UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY AT NIRVANA ORGANIC FARM AT HEATHFIELD

FOR A LOCAL,RESPONSIBLE, ENERGERIC AND ENTHUSIASTIC PERSON.

A position is available for a 12 month part-time internship which offers an opportunity to learn from 30 years biodynamic growing and small holding lifestyle in the Adelaide Hills.

2 days a week – negotiable times and days. Can be made of some ½ days (week days only) Times may vary depending on season and conditions. (this is farming which is not 9-5) There is no money exchange only skills and knowledge.

For more information on Nirvana Organic Farm http://nirvanaorganicfarm.blogspot.com.au

Application in writing by October 30^th to:

Nirvana Farm 184 Longwood Rd, HEATHFIELD 5153

Further information Deb or Quentin 83392519 after dark, before 9pm.

 

BIO- DYNAMIC AGRICULTURE

BEYOND ORGANICS

Improve your soils water holding capacity.

A one day course to introduce the practical concepts of the biodynamic methods to farmers and gardeners.

The Bio -Dynamic method is a modern organic method that creates a holistic approach to building healthy soil, plants animals and humans.

The course covers history, concept of a living organism, soils, compost, special preparations that enhance nature and equipment required.

 

Sunday, Sept 23^rd 2012.

8.30 am. -4.30 pm.

Cost: $140

Includes: notes, lunch, Membership of Adelaide Hills Biodynamic Group..

COMPOSTING AND MULCHING

Sunday, October 7^th

9.00 - 12 30 $50

Principles of composting and mulching, techniques and materials used and how they can be used most effectively on your garden or farm.

ORGANIC VEGETABLES FOR YOUR TABLE

Sunday, September 30^th

9.00—12.30 $50

Practical guide to establishing and maintaining a productive and healthy

vegetable garden.

INTRODUCTION TO MOON PLANTING AND USING THE PLANTING CALENDAR

Sunday, October 14^th 9.00-12.30 $50

Working with the rhythms of nature can develop your skills in fine tuning your garden and can add a new dimension to your gardening experience.

ORGANIC FRUIT, NUTS & BERRIES.

Sunday, October 21^st

9.00 -12.30 $50

Practical guide to orcharding. Includes establishment, soils, ground covers, maintenance & pruning.

POULTRY KEEPING.

Sunday October 28^th

9.00 pm – 12.30 $50

All you need to know about getting started with poultry. Includes selection, housing, feeding, breeding, pests.

WEAVING A BIT OF MAGIC

Sunday November 4^th

9am – 4pm

$140

.The ideal way to recycle your garden prunings. This introduction to natural fibre weaving will show you the essential techniques, suitable plants & other materials to make baskets, fences, or trellises.

Course includes all materials, lunch, morning & afternoon tea.

.GUIDED FARM TOURS

Book your own tour anytime

An ideal opportunity to gain an insight into a successfully run biodynamic farm .This Garden Quality Farm demonstrates an integrated system incorporating orchards, poultry, native habitat & wetlands, home food production & hardy cottage gardens all rolled into a unique lifestyle.

minimum charge $60 for up to 5 persons

extra’s @ $12/ head)

SCHOOLS; Secondary $8 Student with 1 adult/15 student’s Primary $7 Student with 1 adult/10 students

CLUBS & GROUPS; 15 + @ $10/ head

WORKSHOPS Held at Nirvana Organic Farm 184 Longwood Road Heathfield Phone 83392519 Practical, ‘hands on’ courses conducted by experienced biodynamic/organic farmers, Deb and Quentin. Their successful small holding, which has been run organically/Bio-Dynamically since 1983. National winner of the Organic Federation of Australia Awards of Excellence as the leading Organic Educator The 4.5 ha property provides the ideal classroom filled with practical examples of how goals can be achieved and gives inspiration into this GARDEN QUALITY FARMING for both gardeners and farmers alike. Courses are aimed to maximise opportunities for participation and discussion. The number of participants will be limited so you will need to enrol ASAP

Spring workshops at Nirvana

INTRODUCTION TO BIODYNAMIC METHODS

Sunday, September 18th 8.30am – 4.30pm $120

One day course to introduce the practical concepts of the biodynamic methods to farmers & gardeners. The biodynamic method is a modern organic approach that creates a holistic approach to building healthy soil, plants, animals & humans. Includes notes, biodynamic preparations, lunch & teas.

 

 

 

 

VEGETABLES FOR YOUR TABLE.

Sunday, October 2nd 9.00 -12.30 $50

Practical guide to establishing & maintaining a productive & healthy vegetable garden. Our climate offers many opportunities to grow food for your table all year round. Discover what plants to grow, and when. Practical tips & ideas.

