It was good to be home after three and a bit weeks away. Arriving back late in the evening, I couldn’t wait till the morning to view my garden. I had been wondering how the garden would cope without my attention for almost a month.
In the early morning light, I grabbed my camera phone to capture the first glimpses of the ‘reunion’.
Well as you can see the garden not only survived but perhaps thrived in my absence (I like that I need my garden more than it needs me).
Currently it is 4am in the morning. I have been awake since 2.30am. Getting out of bed to do something productive is not my preferred option – it is just too cold and may wake the sleeping family.
So now I am hiding under the covers so the illuminated light from my mobile phone doesn’t awake my husband.
Sharing a photograph of flowering broccolini at 4am just feels appropriate (not sure why).
I have allowed one full bed of brocollini to flower this season because it attracts the bees and because it also attracts me to the garden too – as very little is currently flowering. Don’t worry there is plenty of brocollini to eat.
I’m feeling a little sleepy now….
We have built the frame of two raised garden beds, at Buxton Community Garden (Buxton is part of Wollondilly Council, at the base of the Southern Highlands – an hour South of Sydney, Australia).
Buxton Community Garden will now be building wicking (water reservoirs) inside the raised garden frames. The purpose of this is to save water and help with watering – like a self watering system.
The date to build the wicking water reservoirs is September the 27th. Everyone is welcome to come along and learn while getting involved (or welcome to just watch). This is a FREE event. Children are welcomed and encouraged to get involved too.
For all the details check out our event listing.
The raised garden bed frames, will soon have an inbuilt water reservoir, soil and plants.
It is hard to believe that last week it was snowing 30 minutes away from our house (very unusual). This week the nights are still very cold but the days are bathed with warm sunshine.
Time to venture outside after our recent hibernation stint. Time to finally pick the winter mandarins.
This photographed mandarin tree is a miniature variety. We have had this tree and pot since we lived in the inner City of Sydney. Proof that you can still grow vegetables and fruit even if you have very little outside space. Space doesn’t limit you – your imagination and belief does.
Stage 1 of Buxton Community Garden is complete!! What’s next? We are planning two workshops on basic composting and building water reservoir, raised garden beds (wicking beds) – information coming soon. Both workshops will be in September.
Stage 2 of our community garden will see more raised garden beds, building our meeting area, establish a three bay compost bin system and worm farm.
Again I would like to take the opportunity to say “thankyou” to all the locals, community groups and businesses who sponsored and supported Buxton Community Garden!!
Children of our Town say "Thankyou" to local businesses who sponsored and helped make Buxton Community Garden a reality
With the generous free use of a 'Dingo' (thanks to Picton Hire), Buxton Community Garden stage 1 build was much easier
Building the first raised garden bed which will be turned into a wicking water reservoir garden bed
Our first raised garden bed is finished
Down tools. It's lunch time
Old black plastic garden pots, reused as planted seed markers - a permanent silver marker was used
Stage 1 build of Buxton Community Garden is completed - two raised garden beds built and a large planted area (netted to keep birds away)
The beginning of Buxton Community Garden
Stage 1 of Buxton Community Garden is completed - this time next year, in 5 years and in 10 years, we will look back at this photo with amazement on how far we have come. We have a big vision!
Buxton Community Garden grand plan
Talk about heart warming and being overwhelmed by community spirit and support!!
Last Sunday was stage one of our town’s community garden build. I will be posting photos and sharing all the amazing details shortly but for now I feel compelled to focus on the ‘thank yous’.
Thankyou to all who came down and got their hands dirty. Thankyou to all the businesses and local community groups who sponsored, supported and helped.
I feel humbled to belong to this community.
Thankyou:
Picton Hire
Picton Mitre 10
Macarthur Seed Savers
Buxton Rural Fire Service
Picton Sand & Soil
Beautique Hair Body & Soul
Pheasant Nest Produce
Matt Mills Carpentry
Peter Hunt Real Estate
Premium Fire Wood
Marks Landscape Supplies
Tahmoor Garden Centre
Derks Pet & Rural Produce
As a professional photographer I have been obsessed with light for over 20 years (occupational hazard 😁).
Today while gardening, it occured to me that I have also become obsessed with light as a gardener of edible plants. Where, when and how long light falls apon my plants. Every season taking careful note that my veggie gardens have access to at least six hours of light (while protecting them from the harsh setting, Southern hemisphere’s Westley sun).
With the tremendous rainfall we have had over the last twelve months, trees have grown much taller around our vegetable gardens. Taller trees and a lower sun (winter sun is lower in the sky than summer) means far less light.
Basically this all means, many more tree branches will need to be trimmed in the coming days – more branches to get creative with.
Greener Me 