My Veggie Garden

Feeling Christmas kinda lazy

2009-12-21T11:06:00.003+10:00

Feeling Christmas kinda lazy. We have had 18 mls of rain so I've been given the day off from watering.

I mixed up a new brew of compost and put down new straw for the chooks and planted heaps of seeds in punnets, including some cabbage 'Savoy', Tomatoes, 'Mortgage Lifter', 'Reisentraube' and 'Yellow Perfection' a British heirloom, small, slicing tomato from Green Harvest, lemon cucumber, lettuce, 'Great Lakes', 'Drunken Woman' and red cos, Onion, 'Mini Purplette' and Silverbeet ' Vulcan Red'.

Just in case you're not in the Chrissy mood I've also included a few songs to help get you in the Chrissy mood.

Try

2009-12-20T14:15:00.001+10:00

Try and get this one out of your head. It's been playing in mine since I woke up this morning.

Countdown to Christmas

2009-12-19T12:30:00.004+10:00

Christmas might be a little early here. It's actually really raining!

But who's counting?

Poodwaddle.com

This is called, The......

2009-12-17T15:53:00.003+10:00

My Sister recently reminded me of this little gem of our recent past history (1975, but that can't be right can it? That's like..wow.. 'that' many years ago!!!) and so I couldn't let a chance go by and went a searching and found this. Hope It brings back some good memories.

I've gotten over myself...

2009-12-16T15:02:00.009+10:00

Hi there, well I've gotten over myself a little bit in the last few days and am feeling positive about my veggie garden again. After weeks of seemingly endless extreme heat, for Toowoomba's climate, and hundreds of watering cans of water I was feeling like I was getting no where, but the weather has changed, though it is still hot but not stifiling. I'm also hopeful we have stopped the Houdinis of the chook world escaping and I might be able too put my backyard back together again. And as you can tell from the photo of veggies I picked from the Toowoomba Community Organic Gardens things have been growing and looking up in spite of my child like frustrations (read tannies). The only thing I have left to combat is that dastardly pretentious possum I have running around eating any little seedlings I happen to plant, not to mention any ripening tomatoes it can reach. Now that can only mean outright war when it comes to my tomatoes.

Included in the harvest are a red bucket of sebago potatoes, one bok choi cabbage, a hand full of butter beans, heaps of yellow button squash, three ruby lou potatoes, more green button squash, two leeks, one over grown spring onion, two Spanish onions and four Detroit Globe beetroot.

I also planted a row each of bulls blood and golden beetroot seed, more but fresh lemon cucumber seed and four Bourke's Backyard tomatos.

It's supposed to be hot the next two days and then, hopefully, some rain Saturday.

QUEENSLAND WEATHER FORECAST
Issued at 11:35am EST on Wednesday the 16th of December 2009

IDQ1070002
EXTENDED OUTLOOK

Saturday.. The rain and storm band will move into the southeast parts of the
state, with showers and storms extending from the west and north-west of the
state into the south-east. Isolated showers will occur over the northern
east coast. Elsewhere conditions will be fine. Winds over the interior
will be light to moderate SE to NE.

During Sunday and Monday widespread showers and storms will occur over
the
south-east as an upper cold trough moves across the area and
destabilizes conditions. Isolated stream showers will return to
much of the east tropical coast on Sunday and continue through Monday.
Only isolated showers and or stormswill occur about the Gulf of
Carpentaria. A weak SE change will move through the
south-east coast early Sunday and then decay overnight Sunday.

Well here's hoping for a brighter veggie future, with some cooler
weather and some rain

Cheers
Stewart

I like beer!!!

2009-12-16T14:33:00.001+10:00

Did I tell you I like beer?

One afternoon at Cheers, Cliff Clavin was explaining the Buffalo Theory to his buddy Norm. Here's how it went:

" Well ya see, Norm, it's like this... A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers."

ARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!

2009-12-14T15:11:00.003+10:00

ARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! I just watched another storm evaporate off the radar as it approached Toowoomba. We must have killed a thousand chinamen with the run of outs where having.

That's it. I quit, I've had enough!!!

2009-12-13T13:53:00.002+10:00

That's it. I quit, I've had enough!!! The straw that broke this camels back. After watering endlessly for the last three weeks to keep the veggie garden alive in plus 30 degree heat, I wake up this morning to find half my chooks have escaped and ripped half the garden to pieces. So I hereby quit my back yard garden and leave it for the chooks and will concentrate soley on the Toowoomba Community Organic Gardens where I only have to worry about my veggies being vandalised or stolen by big human chooks.

