ALS members Blogs

The herdshare arrangement is one in which you own part of an animal or herd, along with others who hold shares in that animal or herd. Say, a cow, for example. As a part owner, you are entitled to part of the outputs of said animal. Including things like its milk. And because it’s technically your cow, you can obtain and use that milk in its raw form. Which doesn’t mean the cow has to actually live with you. You can hire a farmer to take care of your cow. And milk your cow. And bring your cow’s products to you. It’s all a relatively simple arrangement. Though this might all sound a bit sneaky, it’s actually not. Racehorses are owned by multiple owners all the time. So are prime bulls. So why not cows? Why not chickens, for that matter? You could buy 10 broiler day-old chicks and get...

Following up on to town, with a suitcase full of carrots, we thought you might like to see the video that was made about the TEDxSydney Crowd Farming project. This rather crazy project (though it doesn’t seem that crazy if you know Jess Miller) aimed to source as much of the catering food for TEDxSydney 2013 as it could from the local food shed… Whether the Crowd Farming project did or did not source all the food needed for TEDxSydney 2013 is far from defined, but that’s not actually the point – good food was eaten by all, much of it crowd-sourced. It also throws up a bunch of worthy questions (all of them currently unanswered) about how to feed a city of 5 million with a local food shed. We have work to do people. Get growing. I had a great time at TEDx. I met Matt of Hands...

Dovecotes are a great addition to any small farm (and possibly your backyard too). Keeping doves is like keeping chickens, in a way, except there’s minimal feeding involved if you take the traditional approach. The doves fly off every morning, forage within their natural radius, and come home each night to roost. And when they come home, they deliver to the floor of the dovecote free nutrients, in the form of guano. So firstly there’s free fertilizer, with no feeding costs. Secondly. if you’re that way inclined, there’s a seasonal supply of dove eggs, and squabs. Wild protein, delivered to your door.  Dovecotes in Egypt European wooden dovecote, with rotating ladder for easy squab collection It’s the wild protein that we’re most interested in, to be blunt. We’re looking for more resilient systems to stack together at Milkwood Farm – to provide multiple  intermittent streams of animal protein for the lowest...

The Loganberry Rubus loganobaccus is a cross between a Raspberry and Blackberry with a taste somewhere in between those two. The plants are hardier (in my garden) than Raspberry canes. Because they fruit early in the season (November) they usually miss the hottest of the summer heat unlike Blackberries that try to ripen in February in the middle of our heatwave season. The Blackberries often dry out before they have a chance to ripen. The Loganberries fruited well last November and now its time to cut them back ready for next season. It's quite easy to tell the old canes which have fruited as these are dry and brown.The new canes which will go on to produce a crop later this year (in late spring) are green and lush, as these have grown I have tied them together in a bunch to one side. To prune them all I have...

Title: Intro to Permaculture: Aug 2013: SydneyVenue: Alexandria Park Community Centre / SydneyCategory: Introduction to PermacultureDate: Aug 3 2013 - Aug 4 2013Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm Description: Join us for 2 days of permaculture design theory and action. You will leave this course with a solid grounding of how you can apply permaculture principles in your home, garden, apartment or farm. You'll also be in an informed position to further your journey into permaculture design.  This course will give you a comprehensive overview of how to apply pro-active, sustainable design techniques to your immediate environment - whether you live in a small apartment, a quarter-acre block, or a rural property.In a rapidly changing world, we are all looking for solutions that can aid our community's stability. We're talking systems for living, architecture, food production, land management and community: Effective ways of growing healthy, organic food in urban environments Regenerative farming that can both...

Mt Greville seen from Lake Moogerah It was time for another walk with Teresa of Horizon Guides today. We returned to Mt Greville which we had walked last year. Click here to read about the last walk. Initially we were going to do the same walk as last time however we revised it to walk up Palm Gorge instead of Waterfall Gorge.This is what we were expecting:Waterfall Palm Gorge – Mt Greville (Moogerah Peaks NP) 6 – 7 hrs. Moderate -challenging.  Rough and rocky  Date: Sunday 19th May Description: This rugged little peak is one of the gems of the Fassifern. It has such wonderful diversity of habitat, flora and fauna that every turn in the track is a surprise. The route ascends the peak via Waterfall Gorge threading through a jumbled array of rocks between narrow towering cliffs that protect Piccabeen palms and giant White Beech trees. Emerging from...

