A Tale of Repair and Renew

It has been a week of getting the Community Garden back on it's feet after our vandal attack. The first thing was to  repair the shade cloth which was easily done by stitching it together with fishing line.

You can barely see the stitch line.

The side panel we used a cross action similar to  tying shoelaces after putting some line up and down the tear, then with a  new bit of line treated it by crossing and pulling from the top down.
The back one the men took the panel off altogether so a simple running backstitch line, sewing firmly the two sides together  and took the strength of the stretching, when put back.

Once this was all done, left over fencing wire was put around to hopefully discourage it happening again.

Today was a case of sorting out all the pots, repotting, cleaning the floor, as dirt was everywhere. We did pick up most of the pots after the Police came but some had very little dirt, others just didn't survive. This morning we finished it all off.

Work in Progress

Work was also started on the 4th quadrant which is what we will turn into a cut flower garden to sell specifically at the market we go to every month. This  months market was a dismal failure with only $16 of goods sold after 4 hours work. We had very little interest, so next month working on some salad seedlings and succulants, by summer we should have the first run of flowers.

Levelling off the area witch had 3 piles of rocky fill placed there.

Meanwhile more work was done on the arch as we need a joining post across the top before any wire or climbing frame can go on.

A few of the ladies watered madly as it was so hot today, reaching 27C. Rain is expected but only a 20 percent chance. We need it badly.

Morning Tea Table

A couple of garden views.

The blueberry hedge was also planted today, although I will have to do something about the ph level . They like it acidic and it was very alkaline. These particular blueberries grow to 1 1/2 metres high, and were donated from the local group who supply all the blueberry farms in this area. 

Blueberry Hedge line

Planted after what will be Grapevines, hence the 3 posts, and before the Bush Tucker. A Rosella hedge will be after the blueberries.

Believe it or not 10 Blueberry bushes in this line up.

Meanwhile back at home I have been potting up seedlings and starting seeds, so much so, that the glasshouse is now very full. Most of it for the Community Garden.

A tray load taken today mostly pumpkins and tomatoes.

I need a holiday!!

Till next time. 

All About Vegetables

Last time it was all  about the flowers, but this week I have been working on the vegetable seedlings. I had started some bean seeds on paper towels and had to plant them.

Climbing Black Mexican, Purple King, Dwarf Windsor Long Pod.

These I planted where the peas were but with new soil and lots of new manure.

Beans planted here, need to put up new strings.

I re-potted all the tiny seedlings as they were all getting bigger which I will plant in a  few weeks. By the time the broccoli are ready to pull out, the seedlings can go in. There are tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, chinese celery, some flowers.

All sorts of plants here on the self watering table.

So while I was in the glasshouse potting up, also decided I had better put up some shade cloth to cut down the heat. It has been as low as 5 and 6C overnight but during the day the mid 20's, and the glasshouse gets really hot. Then I swept it out and tidied up in general.

Might need more later but this will do for now.

 Having the manure also meant piling it up around what was already in to give them a boost. Fed the Citrus, sprayed and fed the roses also, they are all coming in to leaf now and look lovely. The vegetables from winter are all progressing nicely and I have been picking, broccoli, leeks, tomatoes, lettuce, and cabbage and lots of flowers.

Front garden with glass house in back

Flower garden in front.

 Meanwhile in the garden planted cucumber, beans and climbing beans as mentioned,  yellow and green zucchini, button squash, one Roma tomato as it got so big, 4 smaller ones Thai Pink, Bumblebee, Tropic and Scorpio, button squash,  and more spinach.

Broad Beans

Garlic Bed.

4 Tomatoes and a transplanted Basil.

This week was also my hospital infusion, and a heart Dr. visit which I passed with flying colours, it has been 6 months since I went haywire with that and now don't have to go back for 2 years to do the treadmill thing again, just my normal yearly check up.

We had a slight sprinkle of rain one night this week, but I couldn't tell next morning, more wind than anything. Seems to be raining elsewhere in Australia, just not in this pocket.  Having to cart more and more water down to the community garden is also wearing a bit thin and I have no clue how to fix that either. 

Till Next Time, stay safe everyone.

I Have A Greenhouse!

I have always wanted a greenhouse, but thought that being sub tropical, might be too hot, but while at the Melbourne Garden show they had such a good deal on them that we decided to get it for my birthday, which is not till July, but it is a significant one.

They actually stock this particular brand at at Bunnings, but you have to order them in, also have parts, and are made by Maze.

The Before Picture

One of the hardest things was deciding where it should go. I could put it out the back, but I would also like to not have the hastle of seedlings in the back garden and having to check all the time when the front garden is  so much closer.  In the end the front was decided. Not your average thing to put in the front yard, but already the postman wanted to know about it as his wife was looking for one. It is also a good talking point with the neighbours.

Weeding and transplanting

 It  only arrived in last 3 weeks but has taken John, a week to lay the new path, and  a base for the flooring. We decided on grey stone in the glasshouse and shuffled all the stepping stones that were there already for the new pathway to it. We had to dig up one garden and move the archway, so I have dug up the yellow climbing rose and moved that to the front entrance archway. Hope it survives in its new place. Gained some extra length on a couple of beds, but lost a complete bed that wasn't very good anyway.

Looking very neat

Wall Frame now in

  It has a window for letting out heat and we have also ordered  an automatic one from Bunnings. Shade cloth will be fitted inside attached to the roof, when it is really hot.

Roof On and fits very neatly in the space.

The good thing is now I can grow lettuce and tomatoes over winter with ease as long as I can keep the temperature under 35 degrees inside. I have also transported the seedling table from the back for inside the glasshouse.

Shelves ready to install and also 2 shelving units I had.

It is a hydroponic one and through the 25 litre water bottle hooked on the fence at the back, stays wet at all times. Time will tell if it is successful, otherwise I will put it back for cuttings and keep seedlings in trays with water I can check daily.

Arch now in new place

Seedling table full 

Sun setting and Shade coming over late afternoon

Now I have to fix the back potting  shed up. Meanwhile I have been cleaning up the front garden and planting snow peas, broccoli, cabbage,carrots,beetroot, parsnips,onions,garlic, ranunculas, marigolds,  leeks, tomatoes and sweet peas.  I have planted broad beans and sweet peas in the back garden, but still a lot of work there.

I will show you all next time. Stay safe.