Saving Those Seeds, Is How It Should Be.

Broccolii with seed saving bags over their seed heads.

 

At the end of the season, my broccolii and kale began going to seed and produced prolific numbers of pods.  Wanting to save them and having the right means to do it are two entirely different things.  I had no bags big enough to go over the big seed heads and had no idea where to source them.  So off to the op shop I went.  Came home with an old curtain and began the task of cutting it into big sqaures and sewing them into bags.  Then I put them over the seed heads and tied them to the stems below.  Means I get to save all the seed from falling to the ground, the bags are able to allow airflow to keep seeds from building up condensation and no birds can raid them either.  WOOHOO  all for a lowly $3.50  I made over a dozen bags. 

Duck Is Now a Dirty Word.

Having recently purchased a spit roaster and with just one week until Miriam moves to her next placement as a WWOOFer, I decided to christen the spit and celebrate her time here.  I invited a local around to join in and also to thank him for some of the help  he has given me.  So into the freezer I dive and drag out the duck that Miriam so proficiently plucked during our trip to Ballarat.  Nice looking duck it was, not overly fatty to the eye, good meat colour, clean skin.  So it was decided that said plucka would be the meal of the day.  We set the spit up in our newly established alfresco zone and threaded the duck on the rod.  Once the heat beads were at their optimum cooking heat, we put the duck on the cradle.  Now came the fun bit, watching the duck rock and roll while enjoying the lovely outdoors and good company.  We almost began to sing, "the wings on the duck go round and round".  We allowed said duck to cook at a low to medium heat for 4 hours.  When we checked to see if it was ready, tummy's grumbling, lips smacking and many ooos and ahhhs over the lovely smell,  the duck was still bleeding.  GRRRRRR... so back on the cradle it went.  another half hour and we gave it another look over.  STILL NOT DONE.  By this time we were ravenous and decided to toss the duck in the oven and finish it off.  Once done, my friend got out the deadly weapons and began the task of disecting the duck,  oops.  Not happening too well,  the duck should have been cooked with a stone.  When the stone was cooked, we could eat that and toss the duck.. It was so tough that boot leather looked more appetising.  Although disappointed,  we couldn't help but laugh like little kids getting into mischief.  Just one look from any of us would set us going again.  This morning when I arose, I began cleaning up and once again duck jokes were on the menu,  reminders of the ducking disaster abound with grease in all kinds of places.   Moral of the story is:  If you really want nice duck for dinner, go to a chinese restaurant.

Miriam the WWOOFer.

During October things around here became rather hectic.  It all began with my mum visiting for 4 days and then on the day she was to leave, I had a WWOOFer arriving just a few hours later.  After picking Miriam up off the bus in Rushworth, we did a couple of quick egg deliveries and then came back to the house where we then had to repack in order to travel to Ballarat on the following morning.  I had been booked to run a workshop down there on Integrating Chickens in a Permaculture System.  An early start, long drive, then the workshop.  We stayed with my dear friends Pat and Ian overnight and on the Sunday morning, we arose and began  killing and dressing two ducks and a rooster.  Miriam was totally new to this and so I offered her the chance to take part, but did explain that she could opt out if this was something she would rather not tackle.  What a goer she is, the duck she plucked came out as clean as any a professional could have done.. Go Girl.   After the long drive home on the Sunday afternoon, rest was not quite in our grasp.  We had to unload and then reload the car in readiness for the trip to Elmore on the Monday morning to set up the WWOOF stand.  The Elmore Field Days is an annual event where I promote WWOOF Australia, something I am most passionate about and feel that by promoting it, I am giving a little back for the tremendous amount I gain from being a host.  The first two days saw us talking to and sharing information with a large number of folk, chatting with other hosts and people who are on the WWOOFing trail.  Then on the Thursday we found ourselves with very high temperatures, dry and dusty roads out front of our site and a slower crowd meandering through.  I must say, home looked so good that night and we both felt totally exhausted by days end.   A good rest overnight saw us both ready to take on the work around the property here.  The biggest thing happening right now is mulching and our first area of interest is at the head of the chookpens.  We got all the paper and mulch down and then got busy relocating the strawberry bed to that zone.  Leaving it's old place bare and ready for the big sandpad to be built.  The sandpad is needed for the hothouse and water tank to go on.  They both need a good level piece of ground and with my place being on such a slope a sandpad is vital.  In the evenings Miriam and I share many a good chat and lots of laughter over our widely varied meals.  Talking about such a wide range of topics that we never seem to run out of a good conversation.  A magnificent young lady I am blessed to have met.  Wherever Miriam goes from here I am sure her journey will be a good one. 

 

Miriam and her duck

Miriam (right) and I at the Elmore Field Days.

