I want to say a quick thanks to Tony Lawrence for emailing me with a tip to keep the rabbits off my organic veggie garden. He suggests trying a red pepper and garlic spray. I presume he means using both ingredients together and to spray over the plants that the rabbits find most tasty.

I don’t have much growing at the moment. The lack of available water on my property has been a HUGE problem. But I have managed to keep a few things alive. The rosemary and savoury are growing vigorously. The parsley is past its best, but still usable. A couple of sage plants have pulled through and the peppermint pelargonia is pretty much indestructable. Garlic chives are doing better than the plain chives.

But I’m putting in another small area of garden with lettuce, raddish, parsley, coriander, rocket, basil and a lebanese zucchini. I know it’s late for zucchini, but I think it will still produce something – they usually grow until May or so for me here, so I’m giving it a try.

I’ll have photos next post.

Happy Organic Gardening, Healthy Living…

Filed under: Uncategorized on January 26th, 2010 | No Comments »

So another year has passed us by. WOW it goes quickly these days. I want to wish you a *HAPPY NEW YEAR*.

It’s the middle of our summer here in South Australia, so we’re in the middle of our gardening season – but if you are in the Northern Hemisphere you’re in mid-winter, the perfect time for new years resolutions for your garden. Winter is the perfect time for reflection and planning your next growing season. I love spending long hours curled up by the fire thinking about what I want to grow the coming season. And how I can expand my garden to include plants I’ve never tried to grow before.

Do you have any new years resolutions for your garden? Are there things you haven’t grown before that you’d like to try? Do they have any special requirements to help them thrive? Planning really is the secret to a successful food garden and winter is just the perfect time for planning. I have a section on planning in my e-manual “Organic Food Gardening Beginner’s Manual” if you want a little help.

So don’t put it off any longer – especially if you’re thinking about going organic and growing your own food. I guarantee you’ll love it. You’ll love the connection you feel with the earth. You’ll love the sense of accomplishment. You’ll love that you are providing your family with living, healthy food. You’ll love the TASTE!

Happy Organic Gardening, Healthy Living…

Filed under: Uncategorized on January 1st, 2010 | No Comments »

So hasn’t another year wizzed by so quickly? I just don’t know where the time goes – maybe I’m just getting older???

I want to take a few moments to wish you a very merry Christmas and thank you for taking an interest in my blog…  and even more to the point, for taking an interest in organic gardening. The more people that choose to grow their own organic fruit and vegetables, the healthier both this planet and each of us organic gardeners will be.

So I wish for you and your loved ones all your hearts desires. May your heart and your garden be filled with love, beauty and growth in 2010. And now I’m heading off to be with my family and loved ones.

* Merry Christmas to you *

Happy Organic Gardening, Healthy Living…

Filed under: Uncategorized on December 25th, 2009 | No Comments »

We had a really hot spell here in South Australia a few weeks ago. It almost seems like a bad dream now, because we’ve had perfect spring weather for the past three weeks or so. But when we were suffering through the 40 degrees C + for a few days and before that a week of high 30’s it seemed like summer was here and was going to be relentless – even though it was still spring!

Anyway, it reminded me that I had not got any mulch down around my plants that had managed to survive the harsh winds and rabbits. My plants were suffering (just as I was) in that consuming heat.

So in the cool of the evening I got to mulching my herbs. I like to use pea-straw for my mulch. I make sure it’s really wet before I mound it around the plants. I soak it in an old baby bath and then when the water has really got it in, I place it about 8 to 10cm thick – that’s about 3 or 4 inches for those who use imperial.

That way I know the plants are not only benefiting from less soil erosion and moisture evaporation, but they’re also getting a good drink when I first apply it.

And I also use the pea-straw mulch for other things in the garden. For example, I have a gorgeous stag horn that I add a couple of generous handfuls to each summer. It prevents the stag heart from drying out on really hot days. I use it in a few of my potted plants too. Pots can dry out really quickly in summer, so it’s a great application. You just have to remember to keep the  base of the plant clear of the mulch, or it can rot.

Another benefit of using mulch is that it gives your plants a little supplementary food as it breaks down.

Happy Organic Gardening, Healthy Living…

Filed under: Uncategorized on December 13th, 2009 | No Comments »

Right, so I’ve got very little water, a very windy location… but guess what? Yes, another problem. RABBITS! They seem to be getting up in numbers again here in South Australia. Not that I had really noticed them much living in a town, although we do see them running across the road (and some as road kill).

But at the farm… well, they’re just everywhere. Move a bit of tin on the ground, a rabbit runs out. Walk a little at dusk, a rabbit or even two run past. And their presence is obvious in the garden. Through winter I planted several rows of red onions. ONIONS I tell you! All (over time) nibbled down to the ground. Who would have thought rabbits would take a liking to onions?

Not just the onions. I tried leeks too – all eaten. They ate my wild strawberries right down to the ground. They’re not that keen on herbs, so I might be OK with them (although they had a good chew on the flat-leaf parsley). And they didn’t go for the broad beans. But you can’t live on herbs and broad beans, can you?

I tell you though, I don’t mind a bit of onion with my rabbit stew! So they better watch out! This means WAR! I’m pretty sure it’s rabbit season here all the time. Don’t know how I’m going to catch ‘em yet, but I’ll come up with something – and my vegetarian days are over (at least for the time being).

So there you have it – these are the main challenges that I have with my organic food garden here at the farm. None are going to stop me growing our own food plants on the farm in the end. Each challenge will be addressed in turn and we’ll go from there.

I can already see a gorgous and productive garden (in my mind), and I believe that if I can see it in my mind, I can create it in my world. I hope you can overcome any obstacles you might have in creating your own gorgeous and productive organic garden. If you need a little help, take a look at my Organic Food Gardening Beginner’s Manual.

Happy Organic Gardening, Healthy Living…

Filed under: Uncategorized on November 26th, 2009 | No Comments »