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15 Jul 2012

Welcome!

I noticed I had a few more blog followers in the last couple of weeks and I'd like to welcome them to my little patch of the internet :).

Hoping you enjoy your cyber visits to the farm and feel free to comment. Constructive criticism is welcome too as sometimes it's something I haven't thought of or haven't discovered yet.

I like posts with photos and it's been a bit like this of late though it won't be long before Spring and warmer weather is here! These shots are from my stock photos.

 
early morning


 late evening (light enhanced)

Cheers,
Robyn


13 Jul 2012

Growing my Own....part two


Six weeks after the start of the cleanup began:


Top left : Bed 1 – peas and radishes growing strongly
Bottom left : Bed 1 – other end! I’m delighted with how the asparagus is multiplying. Another replant for them in a couple of months into another bed until they become 2 yr old crowns, by which time I hope to have a 3m x 3m permanent bed ready. Lol, I’ll have more  than enough of these when they are in full production. I think a bit more research before acquiring them would have been helpful but they’re here to stay now J.
Top right : Bed 2 root veges are sprouting nicely and a row of 2 leaf pak choi seedlings on the left of photo are enjoying having more space.
Bottom right : The microclimate and the fact they are planted in old compost has confused my strawberry plants as mid-winter is not when they are supposed to flower and fruit!



Top left : Soil testing throughout the bed making process showed a consistent level of 6.0-6.5 pH. Perfect for healthy veges J!
Middle left : A mass of worms with every forkful of soil turned was another common finding. I’m soooo pleased I don’t have to build up the fertility of the soil. 
Top right : Pak choi seedlings on the left of the climbing vines frame and snow pea seeds sown on the right. Pak choi will be mature about a third of the way into the snow pea’s growth cycle.
Middle right : Bed 3 with the first row of mixed loose leaf lettuce seedlings planted. Climbing vine frame in background.
Bottom : A mystery seedling amongst the kohl rabi! My guess is a melon of some description but it may be a jap pumpkin. It is now transplanted to its own pot to await developments.

Of course being an insignificant human I did require supervision during the later days of gardening to ensure I was doing things correctly....


Top left : Rascal - Lord of the farm cats – perched in the Mulberry tree
Bottom left : Ginger on the roof of the old duck enclosure
Top right : Maddy behaving
Bottom right : Maddy misbehaving

Hope you've enjoyed gardening with me!

Cheers,
Robyn








8 Jul 2012

Growing my Own....part one

ROFLOL, bet that title grabbed your attention!

It's all legal and above board though as I'm growing my own vegetables again not anything else J.  


Top left : Southern side of the garden after trimming the River Oak and the old Mulberry tree.
Top right : Northern side before the weed clearing.
Bottom left : Southern side after cleanup - levelling the first bed
Bottom right : Northern side after preliminary cleanup - digging out bed 2 pre filling and levelling.



Top left : First two beds completed and all the trimmings from trees burnt. Bed 1 with asparagus crowns, fortnight old bush peas and globe radish seeds planted. Bed 2 seeded with chatenay carrot, kohl rabi, globe radish and some spring onion seedlings. Cardboard covers are over bed as a big storm was in sight and I didn't want the freshly planted seeds disturbed from a downpour. The 'box' at left is my seedling tent.
Top right : The strawberry box at rear. Chive seedlings, at front, from the seeds I'd planted at the same time as I began clearing.
Bottom left : Inside my seedling tent - pak choi and lettuce seedlings - with broccoli and spinach seeds in the punnets at rear.
Bottom right : The skins the possum leaves after helping itself to an orange (or a few) nearly every night. You can't see it properly but there's a little possum "message" at the corner of the bricks - yuk!


Now something for the possum lovers. My orange thief!


Cheers, 
Robyn



20 Jun 2012

Baking Fancies

I thought I'd restart my posting with some food photos as I've started baking more often rather than buying. Considering how long it takes to drive to town I actually save in time and money and there's no added preservatives, flavours or colours :D. It also helps that I have bake days where I cook all morning or all afternoon so that keeps the electricity bill down.


Making Bread



Apple Scrolls



Anzac Biscuits


Hope you are enjoying some home baking during Winter!

Cheers,
Robyn

18 Mar 2012

FNSI - Potholders

I didn't sew very much but it is finished. Yesterday was such an overcast day I couldn't take a photo that didn't look dark and gloomy but this morning is lovely so when I eventually chased the almost teen off facebook (!) I uploaded this


It's the start of some useful gifts I am going to stockpile for this year.

Cheers,
Robyn