Miriam laying paper and mulch at the head of the chookpens

Strawberry bed in it's new location and getting a good drink

The newly weeded, mulched chook medicine bed

Gourmet food at it's best, Cajun Scallops, tossed salad, fruit brandy cheese, potato rosti and macadamia dressing.

Giving Bush Tucka a Bash

Bush Tucka Plants.

Today I went for a trip to the nursery in Mandurang, with the garden ladies. Totally excited, does a happy dance. Got to buy some bush food plants.  They list as follows. 1. Muntries. 2. Coast Beard Heath. 3. Bulbine Lily. 4. Yam Daisy. 5. Midyim Berry. 6. Seaberry Saltbush. 7. Kangaroo Apple.  Can't wait to get them in the ground and reap the first harvest.

Crow Proofing Bockalot Village

The green crop in this picture is wheat at about 6 and 1/2 weeks growth.

Today I found 2 crows exiting the chook shed with eggs in their beaks.  With blood boiling I stormed to the shed and dragged out the tools as well as a few of the panels from the old pen.  Then I set about making a small inner enclosure that can be moved back and forth in front of the little shed's door.  Hoping this will resolve the crow problem, while providing an added bonus of fox proofing. 

Making a Worm Farm

I have spent today hunting for various components I needed to make this worm farm.  Once all was in hand, I returned home and got to work with the drill and ta da.. A fully functional worm farm with a tap in the lower tub that allows me to get the worm tea without lifting the top two tubs off.  I am also pretty stoked that I have been asked to make these for local pre schools and teach the kids how to use them.  One small step in recycling, One big step in educating the next generation.

ANNIE'S LEEK AND TATER SOUP

 ANNIE'S LEEK AND TATER SOUP

Ingredients:

1 lge leek.

1 lge Sweet Potato.

2 Med Carrots.

1 Med Turnip.

1 Lge Parsnip

1 Lge Onion

3 Garlic Cloves.

1/2 Sml Red capsicum.

6 Pieces Shortcut Bacon.

Cracked Black Pepper to taste.

Butter and Olive Oil

1 ltr of Chicken Stock. ( water for extra liquid as needed)

METHOD:

Chop Leek, Onion, Garlic, Capsicum and Bacon.  Lightly fry in the butter and oil until glassy.

Add the grated Sweet Potato, Turnip, Parsnip and Carrots. Mix thoroughly with the sweated mix and then pour chicken stock over this, add water to make sure all ingredients are covered.  Boil until all vegies are tender.  It doesn’t need to be pulpy.  Takes about 20 minutes.

Magnus WWOOFing in Rushworth.

Magnus and I at Whroo Aboriginal Water Hole/Goldmine

Magnus putting frame of polytunnel together

Magnus clearing guttering.

Magnus working in the garden zone.

Dismantling a fence

For a period of 4 weeks I had the greatest pleasure in hosting Magnus, from Germany.  He was the most pleasant young man, with a solid grasp on life, amazing manners and outlook.  We tackled a great amount of work while he stayed with me, including clearing debris from the area I am turning into a permaculture system, dismantling old fencelines, pruning bushes and trees.  Along with numerous other tasks.  We went on a couple of outings together, the first of which was to Whroo.  There we saw the cemetary from the gold rush days, an Aboriginal water hole and the view into the mine from the opening.  We walked through some of the bush and found a restored puddling machine that was used during gold rush days as well.  The second outing we had, was on Easter weekend.  We took a drive to Moora where we watched Draught horses and Clydesdales being worked.  There were a fair number of very old drays, jinkers, sulkys, ploughs and harrows being used on the day for demonstrations as well.  We came across a gypsy wagon and an old T Model Ford ute.  That was hooked up to drive belt that ran an oat roller.  So interesting.  Got to chat with a huge number of wonderful folk who were there and saw some amazing ladies doing demonstrations on various crafts such as basket weaving, lace making and straw art.  The bush poet spruked his prose as we sat for lunch and the day was such that we came away tired but pleased with all we saw.  Many photos and a few short videos taken, so we both have memories to keep.  Although Magnus has now headed north for warmer weather, I do wish him a safe and happy journey.  Hope he will return to share more time with me in the future.

Permablitz Me.

What a weekend was had on the 14th and 15th April.  Some lovely folk from the Ballarat Permaculture Guild came to my place for a Permablitz.  These events are undertaken to help people get projects done in their permaculture systems. In my case, we achieved a great deal and some of those tasks are explained in the video.  However not everything can be done in the day and a half we had.  Bearing in mind the people who came were travelling around 3 hours to get here and then to go home.  How wonderful are they for that alone.
Any how,  Enjoy the video and know that if I can do it, so can you.

Making the chooks temporary digs comfy

Some of the rubbish removed from the chook shed today.

The girls testing their new perch

The new nest box filled with pine shavings.

