Sprinkling (at high pressure)
We have a well with a pump that delivers 25mm of water at high pressure. While I was trying to come up with a way to apply this water gently to the garden I came up with this simple circular terminus mister (click for photo).
It effectively produces a 4 meter high column of mist. Wonderful on a scorching afternoon.
Sights and sounds from the deck
Press the play button (below) to hear the birds and stream.
Paulownia Seed
Howard thaws on carbon trading
Asparagus
Do not over-harvest the plant because this would weaken it in the following year.
The shoots are a good source of protein and dietary fibre. Roasted seeds are a coffee substitute
European hazelnut
Wind pollinated (not self fertile)
Frost hardy
Reinventing the parking structure
The voices in the peak oil conversation have made it clear to me that problems with the production and transportation of vegetables will demand more food to be grown closer to the point of consumption - back yards, roof tops, window sills and so on.
Kunstler believes that cities will contract, and those on the coast (exposed to sea level rise) are certainly likely to, as are those that require air conditioning or heating to make the climate bearable.
Vietnamese coriander
Arizonica
Aphids
Winter Fire
Day 42 - Waipu Cove
What happened to the credit crunch?
I found myself thinking that perhaps this was another SARS, another media sensation that had already been exhausted and forgotten. Perhaps that's what I wanted to believe. I hadn't heard much press about the topic recently an considered that perhaps if people forgot about it and confidence was restored then economic disaster could be averted.
Then this link turned up and I started thinking again.
Fickle climate gets a book in its honour
Melisa is no stranger to children's literature, having worked in a children's library as well as writing reviews of children's books.
She has been interested in writing from a young age, but says her main credentials for becoming a children's author are simply that she used to be a child, and remembers clearly what used to appeal to her when being read to by her parents.
Weather or Not has colourful illustrations - also by Melisa - and simple text.
French Sorrel
Frosty
Holy radish!
Red Kidney Vetch
Saving fuel, planet is plain sailing
Green Christmas
Grafting After Care
- It is usually obvious after a couple of weeks if the graft has failed as it will have dried and shrunken. If the wood looks alive and the buds are full or opening then there is a good chance your graft will take.
- Remove active growth and buds from below the graft point as this will take energy required by the healing graft.
- If any of the buds on the freshly grafted wood are blossoms then these should be removed. Just pinch them off carefully with fingernails or clip with secateurs. This allows the branch to focus on healing the union and prevents any breakage caused by heavy fruit. This may be necessary on the following year also, depending on the style and state of the graft.
- When the graft is part of a larger tree consider periodic pruning or bending down of old wood to encourage development of grafted part(s)
- After several months check grafting tape / bindings are not strangling / girdling the healing graft. Some tapes are biodegradable and will split or peel after exposure to summer sun, others require manual splitting with a sharp blade to release the pressure.
- Excessive sun and wind exposure can dessicate or dislodge grafts. If your rootstock is in a pot keep it in a sheltered location until the union is solid. A high humidity environment is ideal.
Bridal Veil Falls - Top
Day 11
New Dawn - A weekend of Linux
The New Rulers of the World
John Pilger's New Rulers of the World tackles the injustices and double standards inherent in the politics of globalization. It sets out to explain something of the "new" order--the unholy alliance of business interests, media magnates and imperial repression--and the importance of breaking the silence that protects great power and its manipulations.
Silver wattle growing madly
I noticed fantails use the wattle trees as 'stepping stones' or islands to travel across the open expanse of paddock.
In 2014 the tree is now large enough for an 8 year old to climb.
A little bit of wind
Power went out for 36 hours and cellphone / internet for 48.
The tunnel house was somewhat damaged, mostly due to the door coming open or disintegrating.
Juglone tolerance
Win-win-win with pigs and chickens
In addition to the hens and their loyal rooster we keep 3 Kune kune pigs. This is a small breed, hairy and very affectionate. Their roles are as lawn mowers, soil cultivators and manure makers. Kune kune pigs are unique in that they can survive on a diet of grass and need very little supplementary food unless raising babies.
Over the last few years we have been impressed with how the chooks, young chickens, rooster and pigs all get along in the slowly emerging food forest they call home. They range freely together and at feeding time jostle with each other for access to kitchen scraps and grain.
Our chooks and ducks get fed supplementary grain that has been soaked in water. This makes it softer, easier to digest and because it swells up means they don't eat as much.
One unintentional positive side effect of feeding grain to the chickens while the pigs are present is they inevitably end up eating some of it. Being greedy, they swallow most of it whole and it passes straight through and ends up spread around their territory in the manure. The chickens have discovered this and are very eager to get at the grains embedded in the poo. This results in frantic scratching and disintegration of the pig turds resulting in faster breakdown and absorption into the surrounding landscape.
How to determine the ripeness of a pear for eating
Pears are typically harvested when they reach maturity but are still firm. Pears picked too early will not ripen properly, while those left on the tree too long may become overripe and mushy.
Determining the ripeness of a pear depends on the variety, as different types have slightly different indicators. However, here are some general tips to tell when a pear is ripe and ready to eat:
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Color: Check the color of the pear. Most pears will change color as they ripen. However, the exact color change varies depending on the variety. For example, Bartlett pears turn from green to yellow as they ripen, while Anjou pears remain green but may develop a slight yellow or brownish hue. Red varieties will develop more intense color as they ripen.
