Australian Organic Gardening, Self Sufficiency & Permaculture

Balcony Gardening In Coolangatta And Lots more In Version 4 Update.

Balcony Gardening and Starting Over

For a year now, I have been looking for a suitable (and affordable) area to relocate and build a new sustainable home and organic garden from scratch. A relationship breakdown and other factors caused the move originally and it was back to renting/sharing. Early this year, with no suitable (and affordable!) house found I took a temporary move to share a unit with my partner. So 2009 has not only been lived renting, but actually with no garden of our own. I often say that the Organic Gardening material was largely put together for people in such situations. Originally it seemed a huge step back - now its a case of looking at the positive and growing as much as possible in the available space. This is only what I constantly tell others to do. So it is yet another chance to do this better and list some better techniques here on the blog.

I must say sorry for the lack of input into this blog and other material during this period. When originally moving to South East Queensland I had factored in the great growing conditions and not so much the potential relationship and friend/family strain. A word of warning - when moving to live the self sufficiency life, be sure you take into account the isolation factor. Not only that, be sure that the person you are with has also thought about these things.

It has been fun to set up this mobile balcony garden. I hope to make the most of it while the hunt for a new block continues. As there are so many people in the same situation, this period of balcony gardening will provide better info for this blog and the next update of Organic Gardening. Organic herbs and vegetables should be grown by everyone yet specific info on this has been a bit lacking so far. Many people do email requesting info on growing in pots as that is the only option. There are certainly some advantages to balcony gardening also. For example, you can move your garden to suit conditions and also when you move. It is possible to garden at night time when you have time and your home from work. Growing in pots and boxes is also water wise.

The new motto will be to continue to be self sufficient, but do it in a place that does not shut off other important areas of life. You can have your space yet remain close enough to see friends and do other things. A semi farm block is simply not necessary for most people - just look at what Jerry Coleby Williams has achieved on a 400sq.m block up in Wynnum. This type of smaller site that's better selected and impeccably designed is the goal for the next home.

Things going well on the balcony at the moment are Mills Peas and Dwarf Snake Beans. After planting these in early May, the Mills peas shot up then quickly re-seeded. 2 weeks later the weather had cooled slightly and the second attempt was very successful. Beautiful flowers followed by quick growing snow peas. The Dwarf snake bean grows even quicker. Quick growing plants are important as space is the main issue you have. The snake bean has been a great producer even though its having a running battle with aphids. Aphids have been the biggest challenge so far for this garden - more on that in an upcoming post.

How much can you grow on a balcony?

This will be the new project for this year - measuring how much can possibly be grown on a normal size, 3rd floor balcony. This is an important area as many people in populated areas will always be balcony gardeners. I have about 8 boxes at the moment and will soon increase this. Composting is an obvious challenge though I have been working on ways balcony gardeners can do this effectively. It involves creating liquid compost and only including food that breaks down quickly. I hope to pick up my old worm farm in the next few weeks.

Version 4 updates started - More Info for Organic Gardening in Pots

Growing in pots and balcony organic gardening will be better featured when the next version is released. The update is being worked on now and will be available in the near future.

Western Australia Wildflower Season

October - The month to check out Western Australians Wildflowers

Friends of mine from Sydney, Michael and Dan, took a 2 week drive up along the W.A coast during October. As Dan is a fanatical propagator of Natives, their aim was to visit flower shows and capture as many species in the wild as possible.They took some of the following photos that I thought I would share with you. Also there has been questions from members and an update on the six week "Turn over a new leaf detox".

After looking at these who would not want to be doing this drive come October? Just another wonderful attraction of W.A. and justifies a trip over this October. Some of these I believe you can grow in the Eastern states but certainly not them all.

Flowering Gum                               Menzies Banksia                       Tall Grass Tree


Eucalyptus Pyriformis                                           Lambertia (or Mountain Devil)


 

Parsley and carrot seed germination

Received an email last week from a member wanting to know how to germinate parsley and carrot seeds. Parsley seeds can be one of the hardest seeds to germinate. Many gardeners simply bite the bullet and buy seedlings but if you are really keen, try the following.

Plant your parsley seeds and cover with a thin layer of seed raising mix. Get some hot (near, but not boiling) water and apply just enough to water in the seeds. The heat can help activate them. Another thing you can try is soaking the seeds in water overnight before planting with a pinch of Epsom salts.

Detoxing with "Turn Over A New Leaf" book

I had mentioned the "Turn over a new leaf" cookbook last week and I am now into the 3rd week of my annual detox (6 weeks in total). It is always great how quick the body can adapt to what you are feeding it - cleanse and then start to produce more life energy. The thing that sets this book apart from the liver cleansing and other eating programs is you really do not feel you are missing out on good food. Food is to be enjoyed - why deny yourself this? So I have found to eat well, we have to be organized, prepared and a little creative. And the rewards in terms of health and lifestyle are certainly worth it.

On the same subject, I noticed what looks like a great show coming up this Thursday on the ABC. "Flour, sugar and Tea" will examine the effects of a Western diet on Aboriginal health over the years. Such refined products are damaging to us all and I believe this program will be very interesting. The show starts at 9.30pm this Thursday (click the link below to find out more).

I also have more information coming in terms of REAL natural sweets (not artificial) that I promised you last post. This of course is the wonderful herb Stevia.

Find Out More...(links open in a new window)

1. The Australian Native Plant Society
2. "Flour, Sugar and Tea" - this Thursday, 9.30am ABC
3. Getting Parsley to germinate

                                                                        

Turn Over A New Leaf Style of Cooking

Ever since leaving uni I have continued to seek the most practical methods to live a very healthy life. One of the biggest challenges has been to make vibrant healthy meals without feeling like you are missing out on the good stuff! This has certainly been a challenge and long term problem. While at uni, it was fine to get around eating raw carrot and celery sticks and plain oats with water (no sugar added) but this is simply not sustainable. I think all but the most stubborn naturopaths and nutritionist do not think variety (and the fact eating is to be enjoyed) is necessary.