Today I cleared the chooks temporary home of all debris and did a little remodelling.  First step was to rake and clean the actual yard and shed floor.  What a mess and can't understand why the old tenant left it in such a state.  Second stage was to take out the two boards the plastic nest tubs were screwed to.  Not an easy task in a shed with a low roofline and lots of chook mess about me, not to mention ancient spider webs I kept touching,  eeewwww.  Anyway, I got to work on the two pieces of timber, cleaned them up, measured and cut one in half with an angle to it so it would be easy to complete the task of making a new perch.  All the screws and timber were recycled from what was here or what I had in my bits and pieces box.  Once I had the timber cut, I screwed a length of dowel in place for the perch and then screwed the frame in place.  Didn't take the girls long to investigate and test it out.  They seemed quite happy with their new night perch and kept playing the jump on and off game for ages.  I then scrounged a plastic tub and filled it with pine shavings for a nice nest box, which help deter mites and lice.  Will be interesting to see if they use it tomorrow.

Twist them Turns.

The paddock that will be the main growing zone

The view from my back yard (kangaroos abound here)

Kelsey watering the new strawberry bed

I have found that life, in reality, is made of many twists and turns.  We can either fight against it, or roll with the flow.  So, I have decided that I will allow myself the luxury of rolling with the flow.  Two weeks ago I relocated to new digs, yes that's right, starting over again.  The old place became unliveable and to my way of thinking, unhealthy as well.  When I say I relocated, I have moved almost 30km east of the old place.  The new place is situated on slightly hilly aspect, with an iron bark forest over the back fence and an acre of dirt to establish my lovely food foraging zone and orchard.  Then hens and Elvis managed the uplift well and settled quickly in their temporary pen.  Snake, the cat,  became sullen during his first week of being entrapped inside until he got the idea, this is now home.  Once he was allowed outside, he settled well and began to explore the yard and attached paddock.  Strange how he never leaves the boundaries at all, but so glad all the same. On Sunday night I journeyed to nearby Murchison to pick up my very first WWOOFer to share the new place with me.  She is a lovely woman from America, with a very mature outlook on life for her very young 23 years.  Kelsey has proved to be a godsend to me here and in the first two days after her arrival we got a great deal done.  First we placed the chookmahal in it's designated zone, ready to have the fences and gate put up for the permanent chook yard.  Then we built the first garden bed and planted the strawberries from the old place in that.  Next we tackled the northern boundary of the paddock from top to bottom.  Raking rubbish, then barrowing it to the pit up the back of the garage.  We pruned low lying branches from the trees along that area and discussed plans for the entire zone.  Today we took a trip to Kyabram and spent the morning at Chat n Chew,  cups of tea, coffee and pancakes shared with a nice group of women.  Then back home to pick up the tape measure and mark out the area for the orchard.  Gazzoookkks folks,  we had to quit work when we were bombarded by the most persistant mosquitos I have ever come across.  They didn't seem to go after Kelsey so much, but my back, arms and legs are  now like a bumpy ski slope and extremely itchy.  A big thankyou to Kelsey who then researched organic mozzie repelants and found a good recipe.   25 drops of lemon eucalyptus ( or citronella) mixed with a tablespoon of vodka.  To spritz or drink,  that is the question .  All in all, I love my new digs and can't imagine ever wanting to move again. 

Chasing Rainbows?

The beginning of 2012 has presented me with 3 challenges already.  The first was to return to my hometown and make a houseload of curtains in just 5 days.  A dear friend owns a townhouse there and his recently evicted tenants had trashed it.  So much damage done and with so few to help, I felt it would be remiss of me not to step up.  So, car loaded with my machines, ironing board, tables and luggage, I set off for the big N/E Victoria.  I managed to meet the deadline and the townhouse is now inhabited by a lovely young lady who I am sure will be a better tenant.  Then I got the news I had to start Chemo again,  this time for 13 weeks.  I look at it with the most positive spin I can, knowing it is a time for me to reflect on life and where I am heading.  My lovely medical team have constantly expressed my ability to get through comes down to the organic life I lead as well as a positive frame of mind.   The third challenge came by way of a housing dilemma.  Although I love where I live geographically, my rented house is in such an increasingly bad state of repair.  I don't mean simple things like leaking taps or peeling paint that I can take care of.  The roof leaks each time it rains,  not a little but in such proportions I have to unplug all appliances and shift them away from the wall so they are safe from being flooded.  The floors are now rotting out from beneath me and it is just a matter of time before my refrigerator and freezer meet solid earth.  The septic system is so in need of being cleaned out and the landlord refuses to arrange it.  I could go on, but it would make you all squirm.  In order to deal with this during the last 12 months I have had to just close my eyes to it and hope a better place will come along.  I have been doing the househunting thing on the internet for around  months now and my prayers have finally been answered.  A week ago I signed up for another home in  a small town just 30 or so km away from here.  It is in good condition has 1 acre of land around it and is just 1 km from the little shopping centre as well as medical facilities and a lovely little coffee shop.  Bliss,  the bushland behind the house has such a beautiful aspect, I even saw 2 kangaroos hopping around on the day I viewed the house. I am now in the process of sorting, packing and having a massive cleanout of things I have kept for way too long.  Bring on March 2nd when I get the keys.  My time spent chasing the rainbows has finally brought me closer to the little pot of gold. 