 

 

 

 

 

COMPOSTING & MULCHING

Sunday,  October 9^th 9.00 -12.30 $50

Reduce water use by learning the principles of composting & mulching, techniques & materials used & how they can be used most effectively on your garden or farm.

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION TO MOON PLANTING AND USING THE PLANTING CALENDAR

Sunday, October 16^th 9.00 -12.30 $50

Working with the rhythms of nature can develop your skills in fine tuning your garden and can add a new dimension to your gardening experience.

 

 

 

 

 

.

ORGANIC FRUIT, NUTS & BERRIES

Sunday, October 23^rd 9.00 -12.30 pm. $50

Practical guide to growing fruits, nuts & berries. Establishing, maintenance, ground covers, soils.

 

 

 

 

POULTRY KEEPING

Sunday October 30^th 9.00 – 12 30 $50

All you need to know about getting started with poultry. Includes breed selection, housing, feeding, breeding, pests.

 

 

 

WEAVING A BIT OF MAGIC

Sunday, November 6^th 9am 4pm $120

The ideal way to recycle your garden prunings .A introduction to natural fibre weaving. Includes techniques, suitable plants & other materials to make baskets, fences & trellises. Includes all materials, lunch & teas.

 

 

 

All courses are held at NIRVANA ORGANIC FARM

184 LONGWOOD ROAD, HEATHFIELD

UBD 157:G7. Exit from SE Freeway at Stirling, turn right at roundabout & travel 3.5 km.

The courses are practical, ‘hands on’ conducted by experienced biodynamic/organic farmers, Deb & Quentin. Their successful small holding has been run under BIO-DYNAMIC principles since 1983.

The 4.5 ha property provides the ideal classroom filled with practical examples of how goals can be achieved & gives inspiration into this GARDEN QUALITY FARMING to both gardeners & farmers alike.

FOR BOOKINGS & FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

DEB OR QUENTIN PHONE/ (08) 8339 2519 nirvanafarm@gmail.com

Fun in the Garden

 

Today was a beautiful day here in Adelaide and some of us Seedsavers met for lunch at the beautiful Urrbrae House in the Waite University grounds to view Basketry SA’s amazing exhibition of contemporary woven works of art.

We also said goodbye to Kate who leaves for Tasmania soon.

I made a presentation bouquet of a lovely organic cabbage from Doof Doof on Duthy Street ($3) and forever thoughtful Deb had prepared a pantry starter kit.

The kit contained some sour dough bread starter, some elderberry jam, some elderflower champagne, some bean seeds and some pickled limes which delighted Kate for more than my cabbage (no not really).

We shared a basil pesto, fetta salad roll, some biodynamic raspberry muffins from Deb and some of Meg’s cous cous salad and stuffed eggs.

Deb poured some of her lovely elderflower champagne and Bob was photographer again.

We chatted about Deb’s courses which start this Sunday, about our gardens, about Tasmania and holidays we shall all be planning there now.

Once again we met, laughed a lot, shared delicious home grown produce and had a great time.

Have fun in Tassie Kate.

Nirvana Organic Farm Courses for 2010

I see that Deb has posted the courses she will be running for this year.

Take a look and book in early as some fill really quickly.

Those of us that have done Deb’s courses, highly recommend them.

So if your are planning and writing in your diary  for 2010 as I am , check out below what she is teaching.

 

NIRVANA ORGANIC FARM

National Winner of the Organic Federation of Australia Awards of Excellence as the leading Organic Educator.

COURSES 2010 

IMPROVE YOUR SOILS WATERHOLDING CAPACITY USING BIODYNAMIC METHODS   

Beyond Organics

Sunday, March 21^st & September 19th 8.30am – 4.30pm $110

One day course to introduce the practical concepts of the biodynamic methods to farmers & gardeners. The biodynamic method is a modern organic approach that creates a holistic approach to building healthy soil, plants, animals & humans. Includes notes, biodynamic preparations, lunch & teas.

COMPOSTING & MULCHING

Sunday, March 14^th & September 5th 9.00 -12.30 $45

Reduce water use by learning the principles of composting & mulching, techniques & materials used & how they can be used most effectively on your garden or farm.

VEGETABLES FOR YOUR TABLE.  

Sunday, March 7^th & September 12th 9.00 -12.30 $45

Practical guide to establishing & maintaining a productive & healthy vegetable garden. Our climate offers many opportunities to grow food for your table all year round. Discover what plants to grow, and when. Practical tips & ideas.

