Thursday, September 28, 2017

On hold

I've been avoiding the computer lately. It's in relation, to the lack of rain. What's the connection? My garden knows spring is here, and I have seedlings, already bursting to go into the ground - but the lack of rain, creates a "pause". Things grind to a halt. Nothing can happen, until the rains arrive in earnest, again.


Corn is waiting...


My daily routine, consists of running the shower water to the bird bath, which also waters the kangaroos and brush turkeys. Then I grab buckets of water, from our small, chicken coop, water tank - in order to give my nursery plants a good drink. I have a proper nursery now, which (if I remember) I'll share more about. Finally, I try to find greens for the chickens, which are really, non-existent.


 Dead grass, versus, hanging on ~ I want the corn to go here


We have a little green patch, just out the back door, we are watering with our septic sprinklers. The sprouted brassicas, are, for the most part, flowering and attracting a small population of bees. The local magpie family, come down to visit the chicken tractor's, spent grains, after it's been moved. As are, the local cockatoo population. Because everything out there, is in the process of dying.


Cockatoos and grey water hose


Which is why I'm avoiding the computer, in preference for observing what's happening outside. I'm like a lion, stalking - waiting for my moment to pounce. I'm watching the animals' movement around the dwindling water supply and food. I'm also noting the wind direction, hoping they come from the West - which my grandfather told me, brought entrenched rainfall, for a good week.

Until those rains arrive however, I feel like the plants, in my hugelkulture raised beds. Which is, not doing a whole lot, but declining instead. This lion is going hungry. It's not about depression or sadness. It's about acceptance of 'this' season. The feedback says, I cannot progress further - nothing can, without the rain.

When I hear those ominous drops on my rooftop again, THEN I can strike. All those plants can go in the ground. I can watch my garden, come to life again. All the new earthworks I dug over winter, can fill with water. But until then, I wait, I stalk and watch everything around me, go to decay. 


 New pond earthworks


This is what happens every season, until the reprieve arrives. Either in the form of the heat and cold, coming or going - the lack of sunlight or overexposure to it, rain or drought. We hunger for the opposite, to change the present. But what do we do in the interim? Let's not stew on sadness, until it brews into depression. We can, instead, take the time to observe, what's happening in our environment. Reevaluating, what needs to change.

I've gotten a lot of feedback, from this particular season, which I will endeavour to share. Many thoughts to ponder, about our particular landscape, and how we choose to respond to it.

In the meantime, we're hoping for rain over the weekend.

9 comments:

  1. I hope we do get rain, Chris. I also have seedlings to plant and have been waiting till the heatwave finishes tomorrow. I agree with you about trying to find some greens for the chooks :-) I think we broke a record today for the hottest September day and it would have been hotter for you I imagine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Took a small internet break, but back after the rain. Tanks are almost full again. Yeah, the heat has been phenomenal for spring. Fingers crossed that summer will be kinder.

      Delete
  2. Yes, it is our dry season. Though according to a report on Landline, our area only received a fraction of its normal winter rains. However you are quite right, the best attitude to adopt is one of observing, reflecting and responding. I will just add that I noticed a pigface that I planted last year has finally produced a lovely purple flower. Amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pigface is a reliable flowering groundcover, in drier conditions. As is, the Australian native, rice flower. I love that plant. I hope the rain increases, as the growing season progresses for you.

      Delete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Up here in North Queensland it is dry as well, we haven't had any good rain since cyclone Debbie. My plants are struggling too. We are redoing our laundry at the moment and have put a grey water diverter in, in order to be able to use our water more than once. I remember when we lived on our property in Western Qld having to buy water as the tanks ran dry, and only showering every few days, or having each person in the family use the bath water, as it was so dry and water so precious. I hope it rains for us all soon xx Linda.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice to meet a new commenter, Linda. I look forward to checking your blog out. I hope this cyclone season is less eventful for my Northern Qld neighbours. Although the rain will be welcome.

      Delete
  5. I knew the long range forecast was for a hot, dry Summer and so I scaled back plantings in the veg patch for that. I do have a few cucumbers & spring onions planted in there. I have a cherry tomatoes in my wicking barrels and I plan on growing lettuce in the planter bags I have cleaned out after I grew potatoes in them over the Winter. I can move the bags around easily for afternoon shade. I have noticed many more parrots coming in for the grevillea blossoms, King Parrots which we typically don't see unless the olives are fruiting in our next door neighbour's garden have been visiting too. Scouting out food and water! Meg:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought the long range forecast was for spring only. I could be wrong about that. Eeeks! Sounds like my garden is going to be sorely tested. It's probably a wise idea, to scale back the growing plans to meet the natural resources.

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I love reading what you have to share. Gully Grove is a Spam free environment though, so new commenter’s only leaving hyperlinks, will be promptly composted.