On a much less significant note I really hate how they claim to be about saving heirloom varieties from extinction, yet they rename many varieties and make up the history of them to be more more marketable.

I agree, they used to be great. Those days have gone unfortunately and I dare say they are not coming back.

Any company as large as Diggers is going to make some mistakes and send out of date seeds, mouldy plants, dead plants, incorrectly labelled plants etc, but it is the disrespectful way that Diggers handles these issues that makes me refuse…[Read more]

I wouldn’t buy from Diggers if you have any other option. Their service is absolutely dreadful, I could rant for ages about how terrible they are. To be completely honest, I prefer to go without out rather than funding someone like Diggers.

I am surprised that roma was mentioned, I always find them to be bland for a homegrown tomato.

I wasn’t aware that Blueberry cherry tomato was in Australia. Judi where did you get seeds? I wouldn’t mind giving them a try.

Hi Bill. I have never been to WA but it sounds lovely from what everyone tells me.

I envy you for having copious fish!

She has always been caring and thoughtful of others. Don’t get me wrong, like any kid she can be a stubborn and grumpy little thing at times too, but overall she is great.

Thank you, I will look into them!

As usual you make some very good points there Snags.

I have seen some of those charities make a real difference in people’s lives. I have also heard the horror stories and seen issues such as because of these charities people have fewer food choices available to them, increased social isolation etc…but that is a rant for another time.

Do you…[Read more]

I haven’t been checking this forum often enough. I won’t use pyrethrum, although ‘organic’ it is dreadful stuff and many of the synthetic poisons are probably less harmful for you.

The rain we have had has caused the Rutherglen bugs to build up to incredible numbers. I have been experiencing a lot of trouble with them this year.

Rutherglen…[Read more]

Hi Snags.  The funny thing is that forum you have linked to even has a thread a few years old about ‘aquaponics 4 you’ being a scam.  Everyone who commented there agreed.  Anyone who does any internet research before buying anything can clearly see that this company is criminal, all of their reviews are word for word the same!I found my blog pages…[Read more]

I have dried the leaves and crushed them but then have tiny pieces of dry leaf in my tea and can not taste any sweetness.  Surely it is easier to use than this and I am doing something wrong.

Aussiedownunder I would like to hear more about your air pruning wicking pots.  Did you make them yourself?  How do they work?

Hi Bluesnip, I think you must predate me.  Unfortunately it has been rather quiet here of late.

Hi Pardalote,yes I did mean GPs, I have absolutely no respect for them and believe that their profession is one of a pointless middleman.  But that is a rant for another time.  It is good to hear that an endocrinologist may be able to help, as someone with no medical training it is difficult to know where to head once you see a GP and ask if they…[Read more]

Thanks Snags.  I think the good bugs in the gut is part of the solution here as kefir seems to help.

Snags

“I had high hopes of setting one up as part
of our community garden but it all splintered over politics.”I think that is one of the biggest problems, people have great ideas but then for one reason or another things go awry.  I wish I had a solution.I know that the government has a seed bank as I have got seeds from them in…[Read more]

Around the time I was born, give or take a few years as verbal history is a bit weak, my mother got some giant Russian garlic.  When I was a teenager I grew heaps of the stuff and would try to work out how much to eat and how much to replant each year.  When I left home all of the plants were left behind and most things died but the garlic kept on…[Read more]

What happened to his beak and how bad is it?  I had a few plymouth rocks that would peck at the side of their cage and damage their beaks if they were locked up during the day because it was raining or whatever.  Surprisingly the beaks seemed to grow back fine.

In hindsight that is excellent advice.  With the exception of carbon and nitrogen, plants can only use what is already in the soil.  They can not manufacture minerals.

I grew most of what I ate and being so far from the coast my soil was low in many important things, iodine being one.  That is one of the very few down sides of growing all your own food, if your soil is lacking something then your diet is also lacking it.  As I only ever fertilised using manures, slaughter waste and compost from on site this…[Read more]