INTRODUCTION TO MOON PLANTING AND USING THE PLANTING CALENDAR

Sunday, September 26^th 9.00 -12.30 $45

Working with the rhythms of nature can develop your skills in fine tuning your garden and can add a new dimension to your gardening experience.

.

ORGANIC FRUIT, NUTS & BERRIES

Sunday, October 10^th 9.00 -12.30 pm. $45

Practical guide to growing fruits, nuts & berries. Establishing, maintenance, ground covers, soils.

POULTRY KEEPING

Sunday October 17^th 9.00 – 12 30 $45

All you need to know about getting started with poultry. Includes breed selection, housing, feeding, breeding, pests.

WEAVING A BIT OF MAGIC

Sunday, October 24^th 9am 4pm $110

The ideal way to recycle your garden prunings .A introduction to natural fibre weaving. Includes techniques, suitable plants & other materials to make baskets, fences & trellises. Includes all materials, lunch & teas.

GUIDED FARM TOURS

Book your own tour.

 

 

An ideal opportunity to gain an insight into a successfully run biodynamic farm .This Garden Quality Farm demonstrates an integrated system incorporating orchards, poultry, native habitat & wetlands, home food production & hardy cottage gardens all rolled into a unique lifestyle.

Life in the slow lane.

Minimum charge $60 for up to 6 persons - extra’s @ $8/ head)

SCHOOLS; Secondary $6 Student with 1 adult/15 student’s   Primary $5 Student with 1 adult/10 students

CLUBS & GROUPS; 15 + @ $7/ head 

All courses are held at                            NIRVANA ORGANIC FARM

184 LONGWOOD ROAD HEATHFIELD

UBD 157:G7. Exit from SE Freeway at Stirling, turn right at roundabout & travel 3.5 km.

The courses are practical, ‘hands on’ conducted by experienced biodynamic/organic farmers, Deb & Quentin. Their successful small holding has been run under BIO-DYNAMIC principles since 1983.

The 4.5 ha property provides the ideal classroom filled with practical examples of how goals can be achieved & gives inspiration into this GARDEN QUALITY FARMING to both gardeners & farmers alike.

FOR BOOKINGS & FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

DEBORAH CANTRILL OR QUENTIN JONES PHONE/ (08) 8339 2519 or email nirvanafarm@gmail.com

• conditions apply

• To enrol, send this with cheque/money order

  payment to:

  Nirvana Organic Farm

  184 Longwood Road

  Heathfield 5153

.

ORGANIC GARDENING COURSES at NIRVANA

I have included some photos here to show you how beautiful it is at Nirvana Farm.

Deb always runs the best courses in the world. So treat yourself to an educational course in beautiful Nirvana.

A walk around Nirvana is the best retreat you can treat yourself too.

Here are the details, there are still some vacancies.

NIRVANA ORGANIC FARM (click here to see more)

National Winner of the Organic Federation of Australia Awards of Excellence as the leading Organic Educator.

IMPROVE YOUR SOILS WATERHOLDING CAPACITY USING BIODYNAMIC METHODS

Beyond Organics

Sunday, Sept 20^th 8.30am – 4.30pm $100

One day course to introduce the practical concepts of the biodynamic methods to farmers & gardeners. The biodynamic method is a modern organic approach that creates a holistic approach to building healthy soil, plants, animals & humans. Includes notes, biodynamic preparations, lunch & teas.

VEGETABLES FOR YOUR TABLE.

Sunday, September 27th 9.00 -12.30 $40

Practical guide to establishing & maintaining a productive & healthy vegetable garden. Our climate offers many opportunities to grow food for your table all year round. Discover what plants to grow, and when. Practical tips & ideas.

INTRODUCTION TO MOON PLANTING AND USING THE PLANTING CALENDAR

Sunday, September 20^th 1.30 -5pm $40

Working with the rhythms of nature can develop your skills in fine tuning your garden and can add a new dimension to your gardening experience.

COMPOSTING & MULCHING

Sunday, October 11^th 9.00 -12.30 $40

Reduce water use by learning the principles of composting & mulching, techniques & materials used & how they can be used most effectively on your garden or farm.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR SOIL

Sunday, October 11^th 1.30- 5pm $40

Soil underpins all gardening activities. What is a healthy soil? How can I improve my soil? Develop skills to monitor and improve your soils so they hold more moisture produce healthy plants.

ORGANIC FRUIT, NUTS & BERRIES

Sunday, October 18^th 9.00 -12.30 pm. $40

Practical guide to growing fruits, nuts & berries. Establishing, maintenance, ground covers, soils.

POULTRY KEEPING

Sunday October 25^th 9.00 – 12 30 $40

All you need to know about getting started with poultry. Includes breed selection, housing, feeding, breeding, pests.

