July  2003

In July the winter crop turned the south side beds into a decorative and colorful array of edibles. The beds that we're

chook tractored for several weeks during the winter months were then covered with pea straw, ready for spring planting.

The pea straw is best to lay several weeks before the planting of seedlings, as until it starts to rot, it removes nitrogen

from the soil. Once the straw starts to rot, it releases nitrogen back into the soil, and also acts as a decent mulch.

During July we started work in the front yard. A large 4000 liter tank was due for delivery, and this was to be placed in

the front yard, in front of the lounge room windows. There was originally a  large camellia tree, that covered the whole window,

and reached to the stop of  the guttering. In photo two you can see the remnants of the camellia tree that is to be used

for compost.  In photo three John, brandishing the chain saw, is cutting up the tree. Directly behind John is a the

moveable compost slats.  These were also  used to make raised beds on the south side, in the back yard, during December 2002.

As we did then, we again collected grass clippings and the local horse manure, mulched up the camellia tree in our electric mulcher

mixed this together and gave it a good watering, to assist with the heating of the compost. 

                                                                           The local wild life, in their new pond