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http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl Member Run Boards >> Relationships >> Relationship to the soil http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1522271734 Message started by Jovial Monk on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 7:15am

Title: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 7:15am

Fierce guard dog guarding quartz sand and organic compost. The slab for the garden shed is visible in the background.

I wouldn’t dare go near and that is my dog! :) :) :)

Lovely soil, 100% clay!

I have spread gypsum on most cracks in the soil in my yard, in 2 years be nice soil there I HOPE!

Tried to photograph the pegs and strings etc I set up to work out where the trees will go—doesn’t photograph well.

Soil looks dry—and cracked—but there has been rain there even in the time I have been here. Just clay being clay.

Any spare minute I have I am spreading gypsum on any cracks in the soil I spot. Start turning the clay into soil. At some time will need to get the front of the block ploughed and multiple bags of claybreaker spread.

In the back half of the block that has been done March 2017 but still rather heavy soil. As well as sand and compost I am adding gypsum and dolomite, turn clay into soil.

Later in the year will make mounds of loam where the trees will go, plant the trees and set up irrigation.

Be picking cherries next year with any luck. Better net the trees or the bloody birds will get the crop. Need to protect the trees against rabbits and possums too. Ah, relationships with the soil are not easy!

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by miketrees on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 7:35am

Must be cold where you are,,,, for cherries

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 9:24am

Southern Tassie, mike.

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 4:16pm

{sob} bloody possums, wallabies and rabbits will all be after my trees, the actual trees not just the fruit!

Hard times! Hard relationship!

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by greggerypeccary on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 4:18pm

How big is the property?

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 4:18pm

825sqm

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by greggerypeccary on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 4:19pm

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 4:18pm:

825sqm

Ah, okay.

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Aussie on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 4:20pm

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 4:16pm:

{sob} bloody possums, wallabies and rabbits will all be after my trees, the actual trees not just the fruit!

Hard times! Hard relationship!

"Yer gonna need a bigger dog!"

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 5:22pm

I am going to enclose the whole tree area in aviary mesh! From below ground level to 4m high! Chooks inside that monster aviary eating codling moth grubs and extruding lovely fresh eggs!

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Aussie on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 5:26pm

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 5:22pm:

I am going to enclose the whole tree area in aviary mesh! From below ground level to 4m high! Chooks inside that monster aviary eating codling moth grubs and extruding lovely fresh eggs!

"Yer gonna need monster chooks."

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 5:30pm

Not inside “Fort Dutch–Australia Orchard” I won’t!

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Aussie on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 5:38pm

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 5:30pm:

Not inside “Fort Dutch–Australia Orchard” I won’t!

'Fort Dutch.'

I might get you a carved thing proclaiming that to hang at the front door.

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 5:40pm

And I would hang youii

r thing too!

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Aussie on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 5:43pm

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 5:40pm:

And I would hang youii

r thing too!

Have another go..... ;D

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by miketrees on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 8:40pm

https://www.garrards.com.au/images/stories/zone_files/labels/d-ter_approved_label.pdf

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Agnes on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 8:43pm

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 29^th, 2018 at 5:22pm:

I am going to enclose the whole tree area in aviary mesh! From below ground level to 4m high! Chooks inside that monster aviary eating codling moth grubs and extruding lovely fresh eggs!

Great idea and the chooks will have the best time won't they

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Mar 30^th, 2018 at 12:03pm

Happy chooks lay the bestest googies!

Did half a day today, tomorrow will take the day off. Hell, even Gawd rested on the 7th day! Then wheelbarrow load after wheelbarrow load of compost to spread where the trees are to go.

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Agnes on Mar 30^th, 2018 at 7:38pm

Jovial Monk wrote on Mar 30^th, 2018 at 12:03pm:

Just put it all in a wood chipper Monk and point it in the general direction - save those shoulders from hard work ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Mar 30^th, 2018 at 7:57pm

Nope, it is fine. I will be able to point to my garden and say “all my own work.” Nice feeling that. Cider, perry, eating/cooking apples and pears, cherries.

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Apr 2^nd, 2018 at 6:45am

I went back to the Launceston Farmers Market last Saturday: bit of a drive but worth it! A craft brewery had a stall.

What was interesting was that they had a saison flavored with Kentish cherries: the saison had very little color because the Kentish are a white fleshed cherry. I have a Kentish Sour cherry tree being looked after for me in Launceston!

Also a Napoleon cherry, also white fleshed. This is an eating cherry not a preserving kind like the Kentish Sour.

Todays cherries are large, brown—and offer sweetness but not much flavor. Also bloody expensive!

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Apr 2^nd, 2018 at 9:24am

Walking the dog this morning suddenly decided to take a day off! Going to sample some cider and wine and visit an antique shop or two!

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Apr 5^th, 2018 at 2:49pm

Knocked off a bit early today, totally knackered!

One row of four cider apple tree mounds tomorrow then the 6m mound for the cherry trees. Whatever compost is left will get shoved somewhere or other. Then that is it for this trip. On the ferry back home Sunday night.

Enjoyed the stay. And a lot of satisfaction in a shitload of useful work done.

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Aussie on Apr 5^th, 2018 at 2:54pm

Jovial Monk wrote on Apr 5^th, 2018 at 2:49pm:

Photos, or it did not happen.

;D

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Apr 5^th, 2018 at 6:16pm

Got photos, you wude person you!

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Aussie on Apr 5^th, 2018 at 6:40pm

Jovial Monk wrote on Apr 5^th, 2018 at 6:16pm:

Got photos, you wude person you!

Post 'em or it did not happen.

;D

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Apr 10^th, 2018 at 12:27pm

Did some talking to the local yokels.

Most things I can grow in Adelaide I can grow there, not the real frost tender stuff, of course. Flowers and veg. Doubt I can grow a banana tree there, but can only grow the one I have in Adelaide by having it right by the north–facing verandah, no frost there!

Great for winter veg like kale and brussels sprouts, should be able to grow good lettuce and celery in shady spots in summer. Besides the apple, pear and cherry trees, of course. And chooks!

There were houses with solar panels—one had 42 panels—not as many as in Adelaide tho. But days were still long and good for solar power when I left and for winter I will have one or two wind generators. With a big gas bottle and woodfired pizza/bread oven may be possible to be off–grid, dunno.

No cellar tho: rock about 1 metre down :'( Would have been nice, root cellar, place to store preserves and for cider etc to mature. Alas, not to be! But I can excavate and seal a reasonably deep space under the house to do some of that.

Can excavate rock, but $$$

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Apr 11^th, 2018 at 11:04am

How is that for timing? It is raining in Tasmania! And I am in Adelaide, work all done!

Back in Spring to plant trees. More carting—this time of loam, build on the mounds I created this trip—apple trees hate having wet feet.

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Apr 11^th, 2018 at 11:43am

And I can order more trees, 4 cider apple and 2 cherry in under an hour.

6 dwarf cherry trees, YUM!

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Jovial Monk on Apr 12^th, 2018 at 5:15pm

A vewy wude pewson asked for “photos—or it didn’t happen” well here they are!

Title: Re: Relationship to the soil
Post by Aussie on Apr 12^th, 2018 at 5:22pm

Jovial Monk wrote on Apr 12^th, 2018 at 5:15pm:

A vewy wude pewson asked for “photos—or it didn’t happen” were here they are!

Nasty 'wude person.'

:D