Something lost and something found

The rough weather has continued this week. The passionfruit vine looks very unhappy at its shredding and the artichokes look like they've had a comb over. However the rain was good.

The weekend started off badly with the discovery of a dead chick.We have no explanation just a very sad 10 year old. The others thank goodness look healthy and we hope they will continue that way. Miss M and I buried the chick under her fruit tree and offered a prayer for its safety. My heart broke for my baby girl and her amazing empathy for animals.

Monday brought some joy with the delivery of a very small but very substantial package from The Diggers Club.Since I think my fruit tree days are coming to a quick end (I bet I can still make 40 :) ) it is time to get the seed collection underway for annual and perennial growing.


I started cataloging my seeds in my garden journal along with their sowing date and preference and the seeds expiry date. I then put them into my alphabetised seed box that my mum have me (with some very old packets of seed). Now at a glance I can read what plants can be sown in that season and how to do it then open the box and dive into the seedy goodness.


I will organise a seed raising area next week and start some of the kales and onions off.
Then its on to learning to save seed for next year so that I can continue the process for many years to come.

So the circle of life continues!

Sharing

A wander in the garden today brought to my attention that the local parrots are enjoying my garden as much as I am.
My ever wise nearly 10 year old said to me and I quote " Mum if you want an eco garden you are going to have to share it with the birds."
I think not!!!

Wild Weather

Friday saw the mother of all storms hit Bunbury. Baby P and I were unfortunate enough to be out in it but thank goodness for a big car we were able to dive for cover just in the nick of time.
Thank goodness no damage to the car or us and the garden seemed happy that it happened.

Thanks Tricia

Well thanks to the amazing brain of Tricia from little eco footprints I have discovered that my "creature" was indeed a Mole Cricket.
I am sending it to the Museum of WA for their collection and research.
Wow saving the world comes in many different forms:)

Land Lobster?

I was moving a hydrangea today, because lets face it I should never had planted in such a sunny spot to begin with, when from its depths came this "creature".



At first I thought it was a scorpion since I have heard we have those around here but on closer inspection...well....I have no idea...do you??

This is to give you an idea of scale...the pathetic broccoli next to it is no more then 15 cm tall.

AWOL

Sorry I haven't been around for a while. Things are so busy here at the moment, good but busy.
The chicks are growing fast and love to free range our house (hilarious) another couple of weeks and we will move them out to the chicken tractor.
I moved raised garden bed 1 today and prepared the ground below it for the mountain of seeds I just purchased at Diggers.So now I have two empty plots ready for autumn/winter seed.
We have had lots of rain which is fabulous and most of the fruit trees have turned and are losing their leaves. Feels like a real garden these days.
Here are some garden pics to make up for my absence.
Keep Warm!!

One lone corn.

One lone guava (are you sensing a theme :) )


Self seeded rocket after the big rains



Tomatoes seeding bursting to be separated.


Chinese cabbage that thinks its regular cabbage


Yellow gerberas for some colour

Nearly bare pear!

The Babies are here!

The babies are here. A little earlier then we expected but the thought of letting the children raise was just too good an opportunity to let pass. There are two Barnevelders and one mixed bantam (with 5 toes and fluffy feet..any ideas) We think they are about 8-9 days old. Being so little we have no idea whether they are boys or girls but fingers crossed for us that they are girls. Either way we will learn about raising them and then make decisions when we get to bridges or however that saying goes.
We want to say thank you to Jacqueline and Tim who graciously showed us around Gardenup and took the time to explain all the elements of the farm, chicks, chickens and roosters to the children.

We are so blessed to be meeting all these wonderful people and making connections all over the South West.

The chicks at Gardenup getting a last drink before the big drive to their home.

Cuddles with dad on the first night home...so spoilt!!

Barnevelder 1

Barnevelder 2..really hope she is a girl as she is already so pretty

Mixed bantam and the favourite.

Oh and we've named our place Fairway Farm since we now have "livestock"