A month ago I posted an entry ‘there’s a dam in there somewhere’ highlighting the poor state of the dam on our property, totally overgrown with cumbungi and my plans to turn things around.

Soon after that post, I sent in the Gareth the Excavator to sort things out. He and his machine did a great job in clearing out the weed and years of accumulated mud.

Looking West (before excavation, soon after and today)

Nov 2

Nov 22

Dec 14

Looking East (before excavation, soon after and today)

Nov 2

Nov 22

Dec 14

Although it’s not clear in the above photos, I have starting mulching and planting out the banks of the dam. It’s quite a task, but I have made a start.
Yesterday I replanted about 50 rushes (Juncus) that I rescued from the dam just prior to the excavator arriving. I’m feeling a bit good about that.

I’ve started assembling good information resources on these plants and hope to gradually accumulate perennials and incorporate them in the permaculture landscape that I am hoping to develop here.

I have found the following books to be a great starting point

Not every plant will be available in Australia or necessarily suited to the sub-tropical Brisbane climate but a great deal are.

At this stage I’ve planted asparagus, arrowroot, yacon, cassava, pigeon pea, edible bamboos and sorrel.

I’ve only just started putting together a perennial wish list – Jerusalem artichokes, chokos, yam, taro are all obvious contenders.

I’d be interested in hearing what you rate as your favourite or most valued perennial.

As the following photos bear witness, it has been completely taken over by Cumbungi Orientalis, an invasive native weed.

Actually Cumbungi (or Typha) is a very interesting plant and has a number of positive permaculture qualities. However, in shallow water, it can get completely out of hand.

The plan is to get in a small digger to remove the cumbungi from the deeper part of the dam, as well as a metre or two of accumulated sludge. Cumbungi can’t grow when the water depth is more than a metre.

The other strategy is too then plant out the northern and eastern sides with tall native trees & shrubs to shade the dam. Cumbungi also hates shade.

I am happy for a limited amount of cumbungi to grow on the inflow side of the dam as the plant actually helps clean water by retaining sediment as it passes through.

The end result will hopefully look more like the adjacent dam next door (final photo).

patiently waiting for the first drops

Monday (26th), the mini-drought in Brisbane did break, 53mm of delicious rain fell here and we’ve been able to throw away the chlorophyll-tinted glasses we had all taken to wearing.

Great news…..but of course rain never falls in an egalitarian fashion with places like Rockhampton still desperate for a good fall – can’t be too far away Rolley!

October 24

October 30

October 24

October 30

October 24

October 30

The bureau is forecasting significant rain – it’s just a waiting game now.

So as the rain-gauge said to the cloud this morning….Bring it on!!

There is a joke about people quietly leaving zucchinis on neighbours’ doorsteps in the dead of night, just to get rid of the things.

Around here, in semi-rural Samford, there are not a lot of doorsteps close by, so an alternative solution is required.

Time to dig out the vegetarian cookbooks, specifically the Molly Katzen classics.

First up I tried ‘Sweet Zucchini-Spice Bread’ from Molly’s cookbook ‘The Enchanted Broccoli Forest’ – great little recipe, the bread was brilliant, but the recipe only called for 2 cups of grated zucchini….hardly put a dent in the zucchini Matterhorn …..a.k.a. the courgette K2.

It was time to delve into the ‘Moosewood Cookbook’ and try and find a heavy hitter. Page 146 provided the answer, in the form of the recipe for ‘Zucchini-Feta Pancakes’.

This little beauty calls for “4 packed cups of coarsely grated zucchini”. Four cups….that’s about 10 or 11 zucchini in my country and certainly enough to free up some decent space in the fridge’s veggie drawer.

It was time to get grating!

4 cups of grated zucchers!

The pancakes were a success…the kids even ate one each.

…and it’s the sort of meal that you could have once a week for a while without getting sick of it.

So every time the zucchinis mount up again around here and friends & family can’t take any more…out will come the grater and the frying pan.

first round of pancakes

I have no shortage of areas that could do with significant soil improvement – the place that I have settled upon is on the low side of my top swale.

Swale before any changes

lots of undergrowth

It is currently planted out mostly with wattles, however the soil is still quite poor and I would like to develop more of a permaculture guild there.

I’ve been reading up on sheet mulching techniques and discovered that it’s one of those things where everyone seems to have a slightly different view of how to go about it.

However, there does seem to be general agreement on how to start – which is to slash all existing grass or weeds in the area.

grass & weeds slashed: check!

Next step is to start gathering the materials necessary to put together the layers required – I have made a good start at this & have so far assembled three key ingredients: cardboard, mulch & manure.

packing boxes

mulch

manure

Then to commence sheet mulching the ground must be thoroughly wet first and the subsequent layers, particularly the sheeting, must also be wet.

I don’t have sufficient water available at the moment, so I going to go on gathering the materials and wait for the rain that must come eventually and then swing into action.

With fine weather predicted for at least another week, that gives me time to read up more on how best to do the layering and also to hopefully get some input from my readers.

I’d really like to hear about your sheet mulching techniques.

Blog Action Day is an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be one of the largest-ever social change events on the web.

Now it is only 9 days until the Global Day of Climate Action (October 24)

On that day, one of my favourite organisations, the Alternative Technology Association is taking part in the 350.org International Day of Climate Action, and hosting an online image gallery with 350 photos of real people living sustainable lives.

They are inviting “ATA members and supporters, and their friends and families, to share their images of sustainable living to inspire others” to join them “in taking action on climate change.”

The ATA “is gathering 350 photos of real people living sustainable lives which will be uploaded to an online image gallery on the Global Day of Action.”

To get involved – “All you need to take part in ATA’s 350 event is a camera and yourself! Take a photo of yourself and your favourite sustainable living activity or technology. This could be anything from you on the roof with your solar panel system to growing your own veggies or riding/walking to work. Invite your friends and family to join you in documenting your favourite aspect of sustainable living at your place.”

Go the link at the ATA website

Which reminds me…..I had better get my own photo in on time….perhaps one of me polishing the solar panels on our roof?…no, I will have to think of something less vertigo inducing.

But I’ve got to say, I’m happy with the result!…beautiful soft, fluffy soil enhancer that the veggies should love.

My neighbours have 4 calves and kindly let me take a share of their boy cows’ output on a regular basis

The bonus is that they raise them organically so I don’t need to worry about unwanted residues.

I think the tomato plants dried out while we were away and so became a little stressed and vulnerable to attack.  Although some grubs were already in evidence, by the time we got home, there seemed to be more tomatoes with holes than not.

With a couple of good waterings and removal of the damaged fruit, I think I am regaining control. In the mean time the chooks are happy – they get to eat a lot of ripe tomatoes with a bonus grub inside….makes me think of tequila for some reason?

Without resorting to chemicals, there is probably not a lot I can do, although I would be interested to hear your ideas on companion planting and organic sprays that may help reduce the problem.

I know you're in there

Go on! Pretend nothing is happening!

next stop...the chook pen!