This morning I went into the kitchen and realised they were spraying the outside of the neighbouring house with insect pesticides. I don't even want to think about the chemicals that drifted into the house while I was unaware. There's something rather special about standing in the kitchen watching them literally hose off the gutters to the stage of dripping with something toxic. I shut all the windows, for whatever good that will do.
And now, here's something further to think about...all those vegies and herbs I've planted on that side of the yard. What kind of withholding period, what do I do about toxic soil, do I uproot all of the plants that are short term crops? There are just so many parameters for growing your own edible garden that you can't control. Guess I won't be making basil pesto today after all, let alone working in the garden.
In some parts of the world there is legislation that means that you have to provide notice to your neighbours before applying sprays...and even put up signposts so that people who are passing by are aware. Now that's the kind of legislation that should be everywhere. The whole issue on 'drift' is a difficult one, things can spread within a kilometre radius and how would you ever know in many cases and there is very little you can do about it.
Had I been at work I may have come home and picked a nice bowl of vegie insecticide to munch on. Then again, how many times have I done that already.
Ugh!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Water restrictions
Woohoo from 17% of the dams filled in South East Queensland at the beginning of December we are now at 27%. Yes, it's been raining. Quite a bit. The other day the kiddies across the road were splashing out in the rain...less than 5 years of age...that's a lifetime of drought. I got a bit frustrated earlier this year ,with 30 kids trekking in mud after playtime onto the carpet when it rained, until I realised they really don't know what areas of mud are best avoided and how to get it off their shoes. Distracted from their work and looking out the window at water falling from the sky, I couldn't really blame them. It's one of those teacher lines you roll out automatically, "Anyone would think you'd never seen rain before?" Somehow it's funnier when it's true...dry humour.
The Long Dry.
It's been a long time, water restrictions began here in May 2005. The dam levels fell to 35% in September of that year. Ah, those were the days when we still used garden hoses and can you believe we had automatic sprinkler systems? I can't even remember where my garden hose is and bucket watering is better than no watering. Since then we have seen 6 different levels of water restrictions.
It may not be too much to wish for but getting back to 35% could see us through another 2 years until the water recycling infrastructure is finished. Yes, it didn't look like we were going to make it and some cities already had planning documents in place for distributing drinking water on the streets once the public water system failed.
Yes, I am hoping for recycled sewerage water to drink...funny how your perspective on things changes.
And should cows jump over the moon, maybe it might just rain enough to get us over the 35% level in our dams. Some staple foods have risen in price by 60% since last year. The sheep stock is at its lowest since 1920. While full dams won't change the food shortage, much, no water means no electricity, a real problem with the sewerage system..and it goes on and on. It could be worse.
Here's hoping that those around the world who are also in the grip of drought may be getting a spot of rain their way too.
The Long Dry.
It's been a long time, water restrictions began here in May 2005. The dam levels fell to 35% in September of that year. Ah, those were the days when we still used garden hoses and can you believe we had automatic sprinkler systems? I can't even remember where my garden hose is and bucket watering is better than no watering. Since then we have seen 6 different levels of water restrictions.
It may not be too much to wish for but getting back to 35% could see us through another 2 years until the water recycling infrastructure is finished. Yes, it didn't look like we were going to make it and some cities already had planning documents in place for distributing drinking water on the streets once the public water system failed.
Yes, I am hoping for recycled sewerage water to drink...funny how your perspective on things changes.
And should cows jump over the moon, maybe it might just rain enough to get us over the 35% level in our dams. Some staple foods have risen in price by 60% since last year. The sheep stock is at its lowest since 1920. While full dams won't change the food shortage, much, no water means no electricity, a real problem with the sewerage system..and it goes on and on. It could be worse.
Here's hoping that those around the world who are also in the grip of drought may be getting a spot of rain their way too.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Saving Seed in the Suburbs
Saving seed in the suburbs - is it possible or worth doing?