WEAVING A BIT OF MAGIC

Sunday, November 8th 9am 4pm $95

The ideal way to recycle your garden prunings .A introduction to natural fibre weaving. Includes techniques, suitable plants & other materials to make baskets, fences & trellises. Includes all materials, lunch & teas.

All courses are held at NIRVANA ORGANIC FARM

184 LONGWOOD ROAD, HEATHFIELD

UBD 157:G7. Exit from SE Freeway at Stirling, turn right at roundabout & travel 3.5 km.

The courses are practical, ‘hands on’ conducted by experienced biodynamic/organic farmers, Deb & Quentin. Their successful small holding has been run under BIO-DYNAMIC principles since 1983.

The 4.5 ha property provides the ideal classroom filled with practical examples of how goals can be achieved & gives inspiration into this GARDEN QUALITY FARMING to both gardeners & farmers alike.

FOR BOOKINGS & FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

DEB OR QUENTIN PHONE/ (08) 8339 2519

WEAVING A BIT OF MAGIC at NIRVANA with DEB

 

Not only is Deb a biodynamic farmer, growing delicious berries, fruits and nuts but she is also a great cook, wine maker, poultry expert, bread maker, teacher and WEAVER and ARTIST.
She creates beauty around her.
If you check out the Nirvana link you will be able to see some of her GARDEN ART.
She also runs a weaving day courses at Nirvana and according to her blog it will be held this SUNDAY 16th November from 9am to 4pm.
Weaving is becoming popular again and it is the ideal way to recycle your garden prunings, relax and weave a basket or platter or stress out big time by weaving a garden screen or piece of art. A good way for you to create beauty around your home and garden. Woven objects are interesting and energising as well as practical and a way of using natural plants to make practical objects.
Not only will you learn to weave but you will be able to spend the day with Deb and the geese at beautiful Nirvana and watch the berries grow, Deb provides homemade sour rolls and fresh garden salad, plus heaps of other things all grown or prepared from the farm or veggie garden.
Deb says this about weaving,
"it is the ideal way to recycle your garden prunings.
An introduction to natural fibre weaving.
Includes techniques, suitable plants & other materials to make baskets, fences & trellises.
Includes all materials, lunch & teas.
Inquiries to Deb

Biodynamics- making organic gardening work!

Not only is our planet getter older every minute,( just like us,) it has as suffered so much damage at the hand of man that it’s no longer enough to build a compost heap and stop spraying chemicals, valuable though these actions are.
Using the Biodynamic methods can make organic techniques work to produce quality food that will satisfy both the body and soul.
Biodynamics invites you to work and think about the land in a different way. To observe your garden more closely, to work with the natural rhythms, and spray some herbal remedies on the soil and plants.

Yesterday a group grasped the concepts but more importantly put the first steps into action at Nirvana Organic Farm.

Courses at NIRVANA ORGANIC FARM

I just want to remind everybody that there are courses at NIRVANA ORGANIC FARM will start from September.

In September:
Sunday, Sept 7th 2-4 pm GUIDED FARM TOURS
Sunday, Sept 21st 8.30am – 4.30pm Biodynamic Gardening-Beyond Organics
IMPROVE YOU SOILS WATERHOLDING CAPACITY USING BIODYNAMIC METHODS


More information please take a look at:
NIRVANA ORGANIC FARM COURSES 2008



I'm preparing biodynamic soil spray for my garden and two of my friends'.

SUNNINGDALE FARM

Anne and Philip Duguid are biodynamic farmers from Mt Compass.
What are they growing? Philip's answer - SOIL! Good healthy soil, slowly and patiently.
The veggies and everything else come after the soil.

Yesterday more than 10 members of our Seedsavers group amongst others gathered at Fern Ave community garden to hear them speak about the benefits of organic food.
It was a wonderful forum where all sorts of other issues about health and gardening were discussed.

Anne spoke about the health benefits of gardening and left us with 4 words to remember when gardening.

REST - WAIT - WATCH - LISTEN.

Have a chair in the garden and just sit and rest for awhile, plant those seeds and wait for them to grow, watch your garden for pests or just to see the beauty of plants, listen to the birds and bees attracted by flowering plants.
Feel yourself becoming fit and healthy as you work in your garden and then eat all it gives you.

Our culture is focused on busyness, quick meals, fast food.
We all know this can result in all sorts of diseases.
Processed and non organic foods contain hundreds of chemicals. Non organically grown vegetables contain traces of all pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc used in gardening and these are all poisons (yes poisons, yes look at the labels in the gardening shop, they all say POISON!).

It takes a little time to grow veggies and prepare meals but as we all know, the benefits are good health and much pleasure.

