2012 isn't far off now, 4 days including today.   My mind has been going crazy thinking about all my goals for the new year.  I also am having a hard time defining myself separate from my business (Ginger Robot) and my new life as a homesteader (Widget Grove).   What should I do with this domain?  Well there is a lot of me that doesn't quite fit on the widgetgrove website. although anything can go on there.  Read more »

We dug a frog pond today here's some pics:

BEFORE:

Digging:

TARP:

Filling:

DONE:

This is the tree growing in our back yard, An Oven Acacia.   Jan cut the branches up the trunk.

We spotted another one at Willow park too.

Ronunculus's are blooming

Parsnips, radishes, carrots, celery, peas, broadbeans, snow peas are all being harvested (eaten steamed with grilled halloumi)

Potatos are on their way.

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I planted a range of bulbs along my back fence. The first to come up were the huge hyacynths, then the daffodils. Then a lovely range of tulips popped up. Then some gorgeous mascati grape hyacinths have thrilled me. The tulips swapped from whites and bright reds to yellows, oranges and pinks. Now that the tulips are falling down I notice the Ranunculus's and Scillia's are blooming.

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I'd been wondering when the carrots would be ready, so we did a little digging and found the tops were quite big. Jan suspected they'd be fat but short and he was right on the first one, the second is all massive, hopefully not too tough. I probably left them in too long.

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Friday night we went and saw the Last Air Bender. We loved the anime Avatar, and I really liked the movie. There was plenty of fan service anyway. I'm unsure anyone unfamiliar with the series would cope with it though.

Saturday We drove out to Mitta to help out in The Witches Garden.  We cleared out two garden beds of blackberries and vigorous roses.

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This was such a busy week. Our calendar was jam packed with one to two events a day. Pretty stressful. But I think still achieved a lot as well.

In Mondays class about Organic Farm Design. We learnt about Maps, Ridges and Gulleys.  This lead to thinking about how water flows and where it would be stored on a property. Lee Anne shared her map she's been drawing on see through table cloths, such a cool idea:

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Here's the plan of my garden for spring. It's about 17m x 12m, the garden squares at the left are 3mx1m ish, total vege garden area is around 18m^2.

I'm using the crop rotation system which I represent a bit like this:

Here's the plan for spring:

Tuesday we went to a Candle Lit Vigil hosted by GetUp Albury Wodonga.   People told stories about how Mental Health had affected their lives and what they think the government can do to help.  Most people felt disapointed in what the politicians are promising this campaign. Read more »