Firstly, saving seed means you have to have the right seed...open-pollinated. Don't be sucked in to buying 'organic' seed that isn't open-pollinated. When you buy hybrid seeds you may end up with a very different plant growing from your saved seed than you imagined because of the plant genetics involved...they're not designed for this purpose and stability of following seed generations is an issue. There are many varieties of seed that have vanished from commercially mass produced seed ranges and discovering the odd shaped radishes and black tomatoes is a gardening adventure that is worth going on. The heritage seed, open-pollinated sources have wonderful catalogues.
Once you get into the intricacies of seed-saving there is a slight problem with saving open-pollinated seed. Your different varieties of pumpkins may cross pollinate and you'll end up with a second generation combo. In fact, if your surrounding neighbours happen to be planting pumpkin, then this will also be a problem. Very few of us have the kind of acreage it would take to guarantee 'zero cross-pollination', or the desire to hand pollinate each and every little sucker or even, the inclination to grow plants in laboratory conditions.
My take on it is that cross pollination is not something that should prevent you from going on the seed-saving route. If you are weaning out and selecting plant seed according to hardiness, flavour and productivity it's going to inherit some of those aspects. Our preconceived ideas of what a vegetable should be aren't all that necessary. It's still a pumpkin right...and saving seed according to your gardening conditions is going to produce better seeds in the long run...while there might be a few duds along the way this is 'real' gardening...not the sterile variety of gardening that we have come to perceive as 'the way things are done'. And since most vegies are short-term crops experimenting isn't going to have long-term consequences.
Self-pollinating vegies are less of an issue. Interestingly I discovered that tomatoes grown in their original surroundings were pollinated by a native bee. Now that was a surprise that challenged my definition of self-pollinated plants as a category unto themselves!
Saving flower seed is an easy place to start, since you're not eating them who cares if they are slightly different to the parent plant? If you save the seed of annual flowers this is going to be very convenient in the long-run.
This doesn't mean that acquiring special plants from catalogs is something you won't do and there are cases where you just want a particular variety...but the joys of saving and growing your own seed is a part of gardening that everyone should experience. I think we've lost our sense of adventure in gardening...cuttings, seed-swapping and eat-and-plant. I mean what did people do before store bought seed and plants took over?
I guess the only seed that I would consider 'not worth saving' is when it comes to fruit trees. There are too many years of growth involved in producing a fruiting tree and by the time it reaches that stage it's going to be harder to remove and a serious setback. AND seed from your favourite fruiting tree is no guarantee that you will end up with the same plant. When I was a teacher up north the kids always brought me mangos...on a daily basis...they didn't bring apples thank goodness. Cherry mangoes are vile. Many of the mango trees that have been planted are stringy or bitter in taste and I imagine that people have just planted the seeds or they have self-sown. The mangos that the kids didn't bring very often were the fabulously sweet bowen mangos that are total ambrosia.
Take care with sourcing fruit trees. This is one area of gardening that you want to get right the first time or you'll be wearing the mistake for a very long time.
Firstly, saving seed means you have to have the right seed...open-pollinated. Don't be sucked in to buying 'organic' seed that isn't open-pollinated. When you buy hybrid seeds you may end up with a very different plant growing from your saved seed than you imagined because of the plant genetics involved...they're not designed for this purpose and stability of following seed generations is an issue. There are many varieties of seed that have vanished from commercially mass produced seed ranges and discovering the odd shaped radishes and black tomatoes is a gardening adventure that is worth going on. The heritage seed, open-pollinated sources have wonderful catalogues.
Once you get into the intricacies of seed-saving there is a slight problem with saving open-pollinated seed. Your different varieties of pumpkins may cross pollinate and you'll end up with a second generation combo. In fact, if your surrounding neighbours happen to be planting pumpkin, then this will also be a problem. Very few of us have the kind of acreage it would take to guarantee 'zero cross-pollination', or the desire to hand pollinate each and every little sucker or even, the inclination to grow plants in laboratory conditions.
