Decided that my scratchings in the note book really arent a great way of keeping tabs on what is happening in the patch so have once again made a vow to myself to keep this blog up to date so I can keep track of any mistakes & successes we have in the patch while sharing it with the world, umm, a few others as well.. I might even learn a thing or two which would be nice..
Catching up on the patch... I think the easiest way to bring you up to date is via a quick walk through of the veggie patch & aquaponic system.. I tend to do a garden walk through one week & an aquaponic one the next... I have posted the latest of each here for anyone interested.. The aquaponic one is up to date as it was filmed late last week..
We are expecting to have the sparky turn up first thing in the morning so by lunch time the aquaponics should be right to plug into its very own power source..
This garden clip was shot on the 5th of October... A new garden walk through will be shot later this week..
I always find it interesting to see the growth in the plants from fortnight to fortnight.. Some plants like the zucchini & pumpkins just grow so fast..
Seeds & seedlings... A fair bit has been planted out over the past few weeks...
The list of seeds that we have been sown out were being listed in the "Planting Diary" but now I shall be listing them on the weekly blog posts instead.. Seedlings... On the 13th of October we planted out........... 3x bush beans (Ipswich Twilight markets) into Bed#4 1x bush bean (Ipswich Twilight markets) into aquaponic bed 3x Bulls Horn Capsicum (saved seed) into Bed#1 3x capsicum (Diggers 7 colour mix) into Bed#1 2x capsicum (Diggers 7 colour mix) into Bed#2 3x lettuce (Ipswich Twilight markets) into IBC wicking beds (Aquaponics area) 1x lettuce (Ipswich Twilight markets) into Aquaponic constant flow bed 2x lettuce (Ipswich Twilight markets) into Bed #4 1 nasturtium (Ipswich Twilight markets) was planted into each of the following beds,spice wicking bed (aquaponics area), spice IBC (behind chook house), pumpkin IBC & under the Kaffir Lime tree..
Seeds... Today (16th October) saw us planting out a few seeds.. 4 lots of seed were planted into coco peat pellets (thanks again Watsamadoing), 7x Purple Vienna Kohlrabi (Eden Seeds) 7x Osaka Purple Mustard Greens (BOGI)** 7x Tall Utah Celery (BOGI) 7x bok choi (BOGI)
**(BOGI = Brisbane Organic Growers Inc)
Garden Pond... About a month & a half ago we decided to plant some water chestnuts into a bucket & keep it in a bathtub pond under the lemon tree at the back of the patch.. Probably wasnt the best idea in hindsight.. The pond had 8 White Cloud Minnows in it when the bucket went in but we quickly noticed a fair amount of leachate coming from it as well as finding a few deceased fish :(» The bucket was quickly removed as were the fish into a fish tank & the whole pond got a good cleaning from top to bottom.. The fish were quickly returned without the chestnut bucket & appeared to be doing rather well.. Well, they were that is until a White Faced heron decided to snack on 2 more.. We dont know for sure that it did but it was seen taking off, rather awkwardly, from the vicinity.. That left us with 3 minnows & little hope of their survival, until the other day that is......
We are rather pleased with this result & were surprised by finding even more over the past few days...
I suppose thats about it for now... Shall be back early next week with another planting update as well as any other interesting Bits from Out the Back... Have a great one.. Rob... : )»
Well we have just finished a 2 week holiday of sorts with Bianca having a few weeks off.. I feel like we got a load done around the house as well as the patch..
Aquaponics.. Well, WE GOT POWER!!! **does a little happy dance** The day after the last blog we got power connected to a post in the aquaponic area..This has made the whole yard a lot tidier with less cords & hoses laid out everywhere..
No longer do I have to connect 2 together to water the beds behind the chook house & blueberry in the back corner.. The hose can also reach the mulberry tree up at the side of the house..
Another jobbie that has been sorted is the backup air pump for the aquaponics for when/if the power fails..
This has given us some peice of mind but would still like to refine it further if I can scrounge some parts.. To start with, a solar charger for the battery would be great.. Would also like to try to run the 12v pump via a inverter & UPS set up but that is still being researched.. Had a bit of a scare with nutriment readings from the system this week.. The pH has dropped to 5.6, ammonia is steady at 0.5ppm with nitrites trace... The big shock was the nitrates that have spiked to above 80ppm (hard to tell for sure as I have lost the card that goes with the kit).. A few of the plants had started to yellow off a bit so I dosed the system up with some iron & upped the feed for a few days but I think it may be the acid conditions causing the yellowing off.. I posted an enquiry on my Backyard aquaponic forum thread & have been told its not as bad as I thought but should be addressed ASAP... Slacked lime (also known as hydrated lime, brickies lime, Calcium hydroxide) was also suggested as a quick way to bring it up & an option I was considering, Thanks RupertofOZ.. I decided to add some shell grit to buffer/raise the pH as we already had a bag under the house that we use to supplement the chooks diet.. My mistake there was to tie a insect exclusion bag to the water inflow tap on a grow bed so the water could flow directly over the grit..
