Classes, flowers and herbs!

Hello! How is everyone??
Friday again. Gee that day seems to roll around quickly!

Whats been happening??
Last weekend I did an introduction to permaculture course out in Penguin at the Reseed Centre.

The space was originally a school so ideal area for gardens and classrooms for teaching!
The course was so interesting. I thought permaculture was a type of gardening, but it really is so much more…

There were a number of people running and presenting information. They started with the big picture stuff and as the weekend progressed, moved down to the small picture stuff.

I liked the three basic tenets : Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share.

And one thing that really seemed to resonate and make sense with me… the term ‘self sufficient’ is bandied about a lot… but if you consider all your basic and semi basic needs – self sufficiency doesn’t seem particularly achievable for the average household.

Not only would you need to grow and harvest food – preserve etc. but there are a host of things that we rely on in this world… water, power, mechanical knowhow, health professionals, and on and on. Even if you mastered somehow all that was needed, you’d run out of time and just be an exhausted pigeon!!!

I like the idea of moving more towards community resilience and diversity. Not moving into a commune or anything, but having a bunch of people that share resources and skills that are close by.

There is already a lot of stuff happening (like seed banks/swapping etc)

We did some practical stuff like garden orientation, position of the sun at certain times of year – knowing your property so best places or optimal places to put things to get the most out of your plants.
Did a bit of a soil check and pH test (mine was right on 6.5 so pretty handy!)

(A bit of a clay soil with a couple of clear layers there in the bottom)

I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed the chook that insisted on coming inside and bok bok bokking loudly over the top of the presenter! Very much reminded of Flea!!

While on the subject of classes… my basket weaving class has diverted into working with bull kelp! This insanely huge leathery material is very cool to work with
Again… getting ideas from Adele and guidance on how the Aboriginal people made use of this wonderful product.

When dry they shrink up a reasonable amount

So today I chose quite a big piece to work with and took a bunch of guelder rose prunings in (nice straight but flexible sticks) for people to use to share.

Voila!
A traditional water carrier!

I’ll take the string off when it dries… and by then hopefully it will keep its shape.

And brrrr back to hail and rain and snow forecast for much of the state this weekend!
So we stocked up on a lot of easy to reach firewood at the back door!

The herb garden is getting nice and lush so I raided the oregano to get some drying.
Also found some freesias and rosemary

The netting is now hanging in the lounge on the clothes rack

The flowers are now residing in one of my sister Rosemary’s lovely ceramic creations.

And some tulips are still out there in the garden hanging on and looking beautiful

Yellow…

And some have reached the end

I am enjoying munching on the cape gooseberries… really putting off uprooting that entire garden so I can do salad stuff as planned. The cape gooseberries are thriving there though!

Thats about it update wise!!
I reckon I’ll be hunkered down inside for the weekend if the forecast is accurate!
Hope your weekends are fabulous!
Cheers!