Small inconveniences

 

What's this wet stuff?

Like the rocks piled around our septic tank, waiting to be turned into a retaining wall, so are the rest of the jobs, piling up outside too. We were already struggling with time but recent storm activity, held things up further. I don't mind the rain. It's fantastic! Always does wonders for our garden. But I do find myself counting the hours, to when I can get the next job done! 

My shoes are tracking clay into the house, and when walking around outside, I need to find stable ground. Otherwise my shoes start sinking. Just look at this little ripper of an example!

One of these legs, are not like the other

Maybe it has something to do with the barrow being full of road-base, with a 20kg bag of sand & gravel, on top? Otherwise remnants from a project, we failed to put away as the sun went down. Believing we'd return the next afternoon to finish. The overnight storm had other ideas though. Because once completely saturated, the barrow became twice as heavy. The ground soon gave way. Now we wait for clear skies to finish the job we started. 

During one of the storms, we lost power too. For almost 24 hours. It fined up a little during the day, so I went outside to put some plants in the ground. Of course, when you live on slopes, planting a tree isn't a simple affair. Often, you have to make your own flat land. 

Organic raised beds

I actually started this project a few weeks ago, when we took down some trees. One of the large trunks had a fork in it, which helped create another planting pocket. We stacked other branches on top, to create the terraces. Nothing fancy. Just using what we have to create flat land. It does the job. What it takes is time though. Removing the tree, separating their parts and utilising them elsewhere. A true commitment.

Finally, it can start growing

All this, just to plant a fruit tree! A Brazilian cherry, which I propagated from seed. In high rainfall areas, fruit trees can be planted directly onto a slope. No landscape interventions required. Given we experience long dry spells though, it's better to plant trees onto flat ground. Which allows gravity to soak any rainfall, directly down to the roots. Rather than skimming the surface on the way down the slope. 

All mulched in

The cherry got a friend, in a variegated Dietes Iridioides. This strappy-leaf grass, can handle the heat and grows fast. It will help create a nicer micro-climate, for the fruit tree to establish.  I also planted a few ground-covers which are too small to see, at present. They will fall over the wood terrace, helping shade it from direct sun. Reducing evaporation. Translation - more moisture for longer. So many strategies layered in place, to give the best chance of success!

I wish it was a simple matter, of just planting trees in the ground. We don't have the terrain or conditions, to foster that simple approach though. In the past, our fruit trees did't stand a chance of establishing on clay slopes, with sporadic rainfall, heat, and mini dinosaurs - otherwise known as brush turkeys. Who regularly uncover the mulch with their incessant scratching. I can't tell you how many fruit-trees we lost in the recent, four-year drought. Or maybe I will...in another post though. 

 

A different kind of fruit.

Right now, the rain is triggering the fungi to proliferate - so the cycle of soil improvement begins once more. I'll take these moments, when I can get them. Shuffling as many jobs as I can, between showers. Weather predictions suggest, I'll have a few clear days coming up. So I'll use those as best I can. Starting with repatriating our wheelbarrow!

Are you having challenges with the weather, in your location at present? I'm personally grateful for my small inconveniences, if it means the land becomes hydrated again.