After some fish solids had collected it made the bag less water permeable & the bag swelled up over the side of the bed under the pressure..
The water had to go somewhere so it started to overflow down into a tray of pepino cuttings underneath.. At least all was not waisted &I think they all loved a good drink of fishy water..
I decided that having the water flow through the bags wasnt necessary so just tied them off & placed them in the clay directly under the taps..
I think we lost ½ the sump, about 300L, over night so that shall be replaced on Friday.. I will hold off adjusting with slacked lime until the system is topped up just to see if the the fresh water (which I know is alkaline here) will help raise the pH..
Community gardens... Have been visiting the local community garden as much as we can on the weekends.. I am really loving the social aspect as well as learning about different plants, skills sets & ideas others have to share.. Just to give you some idea of what the garden looks like I have done a small walk around clip...
Hopefully a full clip behind the ideas of the garden & the future plans will be made in the near future.. Last week we were lucky enough to have a tall raised garden bed donated & installed by the local Bunnings store..
It was great that not only did they supply the bed, help to assemble it but also provided the gravel, soil, mulch & plants needed to get it all up & growing..
I think these raised beds are a great idea especially in a community garden.. Members of the community that have back & other mobility issues will now have somewhere where they can comfortably garden & help out.. If we could get a few more of these beds set up we may be able to encourage a few more people to participate in the garden & maybe decide to have a go at growing their own food at home..
Turmeric.. Thought we may have lost the turmeric that we left in the ground over winter so we planted out a few more corms..
We didnt need to worry it appears as the plants in the IBC beds have all survived & sent up new shoots..
Seeds & seedlings... 16th October (missed from last post) 1 row Bulls Blood Beetroot (BOGI) into bed #1 1 row of Dragon Carrots (Eden Seeds) into bed #5.. 18th October 7 Passion fruit Giant Granadilla (BOGI) into 2 pots (These are the largest of the passion fruit family with fruit up to 40cm in length) 2 lots of Mini Lee watermelon seeds (BOGI) into IBC Wicking beds near the AP & house.. 22nd October 3 x red tomatillo seedlings into bed #1 3 x purple tomatillo seedlings into bed #2 24th October Planted a few of the trees we got from the BOGI fair into larger post & installed Wetpots into them I did a little clip explaining what Wetpots are & how they are installed..
I think the plants will be very happy here over summer until we finish the design for the front yard where they will be planted out..
28th October 3 x turmeric corms into pots 9 x asparagus seedlings (THANKS Tammy) into 2 pots, added to Wetpot system 3 x Opal/Sweet basil mix into bed #2 1 x Thai Basil into spice bed behind aquaponics 1 x Yakon into wicking barrel at the end of bed #3 Potted up the following seedlings that had been sitting in the trays.. 1 x Yellow 7 chilli 5 x Bih Jolokia chilli 5 x Jalapeno chilli 8 x Udumalapet eggplant
30th October 1 x Blueberry bush (BOGI Fair) into Wicking barrel..
Thats about it for now... Will do a harvest update for the past month when I can scrounge some time.. Have a great one all..
China’s military advisers ‘heading to Syria to help fight ISIS’ – report http://www.rt.com/news/316705-china-syria-isis-fight/
Iran’s Supreme Leader demands apology from Saudi Arabia over deadly Mecca crush
Tehran says at least 144 Iranians were killed during Thursday’s stampede, while over 300 others are unaccounted for, including the countrys former ambassador to Lebanon, Ghazanfar Roknabadi, Fars news agency reported. http://www.rt.com/news/316646-iran-saudi-mecca-crush/
China vows billions of development dollars, debt forgiveness http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/09/26/china-vows-billions-development-dollars-debt-forgiveness/
Political hyperbol.... or yet another piece of the timeline cross over effects? Weve watched now over the past year as SEVERAL high ranking political people from multiple countries have made statements about WWII that are completely inaccurate.... leading the the question I keep asking: is it political posturing trying to change history? Or is it yet again, the Mandela effect?
Tens of thousands protest in Moldova demanding govt resignation, early elections
The calls come after it was discovered that over $1.5 billion had disappeared from three Moldovan banks prior to the 2014 parliamentary elections. The bank fraud wiped out an estimated 1/8th of the country’s GDP.
