tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post7897960942314004427..comments2024-02-10T18:50:01.193+10:00Comments on Gully Grove: Greening the Desert?Chris http://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-10935238213099031362017-10-29T15:05:01.209+10:002017-10-29T15:05:01.209+10:00Slow is the way to go, when it's just one or t...Slow is the way to go, when it's just one or two people. Dave helps with the big jobs, but it takes a personal effort of weeks to months, to finish a project. Chipping away. Slowly. Day by day. It's a challenge, when it's just you.<br /><br />But keep with it Tania, because the rewards are still coming. They're just delayed. This is the reality for most people on limited time and financial budgets. When that rain finally does arrive for you though, you'll hit the ground running again - observing and interacting with all those systems.<br /><br />That's what happened to us recently. I started cutting back the long grass and putting it around my trees. Because I know I have a short window for this season of abundance. I want to get that carbon into the soil as quickly as possible. Turn that grass into a tree, as they're easier to manage, lol. <br /><br />Fingers crossed, summer brings the rain for you. :)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-82967443667251964582017-10-28T22:38:44.110+10:002017-10-28T22:38:44.110+10:00This is a helpful post Chris, it is good to get yo...This is a helpful post Chris, it is good to get your perspective on things.<br /><br />I love watching Geoff Lawton's videos and the desert ones were the first ones I watched, thinking if they can grow food over in those desert countries, then surely I can. But like you say they have access to equipment that we don't. I also enjoyed Geoff's Zaytuna farm tours on you tube plus any others I could find.<br /><br />I am slowly progressing using permaculture methods, but there is only me to do the work as my hubby is not that interested in what I would like to achieve. He does help with if I ask though. I will get there, but it will take me a while at this rate. I am hopeful that one day I will get to do a course to help me along my way.<br /><br />We haven't had decent rains since April, so things are getting desperate around here. I wanted a good drenching out the back around the fruit trees so I could get started on laying my cardboard and mulch, but I am tired of waiting lol! I also wanted to see the lay of the land after a down pour, hopefully that will happen during spring or summer.<br /><br />I think we are in for a few years of drought, so that will make it tough for me to keep the veggie garden growing. We do have quite a bit of rain water collected and at the moment the tanks are pretty full because we are being very careful not to use too much as we don't know when it will rain. Every time they forecast us to get some, it doesn't eventuate! Shade is a definite here too!<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your knowledge,<br /><br />xTania<br />Taniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10176661940614462611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-28461835001669138962017-10-27T15:40:42.950+10:002017-10-27T15:40:42.950+10:00Like you, I love permaculture too. It doesn't ...Like you, I love permaculture too. It doesn't hurt to implement the things we can afford to. Only, takes heaps longer to achieve a similar outcome as Geoff's, when on a "light" plan, lol. <br /><br />Which is why I appreciate the work of Peter Andrews in Australia, as being specific to natural cycles. His system is called, Natural Sequence Farming, and you may have heard me mention it before. He basically uses the resources the landscape already has, and from the outset, it's all about the natural water cycles that trigger the change. Natural, for Australia meaning, flood and famine. It's all or nothing. There's no illusion that abundance can be manufactured on a consistent basis. It's determined by the natural sequences instead. Which fluctuate.<br /><br />But I really appreciate both men's work, for a broader perspective. They're just not always going to apply to my limited field of influence. It's good to learn from them nonetheless. :)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-61113987408393407282017-10-25T21:00:52.631+10:002017-10-25T21:00:52.631+10:00Excellent post, Chris. I love Geoff Lawton's v...Excellent post, Chris. I love Geoff Lawton's videos and resources. I love the idea of permaculture, but we have thought too, that it is something that can't be accomplished with a lot of resources. The slow pay-as-you-go plan doesn't work for us, because too many other things barge in and take over while we're trying to create our ecosystems. Not criticizing the concept, just saying that it's a logical and attractive idea with many, many challenges to make a working reality. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-9505290007147446612017-10-09T18:18:50.838+10:002017-10-09T18:18:50.838+10:00I got excited looking at your ponds, filled with w...I got excited looking at your ponds, filled with water, when you shared them too. There's just something about a water source, that's so comforting. Especially if you're fortunate enough to have it on your land.<br /><br />I wish my wicking boxes did as well as your's. I think the fact yours got some shade during the day, helped. Mine had full sun exposure, so even in winter, when we had a few uncharacteristic warm days, my veg bolted to seed. I expect with a better location, they would work!<br /><br />I know we're hopelessly unprepared, and we've been trying to crack this goose's golden egg, for at least 8 years. It's going to be a real challenge for those who haven't yet started.Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-24544737272277755842017-10-09T18:14:28.191+10:002017-10-09T18:14:28.191+10:00I was amazed how quickly the bush responded to the...I was amazed how quickly the bush responded to the first rain event, here too. Our wattles are setting seed now, so the King parrots are visiting quite regularly. As are the Cockatoos. It's fantastic to see life returning, with more pep!<br /><br />You must grow a well conditioned salad veg for your area, because I always struggle to grow lettuce, or any leafy greens, during the warmer months. They bolt or taste extremely bitter. I like your wicking barrels, I saw on your blog recently. Very nice. Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-25103109942176962082017-10-09T18:10:44.625+10:002017-10-09T18:10:44.625+10:00It's taken me a while to accept water must be ...It's taken me a while to accept water must be in consistent supply. I hoped the natural interventions would be enough. Without additional water though, I can't get plants to establish. Lesson learned. ;)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-88273934915048246642017-10-09T18:07:59.653+10:002017-10-09T18:07:59.653+10:00I spent the last of my teen years, growing up in S...I spent the last of my teen years, growing up in Stanthorpe, so moving to Toowoomba, felt like moving to Brisbane. So much warmer! However, temps are more like Ipswich now. Flagstone Creek, gets all the best rain. North Toowoomba and Murphy's Creek, hardly sees as much.Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-46767984087328930332017-10-09T18:04:21.130+10:002017-10-09T18:04:21.130+10:00If I had the resources, I would definitely impleme...If I had the resources, I would definitely implement a lot of what Geoff has. But like you said, most can't fit it in their budgets. What I do, however, is protract those projects over time. I told Dave recently, we've probably got another 10 years to finish the earthworks, lol. Small and slow, but magnifies over time.Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-62112912469712074282017-10-09T11:22:03.653+10:002017-10-09T11:22:03.653+10:00I'm glad you got rain! One of the greatest del...I'm glad you got rain! One of the greatest delights is seeing a new water feature actually holding water!<br /><br />I think following the permaculture principles is the most important thing....how we do it with the resources we have is going to vary often between neighbours in the same street and certainly within different rainfall areas. I'm very glad of my wicking boxes. I would never have the time to water all my annual food crops without them. And I'm in a better position than you, because I have town water as well as the tanks. <br /><br />When the majority of people realise that much of their future food is going to have to come from home, there are going to be a lot of very steep learning curves!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-86994481237425219242017-10-08T09:55:00.683+10:002017-10-08T09:55:00.683+10:00That rain was just wonderful and I love seeing how...That rain was just wonderful and I love seeing how nature responds. As I look out to the forest just beyond my home here, what was the yellowy-brown grass is now greening again.The forest doesn't look as parched! The typical birds are still coming in but since the rain we haven't seen the king parrots or the rosellas. Our water tanks are full. I agree that we have to really consider carefully what to grow and use that precious water on. In my veggie patch and wicking barrels, over the warmer months, that's salad veg because that is what we eat, that will save us money and in previous Summers that's what's grown well here. Meg:)Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11573371198907761962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-77876788206619211172017-10-08T08:25:02.460+10:002017-10-08T08:25:02.460+10:00Hi Chris, so glad you got some rain to add some wa...Hi Chris, so glad you got some rain to add some water to the tanks. Here's hoping there is more rain and the tanks get full before the summer. What Geoff does is brilliant and inspiring. I remain inspired and try and put small amounts into practice. I will never attain a Green Desert without the addition of sourced water. I accept this and move on. I can also use sourced water either from the Mains or from our spear(bore). I am lucky enough to have these extra sources available to me. So here's to more rain to fill tanks and flush through underground water systems.Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06964345893499561504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-90662664645788166192017-10-07T19:30:39.131+10:002017-10-07T19:30:39.131+10:00I am glad you got some rain, Chris but it would be...I am glad you got some rain, Chris but it would be nice to get more. At the beginning of the week we had about an inch of rain but only a few drops in the last couple of days when it has been raining elsewhere in the region. I too think we will have to deal with hot, dry weather more often in the years to come. Whoever thought that Toowoomba would have 40C days in summer and 35C days at the beginning of spring. Nanna Chelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07500527266771727074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-92078516853701413112017-10-07T18:08:02.624+10:002017-10-07T18:08:02.624+10:00What Geoff Lawton accomplishes is truly amazing. H...What Geoff Lawton accomplishes is truly amazing. However the earthworks he puts in place is something that is too costly for many. My personal permaculture practice leans much more towards the small and slow solutions. Sherrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322236537807536688noreply@blogger.com