New digs.

The 'girls' have gone through a few changes over recent weeks. Since we decided to keep two ducklings for ourselves (!), we realised it was unlikely our small backyard farm could play host to 8 birds. We sold our final ducklings to a woman named Jess who lives in the street behind us. When she came to collect them my husband off-handedly said we were thinking about getting rid of a few chickens (I believe his words were "everyone is keeping chickens these days, ducks are the new black!"'). Anyway, Jess got back to us the next night saying a colleague of hers named Dan, who lives four streets from us, had just finished building a chicken coop, and would love to take our chickens if we wanted to get rid of them.

We decided to part ways with Coco and Audrey. Coco had been breaking out of the pen and eating our seedlings, even when I had the fences 6 foot high (and yes I had clipped her wings). A new coop with a roof was far more appropriate for her. Audrey went too so Coco wouldn't be lonely. Dan came with his two young daughters two weeks ago to pick up the chooks. The children were so sweet and excited to have such beautiful birds. And because we knew they were going to a good home we gave them to him for free.

This left us with Liberty (Isa Brown) and Lady Sussex (Light Sussex) to provide us with eggs. To be honest, getting four eggs a day was beyond what we as a couple could keep up with, so we were giving most of our eggs away. Jamie and I then spent an afternoon setting up the coop so the run was suitable for two chickens in size, keeping them separate from the Indian Runner ducks.

And for those of you who might be wondering about how Coco and Audrey are getting on, they are living the good life on a street next to the beach!

Sam xox

The greenhouse in Spring.

Speaking to my dear friend Mel recently, I was lamenting my struggle to keep my seedlings moist in the greenhouse. She had sent me photos of her seedlings recently that were planted at least two weeks after mine, and from the same batch of seeds. Mel's seedlings were so healthy looking - so big! I couldn't work out where I was going wrong. I described to Mel how I was suspected I wasn't watering them enough. She asked, "how many times are you having to water them?" I answered "at least four". 

Silence.

Mel answered "perhaps you need to move the greenhouse into the shade?" 

I hadn't considered the sunlight! 

Ugh, of course!

Without the option of moving the greenhouse, the only choice I had was to erect some form of shade cloth to protect my seedlings from the direct sunlight. It was late on a Sunday afternoon so proper shade cloth was not able to be sourced. I had a six day working week ahead of me, so the problem had to be solved then and there. I found an old sheet that I covered the greenhouse with, securing it in place with pegs and tape (it is still in place a few weeks later!).

The results were noticeable within 24 hours. The seedlings stayed moist the whole of Monday, and only needed light topping up on Tuesday morning. Since then they have thrived and grown faster than I thought possible. Once I have the time I plan to make a more permanent structure of proper shade cloth, but for now my thrifty sheet will do. Alys Fowler would be proud.

Thanks for being my sounding board Mel!

Sam xox

Around the garden.

A lot has changed in my garden these past few weeks. The winter crops are all but finished, with the last cauliflower being pulled from the soil and only the broad beans remain of the winter just past. The potatoes I planted a few weeks ago have sprouted and grown at least a foot in height. Their beds have mulched with shredded sugar cane and this appears to be helping the soil retain some moisture.

In the bed next to the potatoes I had planted a zucchini in the centre, surrounded by lettuce, then surrounded these with a border of rocket. The idea is that by the time the zucchini will be big enough to fill the space, the lettuce will have been long since harvested. There really is nothing like the taste of freshly picked rocket...

As the sunlight lingers a little longer each day, I am beginning to notice the growth rates of my crops accelerate. Sunlight, combined with good organic fertiliser and regular watering, will ensure that my Spring crop gets off to a promising start.

Sam xox

Garlic braids.

Once you have dried your home grown garlic, it can be kept for many months before it needs to be used. A great way to store your garlic bulbs is to braid them together once they have dried. This is an easy meathod of securing them together, and does indeed make a pretty kitchen accessory (though you might wish to store them in a dark cool place so they last a little longer). Then simply snap off a bulb from your braid as you need it.

I had seen garlic stored this way before, and knew I just have to give garlic braiding a try myself once I had my first harvest. I laid the dried garlic out and took three to begin with and secured them together using freshly picked onion leaf. I braiding the three a few times, then incorporating new garlic in as the braid grew longer. Once I reached the end I secured it again with a freshly picked onion leaf, and hung the braid up to dry some more.

And I even kept a few loose bulbs to keep in my kitchen now...

Like I said in my first garlic post, I found it was really easy to grow. I can't see why garlic wouldn't grow even in pots, as it really didn't need a huge amount of space or special treatment. Again, if you are going to plant it, make sure to choose locally grown organic garlic as it will not have been sprayed with chemicals.

Sam xox

Yorkshire.

I introduced you all to Chippenham recently (he is still doing brilliantly by the way). This here is the second duckling we will be keeping. We have called it Yorkshire.

We are hoping Chippenham and Yorkshire will be two females. We will have to wait and see for a few more weeks yet before we will know. Once we have found out we will have to decide if they are viable to keep, as ending up with two male ducks might just be a bit much.

Oh, and it turns out this whole permaculture "ducks in vegetable garden harmony" thing might be a bit of a lie. I caught a few of the ducklings nibbling on some bean plant leaves today. Bad duckies.

Sam xox

Training pool.

Before they took on the blue shell pool, they practised their swimming strokes in a small plastic container.

Before some were killed. When they were still so tiny.

Sam xox

Moving into Spring.

Last weekend in New South Wales we turned our clocks forward one hour for daylight savings, officially moving us into the warmer months. Thanks to daylight savings, this week I have enjoyed an additional hour of sunlight in the evenings. For me, this has been a real gardening morale boost. Last week I was arriving home from work at 6:15pm, and trying to squeeze watering, weeding and harvesting tasks into the final few moments of light. This week I now have an entire hour to potter around my garden beds upon my return home at the end of the day. And the daylight is going to get even longer still!

~ Salad greens surrounding a zucchini, with potatoes growing beside ~

~ Ducklings playing amongst the nasturtiums ~

~ The beginning of my carrot harvest ~

~ Potatoes ~

~ Zucchini surrounded by rocket and lettuce ~

~ Broad beans coming on ~

~ So much lettuce ~

~ Garlic before harvesting ~

Sam xox