All posts by John O'Brien

Apple Tree Relocation

The Garden had to move some heritage apple trees to make room for a new fence with the tennis club. Here’s the pictorial story:

  1. Waiting for relocation >>>

2. Preparing the new beds to receive the apple trees into the anti-aviary >>>

3. On its way, slowly! >>>

4. Carefully removing the tree from the front end loader >>>

5. Placing the apple tree into the prepared garden bed >>>

6. All done. >>>

In the end, we have happy trees and relieved gardeners.

Grafting Workshop

Due to popular demand, we are holding a workshop for grafting fruit trees.

When:   10.00am – 3pm, Saturday 5th September 2020

What:    It’s a hands-on workshop demonstrating the techniques for grafting fruit trees.

Grow your own – graft your own!

 Cost:     $20 for the day (includes 1 free rootstock & 1 scion)
Participants will be taking home a young grafted fruit tree of their choice along with grafting knowledge from the workshop.

Flyer can be downloaded here: Flyer A5 Grafting Workshop Sept 2020.


To make a booking or for further details, call Jill on (0414) 545 735 or send an email to: email hidden; JavaScript is required

 

Numbers are strictly limited to 20 so please book early for a spot

NB: This event will go ahead depending on the restrictions re: Covid19.

LOOK WHAT WE HAVE WON!!!

Apologies for the lack of news on our website lately.

Once the drought, fires and floods had passed this summer, we surveyed our community garden beds and found that many of the veggies that had come to a standstill, trying to cope with the weather conditions, dust storms etc, had sprung back into life and were bearing well.

Just in time for our local Moss Vale Agricultural Show, in fact.  We love supporting our local show!

So, we gathered all manner of organic fruit & vegetables that we could submit as entries in the Pavilion.  Although we felt our chosen exhibits were not up to our usual standards, we were aware that everyone else growing backyard food in the Shire was in the same boat.  And it is exciting waiting in anticipation to see how many 1st and 2nd prizes we have won.  We even won two sashes this year for the “Most Successful Exhibitor – Vegetables” AND “Most Successful Exhibitor – Fruit”.

Here are photos of some of the other results! There are even more on our Facebook page.

Why don’t you join in and submit some veggies of your own next year?

SEEDY SUNDAY SEED SAVING

Hello, local Seed Networkers and budding Seedsavers out there around the Highlands. I am hosting a seed saving event at my home in Exeter. RSVP (essential), via email hidden; JavaScript is required.

SEEDY SUNDAY

When:      10.30am till 2 pm,  Sunday 5th May 2019

Where:     Jill and John’s place – Exeter  (full directions upon RSVP’ing that you can join us)

What shall I bring:   Seeds you have saved over the past 12 months that you have cleaned for the seedbank.  Also, seeds still to be cleaned, which we can winnow on the day. Or just yourself.

And please also bringA plate of savoury food to share as a pot-luck lunch. (Always a highlight!)

Why should I come?  To find out how to be a SEED HERO by saving seed of rare food varieties for the next generation of backyard growers – like the generations of gardeners did before us…..

Cost:  $2 for the day with a plate of savoury food to share (plus $5 to become a member if you wish)

Seedsaving manual available – special 1/2 price  @$15ea

SEED HEROS from a previous Seedy Sunday gathering: Barb brought seeds of Feldsalat (Lamb’s Lettuce) & Reisentraube tomato seed; Sylvia brought bulk Lazy Housewife bean and Yakumo Snow Pea seed; Norbert brought Serpent of Sicily Gourd seed; Lucy brought Kent pumpkin and Lohrey’s Natural Salt Bean Seeds; Anibal brought Catalan Chilli and Zapallito squash; and I brought Giant Russian Cucumber seed, plus six varieties of rare climbing beans shared with our group by Dr David Murray, an experienced seedsaver from down the coast.

The seeds these folk brought along had been grown and acclimatised to Southern Highlands Conditions over many years and dutifully saved and shared with friends and neighbours (and seedbanks).

To RSVP (essential), please email me asap on email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Jill