Spring's here...

All have gone crazy with growing (as usual every Spring, eh?)

According to the 28th July post, I should have 6 nice pears growing - however those cursed cockatoos have gone ahead and demolished them before I could take photos! Not a happy gal!

Anyway, I've gone crazy with vegie planting lately - lots of beans, eggplants, zucchinis, tomatoes, lettuces, kale, strawberries, peas, cucumbers... can't have enough of them! Once I've done with the plantings, I will put up what I've got going then.

The red cabbage is not doing so well. Out of 7, only one forming a definite head while the other is only barely there - so I am guessing the wicking beds are bit too warm for those cold vegies? It is really nice and warm in the soil this evening when I planted in the rest of eggplant and cucmber seedlings.

The fruit trees are doing really well! I really have to take photos of them soon. Out of 13 plum trees, we'd have 11 fruiting. Out of 10 apple trees, we have about 8 flowered. Out of 4 peach/nectarine trees, we've got 3 fruiting. Out of who knows pears, we've got 4 flowered. 3 huge elder trees are full of elderflowers, so here to the elderflower cordial - I just need to find a suitable recipe and get more sugar (many recipes are asking for 1.5 kg!!! All citrus trees are flowering, fruiting and basically going crazy! The recent rains helped. Even the figs are joining the act with numerous fruits on them as well as the tiny Hick's Fancy mulberry tree's full of fruits - yummy!!

The hazelnut and chestnut trees are in leaf now, with the walnut close by.

The banana trees' fruited and I am still waiting for the fingers to be bit more bigger before I'd harvest a bunch.

However with the recent violent storms we have been having around here last few weeks have took toll on the native trees with 8 of them down (as far as I can see) and I'd need to go into the bush area to see if there are more gone down, etc. Looks like it's time to call in the tree-choppers...

The mozzies are not nice - they've been harassing my baby boy the last few days - so that means it's a season of nasty mozzies here now. Ugh!

We're down to 7 chookies now - and I am fixing up my incubator so I can order in some more fertile Croad Langshan eggs from QLD to build up my flock.

Harvested a wheelbarrow full of potatoes and we had some baby potatoes into warm potato salad which tasted so good! :D

The garlic, onions, and leeks are doing so well - in a couple of months they will be harvested.

Grapevines are doing great, as two of them have fruited! The baby kiwifruit is also doing great, so that means soon I'd have two female kiwifruit vines growing next to the male one. Yah!

See what I mean - there's lot going on here and I barely have enough time to do all. A bit at a time I guess, eh?

I just need to shop around for some sheep to help keeping grass short!

Photos coming up in the next post! Anything else you'd like to know, pls let me know.

Cheers till later!

I want to report September missing!

I know I did blink but I can't believe how fast September went!

So here are assorted photos and reports of what we've done in September - I promise I will do wee better this month reporting! :D

1. General gardening photos - it was taken on the first day of September and it was a lovely day. Thought it was a good day to take stock of all fruit and nut trees on this property. Took way too many so will just put up a few for you to enjoy.

Plum flowers - it looks like we'll get heaps of plums if Spring is going to be nice to us and give us mild and gentle spring weather (so far we've got a bit more rain and winds than we usually get for the last few weeks...):

 

I have to say that plum flowerings are the most showy - so good and full of both honey and native bees...

Elderflower is also in bloom (well, it has always in flowering for the whole year, but it is much more fully than the usual. The bush was only planted in July 09! Had tripled in size and I am going to plant many more as it seems that this area's suitable for them -I've got three of them and all going crazy!):

Apple-shaped Quince in bud (I think it has to be the amazing pome tree - the leaves are so 'furry' and the flowers most beautiful!):

Now this is the messy Fruit Grove! It does needs to be mulched, fed, etc - all will be done 'one day':

This is one of three mulberry varieties - Hick's Fancy and it seems it is doing very well, considering it was only planted a month before this photo was taken and already covered with fruit!:

As per Spring's style, here are numerous ornamental flowers - all have to host for all the winged bugs anyway:

Gorgeous wattle - native to this area:

Iris - its close to the bush, so not waterlogged one?

This is the plant with berries and flowers that the native birds go crazy over, and they're almost everywhere here - I've let them grow as I thought it would be a good plant to encourage birds away from our fruit trees. I still need to find out what it is and how 'good' it is, etc. Any idea?

 

She-oak flowering - gorgeous!

 

That's from the front gardens! 

Now its the backyard's turn...

Grapevine budding and growing well at the moment so naturally we are quite excited about this! I think out of 9 grapevines, we've lost one to puppy chewings!

 

Nectarine already fruiting - still have a month or two before we'd harvest before the tree drop the whole thing like it did last year without any warning!

Orange tree is finally flowering - it didn't fruit this winter at all, so we missed its delicious and juicy oranges!