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Texture: Gently press the pear near the stem end. It should give slightly under gentle pressure, indicating ripeness. If it feels rock hard, it's not yet ripe. However, be careful not to press too hard, as you may bruise the fruit.
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Fragrance: Smell the pear near the stem end. A ripe pear will often have a sweet aroma, especially around the stem. If it smells fragrant, it's likely ripe.
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Check the Neck: For most pear varieties, the best way to determine ripeness is to check the neck. Apply gentle pressure to the neck of the pear with your thumb. If it yields slightly, it's ripe and ready to eat. If the neck feels firm, it may need more time to ripen.
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Time: If you're unsure about the other indicators, you can also gauge ripeness by how long the pear has been off the tree. Pears picked when mature but still firm will ripen at room temperature within a few days to a week. You can speed up the ripening process by placing the pear in a paper bag with a ripe banana or apple, as these fruits release ethylene gas, which accelerates ripening.
Remember that pears can go from ripe to overripe fairly quickly, so it's best to check them regularly once they start showing signs of ripeness. Once ripe, store them in the refrigerator to slow down the ripening process and extend their shelf life.
Goji berry
Chinese water chestnuts
Reforestation idea
Green Tea
Liquorice
New Jersey Tea
Small Leaved Lime, Littleleaf linden
Thyme - The (extra) healthy herb
Creeping Raspberry
Babaco
Easily propagated from stem cuttings.
Butterfly weed
Cloudy with chance of....dust?
Well, turns out that it was dust, covering all of North Canterbury. It 'baffled experts' yesterday and they couldn't figure out what it was. But Olmec said it smelled like dust, and he was right. It was dust that had blown over from a dry lake bed in Australia. It rained red drops of the stuff in Tasmania before the remaining dust made it to New Zealand. Strange...
Demand white clover
Hugelkultur gardens in summer
EU leaders face climate challenge
Sea berry
All the CSS hacks in one place
Last.FM Stream ripping on Linux (Ubuntu)
A simple set of tools and steps to easily rip last FM stations and streams to local MP3 files.
Successfully tags downloaded MP3
Buying a property with 80% deposit
Modern society is built on debt and many of us accept it as inevitable. Our consumer culture encourages spending (not saving) with easy credit and a notion that instant gratification will lead to happiness.
With a little self control and planning it is possible to save a large deposit and avoid the shackles of long term debt.
New Year 2004-05
Chinese licorice
Blame for global warming placed firmly on humankind
Parliamentary research paper - The next oil shock?
Creating 3D terrain mesh from GPS data
SA wine farm tackles climate change
ActionThis
Latitude Magazine
Words by Lucinda Diack, Words and more
Photos by Jane Thompson, Pegasus Communications
Another batch of trees in the ground
Going forward it will mostly be shrubs or replanting specimens that don't survive.
Overpopulation
Rewarding no-child families in an effort to halt population growth.
An attempt to think our way out of the population situation.
Obama 'must act now' on climate
The planet will be in "huge trouble" unless Barack Obama makes strides in tackling climate change, says a leading scientist.
Olmec, indigenous peoples of central America
For those of you who are not sure, the Olmecs were a culture of ancient peoples inhabiting the East Mexico lowlands around 800 BC. They are often regarded as the Mother Culture of later Middle American civilizations and are famous for their colossal carved heads.
In a strange twist of fate, it turns out my wife, whose grandmother is Salvadorian, may have a trace of Olmec ancestry.
Kick the carbon habit - UN
First planting for 2008
A real autumn day with persistent light drizzle and low cloud, no wind and stunning views down the valley.
Tougher carbon targets law urged
Major climate change report looks set to alarm
The Dutch kids who bet on Kyoto
Small changes
Trees, trees, trees...
How to take cuttings
In many cases however more care is required and it helps to take the appropriate age wood at the correct time of the year and then provide the suitable conditions to ensure it grows its own roots.
Swale construction process
Rejuvenating a garden fork
Chinese haw
Flax Kete Weaving Notes
Elderflower 'champagne'
The flowers give the drink a light, sweet airy flavor
190 Trees
A heroic effort this weekend from our team of seven planters. Together we successfully planted 190 trees.
Managing energy and resource flows
Setting of expectations
Perennial Chilli Seeds
This remarkable plant boasts a lifespan of over a decade, often towering many meters in height. Each year, it can yield copious 5-7cm red fruits characterized by a delightful blend of sweetness and spice.
While it can withstand cooler climates, it requires shelter from harsh winds and frosts to thrive.
Foxglove
Notably, foxglove is a favorite among gardeners and pollinators alike.
The plant is characterized by its rich green, lance-shaped leaves and can reach heights of 2 to 5 feet (60-150 cm). However, its exquisite beauty conceals its toxic nature, as all parts of the foxglove plant contain compounds known as cardiac glycosides, which can be highly toxic if ingested. While its toxic properties make it unsuitable for consumption, foxglove has been historically used in traditional medicine for its potential cardiovascular effects, though its use in modern medicine is carefully controlled and regulated.
Whether for its aesthetic appeal in gardens or its historical significance in medicine, the foxglove plant remains a captivating and enigmatic botanical specimen.