blockhill - forest garden experience & education
North Canterbury
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Run off swale for pigs and ducks
Details
6 years on - Basic land shaping to capture roof water from a nearby shed provides nutrient rich passive irrigation for food forest down slope while also creating enjoyable habitat for resident ducks and pigs. Plantings include water loving natives that offer wind and frost protection to climbing vines and citrus.
Making a wetland in a stony hole
Details
Attempting to modify water holding capabilities of this stony soil by introducing water loving, wetland plants while actively removing the rocks and gravel. Pulsing diverted run off water and pigs through this muddy hole is slowly shifting the conditions and creating a new assortment of niches. Amplify the diversity!
Date
September 11, 2018
Monarch butterflies enjoying blossoms in the forest garden
Details
We've had plenty of nice, sunny warm weather and the monarch and red admiral butterflies are getting into the stone fruit blossom, brassica flowers and tagasaste nectar.
Date
September 11, 2018
Round wood timber construction
Details
A newly created 'roof' for grapes to climb and better weather protection for the firewood shed.
Date
March 13, 2018
Details
Every year, since their construction, our hugelkultur raised woody garden beds have been improving in performance. While waiting for the perennial plantings to establish we have been gardening with seasonal crops including maize, pumpkins, tomatoes, salad, cucumbers and of course lots of beans. Modest additions of straw mulch, trenched in pig manure, compost tea and all plant residues are contributing to the overall fertility of the beds and on occasion where I have exposed the wooden core while digging it is clearly breaking down into a crumbly organic 'compost'.
Date
February 18, 2018
Summer gardening
Details
It's been another exceptionally dry summer but things are holding on. Our land shaping captures and retains moisture and the mixed planting reduces competition while maximizing shade and surface area.
Date
January 04, 2018
Direct graft nectarine
July 26, 2018
3 x scions from goldmine direct grafted onto seedling peach at 2 locations - west end of log mound 4 and in front of container house
Natural woven flax weed mat
Details
Here's a simple technique for reducing weeds in a small garden. Biodegradable woven flax mats with seeds or small plants added in the gaps.
Date
September 11, 2018
Date
December 23, 2018
Details
Zone 4 conversion / improvement - Moving plastic sheeting that had been in place for several months