My take on it is that cross pollination is not something that should prevent you from going on the seed-saving route. If you are weaning out and selecting plant seed according to hardiness, flavour and productivity it's going to inherit some of those aspects. Our preconceived ideas of what a vegetable should be aren't all that necessary. It's still a pumpkin right...and saving seed according to your gardening conditions is going to produce better seeds in the long run...while there might be a few duds along the way this is 'real' gardening...not the sterile variety of gardening that we have come to perceive as 'the way things are done'. And since most vegies are short-term crops experimenting isn't going to have long-term consequences.
Self-pollinating vegies are less of an issue. Interestingly I discovered that tomatoes grown in their original surroundings were pollinated by a native bee. Now that was a surprise that challenged my definition of self-pollinated plants as a category unto themselves!
Saving flower seed is an easy place to start, since you're not eating them who cares if they are slightly different to the parent plant? If you save the seed of annual flowers this is going to be very convenient in the long-run.
This doesn't mean that acquiring special plants from catalogs is something you won't do and there are cases where you just want a particular variety...but the joys of saving and growing your own seed is a part of gardening that everyone should experience. I think we've lost our sense of adventure in gardening...cuttings, seed-swapping and eat-and-plant. I mean what did people do before store bought seed and plants took over?
I guess the only seed that I would consider 'not worth saving' is when it comes to fruit trees. There are too many years of growth involved in producing a fruiting tree and by the time it reaches that stage it's going to be harder to remove and a serious setback. AND seed from your favourite fruiting tree is no guarantee that you will end up with the same plant. When I was a teacher up north the kids always brought me mangos...on a daily basis...they didn't bring apples thank goodness. Cherry mangoes are vile. Many of the mango trees that have been planted are stringy or bitter in taste and I imagine that people have just planted the seeds or they have self-sown. The mangos that the kids didn't bring very often were the fabulously sweet bowen mangos that are total ambrosia.
Take care with sourcing fruit trees. This is one area of gardening that you want to get right the first time or you'll be wearing the mistake for a very long time.
Granny square slipper number two
I picked up the pattern for hexagonal granny square slippers (more booties than slipper) and I've been busy crocheting rounds. Every round is a new stitch that I have to learn: treble crochet, puff stitch, cluster stitch...but they are coming along and it's at the right challenge level to keep me interested in the project. I don't know if they will turn out the size that I need to fit my foot though...fingers crossed...and if not they may be fine with a thick pair of socks (or the hexagons might end up being used for another project ; ) ) . It is interesting finding out the 'real time' that is required to produce hand-made objects as opposed to just going out and buying manufactured articles. Aside from that, producing things that have a longer life sounds good to me...what I do remember is that hand knits are very durable.
The knitted and crocheted dishcloths are brilliant: the crocheted one cleans very well and the knitted one dries quickly. No more disposable supermarket cleaning cloths for me...one small step towards being more environmentally responsible. We are having a lot of rain, so the crocheting /knitting bug makes up for not being able to garden as much.
On the gardening front I am planting out aster seedlings. Strawberries are turning mushy in the hot humid weather (sigh), the sunflower head now has been stockinged and is hanging up to dry and I'm investigating how to grow chickpeas (so far they look like a good potted option as they are likely to get away from you, they are high in protein and as legumes they are great nitrogen fixers and can be dried and stored long-term - win win all around). I have also planted out various versions of sweat peas...hopefully they will improve the soil (but anything I've planted has improved my horrible 'new house' soil) as well as being pretty to look at. And I am delighted that I can't plant seedlings without having to cover over the worms in my garden that I have inadvertently exposed to the elements with my digging...I now have 'real' soil.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Granny Slipper
I was trying to replicate a slipper pattern I'd seen, but couldn't find on the net. I rib knitted a rectangle that was foot length (k2p2), made a granny square, then double crocheted the square and around the edge of the rectangle to join the two pieces and form a border. I crocheted a cord, threaded it through and voila. Not quite the same pattern. If you know which one I'm thinking of please let me know or if you have any suggestions for modifications.
Here is the finished 'object' LOL.
Here is the finished 'object' LOL.
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