Permaculture and Theme Parks
While Bill Mollison and David Holmgren started the concept of permaculture years ago, it has really taken off in the UK. The Eden project in Cornwall is a gigantic eco-theme park in a disused china clay quarry, devoted to the fun and engaging education of people about living more lightly on the earth. They have embraced permaculture in much of what they do. Care for the earth care for people and a fare share for all.
They are encouraging folks to take up some of their ideas in their own small garden situation, building and growing productive permaculture plots, social connections through sharing info, ideas, and even recipes and by linking many to local foods, thus reducing the ecological impacts of eating and living in general.
I loved the (unreal) cows grazing on the wildflower meadow roof; the biomes with stories behind things like chocolate, corn, and the origins of alternative vegetable oil fuels.
How about their display of crops and flowers planted with medicinal plants? An example of each medication arising from the plant was provided in a bubble. It really pushes the message home that without plants we’d be in a very sorry state indeed. 
The tropical dome had the story of vanilla and a great example of the beans that they have hand-pollinated.
The Mediterranean dome encouraged visitors to share stories, crafts and locally grown food via a salad day celebration.
Learn Permaculture
Why not join in the Suburban Permaculture course starting this coming weekend? It's especially for folks with limited space - All the principles in a package that fits our city lives. Workshops start Saturday 31 July. I’ll be taking bookings til Thursday midday so get your name down quick. Call me 33492962.
Grow Giant Snow Peas
Here is one of our young neighbours enjoying the giant snow peas we have grown this season.
I converted almost all of the rest of the grass to no-dig garden bed back in March.
The beds were enhanced by Instant Humus and Stimulate, two of the Organic products I have available for sale. Instant Humus adds humic acid and fulvic acid to the soil, providing microbe food, nutrients and water holding capacity. Stimulate is an excellent root and seed stimulant for new plants.
They have produced excellent results. The first snow peas to ever reach 2 metres tall with hundreds of peas and tomatoes that for the first time in my garden are disease resistant. I have a supply of them for sale here. Just let me know if you’d like a brochure and I’ll send one out to you. linda@ecobotanica.com.au.
Do you have excellent vegies? Email me a picture so I can share it with others in the next newsletter.
Organic Farmers Keep us Healthy
I’ve just returned from a week in Yandina, completing a Certificate in Organic Agriculture at Nutri Tech solutions. Looking at the range of people attending this course from all over Aus, NZ, Peru, Maldives, Iran and China, organics and biological farming is really becoming a viable alternative for many of our primary producers. Our farmers, young and old are keen to cultivate health and fertility in the soil in order to create vibrantly healthy produce. We learnt more about the intimate connection between soil, animal health and human health. Elaine, a NSW farmer even suggested that they treated their cattle better than themselves and should look at their own diets more closely to promote better health for themselves.
So, what was interesting? Here are some learnings that may interest you.
- I learnt the recipe and technique for making beneficial soil microbe inoculants. These microbial inoculants increase plant growth and vitality extraordinarily. I’m happy to arrange an application for your garden and will brew you up a package and apply it for you on request.
- Plants need vitamin B too. A Berocca tablet that supplies B Vitamins, dissolved in water may give your ailing plants a pep up and encourage growth in all plants. Try it on new potted specimen and see if it works.
- Calcium is the trucker of all minerals into the plant. All soils need calcium and all plants need it in the soil. Add calcium in the form of lime, gypsum or dolomite in small amounts if you don’t want t o change soil pH but do want to benefit plant nutrient uptake.
- Soil pH will self adjust when calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium are corrected. Thus the value of lab. soil testing and amendment. I can arrange a professional soil analysis and treatment for you.
- The first 8 years of a person’s life determine bone density and strength for the rest of their lives. So do the best by our kids limiting sugary intake, increasing leafy greens and providing plenty of exercise so they’ll thank us in old age.
YAKON FOR SALE
I have fresh packs of organically grown Yakon sets (new plants) for sale. $6 per pack will give you plenty of plants. Yakon is a delicious vegetable ready to eat like pears when raw, or cooked it tastes like potato. Great for diabetics as it has no carbs.
WHY NOT book into a Garden Harvest Workshop today? Do it before you forget! 3349 2962 or Email me for a brochure linda@ecobotanica.com.au
Would you like you like to book some garden inspiration and advice?
Sometimes it's just what you need.
Your own garden advisor who can sort out a few tricky issues.
Image: Newspix Chris Mccormack