Go Green Tube

2009-12-12T12:40:00.004+10:00

Hi, just found this web site and found it interesting. Probably nothing new or earth shattering but good to reinforce any organic beliefs and values you might have. Click here to go to Go Green Tube

I've included two videos about the Grailville Organic Farm which go through some of their organic growing practices. Hope you find it interesting. The video quality is a bit poor but worth persevering with. Thanks.

Search results for Grailville Organic Farming

Cheers for now

Stewart

Rocks in my head?

2009-12-11T08:55:00.006+10:00

Gees, I must have rocks in my head. It's been hotter than Hades for over two weeks here with no sign of rain anywhere. Watering (by hand with watering cans)is keeping me as busy as a one armed wallpaper hanger and so what do I go out and do? That's right, buy more plants, plus, 'plus', I put in an order for a half a dozen more packets of veggie seeds.(Green Harvest - Organic Gardening Supplies)

Is this eternal optimism or have had too much sun lately? I'm hoping it's the first option but fear it's the second.

Anyhow, the weather is 'supposed', to change for the better this weekend (still hot today, currently 28c @ 9.00am heading for a max of 35c) so after enjoying Burke's Backyard Tomato last year they are getting another run this year. I'll plant two in my backyard and the other two will go to the Toowoomba Community Organic Gardens

Bourke's Backyard Italian Tomato

Burke's Backyard Tomato report from last summer!

I'm off to feed the chooks and collect some eggs and surprise, surprise do some watering.
Cheers for now
Stewart.

Just for fun and cos I luv Kylie and cos I did it again.

It's still too bloody hot!

2009-12-10T15:02:00.003+10:00

Hi everyone, I've got a hundred things to write about but It's still too bloody hot. At 3pm in my kitchen on my thermometer it is 38c. with a hot breeze.

Damn it's still hot!

2009-12-09T14:19:00.003+10:00

My kitchen thermometer in the coolish part of the house reads 37.5. How am I going to get any sleep in this heat before I go to work?

Walk against warming!

2009-12-08T20:33:00.003+10:00

I won't be able to make this but wish I could! Maybe you can.

12 DECEMBER - Global day of action

'Gardener's Latin'

2009-12-07T21:15:00.005+10:00

Here's a bit of fun. I ordered 'Gardener's Latin' by Bill Neal through Amazon.com mainly for hits and giggles, but it is interesting to find the English translation of some of those Latin names and this book hits the nail right on the head.

For instance officia'lis was one I have always been curious about with me thinking it was something official. Turns out it means 'medicinal; of the pharmacopoeia (literally, 'drug-making').

So try me out, is there any botanical names you have always wanted to know what they mean?

The introduction informs me that this is only a partial dictionary of botanical names and includes only species names. Therefore if you want to know the meaning of a genus you'll be up the creek without a paddle.

Cheers for now

Stewart

P.S. Weather for tomorrow. Fine, hot and dry!

Rain? What's that?

2009-12-07T16:13:00.004+10:00

I can predict the weather, it's simple. Hot and dry, hot and dry, hot and dry. Rain? Phssstt what's that!!!?

Now if I could just get paid 50 odd grand a year for that I be set!

Can't remember the last time I sung this but I know it was a loooooooonnnnnngggggg time ago!

It's raining; it's pouring.

The old man is snoring.

He went to bed and bumped his head,

And he wouldn't get up in the morning

I'd better go out an water what's left of my withered garden before it turns into a desert.

Cheers from the new Darling Desert.

Stewart

I've been thinking again!!!

2009-12-04T11:02:00.010+10:00

This time it's more of a wondering, pensive kind of thinking.

So what have I got my tits in a tangle about this time?

Carbon neutral 'V', 'Carbon negative'!! And why or how some community beliefs, values and/or goals become standardised or normalised. The standardised value I am referring to here is what is being called living a carbon neutral lifestyle. And while living a carbon neutral lifestyle, in my eyes, is an admirable goal, I have to wonder how this became the standard norm as opposed to living a 'carbon negative' lifestyle.

I'm thinking 'carbon negative' could be a step (a rather small step individually, but if we all do it, it would become a big one) in the direction of actually fixing the problem rather than treading water and waiting for someone to rescue us.

Any thoughts anyone? Can we start a Carbon Negative movement or a Carbon Negative agitation support group? Maybe we can have a new standardised community belief, value and or goal for a new years resolution.

I sent this post off to my sister (you can find her here if you like)for a proof read and it came back with these questions 'I'd like more information on what it means to be carbon negative. What's involved? For those that just hear this lingo bandied around but don't really know what it's all about. ie, what can I do personally that would make things carbon negative. etc'?

So if anyone can come up with some strategies to help her out then please let me know and I'll put together a data base of info on how and what can be done to live carbon neutral.

