Today's idea

In my garden, I currently have two 240L compost bins and a worm swag, a big bag to hang from a branch or similar (although in the picture here it is attached to a stand), with a sturdy round rim and then a large canvas bag hanging below with an opening at the bottom where liquid can drain out and where you can get the castings from. (In case you're interested in getting one, I bought the worm swag from Wormtec).

I've been meaning to do something about the fact that I'm not using the worm tea at all, as it is just draining out on the ground. I was thinking I could put a bucket underneath to gather it up (as in the photo above), but there is not that much liquid and most of it would probably just evaporate in the sun unless I go get the bucket several times a day.

My idea: place the worm swag over one of the bins, so that the liquid can drain directly down in the compost bin, thus helping to speed up the magic taking place down there.

So far, I'm not getting really great castings yet - there is paper mixed in when I gather it from the bottom of the swag. Perhaps they moved on to 'better pastures' further up in the bag and left the bedding before it was eaten... Perhaps I need to turn things over more inside the swag? We'll see - I've only been using it for two months or so, and the worms seem happy enough. I will try to add a handful or two of castings to a bucket and stir up with water and use this to water the plants. There are enough castings in there that it should make for a good nutritious mixture for the seedlings.

Let there be life!

Soon after arriving in Oz, I started looking for permaculture events, resources, etc in the area, and came across this article in the local paper about permies on the coast growing food in their backyards. I got in touch and only a few days after attended the first permablitz on the Gold Coast, along with an excellent group of permies. This was back in July.

The next blitz was held at our place in early September, and lots of people helped with ideas, materials and seedlings, and at the end of the day our garden sported a mandala (see photos below) as well as the outlines in white spray paint of many yet-to-be made beds throughout the rest of our backyard.

Since then I've been watering daily (oh how I wish I would stop procrastinating and just put in some water tanks!) and green little miracles are sprouting all over the place. A number of meals have already been accompanied by delicious, crunchy, tasty greens from the garden.

One problem I have now is that I don't know what they all are. Many of the seedlings were planted along with their little tags, and a few others I recognize, but there are quite a few plants I cannot remember or never knew in the first place. I'll do a separate post with photos and have a 'name that plant' quiz (if anyone else is reading this... :)