Plea by grandson of state’s founder comes as falling oil prices, war in Yemen and loss of faith in authority buffet leadership of King Salman....A senior Saudi prince has launched an unprecedented call for change in the country’s leadership, as it faces its biggest challenge in years in the form of war, plummeting oil prices and criticism of its management of Mecca, scene of last week’s hajj tragedy....“The king is not in a stable condition and in reality the son of the king [Mohammed bin Salman] is ruling the kingdom,” the prince said. “So four or possibly five of my uncles will meet soon to discuss the letters. They are making a plan with a lot of nephews and that will open the door. A lot of the second generation is very anxious.”
“The public are also pushing this very hard, all kinds of people, tribal leaders,” the prince added. “They say you have to do this or the country will go to disaster.”
Ive spoken about this a few times- the Hollywood productions to twist the bad guys into "misunderstood" sorta good guys. the movies Maleficent, ifrankenstein, Dracula Untold, Hotel Translvania... and now....
(star) *LUCIFER* | Official Trailer | FOX BROADCASTING - coming to Fox 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4bF_quwNtw
Onondaga Nation members felt disrespected during Pope Francis visit in NYC http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2015/09/onondaga_nation_members_felt_disrespected_during_pope_francis_visit_in_nyc.html
*Another blast rocks China’s Liucheng County after series of deadly explosions * http://www.rt.com/news/317144-china-blast-liucheng-explosions/
This is NOTICE:
*Keys, cash, passports: Nine everyday objects that are about disappear* http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/30/design/karim-rashid-obsolete-objects/index.html
*U.S. officials: Russias intentions in Syria remain unclear*
""At the request of the Syrian government, were helping them to fight ISIS and *other* terrorist groups," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov."..... "Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Wednesday that the Russian attacks, which the Kremlin said were meant to target terrorists, didnt appear to hit targets under the control of ISIS, which operates in the north and east of the country."
Putin: Claims Russian jets killed civilians in Syria emerged before airstrikes started http://www.rt.com/news/317188-putin-civilian-casualties-syria/
(star) Russian strikes again expose US disarray http://news.yahoo.com/russian-strikes-again-expose-us-disarray-201634156.html
(star) UPDATE: 10 people reported dead in Oregon college shooting http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/30164784/reports-of-deadly-shooting-at-oregon-college http://ktla.com/2015/10/01/active-shooter-reported-at-oregon-college/ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oregon-community-college-shooting-umpqua-community-college-roseburg/ http://www.nrtoday.com/news/18445375-113/breaking-news-multiple-deaths-reported-from-shooting-rampage
http://gizadeathstar.com/2015/10/russia-in-the-middle-east-putin-speaks-to-his-officers/ Putin to Russian army officers: operation Salvation shall begin soon, you must prepare to cleanse Syria from Obamas terrorists
A giant sinkhole opens in North London, 58 homes affected http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2015/10/01/a-giant-sinkhole-opens-in-north-london-58-homes-affected/
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151002/1027898340/russia-airstrike-destroys-isil-command-center-syria.html the fortified ISIL command center has been damaged and that the infrastructure of the terrorist training camp has been fully destroyed.
Gunshots and explosions, presumably heavy artillery shelling can be heard in the city, according to the Turkish Dogan News Agency. The operation, involving the Turkish militarys anti-terrorism branch, commenced at 5 a.m. local time (02:00 GMT). A curfew has been declared in the city until further notice, according to the news outlet. Read more: http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151002/1027899530/turkey-kurds-silvan.html#ixzz3nPPtdEgO http://www.rt.com/news/317341-turkish-army-police-silvan/ - 17 PKK militants killed
*‘Collateral damage’: At least 9 MSF staff killed in suspected US airstrike in Kunduz, Afghanistan*
US forces conducted an airstrike in Kunduz at 2:15am on Saturday, said NATO coalition spokesman Colonel Brian Tribus. “The strike may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility,” he said. “This incident is under investigation.”
“We are deeply shocked by the attack, the killing of our staff and patients and the heavy toll it has inflicted on healthcare in Kunduz,” Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) said in a statement. Three MSF staff have been confirmed dead, while more than 30 are unaccounted for, according to the organization’s official statement. http://www.rt.com/news/317482-afghanistan-kunduz-msf-hospital/
Australian officials say Sydney police HQ shooting linked to terrorism http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/03/us-australia-shooting-idUSKCN0RX01O20151003
PAY ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!
*Copycat risk? Schools in multiple states lock down in wake of UCC shooting*
"In the wake of the UCC shooting, schools in at least three states, stretching from Virginia and Texas to Washington, were either placed in lockdown or warning students to stay away on Friday over reports of people with guns nearby.
At the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, students were told to “avoid the area” since a “possible armed suspect” was reported on campus grounds...."
