Put a number on it.

“You can tell who the Graphic Designer is”

This is what my neighbour yelled out to me as I was placing stencils on my green bins, branding them as my own. But its a very simple process with a really impactful result.

Bin numbers

You’ll need:

• Printer
• Clear contact
• Scalpel & cutting mat
• Tape
• Spray paint
• Some old newspaper for masking

Directions:

1. Choose a font you want to put on your bin. I used Eames.
2. Make it as big as you want & print as many copies as you intend to do (I made mine A3)
3. Find a surface you can cut on (I have a cutting mat, however you could also use a couple of layers of cardboard).
4. Stick your number down first. Then place your contact over the top (leaving a large area around the edge of the number if possible) and affix with tape. Since it’s clear you’ll be able to see the number underneath. Carefully cut out the number using the scalpel, trying not to cut yourself.
5. Repeat for as many numbers as you need.
6. Make sure your bin is as clean as possible. Remove the backing from the contact and stick on your bin.
7. Pull up the outer edges of the contact and pop in a sheet of newspaper, because spray paint can go far!
8. Spray away!
9. Pull off your stencil when paint is still tacky. Otherwise your number might come off with your stencil.
10. Enjoy knowing which bin is yours on bin night!

it bugs me

I’ve had my first positive insect experience this summer.

Anyone in Sydney can tell you, it’s been a very wet summer, which has had it’s downfall for the veggies – most of our zucchini got mildew.
I attempted to fix this by making a milk spray, but it obviously wasn’t strong enough as it didn’t work.

However instead it attracted a whole heap of mildew eating ladybeetles!

We also had a lot of other insects. The snails went nuts with our cabbages, and in an even more strange twist they were also all over the tansy! I thought tansy was supposed to ward off insects!!!

The veggie beds have been going strong, lots of zucchinis and tomatoes.

miracle fruit

I just ordered online at Daley’s Nursery for miracle fruit tree – sounds magical, I know. What’s the miracle you ask?

When you eat the fruit, your tastebuds get altered for the next couple of hours, and everything you eat tastes sweet. Can’t wait to try it out.

They’re (already) sold out again, but you can get an email next time they’re available, and try it out for yourself.

this is bananas, b-an-an-as

 

I’ve been doing a little science project. In Australia, there is a quarantine zone, which means you can’t ship banana plants outside it. However you can ship embryos. And that’s exactly what Backyard Bananas did for me. They sent through very detailed instructions on what to do to help them grow into strong plants. And two weeks after planting them out, they’re still going. They’re in my greenhouse and I’ve been using eco c weed and eco aminogro to give them the best organic chance possible.

Let’s hope they keep going.

garden 15/10/11

taking a stand.

Quite literally.

Dan got this weird ex-pos stand from work and brought it home for me, thinking i could do something with it.

Mum realised that chinese takeaway containers were the perfect size.

So last week i put holes in the bottom of the containers and painted them with chalkboard paint.

And today I filled them. I’ve got tomatos, basil, lettuce, rocket, coriander and dill. I’m thinking it will be quick to grab herbs while cooking dinner, or salad greens for lunch.

Fingers crossed.

the white flowers of my garden

a new permaculture addition

Probably not what you expected, right?

Here’s what I’m thinking:
During summer we get a lot of unwanted visitors. Possums. Rats. Mice. Turkeys. God knows what else.

And we also have two dogs, who are inside and can’t defend our garden from our unwanted visitors.

Until now.

What I take most out of permaculture is that everything has it’s role. And now our dogs have theirs too.

my grandparents garden.

One of my biggest gardening influences, my grandparents have an awesome garden.

What i think it most interesting about australian gardens is the way we mix the plants with such reckless abandon, one plant from japan, next to one from the uk, all underneath our native gums. It’s quite a metaphor for Australia, don’t you think?

Anyway, my grandparents have a mostly native garden, only a tiny patch of lawn, and quite a small (albeit productive) veggie patch. Gramps is constantly improving, updating, and always keeps it looking good.

winter successes

ok, so there were a few things we managed to grow this winter.

We planted watercress & re-planted the self seeded nasturtiums around the pond, and have had mustard come up like crazy, which means we actually have salad greens. Quite a few times we can just go into the garden to get the base of a salad. high five!

We’ve also had a couple of snow peas, but unfortunately the bok choy bolted too quickly. I’ve seen a lot in the shops like that too – i’m guessing it just wasn’t the right conditions for them this year.

We also put in two proper veggie beds. Fingers crossed we get some really nice produce from them!