Posts
ghost of the harlequin bugs
The insect that makes the fig tree ghost white each year might be harlequin bugs, a kind of stink bug. The fig had a fl…irrigation (part 2) water trickling system connected to hose
The idea: a 13mm pipe connected to a hose (which then connects to either the mains or water tank tap) runs the length o…irrigation (part 1) gravity-fed olla pots
The idea: a series of olla pots connected via 4mm flex tubes to an "interim" water storage container. This sy…
scat attack
Who's the culprit that came by the driveway to take a dump? It was only noticed in the morning, so they came, presu…
bird friends
A pair of spotted turtle doves have become regular visitors to the backyard. They usually perch on the back fence, but …
All hail, thunder and rain
The afternoon was a cross between first snow and a mass shooting. It was pretty magical. The thunderous clinking of the…
Forget not the comfrey lookalike
The mystery plant from this post is indeed NOT comfrey, nor any of the other hypothesised plants. It is, in fact, Cynog…cover crop for the nematodes
Got some black and yellow mustard seeds for the root-rot nematode-infested BSF patch. I broadcasted these seeds as wel…
where are you really from?
Centres of origin of major food crops. (Note: there are more than 30,000 species of edible plants. See Bruce French'…
quail eggs!
A fellow Northey St composter shared her quails' eggs with us! How wonderful to have pet quails.
grape leaves and dolmades
The grape vine was growing out of control and need a prune... and what do you do with all these fresh grape leaves? Di…Hardy perennial greens
Brazilian Spinach Surinam Spinach Cranberry Hibiscus Hibiscus Spinach Cassava Sweet Potato leaves Pumpkin vine leaves Sorrell …morning of mourning for the young Simba beans
I found nothing but itty-bitty stems this morning. Today is a sad day. Grown from seeds given by a friend, the Simba be…seed saver - rockets, daikon, cherry tomatoes
Wild rocket (the one with yellow flowers) has thin pods and very small seeds, while garden rocket (beige flowers with b…
chicory, chicon, endive
I was harvesting "chicory" leaves for the food co-op, but what I had was red-veined dandelion-looking leaves …
peckish birds
Amaranth tips on the Pool Side Strip were mysteriously - and skilfully - cut off a few weeks back.spotted: a blue-banded bee
A new native bee was buzzing around at the chives this morning, and it's a pretty one too: the blue-banded bee ( Ame…
beef, steak, and nematodes
Many little caterpillars were nesting and having a merry time inside the beefsteak tomatoes (some caterpillars found a …