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Friends of blockhill
Forest garden broadcast
326C

Progress and developments in the food forest and gardens

The unfolding story of nurturing an emerging forest garden


Tree medick

Tree medick

Common name  moon trefoil, shrub medick, alfalfa arborea, and tree medick
Botanical name  Medicago arborea
Family  Fabaceae
Details  Scrub and rocky hillsides in Europe - Mediterranean. Suited to Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;
Root nodules observed on young seedlings when planting out
Forest layer  shrub
Diameter  2.00
Height (m)  2
Flowers  Yellow
Evergreen  
Frost sensitive  
Nitrogen fixer  
Perennial  
Shade / Sun  Full sun
Soil type  Most
Wind tolerance  Maritime
Propagation method  Sow pot / tray
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Hugelkultur gardens in summer

Hugelkultur gardens in summer

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
Tags    garden  hugelkultur  2018  summer 
Some specifics
Summer gardening

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
Tags    2018  January 
View 3 photos
6 year old silver wattle

6 year old silver wattle

Details  This tree has put on exceptional growth. It will be coppiced for firewood,
Date  November 04, 2016
Tags    progress 
Cacti

Cacti

Details  It's spring, we've had some rain followed by sun and the gardens have burst forth in bud, leaf, flower and young fruit.
Date  October 19, 2016
Tags    october  2016 
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3 years of progress

3 years of progress

This is an area we refer to as the top swale. It receives most of the rain water of the roof of the house.
June 13, 2016
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6 years of progress

6 years of progress

Work on this area didn't really begin until quite recently due to wind exposure and the need for shelter trees...
June 13, 2016
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Batch tree planting 2013

Batch tree planting 2013

Details  It's tree planting time again and as in previous years, we have once again received an order of 130 trees and shrubs. Carefully selected to fill specific niches, these plants will, as they mature, flesh out the natural forest we are attempting to coax into existence.
3 types of flowering native broom handle strong winds and dry soils while fixing nitorgen in the soil and providing a valuable nectar source for bees and other insects and birds.
Hazels, butter nuts, and several berry shrubs will feed us and the wildlife as well as adding an asthetic and natural mixing of scale in the forest.
Date  September 06, 2013
Tags     
Tomatoes in September

Tomatoes in September

Details  Ok, so it's only one tomato right now but there are more coming. One of the many end of season tomatoes that was composted into the glasshouse beds during construction is off to a fine start.
Date  September 02, 2013
Tags    tomato  spring  glasshouse 
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Winter vege

Winter vege

Details  At this time of year the garden looks unfortunately grim, with little growing. It was an exciting surprise to discover this beauty.
Date  August 09, 2012
Tags    winter  vege  purple  broccoli 
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Rocktastic

Rocktastic

We took a giant leap toward the long discussed upgrade of garden beds and paths today with the collection of 3 tonnes of river boulders.
The idea is to edge the garden beds to raise them up. This should make weed control a little easier, add some aesthetic and charm and the thermal mass may lengthen the growing season.
July 20, 2012
   
olmec
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A hint of garlic

A hint of garlic

Details  It's high summer, we've passed the longest day and our garlic had been in the ground for 7 months.

This represents about 40-50% of the crop and is the first time we have grown garlic at our place.
Date  December 27, 2011
Tags    garlic  summer  harvest 
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Last of the apples

Last of the apples

Details  The last 2 apple trees are now ready for picking. For some reason, these are some of the cleanest apples we have had this year.

Both of these trees have been improved with supporting / companion plants such as bulbs, foxgloves, lupins and strawberries.
Date  May 18, 2011
Tags    Apples  harvest 
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