On Thursdays I drop some CSA boxes off in Newcastle, then spend the morning with my daughter Meg and her son Arlo. Mostly we walk  over to her local Community Garden and do some work there. Meg grows as much food as she can in her small suburban garden but has decided to supplement it with food from the community garden.

This garden already had some fruit trees but they were in need of a little attention so we decided to slowly but surely turn the area into a food forest. Each Thursday we do a little bit more, starting first with a cuppa!!

There is quite a lot of organic matter dropped off by a gardening service which is piled up and smelly. We began to move it about to make compost heaps and then started using it as part of sheet mulching.
First we lay down a good many sheets of wet newspaper and cover it with the semi decomposed organic matter. As Bill Mollison used to say "turning bad news into good news." After a few weeks we are able to start to plant into this to build up a guild ( an harmonious interaction of elements) around each of the fruit trees.

And of course Arlo is our biggest helper. 

Ready to go grandma !

I can't find the bug anywhere

We had some extra help at the garden today along with our Intern

Here's how we are joining each of the trees up and then we will widen the beds until there is only a small central path between them.

All Aboard

A couple of weeks back my youngest daughter, Sarah, came up to meet her newest nephew. She spent a lovely week catching up with family and friends,but really loved the opportunity to reconnect with Evan and soak up as much of baby Atticus as she could...

And so, as the week came to an end, we all gathered to spend our last day with Sarah before she flew back home. Evan's mum thought it would be nice to take him on his first train ride, so we met up with Unkie Donk (ana Uncle Dom)

And Aunty Megs

and boarded the train.

                                Mummy sat opposite with baby Atticus in his Hugabub. We met up with Aunty Sars at the station and went to the park. even was doted on by all the grown ups and found that some one was always available to give him a swing.

or a ride on the seesaw.

Goodbye Aunty Sars, we miss you xxxx

Weekend Wrapup

We had a very busy weekend starting with a couple of workshops for Newcastle Council. we have run the worm farm and composting workshops for the council for the past couple of years. the council is keen to promote the advantages of waste reduction to their residents as a means of prolonging their landfill centres. Each participating resident receives the workshop free of charge as well as either a worm farm or compost barrel.

Mark started the day off with worm farming. He set up one of the worm farms showing how some packaging can be incorporated into the worm farm, with soft plastics taken to Coles, where they are recycled into out door furniture.

Over 70 people turned up for the mornings workshops, where Mark crammed a day and a halfs information into 2 hours. With such enthusiasm from the crowd asking wonderful questions, it was hard to keep a train of thought.

Not to self-- take composting worms to sell at the next worm farming workshop.

 Mark used this small box, as displayed at Newcastle Show earlier in the year, for a demonstration of compost making. It has a perspex front so that the layers of the compost heap is clearly visible.
Mark uses ADAM and EVE  as key words for the composting process.

Aliveness - micro organisms
Diversity - ingredients
Aeration - air for the micro organisms
Moisture - also for the micro organisms

Environment - aspect
Vitality - BD preps
Equilibrium - carbon to nitrogen ratio

Then a mad dash to a nearby school that has a Stephanie Alexander garden and kitchen. Wow I was really impressed.

here we greeted 45 participants for our next workshop on Gardening in small spaces. We chose to concentrate on container gardening. Once again a lot of information condensed into a few hours. And once again a really enthusiastic crowd.

I was chief photographer for the day and I'm sorry to say I failed miserably, but the display looked amazing, truly it did! We had strawberries in a piece of guttering, along with alyssium and yarrow as companion plants which could be attached to a railing or fence..

Here it is attached to the back of a pallet garden, similar to the one I wrote about in my last post.
We constructed a wicking bed in a broccoli box and no-dig in another. And to give them extra motivation a very quick course in propagation. I had some seeds available to buy which was good because I think they left with their heads spinning but pumped ready to get started.

Sunday we were at the first of the Courtyard Markets at our local shopping centre.

The markets are the initiative of a young mum who has a dream of invigorating the local community. I applaud her determination and will support the markets as often as I can.

There's that pallet again! I used it to display the plants I had for sale.

A councilor was invited to open the markets and I was able to spend a little time with him, suggesting that maybe our very own council might like to run some workshops just like Newcastle.  I thought he might like to know about what we do, and that maybe council might like to support some of our community activities. He sounded positive.

I celebrated Mother's Day later that evening with two of my girls and their families and Mark's daughter and her sons. Mark had managed to make us a beautiful curry. Don't know how he did it really. We were flat out. Hope all you mums out there had a lovely Mother's Day!

A Farm Visit

 Today Rhonnie and Meg visited the farm with the two boys.

 While the baby napped in his mum's arms and Aunty Meg knitted, Evan and I visited, well, everything. He rode the big and small tractors...

He found an egg and managed to carry it all the way back to his mum, with even a stop at the tractor, without breaking it...

There was a little pruning to done..

Some road works to be done...

 

There were chicks to watch, which resulted in a bit of an altercation with a rooster, who took to poor Evan, attacking him unmercifully. ''The naughty chook hitta my face" The rooster's spurs were caught up in Evan's vest and he couldn't let go. Oh what a tangle. I don't know who was more frightened.

Certainly the rooster  made a hasty retreat.

And Atticus spent a beautiful day in the arms of one or other of his doting relatives.

Such a beautiful day! We miss you Sarah! See you soon. xx

It's About Time

It's about time I introduced you to our newest grandson. After all he is 4 weeks old today and I've kept him all to myself. A little bit selfish I know.