Sunningdale Farm will have an open day on October 26th from 10 am to 4pm.

Kate visited Sunningdale Farm open day in 2007, here is what she wrote -

Tuesday, 15 May 2007
SUNNINGDALE FARM
Anne Duguid is a gardener after my own heart. Plants are allowed to come up and grow where they like and vegs and flowers co-exist happily together, making a carpet of intricate detail and fascination at every turn. The house is on a rise and is surrounded by a ring of garden so that every door of the house opens onto vegetables, herbs and flowers. They include such companion plants as parsley, yarrow, tansy, coreopsis, fever few, cosmos, leeks and buddleias which attract ladybirds, lacewings, hoverflies, beetles, wasps, bees etc.
Beyond the house are 190 rolling acres of organic / biodynamic vealer calves. Beyond this you can see the Murray and the lakes. Picturesque is inadequate to describe the property. The drive in is through scrub in which they have identified 45 varieties of birds. There is a trail mown through the bush for walking and, after the recent rains, everything is lush and green . Anne is a lovely person and very welcoming. Together with her husband Phil they run the property. If they have another open day I would suggest you go and soak it up.
The drive to Mt Compass via Hahndorf is beautiful after the rain and there are great venison hamburgers to be had at a cafe in Mt Compass ! A lovely mothers' day.

chaiselongue from the blog Olives & Artichokes has a good post today 'Why do we garden?'. Check it out.

SPRING GARDENING COURSES

SEEDS FOR HEALTH - SPRING PROGRAM 2008

Diana Bickford will once again be taking the Seeds for Health Gardening Course.

A 7 week program at Fern Ave Community Garden, Fullarton which will
inspire as well as educate! It is held in our organic community garden where
you will witness and taste the magic of home grown produce. Topics include:
sowing seeds, creative garden design, soil management, composting and
more!! Course runs for 7 Wednesdays from 10.00-12.00 commencing August the 27th. Following the course you are invited to stay for “lunch in the garden”
from 12.00-1.00.

Course fees: $50 for members, $80 for non-members
Lunch fees: $5 per lunch

Bookings at Cancer Care Centre Inc. 76-78 Edmund Avenue, Unley SA 5061
phone (08)82722411

She also has a Growing For Health Spring Starter on Wednesday 20th August at 10.30 to 12.30. Cost is $5 bookings to Cancer Care (08)82722411

DAVID CORKILL COURSE

Alternative 3 Inc presents an Evening Organic Gardening Course at Fern Avenue.
Taught by the singing gardener David Corkill.
Topics include soil, compost, propagation, weed and pest control.
Commencing Thursday 16th October 2008
9 weekly sessions 6:00 to 8:30pm
Cost is $70 or $45 pensioner or $60 concession
Enquiries 83798941

NIRVANA ORGANIC FARM

Deb from Nirvana Organic Farm will also be holding a variety of courses.
Topics include farm tour, composting and mulching, organic vegetables for your table, bio-dynamic agriculture, poultry keeping, berries, nuts, fruit and weaving a bit of magic.
Click on the Nirvana Farm link (in the side menu) for more info.

Willow House Pruning

Pruning the Willow House

It’s time to prune the willow house ready for the next season and have it looking good by Kitchen Garden Day.
So weather permitting on Friday 25th July from 11am to 3pm I’ll be hosting a working bee to get the process underway. Seedsavers are welcome to come and help.
Park at house and we can go from there.
If the weather is bad(actually rain is good) we can reschedule it to Saturday.
For more details phone Deb 8339 2519

Stirling Autumn Garden Festival

Stirling, the garden village hosted an autumn festival which is set to become an annual event. The theme was scarecrows with a wide variety competing for various prizes.
I was a guest speaker & asked if I could bring along some info about Nirvana Farm. So I got ‘Willow’ in from the paddock where she had been busy keeping the parrots off the walnuts, spruced her up a bit. She got a new hat, an apron that could hold flyers & a few buttons replaced before being ready for the event. Her job was to attract passer bys to the seedsavers & Nirvana displays.


Diana & Jen did very well selling their quality seedlings.There was also a great display by the fibre weavers & lots of info & a great atmosphere.

My role was to talk about Biodynamic gardening. At 10.30 most people where just arriving or distracted by what there was to buy. Talking about biodynamics is difficult at the best of times but at these events even harder. I think biodynamics is lost to most people as they can’t understand that you can garden successfully without bringing in tons of materials. They never consider how these products are produced, where they come from in kilometers, dollars or environmental impact & this INCLUDES ORGANIC imputes.


