I am Bec from ‘The Urban Homesteading Club (Canberra & Surrounds)’ and I recently attended a natural beekeeping course through Milkwood Permaculture. I would love to do a PDC with them, but cannot organise to get to either Sydney or Mudgee for two weeks, so I have asked Milkwood Permaculture if they would consider teaching a PDC in Canberra. They are considering it. If anyone would also love to do a 2 week Milkwood PDC in 2013 without having to travel & stay in Sydney or Mudgee, please email Trev to express your interest, so they can see how many people might be keen, thank you! trevor@milkwoodpermaculture.com.au More about their PDC course here: http://milkwoodpermaculture.com.au/courses/categoryevents/3-permaculture-design-certificate

For the last few years I have neglected my garden entirely. It used to be quite productive with vegies, chooks etc, and its quite a large area (I’m on a typical quarter acre block in Macquarie). I’m about to arrange for a garden clean-up to uncover the old garden beds, prune the fruit trees, and pull out the rampaging Vinca etc. Once that is done, I’m hoping to employ someone on a regular basis (maybe 2-3 hours per week) to give the garden a chance to thrive again. Ideally, I’m hoping to find someone who’d like some creative free rein – perhaps a horticulture student or someone who has a passion for gardening and doesn’t have a patch of their own?

If interested, please call Nicky on 0410 352 783.

I am trying to make large quantities of potting mix. I usually use a combination of mushroom compost, coco peat and sand. Recently I bought a batch of mushroom compost which, when tested for pH, was 10 – way too alkaline. Especially because I am growing plants from the Solanaceae family. In doing some research, I found the following suggestion: add sulphur and turn compost, leave for one month, or add organic matter such as animal manure.

Has anyone made potting mix with local manure, or could someone suggest a good local composted manure? Thanks for any feedback.

Vaughan

I live on a large rural property near Mt Stromlo and need a gardener for 1-2 days a week to remove weeds, trim edges, and prune shrubs and trees. Please respond to this post if you are interested.

Thanks,
Roger

I am looking for someone skilled in pruning backyard fruit trees. I have a large semi-ornamental plum tree, a small courageous satsuma plum, an apple and also a cherry tree still on it’s feet but struggling. All would benefit from expert clipping. I’ve looked through the Yellow Pages but am loathe to entrust the trees to a general landscaper or tree surgeon. Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Heather

I am wondering if anyone has a good crop rotation system that they would be happy to share. I am sure there are lots of good ones out there, but a Canberra specific rotation plan from a COGS gardener would be fantastic.

Thanks very much,
Jo

We have just dug up and separated our 25 year old asparagus patch and have lots of crowns left over after replanting. If anyone would like to have some please respond to this post and and it will be first in, first served. I don’t know what variety they are, just the common type. I read that once you dig them up and replant they can be picked straight away this season. Don’t know how true that is but you can decide.

Robyn

26 July – Please note all asparagus has been allocated. Thanks for your interest. Ian M.

27 July – Comments closed. Ian M.

I would like advice from anyone who has planted fruit trees in Canberra. I have a clay soil. I have received two pieces of conflicting advice about planting in clay soil:
1. Dig a hole twice the width and depth of the root ball, mix the soil from the hole with compost and plant the tree; and
2. Plant the tree in a mound as this helps with drainage. Do not plant trees in holes (as in point 1) as the holes act as a sump, resulting in the rotting of the tree roots.

But perhaps a sump is a good thing in Canberra where, with the exception of the last two years, it has been very dry? Has anyone tried these different techniques and had any success or failure?

Thanks,
Michael

I have a four year old tangelo tree in a pot. I brought it up from Melbourne with me. I really think it needs sunnier climes – it’s not looking so hot despite trying to do all the right things with it (place it against a north facing wall etc). If anyone wants it, to perhaps give it to a friend who lives somewhere a little warmer, please contact me.

Michael