Here's our main veggie patch at the moment, much of it gone to seed. The pumpkin in the furthest corner is growing quickly, but no actual fruit to be seen yet, just flowers.



This patch is very exposed to the sun for most of the day, and we really need some shade plants. In the middle is a dip for a little pond - I keep meaning to pick up some pond liner. However, we've been considering just putting a tree in the middle, which would provide shade.

On the other hand, by the time a tree planted in the middle gets big enough to provide a bit of shade, so would the bamboo we've planted on the western side.

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... :)