BUT we live in an instant world & people want gardens today & don’t take time to observe the processes of change in fact don’t sit & observe their gardens. I am constantly amazed that people bring in large amounts of ‘soil’ ‘to start a veggie garden ‘ What I have observed about this material usually called ‘loam’ is that t is dead not even a hint of life.
Being a gardener is working with life. Whenever I'm introduced to someone as a Biodynamic gardener I'm immediately asked “HOW DO YOU GET RID OF.......?” gardeners go out in the morning NOT with life on their minds but death they want to get rid of everything that is not their crop; you only have to listen the gardening shows to get my drift.
A balanced natural system. Takes time to develop... we need to be aware of all the elements of life & should take time to become closer by observing, keeping records & learning from nature. You can BRINGING YOUR GARDEN TO LIFE its fun, challenging and rewarding.

Another highlight of Stirling in Autumn is HOT ROASTED CHESTNUTS on weekends & public holidays starting on Anzac day.

Harvest Moons

The Harvest Moon is the Full Moon (Saturday 22nd) that is nearest to the Autumnal equinox (Today March 20th). The Harvest Moons include 2 other moon rises that follow the full moon. On three consecutive days there is a very big and full moon just as the sun sets. If the weather is clear there is an abundance of moonshine. This is a time when you will notice more wildlife activity; you may feel restless and have trouble sleeping. After sunset there is still plenty of light for the farmers to continue harvesting. If the harvest was completed then time to celebrate the harvest.
One month after the harvest moon comes the Hunters Moon. The paddocks are bare after the harvest, the wildlife are about.
These are things gardeners can observe and celebrate the summer bounty we enjoyed and the harvest now filling the pantry & any other spare cupboard.
This will be a much better use of the coming public holidays than the tons of cheap chocolate and soft drinks I saw being loaded into trolleys (some people had 2 trolleys full) at the supermarket yesterday. Fortunately for me my weekly shopping gets me through the 12 items or less isle. But I still had to endure the sill bunny ears worn by the checkout person.

Today (2 days before the full moon) I planted my garlic as well as lettuce, carrots, parsnips, swedes, kohi rabi, escarole, Kate's pale spinach, Mache, miners lettuce, spring onions, cress and a few peas both sugar snap and snow . I also interplanted a few broad beans where I could fit them, now have to wait until the summer crops finish to plant more and transplant some of last months plantings into their new homes. The moment I finished planting there was a shower of rain- a good sign for the next growing season.

Garlic all placed out ready to plant.

Planted garlic mulched with willow leaves than fell like rain over the hot weather. Simple to rake up, make good mulch to keep the heat in the beds & supress weeds while the garlic grows. It will be ready to harvest at Christmas time.

A GOOD FEELING

After going to Deb's Biodynamics day a couple of weeks ago, I bought a 'Moon Planting Guide for Gardeners' online. I don't know if biodynamics is related to bionics, but it arrived in the mail the very next day! It is a fold out, year-long calendar showing various rhythms of the moon and giving the gardener some ideas as to what should be done when, with little symbols and good explanations of the whole thing.

It is for next year but I knew that the last full moon was 4 days after Roger's birthday, this year, so I reckoned that if I took any full moon on the calendar and moved forward the right number of days I would get today and begin to find out what it all means. Not the best way to start but I didn't do a degree in Japanese for nothing - reading things upside down and inside out was second nature to me (then). Ok, the 3rd of October (Wednesday) should be heading towards 1/2 moon, on the waning side and corresponds to some cool little pictures of a transition between root days and flower days . For this stage of the month it says it is a good time to do composting and bed preparation. Yippee, I had been meaning to make a new compost heap but kept putting it off so today was the day. It felt good. I also prepared a bed for the romanesco broccoli to move into when it gets to be flower days again because they are not quite ready yet.

The weekend has been fully leaf days, with the moon rising in the sky and heading down to new moon. Leaf days means doing things to do with plants that are grown for their leaves. Hooray! I had badly neglected repotting my lemon grass, that has been shooting beautifully all winter, in the lounge. So, this was lemon grass day and I felt pretty good about it too. I went to the farmers' market early and bought, amongst other things, one of those Tassie Mountain Pepper plants. The man said it likes to be cool and shady so, after the lemon grass it was time to pot up the pepper bush - it being a plant grown for its leaves (primarily).

There is a lot more to it than this but I tell you what, it is good to have something to work towards rather than jumping around all over the place. I have been dreaming about what tomatoes to grow and bothered by all sorts of other unimportant little jobs I should be doing but this weekend none of that bothered me at all because they are all related to other stages of the moon cycles and I will do them when the time comes. So I am satisfied with my weekend's work and looking forward to getting to January 2008, so I can read this calendar without having to remember how many days it has been since 4 days after Roger's birthday! Thank heavens we only have one moon!

