Experimenting with coexistence

Have set some seeds for winter crops as per earlier post and now looking at various ways to ensure seedlings survive with the chooks foraging around.

This row of leeks is covered with some chicken wire. We'll see of it's too open for the chooks.

We also have some leftover guttering mesh which, whilst not too tall, could be effective as well. This would be good for individual seedlings like the broccoli.

Also about to put in some beans and broad beans against the fence. This should replenish the soil after our summer crop of corn.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Getting ready for Autumn vegetables

veg_autumn2010
Originally uploaded by margoc

Sowed some winter veg seeds today, making th emost of the last bit of warmth before Autumn really hits us! :o)

Elefant leeks and Di Cicco broccoli (from Yarralumla Nursery), lettuce and Chinese celery (hope it comes up - the seed is a bit old now), and spring onion.

Loving this rain too!

In safe(r) hands

No this is what it's about!

- Posted using BlogPress from my phone

In safe hands

This is what it's all about!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ants in the garden

Have noticed two ants nests in garden beds where ants are nesting between the sleepers. I did a search and looks like they might be Carpenter ants or so it says on the ACT TAMS website: "Sugar or Carpenter Ants (Camponotus species) are 5-15mm long, they have orange/brown bodies, black abdomens with an orange/brown band and black heads. They nest in decayed moist wood or sometimes in the soil. They feed on dead and live insects, honeydew, household waste and are attracted by sweet food. These ants do not sting and rarely enter houses."

Don't seem to too much of a problem but I think we'll keep an eye on them for now.

Pic of Sugar/Carpenter ants nest in our garden.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Introducing Marmalade and Sunday Rose - Isa Brown Chooks!

Please say hello to Marmalade (the first out of the box) and Sunday Rose! They are 20 week old Isa Browns, ready to lay.

We picked them up from the market first thing this morning and they already seem quite at home in their yard!