I have taken down all the shade cloth covers and stored them away for winter.  As you can see things are happening with the downsize!Temperatures:Lowest Min 6.3CHighest Max 27.1C9.5 mm Rain We have had a little rain but now it is really getting cold!Propagation:Seeds:Broad Beans Coles Dwarf and Early Long Pod Vicia faba from DTBrown sown into the Tank Wicking Beds (4&5) for Green ManureRadish Beauty Heart Raphanus sativus from Mr FothergillsRadish Nero Tondo Raphanus sativus from Southern Harvest Radish French Breakfast Raphanus sativus from DT BrownSown into a Wicking BoxPotting on:Pansy Carrington Deveruax Purchased seedlingsStocks Dwarf Mixed Purchased seedlingsCoreopsis Early Sunrise Purchased seedlingsCalendula Lemon Daisy seedlingsTagasate seedlings that had volunteered in my Bathtub Bed!Cuttings:Gooseberries CaptivatorWhite CurrantDivision:Mondo GrassCatnip Nepeta catariaPlanted out:Silverbeet Erbette x 8Sorrel French x 1Sorrel Garden x 1Sorrel Red Veined x 3Sweet Peas x 9 not edible but may add a little nitrogen to the soilThese seedlings...

After a fabulous summer of yielding buckets apon buckets of organic veggies, our market garden needs a rest. This system is a cycle of give and take, and it is definitely time to go into a giving phase for our not-that-brilliant soils. Also, Michael’s been having ideas. It’s re-design time. We’re two seasons in from the start of this veggie growing project, and we’ve all agreed it’s time to get funky. Designing for resilience, you might call it…  The market garden on the 26th March… little did it know… The market garden 2 days later. Somewhat different, and in the middle of being ripped. But Michael was happy… The first step in this re-design is to get our soils as happy and healthy as they can possibly be, given our land and climate and resources. We’ve ‘mined’ these soils for nutrients over the summer in the form of vegetables that have grown...

Three types of Sorrel!French Sorrel Rumex scutatus I found one of these in our local garden shop in amongst the herb pots Garden/Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa seeds from Eden Seeds Red Veined Sorrel Rumex sanguineus seeds from Green Harvest Sorrel is a useful perennial leafy green that seems to do well all year round in my garden. As long it gets some water it provides year round greens for the chooks and the new tender leaves are a useful addition to salads in small amounts. Here's a link to an older post back in 2007 on French Sorrel. Earlier this year I split the pot of French Sorrel and made 4 new plants. I dug up a clump of Garden Sorrel from the garden and have 5 new plants now I am looking forward to seeing what the Red Veined variety looks like - from the photos on Green...

Title: Stingless Beekeeping: 20 Oct 2013: SydneyVenue: Alexandria Park Community Centre / SydneyCategory: Stingless BeekeepingDate: Oct 20 2013 - Oct 20 2013Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm Description: A one-day intensive course on native beekeeping with Tim Heard: world-renowned expert in Australia's native, stingless bee species. Covering hive design, splitting, honey extraction and bonus sessions on the details of native bees and how to encourage them in your garden. These bees make the best garden pets ever, are completely safe for everyone and provide beautiful learning opportunities for kids around pollination and the natural cycles within your garden. Stingless bees are Australia's indigenous social bee. They are harmless and well suited to home gardens. They are effective pollinators of many garden plants. They yield small amounts of delectable honey, although note that in Sydney, honey production will be very low. They are great tools for environment education as they are inherently fascinating to children...

