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Progress and developments in the food forest and gardens

The unfolding story of nurturing an emerging forest garden


Tree medick

Tree medick

Common name   moon trefoil, shrub medick, alfalfa arborea, and tree medick
Botanical name   Medicago arborea
Family   Fabaceae
Details   Scrub and rocky hillsides in Europe - Mediterranean. Suited to Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;
Root nodules observed on young seedlings when planting out
Forest layer   shrub
Diameter   2.00
Height (m)   2
Flowers   Yellow
Evergreen  
Frost sensitive  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun   Full sun
Soil type   Most
Wind tolerance   Maritime
Propagation method   Sow pot / tray
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Hugelkultur gardens in summer

Hugelkultur gardens in summer

Details   Every year, since their construction, our hugelkultur raised woody garden beds have been improving in performance. While waiting for the perennial plantings to establish we have been gardening with seasonal crops including maize, pumpkins, tomatoes, salad, cucumbers and of course lots of beans. Modest additions of straw mulch, trenched in pig manure, compost tea and all plant residues are contributing to the overall fertility of the beds and on occasion where I have exposed the wooden core while digging it is clearly breaking down into a crumbly organic 'compost'.
Date   February 18, 2018
Tags     garden  hugelkultur  2018  summer 
Some specifics
Summer gardening

Summer gardening

Details   It's been another exceptionally dry summer but things are holding on. Our land shaping captures and retains moisture and the mixed planting reduces competition while maximizing shade and surface area.
Date   January 04, 2018
Tags     2018  January 
View 3 photos
Colours of spring

Colours of spring

Details   A lush time of year, when a lot of good growing gets done and the shape of summer is still around the corner.
Date   October 08, 2017
Tags     2017  October  Spring  Blossom 
View 5 photos
7 years of permaculture progress

7 years of permaculture progress

Details   A serious amount of improvements resulting from considerable effort. Learnt a lot along the way.
Date   November 05, 2016
Tags     progress 
Related info
6 year old silver wattle

6 year old silver wattle

Details   This tree has put on exceptional growth. It will be coppiced for firewood,
Date   November 04, 2016
Tags     progress 
Cacti

Cacti

Details   It's spring, we've had some rain followed by sun and the gardens have burst forth in bud, leaf, flower and young fruit.
Date   October 19, 2016
Tags     october  2016 
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3 years of progress

3 years of progress

This is an area we refer to as the top swale. It receives most of the rain water of the roof of the house.
June 13, 2016
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6 years of progress

6 years of progress

Work on this area didn't really begin until quite recently due to wind exposure and the need for shelter trees...
June 13, 2016
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Batch tree planting 2013

Batch tree planting 2013

Details   It's tree planting time again and as in previous years, we have once again received an order of 130 trees and shrubs. Carefully selected to fill specific niches, these plants will, as they mature, flesh out the natural forest we are attempting to coax into existence.
3 types of flowering native broom handle strong winds and dry soils while fixing nitorgen in the soil and providing a valuable nectar source for bees and other insects and birds.
Hazels, butter nuts, and several berry shrubs will feed us and the wildlife as well as adding an asthetic and natural mixing of scale in the forest.
Date   September 06, 2013
Tags      
Tomatoes in September

Tomatoes in September

Details   Ok, so it's only one tomato right now but there are more coming. One of the many end of season tomatoes that was composted into the glasshouse beds during construction is off to a fine start.
Date   September 02, 2013
Tags     tomato  spring  glasshouse 
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Winter vege

Winter vege

Details   At this time of year the garden looks unfortunately grim, with little growing. It was an exciting surprise to discover this beauty.
Date   August 09, 2012
Tags     winter  vege  purple  broccoli 
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Rocktastic

Rocktastic

We took a giant leap toward the long discussed upgrade of garden beds and paths today with the collection of 3 tonnes of river boulders.
The idea is to edge the garden beds to raise them up. This should make weed control a little easier, add some aesthetic and charm and the thermal mass may lengthen the growing season.
July 20, 2012
   
olmec
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A hint of garlic

A hint of garlic

Details   It's high summer, we've passed the longest day and our garlic had been in the ground for 7 months.

This represents about 40-50% of the crop and is the first time we have grown garlic at our place.
Date   December 27, 2011
Tags     garlic  summer  harvest 
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Last of the apples

Last of the apples

Details   The last 2 apple trees are now ready for picking. For some reason, these are some of the cleanest apples we have had this year.

Both of these trees have been improved with supporting / companion plants such as bulbs, foxgloves, lupins and strawberries.
Date   May 18, 2011
Tags     Apples  harvest 
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