Things are Growing

Things are growing fast at the farm.  With the warm, and often wet, weather growing conditions are ideal.

As you can see from the pictures below, the chicks are growing really fast too.  They're only three weeks old in this photo, probably at the toddler stage in human terms.  They're certainly acting like toddlers, exploring everything and climbing (or at least flying) wherever they can.  A favourite perch is the top of their house.

They're beginning to look like their mums.

Proud dad is growing too.  His crow is fully developed now.

John is building a fox proof, crow proof home for the chicks

We're trying something new.  Up until now we've pretty much sowed straight into the ground but the birds and ants and grasshoppers take their toll. So we're having a go at starting things in the nursery and then transplanting them.  Some things don't like being transplanted however, so Janet is making pots out of newspaper which can then be put straight in the ground.  As the plant grows the pot will disintegrate.  Neat.

Making pots from newspaper

Artichoke seeds.

Sweet potatoes were recently planted in the field.  These are cuttings from last year's crop.  They've taken well.

Sweet potatoes

Watermelon seeds after 1 week.

We're also harvesting tomatoes.  Small and juicy.  Some cucumbers have come up and we have wonderful purple beans.

The fruit fly has gotten into the zucchinis though, so our namesake isn't doing too well.

We've also had two garden forks donated.  In fact, if you'd like to see a list of things that have been donated go to the top of this page and have a look at the "Projects etc." page.  The farm is growing sponsors too!

A moist buttery texture .....

On Sunday a very special recipe was followed at the farm.  The farm is officially certified organic and has the certificate to prove it and that means that all sorts of chemicals are off limits, even some that you would think are harmless, or even organic, like fish emulsion.

So, what does a resourceful farmer do? Make bio dynamic compost of course.  Here's the recipe:

manure
wet hay 
a variety of green material

Mix very well together and make into a pile.

The pile will heat up to around 50 degrees C.

Leave in this pile without any turning for 4-5 months until it has all converted into a very concentrated natural fertiliser with a moist, buttery texture.

Below you can see the photos.  It was a wet and mucky and satisfying process, occasionally a little smelly.  Definitely good for your inner child.  Imagine wearing gumboots in the bath and stomping the straw in the water, then sloshing about in mud and straw and cow manure.  Oh, and you get to play with the hose!  VERY good for your inner child.
 

You get to play with the hose.

 

Sloshing in gumboots

Mud, glorious mud.

This pile took 8 people 4 hours to build.

The pile was shaped rather like a steep pitched roof of a house.  When all the ingredients had been piled up like this, the whole was covered with "biscuits" of straw.

Now it will sit there until early next year.

Watch this space for when we break it open!

It's been a busy week at the Farm

 It's been a busy week at the farm.  The coffee bushes have been planted in large pots because they have to be taken in out of the frost during winter.  For the rest of the time they will do duty in helping to screen the luscious-to-chooks but unsightly-to-humans chook pen.

coffee bushes

 Behind the coffee bushes and in front of the chook fence you can see little blobs of straw.  The straw covers some rosella seeds which Jane planted last week and which are already poking little leaves through.  Rosellas make great tea when the red petals are dried.  They're also very attractive bushes (related to hisbiscus) and will also screen the chook pen.

The corrugated iron is to stop foxes digging under the fence

The chicks have done a lot of growing too - much bigger and stronger this week

The pawpaws have been in pots over winter and have grown quite healthy and strong.  During the week John dug rows for the pawpaws and on Saturday Shane helped plant them.  Definitely my favourite fruit.  There are more coming on in pots too.  The next challenge will be fruit bats and possums.  Watch this space!

Pawpaws

Well rotted cow manure to help them grow.

 These are the new compost bins built recently by Joe and John.  They've been ready for a while but this week John had the time to pile dirt and weeds and dirt on top.  Then lino to mulch it all.  What you see below is fresh weeds added from this weeks weeding. Phew!

The weather has been absolutely brilliant over the last few weeks.  Lots of rain, lots of warmth and lots of sunshine - adds up to good growing weather.  Anita and Janet are taking advantage of it to plant pumpkins, sweet potatoes and watermelon.

This is where the green manure was growing until recently.

 

These sunflowers are self sown.  I couldn't resist including them here though.

 On our Projects, Prizes and Presents page (see the pink writing at the top of this page) you will find a list of things which have recently been sponsored by well wishers.  Amongst these were two mango trees.  One has been planted in the chook pen to give shade during the hot summer.  It also means the chooks can eat any fallen fruit.

Can you see it in the pen?  With its own little fence around it to stop the chooks scratching it up.  The shade cloth you see on the right hand side is the chick's pen.  The shade cloth provides shade and also keeps the crows away (they like to eat little chicks).

Young mango tree in the chook pen

Young mango tree just outside the duck pen.

Umbrella to shade the vegies

 As you can see, many things are happening all at once at the Farm.  We have some new helpers too which is very welcome.  At this time of year things can really get out of hand and everything needs to be done at once - harvesting, weeding, planting, digging, hoeing, mowing.

As well as hands we also need more tools, particularly good quality gardening forks.  If you'd like to help out by sponsoring a fork, a tree, a rose please have a look at our Projects, Presents and Prizes page.  Above you can see that wonderful big umbrella donated by Michael and Deborah.  As well as making it look kind of country marketish, it provides much needed shade.  Thank you both.

On that page, you'll also see some art work and a present for you.  In the next couple weeks you'll also see news of a prize you could win!

cheers for now
Norid

7 days old and kicking it!

The Newness of Life (Now in an appealing fluffy form!)

A few weeks ago we put some eggs into an incubator - hoping for the best! Rusty - stud rooster - had arrived on the scene and was doing what he oughtta do fairly enthusiastically. Would it work again - this miracle of nature? Personally I was a bit doubtful. Well....a few days ago I popped into the farm to check out the eggs in the incubator and was directed instead to a little cage which contained not one, not two but twelve adorable chickens!!! You could have knocked me over with a feather....

So, just had to share these baby chick pix with y'all and of course, the first movie suitably accompanied by Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grappelli will be on a separate blog. Enjoy - and will keep you updated on their progress.

Rusty is strutting around proudly - but then he always does!

Rusty contemplating his next move..

The Wild-haired Passionfruit Flower has bloomed as well.

Ah - the Newness of Life!  And check out our Presents, Prizes and Projects page...the generosity of fruit tree and rosebush patrons is another natural wonder.