1st) but every so often the fog is in the valleys leaving our mountain in the sun (July 15th). I have been feeding the chooks warm porridge in the morning and the bees their sugar syrup. The cat gets to enjoy the fire.

15th July 2014

1st July 2014 (photo 2)

Our major project at the moment has been to get the area around the trees ready for when Greg comes to take them down. We have removed all the fencing on both sides and Bob has been busy mulching the fallen wood so the machinery can get access. The strong winds yesterday dropped some more branches so we will have to go out and mulch those tomorrow. 

Muffin asleep in front of the wood stove

Yesterday the electric fence around the orchard was breached by the cows and many trees eaten (pruned). The loquat tree mentioned in the last post was one of the casulaties, eaten to the ground. I can't wait for Andrew to come to put up our fox proof, cow proof anti-aviary for our orchard. And this is going to be the last weather related post for a while, I hope.