So here he is.... Atticus George

 Day one in daddy's arms

This baby's arrival was in stark contrast to his brother's. Whereas Evan was 2 weeks overdue, Atticus was 2 weeks early. Evan was nearly 11 lb and Atticus only 7lb 7oz. Evan's labour 24 hours, Atticus just one hour.

Aunty Meghann and Uncle Dom.

And a cuddle with grandma.

When Evan was born I was very privileged to be at his birth. This time I had the very important job of looking after him while his new little brother was born. Another great privilege!

Twice Around The Sun

Just over a week ago my Grandson Evan turned two...

 

His mum and dad want to keep these early birthdays small and simple so that he is not overwhelmed by something that he really can't understand. So there was a simple home made cake decorated with some of his farm animals.

 A visit by granny and pop, aunts and uncles, grandma, and his newest baby cousin..

Evan is really in love with this little babe and his arrival at his birthday was a highlight.

I gave him some winter clothes that I'd made, and a home made hobby horse that I'd bought at our Steiner School when he was just 6 months old. I've been waiting ever since for the right time to give it to him, and as two year olds are keen to explore the world and those he finds in it, now seemed just right. As usual for children this age, the gift bags were of more interest at the beginning, becoming a great place to put all of his things. I was a little concerned that the horse may be a little difficult for him but he took to it with ease.

Evan is such a happy boy. He is equally happy playing with his dolls as he is with his trucks, or blocks, or farm animals. He loves to climb and run, gallop and jump. His mum and dad got him a swing and slippery dip for his birthday and he can amuse himself for ages going up and down. 

My daughter tells me that Evan wrapped up his ''baby" and put it in a trolley and he was taking her for a walk to dubdas- that's his word for grandma. He is teaching himself to go to the potty. He imitates all those around him, wanting to be a part of all we do. He will soon be a big brother and with his response to babies so far I'm sure it will be something that he will really enjoy.

Happy Birthday beautiful boy. xxx

Birthday Wishes

 27 years ago my youngest daughter was born.

These are pages from her scrapbook.

Sarah is in Melbourne so far, far away. I become a little nostalgic when I can't be with my girls for their birthdays and tend to peruse their photo albums.

Happy Birthday beautiful Sarah. Wish I could be with you to celebrate with you and Aaron. xxx

 My three girls altogether on one of Sarah's visits from Melbourne.

We miss you Sarah but will see you soon when Rhonnie's baby is born. Hugs and Kisses

 from us all.

In Preparation

Rhonnie is due to have her second baby in April, so in preparation, my eldest daughter and I took advantage of our fortnightly get together, to stockpile some meals. There will only be 2 years between babies so I know that time will be precious when the babe arrives. What better way to help her prepare for this busy time than to help out with meals. And what a lovely way to spend some time together..we love it.

 A very pregnant Rhonwyn with her sister Meghann. Evan likes to be involved!

Pizza for lunch. Pumpkin and basil from Rhonnie's garden and some lovely paneer for a delicious touch.

10 meals ready to freeze. Tomato pasta sauce, chickpea curry and cauliflower pasta sauce. They will just need to cook up some rice or pasta. We will make up some vegetarian lasagne and spinach canneloni next time.

Meghann's birthday gift to her sister. A picnic rug made from vintage sheets, backed with a vintage chenille bedspread. Pattern from Amanda Soule's book.

We had a lovely and very productive time. It's a time I look forward to every second Thursday, this gathering with two of my daughters. We all miss the youngest daughter/ sister Sarah who is busy with her degree in Melbourne and look forward to the time that she may be able to join us.

My Creative Space

Finding the space within the busyness of farm life for a little creating has become a priority for me over the last few years. Whether it's sewing, knitting, spinning or whatever new thing that comes along, I make time for some each day.

* * * * * * * 

Just the odd bit of knitting happening here at the moment, so thought I'd share some creating that happened for Christmas...

A fishing game for a little grandson, made from felt with a touch of embroidery. A metal washer at the mouth, a little fleece stuffing and a magnet on some string, along with some watery blue coth and you have a sweet little game for a 2 to 3 year old.

One of my daughters felt that a doll's house would be lovely for her 4 year old niece, so we took a look around some second hand shops. We came across this one which we felt could come up to scratch with a little TLC. As it got closer to Christmas, my daughter was getting a bit overwhelmed with what needed to be done so I took over the project. Rhonnie had sanded the whole thing down, so I started on the painting. She decided to keep the floors wooden and to paint everything else.

A piece of timber beading was added to cover a few dents and curtains for the windows...

Paper bunting in the nursery...

 

And a bed for mamma and pappa....

Rhonnie was a little anxious about how the gift would be received as the family are not really into secondhand/homemade. But her niece was beside herself when she saw it. It was just what she'd dreamed of! Rhonnie had found some beautiful wooden furniture to add to the gift and I'm sure that there will be many more years of happy play from this little girl.

For our 6year old grand daughter I made an explorers bag from some curtain fabric that I had. And to put inside I made a pencil holder and journal. Along with a bought magnifying glass and second hand insect book I think it made a lovely discovery gift. The grand daughter was particularly taken with the pencil case, something she had coveted for a while apparently. You can be lucky some times!

For her four year old brother I made some things to throw. Don't small boys just love to throw things?

I made a parachute from some lovely blue silk and added a duplo man I had, and a shooting star streamer ball from some felt.

I really enjoyed creating these gifts. I find it much more rewarding than wandering around the shops with the hordes of Christmas shoppers (or at any time really).