HI folks,
@Riverflows asked me to do a text version of my video posts so she can read them :-) rather than watching videos. I was going to do this anyway for those that want to "flick through" rather than watch a long video. Please follow my blog if you want to see the longer videos as i document our progress.
Basically i'm trying to do a post a week updating the progress. Sometimes a vlog and sometimes text, sometimes both. Basically we are really trying to document our progress.
been a bit dodgy this month as we have had bad weather, storms, a fence came down, the kids have been sick, we have been sick... and work has been busy because everyone is sick.. lol
If you HAVE watched the video then this is mostly the same information as is in the video.
Today I will take you on a little tour of the spaces
How is the CHICKEN COOP ( Chickenopolis) going OMG amazing
I talk about starting seed trays for succession planting
We chat about protecting plants in the frost
we tour the new vege pots
The new Kaffir lime tree and Mayer lemon tree
See the mess we are still in.... yup
So for those of you that know this... skip to the June Update section.
We have been in this house for 6 years now and it is a concrete wastleland of concrete and grass with a pool. we decided that this needs to change and are creating a little urban farm in.
We had a very GREEN back garden but it was just yukka plants. AND they planted this big rooted trees right on top of retaining walls. They are huge and are pushing on the walls. They needed to come out. Roots and all down into the earth we had to go...
You can see here the view when we moved in.,... green... but not "pretty and productive.."
Certainly no biodiversity. Not good for bees. Just green yick.
What are we creating
We are trying to create a little mini urban farm.
Fruit and vegetables
Chickens
worms
mealworms
flowers
bees
bee haven
biodiversity
pesticide free where possible
native plants as well. So not JUST food but also food for the insects that will live in the garden.
As i was saying above, we want to create a whole space and document the trials and sucesses.
Please follow our journey.
ok so here is the actual update for the month
This is the first June update
Chicken coop
So we have been really smashing it out in the chicken coop this last couple of weeks
I am including the photo from May as i wanted you to see the progress :-)
As i am writing this at the end of June it is REALLY hard not to show you that the coop is now all but finished :-) lol but here is the early June progress
Below you can see the framing all complete.
I have included this so you can see it from this side even though it is an older photo.
over this week 8 we mostly were painting. The Frame was white at the start, and we were putting on the panels and painting them. in and around a rain storm.
I chose the pretty blue colour. I'm so glad we went with something bright.
so pretty even thought it will be covered in poop.. lol
Below is the painting stage
painted
the roof
this was a little bit problematic as we decided to upcycle the panels from the fallen fence and they were a different size... He swore lots... but we got there.
You can see the framing for the run starting to come together. we also made an adjustment making the run smaller for wire cost reasons... its expensive!! we can make an addition if we need to. I'm glad we did.
We will be putting flower pots and things in as well for them to scratch around in. These we will make to come in and out so they can regrow.
SEED STARTING
So with the storms a sick kids i didn't get my planned seeds started on schedule. which was annoying... but hey.. all i could do.
So i found time and went and planted a few things. Basically they idea is to plant a tray every 2 weeks or so, so we always have seeds started just in case. I'm not over sowing so only 1-4 seeds per cell in the trays as it doesn't matter if only a few germinate (although we had a very good germination rate actually).
they have a little lid cover to keep they a bit more warm and keep out birds.
So i planted:
-Bok choi which grows so jolly fast
-2 types of mustard (Ethiopian and a Chinese mustard) that had the coldest germination temperatures. (about 6-21 degrees C.)
-Celery this took ages to germinate. We eat lots and don't have NEARLY enough. I can't buy seedlings at the store either as they are all sold out.
-kale - we eat lots
THE FROST
So we had a few days down at 0 - 4 degrees over night and our backyard is quite cold. We don't have VERY many houses around us as the back is the highway so it does get cold.
tomatos in particular are not very tolerant of frost. so i ran out in the evening every night and put blankets over everything i could. Next morning i put the thermometer inside the little tent and it appeared to be 1 degree warmer inside / at least no dew on the plants.
Frost protections:
Have plants suitable.... lol..
cover plants with cloth or even boxes. Try not to let the material touch the plants.
make sure the plants are as well watered before the frost as possible
try not to fertilize when you know a frost coming (easier said than done) as new shoots are more susceptible to frost. give seaweed liquid after to help them recover.
The new Pots
The back beds
The peas are growing AMAZING!!!!!!
in here is a cover crop in the front and in the back is broad bean and peas
Concluding messages
Just another very busy week all in all. I will now sign off and start the next video.. lol... as its already late as well
talk later
happy gardening
Anyway thanks so much for stopping along and reading my posts I am just loving my HIVE experience so far. Such a fun platform for sure.
For those that don't know my i'm currently focusing on Daily painting and somewhat amusing my self and my family with Acrylic pouring.. lol.. i wish i had a separate studio for that as it is so messy.
My other HIVE interests are:
- cooking
sunset photography (i take photos of the sky every night)
Art
Graphic Design
Gardening (just a smidgion)
Ballet
Sewing - I make Tutus and ballet costumes too...
Here are a couple of snaps of some of the stuff i do outside what you see up in the posts above.