See http://astro-calendar.com/

Seeds and the Full moon

All those of us who planted our seeds yesterday ( 2 days before the full moon) have an extra big smile today. Not only was it the ideal time to plant but it rained (9.5mm) and there a few more showers to come in the next few days. Maybe more of a 'Kate skippity doo' feeling.
I find seeds always germinate and grow better when it rains than when they have to be watered.
Lilly Kolisko who carried out sowing experiments showed most dramatically: plants sown under a full moon influence were markedly stronger and larger than those sown under a new moon influence. She made a very interesting discovery:’ Plants must be sown a few days before the moon is full; if we want them to benefit from the maximum full moon effect, they must be placed into the main stream of the waxing moon forces. When choosing the day of the full moon itself, the process of germination comes under waning moon forces.

You may like to try a planting experiment your self. Plant one variety of radishes every 4 days Try and keep the conditions similar. You can then observe germination rates, as they grow growth rates and when you harvest them after the same number of days you can then observe which if any plantings grew better roots, tops or either you may be surprised. A good project for a group of gardeners! Such results will show the effects of the whole 4 lunar cycles, which are all about 4 weeks long, though none are the same, which results in ever changing relationships.
The cycle your most familiar with is
· WAXING & WANING(29.53 DAYS )
Water is the mediator of lunar forces. Consider the moons effect on tides and since 80% of a plant consists of water, then the effect on sap movement would be significant. Lunar forces are associated with fertility and the power to regenerate species.
It has been found that seeds germinate better & grow faster if planted 2 days before a full moon.
Medicines such as drenches are also more effective on full moon.
Moon affects moisture contents of the plant. e.g.
Full moon fruit or veggies are juicy .Great for eating now!
New moon –harvest fruit & veggies that need storage
Hay dries faster if cut on new moon
Best timber is cut at winter new moon less sap.
Prune on New moon
Transplant seedlings


We had a French WWOOFer who only had his haircut on the new moon. He thought everyone else did too. It’s said to grow more slowly!!
I'll share the other 3 cycles in the future Stay tuned.
In the mean time check out the planting calendar

BIODYNAMIC DAY

I spent a wonderful day at Nirvana on Sunday, learning to think the biodynamic way. Deb led 6 of us through some of the practical applications of biodynamics and gently got us to throw out or at least alter our scientific mindset to see things more wholistically and with an openness of spirit.

I don't know much about Homeopathy, but it seemed to me the essence of the workings is very similar with Biodynamics. Tiny amounts of concentrations, treated in ways governed by many of the earth's forces, are distributed across the landscape and have an influence on the life there.

These photos show some people stirring the 500 mix - made by burying cow horns full of fresh cow manure in the soil for 3-6 months and then dissolving little bits into these barrels of water and stirring them a certain way for 1 hour.

Deb had made the yoghurt cake that is on the recipes page and provided us with a fresh lunch with those lovely rolls she is so good at. The other people were all so nice and 2 of them had seen our blog and 1 was there because she had seen the day mentioned on the blog. Another person I knew from the yoga class I go to. So many connections.

Thanks Deb and I look forward to learning more.

We are supposed to sow seed today - 2 days before the full moon - but it is too hot for me and probably for the seed too, so I will do it tomorrow afternoon, and hope for the best.

How to Save Water.

I just re-watched ‘How to save the world , one man, one cow, one planet’ about biodynamic agriculture in India where it was claimed that biodynamic practices have improved the water holding capacity of soil to the extent that it has reduced irrigation by 50%.
Having just experienced the driest season on record, the creeks stopped running for the first time since we have been here, 24 years. The plants in the valley are particularly ‘soft’, as they are normally on the waterlogged side by July through to October although yields where down the plants faired very well. The house gardens are rarely ever watered anyway & always do well. The ‘lawn ‘around the house is watered for fire protection & air-conditioning last season every 14 days on average. The veggie garden needed no more than water every 10- 12 days. (Except for getting seeds up.) When it rains here & it does often with annual rainfall average of 1100mm, all the water infiltrates into the soil like a giant sponge.