*Its gonna be a REAL bad day for the CIA and US trained "Moderates" (ie, the "terrorists"), if Putin Unleashes the Chechen Ground troops on them!!!*
(star) *Putin should unleash Chechen troops on Isis, says regions president *
"The Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has asked Vladimir Putin to send him to Syria, claiming that a land operation using Chechen ground troops would wipe out Islamic State terrorists.
“The terrorists don’t know what a real war is, because they have only been subjected to airstrikes. They don’t have experience of real military action,” said Kadyrov in an interview with a Russian news agency."
(star) *Kadyrov asks Putin to allow Chechen infantry to fight in Syria*
“This is not idle talk, I am asking for permission to go there and participate in special operations,” Ramzan Kadyrov said in the Friday interview with the RSN radio. “Being a Muslim, a Chechen and a Russian patriot I want to say that in 1999 when our republic was overrun with these devils we swore on the Koran that we would fight them wherever they are,” the Chechen leader said.
11 TRILLION Dollars In Stock Market Wealth Was Wiped Out In The 3rd Quarter The following comes from Fortune…
Global equity markets suffered a bruising third quarter, shedding $11 trillion worth of global shares over three months, according to Bloomberg.
It was the market’s worst quarter since 2011. The prolonged slump was due to low prices for commodities such as oil, instability in China’s markets, and the anticipation that the U.S. Federal Reserve will soon raise interest rates.
In light of this number, how in the world is it possible that there is still anyone out there that is claiming that “nothing happened” over the past few months? http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/yes-this-is-a-financial-crisis-11-trillion-dollars-in-stock-market-wealth-was-wiped-out-in-the-3rd-quarter
Abadi calls for Maliki to vacate the premises occupied by the offices within 48 hours
BAGHDAD - Iraq Press - October / October 3: A source early on Saturday, that "the head of the Iraqi Council of Ministers, Haider al-Abadi, gave a deadline of no more than 48 hours to the former Prime Minister and Vice President of the Republic article, Nuri al-Maliki, to evacuate offices and headquarters Private former Bmansbah inside the Green Zone, "adding," The claim comes as part of the reforms led by al-Abadi package in response to the demands of the demonstrators. "
Abizaid source said that "a formal letter issued by al-Abadis office arrived at the al-Maliki, in this regard," noting "that the book Maliki has demanded return of offices and premises occupied by the president and a former Minister and Vice President of the Republic after his dismissal from the last office to the official concerned in the government delivery". Ended O.h
http://www.iraqpressagency.com/?p=161765&lang=ar
Russian Air Force hits 50 ISIS targets in Syria over 3 days, ‘significantly’ damaging militants http://www.rt.com/news/317505-air-force-terrorists-raqqa/
MSF said in a statement that the hospital was bombed by a series of aerial raids at approximately 15 minute intervals. The bombs “very precisely” and “repeatedly” hit the main central hospital building, housing the intensive care unit, emergency rooms, and physiotherapy ward, it added.
- The UN Human Rights chief, Zeid Raad al-Hussein says the bombing of the hospital in Kunduz was “utterly tragic, inexcusable and possibly even criminal.” He has called for an investigation into the incident, Reuters reports. "This deeply shocking event should be promptly, thoroughly and independently investigated and the results should be made public," al-Hussein said in a statement. "The seriousness of the incident is underlined by the fact that, if established as deliberate in a court of law, an airstrike on a hospital may amount to a war crime." - Medecins Sans Frontieres has tweeted that 16 people were killed: nine staff members, seven patients, and three children. The medical charity adds that 37 people have suffered injuries, including 19 staff members of whom five are in a critical condition. -The head of the US-led forces in Afghanistan, General John Campbell, has apologized to the Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani after the bombing of the hospital in Kunduz, the Afghan president’s office has reported, as cited by Reuters. -UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the airstrikes in Kunduz that resulted in the death and injury of medical workers and patients at a MSF hospital. He called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the attack in order to ensure accountability. “The Secretary-General recalls that hospitals and medical personnel are explicitly protected under international humanitarian law,”
Well, WE GOT POWER!!! 
After some fish solids had collected it made the bag less water permeable & the bag swelled up over the side of the bed under the pressure..
The water had to go somewhere so it started to overflow down into a tray of pepino cuttings underneath.. At least all was not waisted &I think they all loved a good drink of fishy water.. 
It was great that not only did they supply the bed, help to assemble it but also provided the gravel, soil, mulch & plants needed to get it all up & growing..
I think these raised beds are a great idea especially in a community garden.. Members of the community that have back & other mobility issues will now have somewhere where they can comfortably garden & help out.. If we could get a few more of these beds set up we may be able to encourage a few more people to participate in the garden & maybe decide to have a go at growing their own food at home.. 