WWOOF hosting continued.

Woojon mowing the lawn with an enviro mower.

I recently had the opportunity to host not only my first mature aged WWOOFer, but also my youngest WWOOFer.  First came Woojon, from Korea.  He came along not knowing what to expect, just as I didn't know what I should expect of a mature aged person.  His age remains a bit of a mystery as he was most secretive about it.  Not that it is a big issue, but curiosity will raise it's head and niggle at me.  Although he claimed to be much older than I am, he only looked around 45.  I came to call him the man with an engaging smile.  During his time with me, it brought a greater awarenes about the extreme differences that can exist between cultures.  It really isn't just about the language barriers, it is cultural beliefs, religious beliefs and personal perspectives.  He would have worked day and night if I hadn't stopped him. He is so used to a country that has very high humidity as well as temperatures, however Australia's climate is so very different and I am pedantic about educating my WWOOFers on the risks of heat/sunstroke, dehydration as well as the risk of UV exposure and resulting skin cancers. It took a lot of hard thinking and problem solving in order to get those things across as he just couldn't grasp them.  Eventually his time came to leave and as I saw him on his way, I pondered the possibilities laid before him and how his journey would turn out for him.  One can only wish him well and pray he achieves what it is he has in mind.

Damien, shucking corn cobs

Then I had the lovely opportunity to host my youngest ever WWOOFer, 19 year old Damien from France.  We met at the Southern Cross Station and journeyed back to Kyabram together by train.  What a great chance to chat and get to know each other a little.  Along the way, we both felt the need to take a rest, instantly I dozed off and when we got closer to Shepparton, Damien gently woke me.  Finally ensconced back in my humble abode, we set about giving the gardens a good watering.  The two hot days in a row had taken a toll on a number of plants (some were lucky and survived).  We then settled into the routine of daily chores, sharing stories and of course, me listening to this intelligent young man as he spoke on many subjects.  A breath of fresh air to say the least.  Once Damien leaves my place, he will travel back to Melbourne to begin working as an Au Paire.  To Damien I say,  Au Revoir and journey well.

Herb Drying 2012

Oregano, Sage and Thyme drying on the Clothes airer

I have just spent about an hour or so out in the garden to see what herbs etc were ready to harvest.  I ended up with a big bucket of sage, oregano and thyme.  So I brought that indoors and began the process of making it into bunches and tieing it off with some wool.  Now, the problem is, I don't have a proper herb drying rack.  What to do, think outside the box, ta da.  A solution presented itself in the form of my clothes drying rack.  It has 3 levels and is on castors, making it quite easy to move around. I worked out it will hold 16 bunches of herbs per level giving enough space for 48 bunches in total.  Feel pretty chuffed about it because I now only have to worry about finding a food dehydrator for the celery leaves and basil. Mind you it will also be used for a variety of fruits I want to dry to make snack packs for the winter.  Think that issue may have been resolved as I found one on Ebay for around $39 plus P&H of around $10.  I almost have all the required equipment to make my food preserving kit complete.  I actually had to buy a food processor to do some of the prep work for jams and pickles as my arm is not at it's best and I find chopping a bit of an issue. (thanks to family for the envelopes with money at Christmas time.)

Who's crazy now?

"Snake" the cat in repose

Snake the cat has decided that my tray table by the window makes a good bed to sleep on.  So I don't argue, who wants to wake a sleeping ninja anyway?  So on the tray table he sleeps, with the window slightly open for him to get a bit of a cool breeze.  Then the other night the inevitible happened, there was Snake in repose, snoring for all the world to hear.  Big Stretch, rolls over and plonk, thump on the floor.  He sits up stunned, turns my way and gives me the biggest dose of "stinkeye" I have ever seen. So I laughed,  as you do. He immediately lumbered over and bit my foot and leg.......hard.  Now, with blood streaming down my ankle,  I give said Snake the cat still wearing the "stinkeye" look a good shove so I can go fix my leg and foot.  Nooooooo,  it's not over by a long shot.  As I get to the lougeroom door he lunges again and firmly affixes his claws and teeth around my shin and calf.. gaaahhhhh.  I swear one day I will turn this cat into a Davey Crockett hat.  grrrr mumble mumble curse.