Title: Stingless Beekeeping: 19 Oct 2013: SydneyVenue: Alexandria Park Community Centre / SydneyCategory: Stingless BeekeepingDate: Oct 19 2013 - Oct 19 2013Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm Description: A one-day intensive course on native beekeeping with Tim Heard: world-renowned expert in Australia's native, stingless bee species. Covering hive design, splitting, honey extraction and bonus sessions on the details of native bees and how to encourage them in your garden. These bees make the best garden pets ever, are completely safe for everyone and provide beautiful learning opportunities for kids around pollination and the natural cycles within your garden. Stingless bees are Australia's indigenous social bee. They are harmless and well suited to home gardens. They are effective pollinators of many garden plants. They yield small amounts of delectable honey, although note that in Sydney, honey production will be very low. They are great tools for environment education as they are inherently fascinating to children...

Following on from raising the walls of this roundhouse in four days, Floyd and Shane have been focussed on getting this little place finished before Winter. And yep, we’ve all noticed the speed at which things progress when you go from a crew of twenty four to a crew of two! Mind you, once the walls were up and the bones of the roof were on, this natural building project was firmly into the ‘fiddly bits’ part of the build. So perhaps it’s just as well there were 2 and not 20 people working on it. But we’re getting there now! Progress shots below…  When last we blogged… the building looked like this - And the mud render on the inside walls were still drying… Nick and Floyd. Undaunted crew of wood and clay and coffee… The ceiling – roundwood rafters with recycled hardwood board infill The ceiling from the...

The seeds for these Early Zucchinis came from Inspiration's Seeds in Tasmania  and were sown in containers in the greenhouse at the end of August last year. At the end of October this zucchini (one of 3 leftover seedlings) was planted into the ground at the base of the mound garden bed in the Old Chook Run Garden. Unlike the other 2 that were planted nearby this one survived the onslaught of earwig attack...and being smothered most of the summer by a rampant pumpkin vine. Since I cleared the pumpkin out the zucchini has taken off. It is now May and we are days away from the first frost and it is still pumping out tasty zucchinis. Normally I would have planted some more zucchinis in January but that didn't happen this season... As this plant was in a fairly isolated and sheltered position I decided to save what I...

Pots are being sorted and tidied...potted on and cuttings taken. Any frost intolerant plants have been tucked up in the greenhouse for winter. May is here and the morning frosts can't be far away. Temperatures:Lowest Min 4.9CHighest Max 25.6CNo Recorded Rain   The weather remains warm for this time of the year but a change this weekend is set to bring winter weather with rain!Propagation:Potting on:Thyme seedlingsGypsophila seedlingsStrawberry RunnersCuttings:Cotton Lavender Santolina chamaecyparissus syn S. incanaPurple Sage Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens'Division:Golden Marjoram Origanum vulgare 'Aureum'Red ShallotsPlanted out:Cauliflower MacerataSalad BurnettAlyssum Royal CarpetCauliflower MiniSalad BurnettAlyssum Royal CarpetPlanted into the Fridge Wicking Beds 11 & 12Strawberry Runners 'Alinta' (PBR) & Hokowase into some 'Besser Blocks' (cinder/concrete blocks??) I've placed at the end of the Fridge BedsRed Shallots into the Herb Bed next to the Fridge BedsThe Fridge Wicking Beds have been emptied and moved over into the Kitchen Garden as I begin the re-design to downsize...

It has become clear that without pikelets, we would be lost. They may be small, and innocuous, but they are the shield against the storm, around here. So you’ve worked all day and it’s now time to magically and quickly fabricate a wholesome dinner for 6 out of carrots, potatoes and carrots. So soup it is. But with soup there must be bread. Ah, yes. I didn’t quite make any, again. Oops. Aha. Pikelets. My Mum’s pikelet recipe, on which my world is frequently based. Not that I stick to it very much, but it’s good to have. A little while ago a group of local gardeners came to check out Milkwood Farm. As one lady, who’d lived out in the central west all her days said as she got out of the car: “Wow, you’re really far out of town. You must be pikelet people, yeah?” It took me...

