Bee forage map
/
I've created a bee forage map to help me 'see' what’s within the range of our bee hive.
Read More
Bee forage record keeping
/
Keeping track of the timing and type of flowers on offer for bees (and others!).
Read MoreSeed Savers' harvest challenge
/
Seed Savers Albury Wodonga have risen to the challenge set by a Melbourne Permaculture group. They are encouraging gardeners to keep track of their harvest for a year. The idea is to see what a range of gardens produce. It's not about growing the most, but more about encouraging the record keeping and learning from each other.
Rumor has it some quite keen record keepers and productive gardeners have already taken up the challenge. But even those who rent, have a few pots on the verandah or have never previously recorded their harvest are being encouraged to join in. The extent to which you record your harvests is entirely up to you. See their flyer for full details (right or click here for a larger version).
Congratulations are also in order with Seed Savers Albury Wodonga recently taking out the Murray CMA's 2011 Millewa Award in the Urban Landcare Group category.
What's more, group's secretary Lou Bull was interviewed about seed saving on ABC Goulburn Murray radio. If you missed it, the interview and accompanying pictures are available on the ABC website.
Permi8 at Lou & Emmo's
/All the citrus and olives we wanted - that was the bounty gifted upon the Permi8 people who came along to Lou and Emmo's this week. We were at their place to see the mature permaculture orchard of Annalies and Jan (Lou and Emmo's parents/in-laws). And how impressive it was.
We wandered down and discussed the history of the design, plantings and the wonderful resource it provides. This season has been particularly good and we bagged up lots of lemons, oranges, mandarins and grapefruit. Then on the to the olives, where we picked buckets of black and green olives in a range of varieties. There was discussion of various olive preserving methods by the adults, while the children compared their tree-climbing skills. The billy cart (another Emmo masterpiece), which had proven highly entertaining for the kids on the way down, served as a handy way to transport the bags and buckets of spoils back to the house.
As is so often the case with Permi8 gatherings, we were treated to a fantastic spread of food and beverages on our return. Homemade venison sausages, Emmo's home brew, spinach and feta tarlets, home grown fruit and chocolate torte and pumpkin scones, to name but a few.