There is ways to prepare food that tastes amazing with nothing bad added. I have always said that if you let me cook with butter, sugar, white flour etc, I can make something REALLY NICE, but what if we wanted to make something really nice, that we want to eat with nothing bad added...that is not easy. After perusing many macrobiotic, vegetarian, vegan, liver cleansing and zen cookbooks during the last ten years, there is one I am using now which is a clear standout - its called Turn over a new Leaf and its by a Gold Coast lady named Di Skelly Heron. For this reason, I have actively started to promote Di's book on this blog (see link to the right).

Healthy eating that gives you pure energy and gives the best level of preventative health care should not be as rare as it is - we have all the resources and information needed except maybe one - time. I have found that healthy eating requires organization and time management above all else. When you get busy, stressed and overworked it can just be too much to soak the chick peas for 12 hours, cook them for 2 and then start to prepare your meal. But with forward planning and assigning these tasks, it becomes possible. This was a big part of wanting to put together the bonus of "chefs organic garden recipes" and I make mention of these things in there. While it contains some great healthy recipes, it does not have the overall eating plan and dinner/lunch recipes to cover 6 weeks (and more) like Di's great book. You can see what it is all about and download the recipe of the month to see what I mean, go to Turn Over A New Leaf. At the moment, you can download the Carob fridge fudge recipe which I can give you a hint for - use the light carob instead of the normal carob - if you get this recipe right you will not miss chocolate! Serious. If you visit the page regularly, the recipes of the month change and when you buy the book, you have access to all of them via the members area.

Be a Gardener - Then Become a Chef.

Preparing food and gardening go hand-in-hand. The first step is to grow (or access) as much local organic product as possible. The only way you can be sure is if you (or someone you know) grows it. Nothing beats this in terms of your overall health, but you will also want to know the best ways to enjoy what you have grown. I have seen people grow their own vegetables and not use them all because they did not like the end result of what they were eating. Once you are growing a decent amount of organic herbs and vegetables at home, take the time to improve your chef skills. This makes perfect sense if you have been watching Jamie Oliver over the last few years. Once you can cook the raw ingredients naturally and they taste much better than unhealthy cooking, you will want to grow more. You will find yourself searching for new varieties and a whole cycle starts from "spade to blade". Its one of the best things in life and you will feel so much better for it.

Recently I got the chance to do some cooking classes with Di and it was great to learn so much and take home some new recipes that are super healthy and will not make me feel like I am missing the good stuff. I am looking to continue making these dishes right up over Christmas so it does not become an overindulgence this time.

Coming Soon

In the next post I will tell you all about stevia, and why I added it to my "must have" herbs in the home garden. It will be very interesting reading if you are not yet using it. Be sure to bookmark this page before then. All the best in health and gardening.

Organic Gardening Version 3 Is Now Available

The updated of Organic Gardening has been completed and is now available. I will provide some of the links I updated for the resources section - see below).

Thank you to all of you who have sent me emails over the last few weeks and keeping me honest with the launch date! It did take longer than first thought as some of the bonuses were updated also.

This post is a short one to let you know you can now purchase version 3 without a price increase. The download is still $16.97AU and offers better value than ever.

Some of the additions include links throughout the material that extend to other material and websites to branch out further on topics. The resources have also been updated as mentioned above. Here is an up to date list of great resources for you to have a look at...

Blogs and WebPages
Jerry Coleby-Williams blog 

Colin Campbell’s web page

Six months self sufficiency project and blog

Isabella Shipard Herb blog

Permaculture training
Living schools

Djanbung Gardens permaculture centre Nimbin

Purple pear organics

Seed and garden suppliers
Seed savers network

Eden Seeds

Rare and Heirloom Seed

Amgrow Organix

Books and Magazines
The good life book club -

Successful organic gardening, second edition (2006). Murray. D,R.

Groups
Willing Workers On Organic Farms

Organisations
Brisbane organic growers -

Biological Farmers of Australia

Nurseries
Daley’s fruit tree nursery

Products
Planet Ark

Updates, Permaculture news and future organic growing tips

This year is really at full pace at the now. After this cold snap ends on the East coast, it will be
spring right around the corner. I thought I would answer a few questions and tell you what is coming
up on this blog in the next few weeks...

Today Eden Seeds just sent through the spring newsletter. Still my preferred supplier, I thought I would give you the link to have a read...click here

Also, I have had some emails asking me about how to go and visit gardens like Jerry's. The Australian open garden scheme organizes most of these. You can have a look at what is coming up Here  and I know that Jerry Coleby Williams is having another open garden soon for anyone in and around Brisbane.

My big news of the week is that Organic Gardening is nearly finished the 3rd upgrade and is due at the end of next week. Anyone who has version 2 will be able to download version 3-you just have to let me know. It will be really worth it as there are some good upgrades in terms of layout, pictures and resources included.

I also wanted to mention now some new blog posts coming up over the next few weeks. Apart from letting you know when the upgrade is finished, I will be posting on :-

• Some new resources and web page links
• New permaculture course dates
• Yogurt and Cheese making recipes
• My attempts at fishing and adding this to living self sufficiently
• Plants that everyone should be growing that are also good to start with
• Seed saving
• WWOOF adventures
• Plant profiles starting with amaranth
• Organic control of garden pests
• Discussing the best system in Australia to grow vegetables at home with
• Environmentally safe products worthy of having in your home

That is about it for the moment. If there is any topics you would like covered on this blog, please
leave a message by replying to this post or sending an email.