Title: Natural Building: Sept 2013: Milkwood FarmVenue: Milkwood Farm (2) / MudgeeCategory: Natural BuildingDate: Sep 21 2013 - Sep 24 2013Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm Description: An intensive, hands-on four day workshop for anyone who is dreaming of building their own earth friendly home. Learn how to build with a variety of natural building techniques: light earth, strawbale, cobb, roundwood timbers, reciprocal roofs, lime and mud renders and much much more! Skill up with professionals and get set to build your own. Taught by Sam Vivers of Viva Eco Homes.This course will be an intensive blend of class sessions where students will learn the theory of each natural building technique covered, followed by practical hands-on sessions where students will help construct a variety of building which puts into practice all the techniques listed above. During this course, students will be actively involved in construction of various buildings at Milkwood Farm employing these techniques. Students...

Title: Intro to Permaculture: Feb 2014: SydneyVenue: Alexandria Park Community Centre / SydneyCategory: Introduction to PermacultureDate: Feb 1 2014 - Feb 2 2014Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm Description: Join us for 2 days of permaculture design theory and action. You will leave this course with a solid grounding of how you can apply permaculture principles in your home, garden, apartment or farm. You'll also be in an informed position to further your journey into permaculture design.  This course will give you a comprehensive overview of how to apply pro-active, sustainable design techniques to your immediate environment - whether you live in a small apartment, a quarter-acre block, or a rural property.In a rapidly changing world, we are all looking for solutions that can aid our community's stability. We're talking systems for living, architecture, food production, land management and community: Effective ways of growing healthy, organic food in urban environments Regenerative farming that can both...

Title: Intro to Permaculture: Oct 2013: SydneyVenue: Alexandria Park Community Centre / SydneyCategory: Introduction to PermacultureDate: Oct 5 2013 - Oct 6 2013Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm Description: Join us for 2 days of permaculture design theory and action. You will leave this course with a solid grounding of how you can apply permaculture principles in your home, garden, apartment or farm. You'll also be in an informed position to further your journey into permaculture design.  This course will give you a comprehensive overview of how to apply pro-active, sustainable design techniques to your immediate environment - whether you live in a small apartment, a quarter-acre block, or a rural property.In a rapidly changing world, we are all looking for solutions that can aid our community's stability. We're talking systems for living, architecture, food production, land management and community: Effective ways of growing healthy, organic food in urban environments Regenerative farming that can both...

A guild, in permaculture terms, is usually used to define a harmonious assembly of species clustered around a central element (plant or animal) that acts in relation to this element to assist its health, aid our work in management, or buffer adverse environmental effects (Mollison, via Jacke). Dave Jacke has taken this concept further and identifies a range of different types of guilds that generally (but not exclusively) can be applied to aid forest garden design process. Like many permaculture design elements, these guild types at once simple, and deeply complex… Resource-Sharing or Resource-Partitioning Guild This type of guild is a group of plants that inhabit the same community niche (ie have the same general needs), but which also find a way to partition resources so that their competition is minimal. I think we humans have a lot to learn from this guild type in how we relate to each other, but let’s leave...

The weather is cooling at last and quickly the leaves are changing colour before the cold of winter strips them from the trees and vines.Temperatures:Lowest Min 4.6CHighest Max 23.4C19mm Rain Propagation:Seeds:Kohl Rabi in Bed 2 top up of ones stolen by thieves!!! probably earwigsSpinach Tape in bed 9Potting on:Cabbage Red DutchCauliflower Macerata GreenCrystal LeafRed ChoiCuttings:Blueberry Evergreen "Nellie Kelly"Golden Daisy Bush Euryops pectinatusLoganberryRosemary PinkVariegated Elderberry Planted out:Cabbage Red Choi in bed 9Onions Red in Bed 2 Purchased seedlings Parsley Curled Parsley Italian into Bed 14 with the Loganberry  We are busily clearing areas and moving beds in between planting...as I chop back plants I take cuttings so I'll have more to plant around the garden later.The Blueberry cuttings came from a broken piece off a damaged plant from Bunnings. The man there marked the price down by half and said I could easily take some cuttings from the broken bit...(do you...