Oh so slowly, we’re growing some good.

It’s not that I’ve been m.i.a. - just digesting all the lessons of summer, running a mini market garden and sharing with school kids the joys of being in the great outdoors. One of my biggest learnings is - documentation really helps. I’ve been pretty good keeping a rainfall tally - each year seems to throw another curveball. At least I’ve got some data now to back up those musings. By documenting stuff, it helps you slow down long enough to actually see what’s going on. Your windowsill will perform differently to someone nature strip which will perform differently again to a backyard patch. This will keep the optimism high for growing good.

Some of the notes from today’s lap ….

Autumn time there’s wind, cooler days and all the plants have slowed waaay down. Market garden is still in shade at 8am. Except for of course - the grass. Windy days means the plants have to fight a little more, so they may not grow so quickly. All the birds around here are really hungry, especially bowerbirds - hence the exclusion netting protecting a few crops.

It’s also time to give a little love - sow handfuls of cool season cover crop seeds which once grown, will be a gift to the soil when turned back in. I’ve covered a row with cardboard, just ‘til their roots anchor them down.

Biggest one of all - cover the soil! Summer may be done, those crops spent. Cut at the base only if they need to set free and mulch over the top. Roots left alone will hold the soil together for a little longer, then gift themselves as food to all the life beneath our feet. (In the case of fennel - there’s a strong chance the y haven’t finished yet!)

Talk a walk, make some notes & enjoy :)

Nature journal - documenting garden life