My #1 would be ditch the car and ride a bike. That's the push bike kind of bike.

In the mean time I know of a few sites that tell you how to measure how much carbon your emitting so I'll look them up and post the links.

Anything else anyone just let me know.

Cheers and bye for now

Stewart

Copenhagen! I've been thinking

2009-11-30T12:30:00.006+10:00

Should I or shouldn't I?
I've been debating with myself whether to write the following post or not. Wondering if it is too simplistic or whether it is something that 'should/could' be aspired to. In the end I've decided to put it up anyhow simply because I think it's a good idea and should be considered.

What am I banging on about?
Copenhagen! I've been thinking, or should I say, it has occurred to me while thinking about the Copenhagen climate summit that the whole thing is just a bit on the hypocritical side of things. Or maybe farcical even. Here is why I think this. First thing I'm thinking is how are all these leaders of the world and their support staff going to get there? In a plane right! A lot of great big fat pollution spewing CO2 emitting bloody jet planes. Then aside from all the polluting greenhouse gasses there is the money needed to do this. That's your money and mine!

So what do I think could/should be done.

Ok. On the pollution (why doesn't anyone call it pollution anymore?) side of things. We live in the 21st Century. I'll repeat that, we live in the 21st bloody century, can't this thing be done by video conferencing. I know that sounds simple (the 'Kiss Principle', keep it simple Sally) and probably comes with a whole stack of problems but this is the 21st Century, we can fly to the moon, we can do heart transplant surgery, we can separate conjoint twins, why not this. Three benefits I see here are , number one 'no pollution'. No great big fat pollution spewing CO2 emitting bloody jet planes.
The second is the money saved. How much money? I wish I new but I doubt not much change out of 5 mill and thinking, again, what that could be spent on. It would sure buy a lot of trees, taking some carbon out of the atmosphere rather than adding to it.. Maybe a whole heap of solar panels, imagine that, a politician actually doing something constructive by introducing an industry that is carbon free and paid for by not flying around the world in a dirty great big jet plane. Oh and to the coal industry, get over yourself and stop being so selfish. All your worried about is your life style and pay packet.
The third, these are supposed to be our leaders so why not lead by example and show the people of their respective countries they mean business by not adding to the problem themselves.
It's win, win, win all the way.

Back to the beginning.

Is this all just to simplistic, altruistic, romantic thinking on my part or could these "leaders" be more (or maybe just be) proactive! Or could it cynically be said they like to sit around in big rooms huff and puff and then get a good pat on their backs from each other while they telling themselves what a good job they have done?

Btw.
How do you tell if a politician is a hypocrite? Easy, he's breathing!
Do I feel disappointed? Most of the time.

Cheers from a disappointed Stewart

All I want for Christmas

2009-11-26T12:14:00.008+10:00

It's less than a month to Christmas and I'm finalizing my wish list to Santa. I've been a really good boy all year and have spent all year putting all the extra silver coins I get from my Taxi income into a Christmas club account and atm I have enough money for the pump (top of the list and a definite gunna get) and one other.

Either a nice stainless spade (nothing feels better than working in the garden with a good quality tool) or another compost bin (I can never make enough compost with just one bin). It'll probably come down to the toss of a coin in the end unless I get a rush of silver coins in the last month (it's a close call) to Christmas.

Here's hoping Santa's good to you!!

Cheers

Stewart

Clever cows, some bull

2009-11-25T13:09:00.002+10:00

Cows in utes.

And Cows with guns!!!

The Bean report! or Bean there done that!

2009-11-23T19:42:00.009+10:00

I've bean going batty for beans this growing season.

Starting at the Toowoomba Community Organic Gardens I have planted yin yang beans, red kidney beans, butter beans, purple king bush beans and navy (that's the baked bean kinda beans) beans. At home I also have a small area of borlotti beans and more yin yang beans.

The yin yang beans I planted in September and are now flowering and setting beans. I also planted a row of yin yangs here at home last Monday and they are nearly all up as of today. I'll let these guys go straight through to seed so I can use them as a dried bean.

Red kidney beans (anyone up for chilli con carne?). I planted 5 x 10 mtr rows Wednesday week ago and apart from a bit of cut worm here and there I'd have had a 100% strike. They seem to be doing well in the heat though we have heaps of water to pour on them to keep them going.

Butter beans, I planted a two meter row 4/5 weeks ago and they are about to flower and set beans, so I'll have to plant a follow up row this Wednesday so I can be sure of a continuous supply of butter beans.

Purple king beans are nearly a ditto of the butter beans but about two weeks behind.

