Biochar pit trial for soil amendment

A biochar pit is a way to turn waste wood into useful soil conditioner. This Winter with the return to burning season I have been making some more biochar, this time burning the wood in pits. The aim is to make optimal use of our waste timber, from camphor laurel we have cut to clean up the block. Biochar is said to be a soil conditioner that lasts for centuries, better than just burning wood to ash or leaving it to rot. I made two biochar pit fires and have been very…

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Aquaponics update; the first month

Our aquaponics system has been running-in and settling-down for a month now. As expected, it has needed some adjustment, but it is working well for a first time try. Now that the system has proved itself it’s time to expand and get some of those rain-sensitive Summer crops going. Tweaking the system has involved more structures, like a shade house for the pond, a sand filter, and setting up for expansion, but the main issue has been controlling the pH of the reservoir.

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Growing watercress; green goodness

Whether you treat it like a herb or a vegetable, growing watercress is rewarding for the home gardener. In the cities you’re likely to find a reliable if costly supply, but I haven’t seen it for sale out here, and it’s very handy to have to pick at anytime for a garnish, or to liven up a sandwich, or on the larger scale to use as the main vegetable in a soup or frittata. A problem with bought watercress is that it tends to be all stem with yellow leaves low down,…

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No-dig beds; are they any good?

I was keen to try no-dig beds, as they seem an ideal solution for opening up new garden areas without the considerable effort of hoeing and digging over new soil. My first efforts have not been entirely successful, although I’m still working at finding a method that works for me. Here are a few tips if you’re thinking of giving this method a try.

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Wheat, linseed, and other chicken forage.

I’ve just opened the fence to let the chickens in to one of the chicken forage yards. There are three fenced yards next to the chicken run, one has the beginnings of a citrus orchard and grass for grazing, but the other two I have been using to experiment with chicken forage crops. My first Winter crops have been rewarding; particularly the linseed (flaxseed) and wheat. Fenugreek hasn’t done well with any of my sowings over a full year now, and the mustard I sowed there was also a fizzer this season,…

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Growing swede (turnips)

Swedes are one of those vegetables that you either love or hate, and with their strong flavour they are probably hated by most kids, but ever since my tastes matured I have been on the side of relishing swedes. It’s the combination of sweetness and depth of mellow flavour that gets me, and says Winter in a mouthful. They are the sort of vegetable that needs to be seasonal, and growing swede in the subtropics is a very seasonal matter, you have to get your timing just right. Growing swede in the…

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Burning-off season

There’s something primally satisfying about watching a fire burning-off, and Winter days give us the chance for burning-off some of the vegetation we have cleared in the previous months. There are two woody weeds in particular that we have a lot of; lantana and camphor laurel, and when we have a couple of spare hours we typically get out and clear some, which involves pulling out the lantana and cutting down the camphor laurel. The piles then sit until a winter day when it has been dry enough for a few…

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