First time ever grew any asparagus and it actually shoot through very well - had to put cage over it to stop dogs from knocking it over before its ready to be harvested. It crops up so fast - now I understand what others meant about harvest almost everyday - I think I did watch one shoot up literally!

Spring onion flowered and a bee, along with other hunderd of bugs, knows it.

Don't ask me why they're lined up there! As of today, we're down to 9 - one of black chooks went AWOL and we could not find her. However, our Broodie's sitting on a nest of eggs at the moment so there's a replacement coming up...

Lemorange/Lemange - it needs to be harvested as it's already budding and flowering! I need 40 hours day and 4 sets of arms!

This is just a random photo - just loved how lichen grows on the bark:

Hope this post got you satisfied?

Let me know what else you'd like to see.

Cheers till next posting!

Mayhem in Chook Zone!

An ungrateful gummy tree decided to remind us that he's a bit taller, stronger and 'above' us...

By dropping one of its arms... oh I mean, its huge branch!

And bent two sections of fencing down and out...

Fortunately for this tree, as no living creatures were harmed so it will remain there - aloof and outside our boundary fence. For it's our neighbour's tree! 

Our chooks were so excited and were telling me all about it with 'bokbok book bok!' and flurry of feathers, etc.

The flock - minus 4 (they were camera-shy chooks)

Roy Boy, our glorious rooster!

 

 

And his very annoying offspring, Boy Orange (he really wants to take over Roy Boy's flock!) - anyone looking for a lovely rooster? Let me know...

One of our two original chooks, Leghorn cross - a very reliable layer

The branch have long ago chopped up and into mulch for our trees. The fencing will be mended very soon - we are awaiting to get details from our insurance company about when it will be done.

Lesson you could gain from here - Get your insurance sorted out before letting any tree, whether in our out of your boundary fence, drop a branch that cause a considerable damage to your property!

Cheers till later!

Sad News...

Within 3 days, we've lost 2 members. The most important member is Bilby, our Swedish Vallhund pup aged 10mths old to a road accident. He escaped one night through the unlocked gate and next doors heard him along with other dogs playing around their yards though the night and then someone informed us that a dog found dead on road near the bridge the following morning. I didn't notice him being missing because they were in the backyard when I went to bed, and the following morning I saw Tassie near door and didn't think much of it. Bilby never really stray far away from Tassie so I know wherever Tassie is, Bilby would be there - but this time I was wrong. Another neighbour brought him around for us to bury. We buried Bilby in the banana circle. Of course we all are very sad to lose such a sweet nature dog like Bilby, but Tassie is probably the most upset. She lost her great playmate as she is just slumping around for few days not sure what to do. At the moment, the search is on for another pup to replace Bilby for both Tassie and our kids sake. And yes it will be another Swedish Vallhund - I cant seem to be tempted to pick another breed.

We've lost another chook - this time its Shay, the PekinXSilkie. Not sure why or what happened but it seems she was attacked by some animal, possibly either a wild cat or a rat? So the chook count is now down to 12, and we will be getting rid of other two cockerels. I am considering selling off the young Croad Langshan pair because they won't mix with the main flock.

Last nite when I checked on the chooks after the killing of Shay, I noticed one of the CL chooks brooding again, so her name's now "Broodie"! I think its the same one that hatched the CL pair mentioned above. So I might have to source for eggs from afar as there's not enough coming in from ours at the moment - moulting time here.

The gardens going really well. Green climbing beans going very well, as I've harvest heaps the last few weeks and there will be more for the next 2 weeks. These beans tasted good - I am referring them as 'berns' cos they are beans but tastes very like corn!! Weird but yummy. The cucmbers are coming out very well, both green and golden globes. The rest of vegies have wounded down and dying off now, so time for replanting for autumn and winter. I need to clear the old vegie beds so I can plant more. Time is the most valuable commodity that I am pretty short at the moment, apart from water!

I've considered ordering more fruit and nut trees for this winter planting but decided to hold off till next year because the gardens have not been worked on and needs to be prepared, etc. However not enough time to do so...

I do admit sometimes it does get quite depressing when I realised I am actually behind the schedule however I know that it will be done no matter when. In a way, this property is teaching me the true art of patience. Funny, eh?

I've gone "CWA" according to my DH! I've started on sewing, cooking, preserving, mending and make-do with many things around here. I even brought home some second-hand stuff too. I think it's more a balancing act to ensure what is needed and what can be salvaged rather than discard and buy more 'new' but environmentally destructive items. This reminds me of a great clip that I recommend everyone to see it, I even suggested to my kids to have their teachers showing it in classrooms - they just give me a look! hehe...

"The Story of Stuff" - Just click on the clip called "The Story of Stuff".

In case you haven't worked out yet what CWA stands for - "Country Women's Association of Australia"...

I've set up other two blogs on top of this blog:

Sewing - Sew Clucky

Cooking - Food Box Recipes - this one I will work on more as I've obtained an interesting kitchen helper called "Thermomix".