The Borlotti beans I planted here at home a week ago seem a bit hit and miss. Probably a low as a 50% strike, but it's been dreadfully hot so I would not be surprised if some of the seeds cooked in the ground. I was hoping for more from this planting of borlotti beans but I guess I'll just harvest what I can and plant again next year. The red kidney beans look like more than making up for any short fall in production though.

Well it's bean a long hot day here again so I'm off to the pub to relax and unwind before I start a new working week tomorrow.

Cheers and happy bean growing

Stewart.

Hot, Hot, Hot.

2009-11-21T11:22:00.003+10:00

What else can I say!!!

Tired of watering, tired of watering, tired of watering.!!!

Please let it rain, please let it rain, please let it rain!!!

Cheers

Stewart 'Feeling hot, hot, hot'.

All those years ago!

2009-11-19T16:03:00.009+10:00

What got you going in the garden? For me it was mint!

I was out in the veggie garden on Monday evening collecting a few herbs (parsley, chives, mint, etc) for dinner. Then it happened as it has for the past 38 or so years. I grabbed the mint and as soon as the aroma of the bruised leaves hit the old nose I was immediately transported back to where, as a 10 year old boy, some, 38 years ago to and small, old farm we lived on where there was a wild strand of mint growing on the shady moist southern side of the house.

It got me thinking though how much that mint has influenced my life because without it I don’t think I would have embarked on my plant and veggie gardening adventure which has been with me ever since.

Now mint may have been the catalyst but aromatic plants in general have been the cause of my adventure continuing. Moving from mint onto the sweet smell of mass planted sweet alyssum here (Toowoomba) at carnival of flowers time. From there to discovering the lemon scented leaves of our native species of trees and shrubs with the majestic lemon scented gum being amongst my all time favourite plants. And how can I go past garlic and onions and the king of the veggie patch the Tomato bush. I swear if it didn’t destroy the bush I’d just roll around in a Tomato patch all day.

I’ve probably forgotten more smelly plants than I can remember but the few I have mentioned are the ones that put that little extra life into my gardening day. How about you? What got you started in gardening?

Cheers

Stewart.

Weather report.

2009-11-19T15:15:00.002+10:00

32c, fine, hot and dry, dry, dry! Thanks to the people who did all the necessary work to get the largest water tank they could for the Toowoomba Community Organic Gardens or else I'd have next to nothing growing.

Far out Brussels Sprout!

2009-11-18T15:09:00.002+10:00

Brussels Sprouts
In addition to containing a rich concentration of vitamins, minerals, and health-promoting sulfur compounds, Brussels sprouts also provide the powerful phytonutrient antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin. Members of the carotenoid family, these two phytonutrients help defend your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals and have been shown to protect your eyes from developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

All about Brussels Sprouts (This bloke sure does his homework)

History

While the origins of Brussels sprouts are unknown, the first mention of them can be traced to the late 16th century. They are thought to be native to Belgium, specifically to a region near its capital, Brussels, after which they are named. They remained a local crop in this area until their use spread across Europe during World War I. Brussels sprouts are now cultivated throughout Europe and the United States. In the U.S., almost all Brussels sprouts are grown in California.

My Garlic Harvest

2009-11-13T15:06:00.006+10:00

My garlic was ready to harvest so today seemed as good a time as any.

Somewhere in amongst all those weeds is garlic ready to be harvested. Pretty easy really. Just stick a digging fork under the bulb to loosen it a bit then lift it out of the soil and knock off the excess soil.

(If you click on the photos it will take you to the bigger picture. But please come back!)

I was more than surprised at the size and quality of my crop. This is the haul from a 9m/sq area and I probably could have planted the rows closer and increased the size of my crop further. And the smell while knocking off the soil was delicious.

When the leafy part of the garlic has dried I going to have a go at a Garlic braid. If I can manage a half decent job I'll post some photos.

There was some massive bulbs in amongst the crop and these ones here I have put aside for planting next year. I put the dutch hoe in the photo to give you some idea of the size of the bulbs.

Beans, Borlotti and Ying Yang.

Straight after I harvested the garlic I did the lazy gardener thing. As I had stuck the digging fork into most of the bed to lift the garlic I just raked the bed out shaped up a few rows and planted, firstly, a row of ying yang beans around the out side (because they are a semi-climber) of the bed.
I then planted six rows of borlotti beans in the rest of the bed.

To make up for the lack of soil preparation I'll hill the beans when they are about six inches high with a blood and bone enriched compost then follow that up with some chook pen straw for mulch. Then when they just start about to flower I'll run around with some sulphate of potash to help with flowering and pod set.

Well that's it for today

Cheers and happy gardening

Stewart