The key is not as most people think, organic matter but quality humus that makes the difference. The regular use of biodynamic horn manure (500) & quality compost made with biodynamic compost preparations make all the difference.
Regular applications of 500 will see improvements in soil structure via
· : Increased water holding capacity.
· Increased earthworm activity.
· Improved crumb structure in soil = more air & water can be stored.
· Increased clover nodulation
· greater root penetration
· Increased micro flora = more availability of nutrients & trace elements.
· Stabilizing pH.
With this in mind I thought you may be interested in this research

BD SOILS HAVE SUPERIOR WATER INFILTRATION AND RETENTION:
study shows.
One of the claimed benefits of BD practises, especially the application of ‘500’ is the improvement of soil structure and soil biological activity with the subsequent deepening of the root zone resulting in improved water infiltration and soil moisture retention.
A recent comparative study of soil and plant characteristics on adjoining Bio-Dynamic and conventional dairy farms in Victoria seem to bear this claim out. The study, carried out by Simon Cock of the La Trobe University School of Agriculture concluded that root growth of pasture species in the BD subsoil (B horizon) was significantly greater than in the conventional subsoil. The study showed that this fact was responsible:
* for the longer interval between summer irrigations (14-21 days on the BD as opposed to 5-10 days on conventional); and
* for the more favourable balance of species in the BD pasture.
The soil type of the adjoining properties is a red-brown earth having a clay B horizon with poor structure which tends to reduce water holding capacity and root growth. Deep-ripping is commonly used to loosen the B horizon of such soils. This was done on the conventional paddock in 1971, 1979 and in 1982. The BD paddock was deep-ripped in 1963 in the first year after conversion to BD practises. Up to that time superphosphate had been applied at a rate of 600 kg/ha annually. Since conversion (23w years at time of study) no fertiliser, including lime or gypsum, had been applied to the BD pasture. On the other hand the conventional paddock routinely received 800kg/ha of super and 50kg of urea per year.
The study found that the presence of the high quality species of white clover and ryegrass in the BD pasture had not declined in favour of the more
moisture-stress resistant species, paspalum despite the longer irrigation interval. This fact indicated an improvement of soil physical properties in the BD soil profile, a conclusion which was supported by the following properties in the BD soil’s B horizon:
increased plant-available water.
less slaking and dispersion and more water stable aggregates.
decreased soil strength at the A/B horizon interface.
increased root proliferation down the soil profile.
Tests done during the study have indicated that in the BD soil, water is more freely infiltrated into the B horizon compared with the conventional soil. The report states “This ability to infiltrate water into the clay subsoil and store it there as plant-available water would mean that more of the BD soil profile is accessible for water extraction by roots. The suggestion that the conventional soil is unable to allow water to infiltrate into the B horizon is consistent with observations of severe pugging and waterlogging throughout winter.” It was also noted that after irrigation the conventional topsoil remained saturated for days, reflecting the inability of the soil to freely drain water into the B horizon of this soil.
Other points made were: “The ability of plants to extract water effectively requires a good soil-root absorbing relationship. This is reflected in the ability of roots to explore the soil volume. Total root length and new white root growth data from the BD soil indicate not only the potential to extract water from a greater volume of soil, but also the ability to penetrate and explore the soil profile to depth.” and that “the BD soil is able to be infiltrated and stores and extracts water from a larger proportion of the soil profile”.
NEWS LEAF #21 autumn 1994 page 23

Autumn Biodynamic Activities

Autumn is a very important time for all biodynamic gardeners & farmers
Its time to ‘put down the horns’ i.e. to make BD500 & some of the compost preparations. In May each year members of the Adelaide Hills Biodynamic Group meet at Nirvana to share these tasks. It’s always a fun afternoon with usually some new chums as well as the experienced members. This year was no exception & last weekend we all got the tasks done filling around 200 horns as well as preparing 502- 506 (507 is made in summer when the valerian flowers) these where all buried in the earth to develop over winter, when all that is below the earth is most active. In 6 months we will met again to unearth them.




Another task was to make a ‘cow pat pit’ this is a type of small compost made in a bottomless box buried in the ground (originally a barrel) it is comprised of a barrow load of cow manure, some finely ground egg shells & some basalt. This is mixed well together until the texture changes. This is usually done with a spade, however inspired by watching ‘How to save the World. one man, one cow, one planet’ on biodynamics in India where they mixed it in their hands. There where a few keen to try. I had a turn & it was amazing how good it felt & after only a few minutes of finishing the manure smell on the hands had vanished. The rest is simple the manure is put in the pit & 3 sets of BD compost preps are inserted into the manure it’s then covered & left for 3 months or so.



Incase your wondering what it’s used for; it’s an ideal for carrying the influence of the compost preparations over the land. For home gardeners it’s a great way of making your whole garden a compost heap by controlling the breakdown of organic matter & the build up of humus. Its also useful to add to small garden ‘composts’.
The other major important job of a biodynamic gardener is putting out the autumn 500 & this autumn as offered excellent conditions with soaking rains & warm soils. So I’ve been busy in the afternoons stirring & putting out both 500 & ccp on the orchards & gardens.