Anyhow, when it really cools down around here - Summer still haven't let go of the reins over the seasons at the moment, although Autumn is doing her best to push Summer off, especially in the mornings! - I will start doing more jobs around the property and post it here, along with the news on Teralba's critters.

Cheers till later!

More chicks!!

Yep, now you can laugh at me!

We've got two broody chooks sitting for a few weeks (by my estimation, 4 weeks but looks like not so?) and today we saw first natural hatched chick!

The broodies have over 20 eggs between them and what so strange about it is that they're sharing the same nesting box! Thats right, they're sleeping, sitting and breathing into each other for 3+ weeks - I'd be raving mad after a week!

So now I am in a difficult situation where I have to make some tough calls regarding how to manage this. They're in the chook house with the rest of flock, so I have to decide to leave them as they are or separate them. If separating them, then I'd have to find a spot and some shetler for them... I've always thought it is fine to leave as they are, but apparently from some quick research it is not recommended! Some stated that other chooks will try and kill the chicks, and even worse - the rooster might lose his feather and boot out his descendants into nothing!

So I will have to sleep on this and survey the situation tomorrow when the weather dries up and make decisions and take photos whereas possible.

Anyhow, during my quick online research I've found several great sites about the broodiness and take care of chicks, etc.

• "Working with Broody Hens" - http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html
• "Setting Hens" - http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/4175/hens.html
• "Raising Chickens" - http://www.fishpondinfo.com/birds/chickbreed2.htm
• "Raising Chicks with a Mother Hen" - http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chicks.html
• "Brooding" - http://www.chicken-yard.net/keeping/brooding.html
• "Brooding Chicks: Two Options" - http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Brooding+Chicks.html

Will post here again in few days time. So come back for some more laughs! ;)

And yes we're getting more soaked today - it's so nice to see puddles everywhere and everything much more green and 'lushy' now.

Cheers till later!

It RAINED today!

Yah!

It has been a while since we got a nice soaking.

This morning I was working in the Fruit Grove and I was amazed to see hundreds of bees, hundreds of ladybirds and, unfortunately too many cabbage white butterflies everywhere, along with hoverflies, several unidentified insects there! It is awesome to stand in middle, with all the insects buzzing around you, non stop and think they're so happy...

I am seriously contemplating asking a bee keeper to put in a hive - imagine someone's getting free honey elsewhere from my hard working green manure! heh. I am still working on getting fruit trees staked where needed, mulched and such. I think there's about 2/3 of the whole area to go! Sighs...

Find the fruit trees inside this yellow flowered area! They're there...




See how tall are those green manure plants compared to my lil boy! I am not sure what plant those yellow flowered ones are - however I am gonna plant them again next year! They grow so well and fast, kept the soil so well and cool down there, etc and most above all, the insects love them!


Even this cursed Cabbage White butterfly!


Here are the evidence the Fruit Grove's thriving...

Plum: Only 5 fruits can be seen from 2 trees! It is only first year, so we'll see how next year bring...

Apple Cider "Yarlington Mill": There's 4 and perhaps other 4 growing on this tree alone. Not bad...

Nectarine: It's fruiting so well out here, I think there's 3 trees and there are numerous fruits on them, and there's the old nectarine tree at the back with hundreds on it. (Got the bird netting over it today so fingers crossed we'd get some this summer!)

Peach: I've got heaps of peaches growing as well. All are about golf ball sized at the moment, but will needed to be netted asap anyway. Interestingly enough, all are in different colours, such as rosy blush, peachy blush, greenish blush, etc. The trees are at about a metre tall.

At the Pear Strip, this Elderberry is flowering slowly. Am looking forward to see what it looks like when its fully flowered with its fruits.

Now to other important stuff...

Here's the Chickbox that my DH with our older son made for me when I was away for the weekend to accomodate the chicks.

Inside the Chickbox, there's 5 chicks, including those two black chicks. Pippa and Rosie loves to get their cuddles with me!

Remember Shay the questionable Silkie. Her feathers are still so yellowish grey so it is most likely that she is a cross bred. A bit shy though - shame.

And one of the Light Sussex twins, a suspected cockerel...

And his twin sister.

When I was in Ballarat during the October Long Weekend, I went to visit an ALS friend who is also a great chook expert. I got her to teach me how to tell which is boy or girl with the chicks and we had fun! Thanks Roogz! So this is why I am abit more confident that I've got 4 female chicks and a male chick. In few more weeks, I will know if I am right anyway.

Right next to the Chickbox, I've got heaps of potatoes growing like crazy! Most are in the vegie beds like this...

But I also got lots in the bags as part of experiement. They actually thrives in bags too, so I will have plenty of areas to plant potatoes for the years to come. As we are not to plant the potatoes in the same area for a couple of years once grown there.

Well, there's more, but I cannot disappoint some without those lovely flower shots...

That's it, folks. More to come soon. Thanks for the comments.

Cheers till later!