October 2011 - The bone cold of winter should have well passed but the clear and freezing wind swept days over the past week tell another tale. I've been in semi-hibernation along with the garden and the usual bounty of flora and fauna.
I threw my job in as a family worker after 5 years. I was feeling burnt out and was becoming cynical. After giving up work I've had more time to spend on the property. It's much too easy to keep warm in front of the fire and stare out at the view without feeling the need to go anywhere. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing as they say so I have to be mindful of getting out and being social. I've started going to the spa and sauna a few times a week after work. A spa/sauna warms me for the rest of the evening. It's also reasonably cheap being at the local public pool and it's a great way to meet people. Morning walks are lovely at this time of year and I'm not really into exercising in hot weather so it's perfect for me. I just have to get out of bed which isn't always easy on cold days.
I didn't have much luck with a winter garden this year. In Blackheath, my little vege patch was next to a lovely warm brick wall and was protected from the frost. Although a colder climate, the protection made a big difference to the warmth of the soil. I'm sure once my garden is more established and I've learnt a little more about the climate and what grows better here this will change.
I've spent the last month preparing the soil for spring planting. I've built it up with horse poo, readily found on the property given we have three pooing machines. I've also used leaf litter, blood and bone and a little lime. It's possible to over fertilise a garden. The garden may be able to cope with this, but the surrounding native environment won't cope if there is run-off, especially given most of our native plants in Australia thrive in acidic soils. The top soil is shallow and loamy on the property so we've had to build up the beds.
We have water issues as there is no way to catch it a present. We've been buying water from the local water carrier who gets it from a gigantic tank further up the hill. We only pay for the cartage which is cheap so water hasn't been a priority. However inevitably the issue will have to be dealt with. One of Pat's next projects is to install the guttering around the house so we can have another tank. He's also recently put a pump on the dam and filled a portable water tank which sits on an old trailer. This system will be handy for watering the garden in summer. Thanks Pat :)
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I threw my job in as a family worker after 5 years. I was feeling burnt out and was becoming cynical. After giving up work I've had more time to spend on the property. It's much too easy to keep warm in front of the fire and stare out at the view without feeling the need to go anywhere. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing as they say so I have to be mindful of getting out and being social. I've started going to the spa and sauna a few times a week after work. A spa/sauna warms me for the rest of the evening. It's also reasonably cheap being at the local public pool and it's a great way to meet people. Morning walks are lovely at this time of year and I'm not really into exercising in hot weather so it's perfect for me. I just have to get out of bed which isn't always easy on cold days.
I didn't have much luck with a winter garden this year. In Blackheath, my little vege patch was next to a lovely warm brick wall and was protected from the frost. Although a colder climate, the protection made a big difference to the warmth of the soil. I'm sure once my garden is more established and I've learnt a little more about the climate and what grows better here this will change.
I've spent the last month preparing the soil for spring planting. I've built it up with horse poo, readily found on the property given we have three pooing machines. I've also used leaf litter, blood and bone and a little lime. It's possible to over fertilise a garden. The garden may be able to cope with this, but the surrounding native environment won't cope if there is run-off, especially given most of our native plants in Australia thrive in acidic soils. The top soil is shallow and loamy on the property so we've had to build up the beds.
We have water issues as there is no way to catch it a present. We've been buying water from the local water carrier who gets it from a gigantic tank further up the hill. We only pay for the cartage which is cheap so water hasn't been a priority. However inevitably the issue will have to be dealt with. One of Pat's next projects is to install the guttering around the house so we can have another tank. He's also recently put a pump on the dam and filled a portable water tank which sits on an old trailer. This system will be handy for watering the garden in summer. Thanks Pat :)
I
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