Thursday, April 8, 2010

Planning your Organic Garden?

Planning your Organic Garden?

How to start your organic garden so that it keeps on providing your food with the minimum of effort

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Why Grow Your Own Organic Food?

Why Grow Your Own Organic Food?

A magazine that is worth subscribing to with ongoing columns by yours truly

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Bring on Autumn

Has this summer been total crap in the garden or what? I have had heaps of flowers on the tomatoes and have eaten one.
The beans and peas gave up after one pod each.
I planted lettuce and by the time I turned around with the watering can it had gone to seed.
My strawberries have been delicious but between battling the slugs, the birds and the kids I have barely seen them. The raspberries did well in that week when the sun came out but nothing since.
On the positive side the silverbeet has done well and I have plenty of herbs. The pumpkin are showing all the signs of fruiting well but I am a little worried about the moisture rotting everything. I have new lettuce in which seems to be doing much better and my new mandarin tree has plenty of fruit.
I hope that my cabbages do better over the autumn and winter

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Permaculture Activist Magazine

Permaculture Activist Magazine

Just found this site which seems to have some great resources especially books, dvds and articles

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Age of Stupid

The Age of Stupid

A review of one of the best documentaries I have seen on global warming

Thursday, November 5, 2009

A great organic lifestyle website

Just had some contact with the very friendly and knowledgeable people at Wilderland, an organic permaculture educational trust. They certainly know what they are doing

http://www.wilderland.org.nz/

Check them out

Spring time In the Organic Garden

I am one of the few people I know who held off planting too much outside at Labour Weekend. I bought a plastic greenhouse (very cheap from the Warehouse) during the winter and I have tomatoes, chilli and cucumber in there but out in the garden I am waiting a little until the obligatory November cold snap is over. I do have some potatoes in and I am trying something new this year. I saw something at http://www.nzgardener.co.nz/ about potato cages made with chicken wire and bamboo. Not having any chicken wire I improvised by recycling plastic bags with the bottom cut out and filling them with well rotted compost to mound up my spuds. Because I only have a small area for spuds and last year was not especially effective using the rubbish bin I thought I'd give this a try. The plants look very healthy so far but only time will tell if I get a good crop for Christmas.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Recycling for a more sustainable lifestyle

Hi there I have been publishing quick tips on my page at tip drop. Have a look here

http://tipdrop.com/tipsheet/recycling_for_a_sustainable_lifestyle


Or if you want to write your own tips try this one

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Recycling for a sustainable lifestyle

Recycling for a sustainable lifestyle
Many of the things that I have learnt while organic gardening can be put to use in other parts of my life

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Organic Insecticides

Organic Insecticides
Just some ideas about keeping down the nasties. Check it out and become a fan.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Spring time is nearly here

Its a lovely spring day and I have been out in the garden at last. I bought a small greenhouse during the winter and have some seedlings growing there now. Tomatoes and chilli peppers are sprouting well and I also have some very healthy looking beetroot seedlings. My winter crops are just about over. I have to say that I have been disappointed with my broccoli. the heads have been very small. I think I will have to have another look at things to do to improve the size. I have also planted cucumbers and water melons in the greenhouse beds because my plastic cover will keep things very huimid in there during the summer. No sign of them yet but they have only been there for a week or so. This afternoon I will plant some borlotti beans in the garden bed. Hopefully the garden is sheltered enough to miss any late frosts