Living mulch (covering the soil with plants), is the most nourishing mulch of all. A soil covered with plants is alive! Living on and in and around plant roots is a diversity of soil life forms – fungi, nematodes, protozoa, bacteria, arthropods and of course worms, these team up with plants and are the ultimate […]
An annual DIY Soil Test
By | LastUpdated January 23, 2024
Your soil is unique. It’s history and geography make it so. And because it’s unique, and because understanding your soil is at the heart of your garden’s health – you do well to get to know it. To know what it feels like, what it smells like, how many critters live in it, how well […]
Coping with Green Vegetable Bugs
By | LastUpdated November 1, 2021
The Importance of the Right Name When learning about a pest, begin your journey by finding out it’s scientific name. The bug I’m ruminating on today is the Green Vegetable Bug Nezara Viridula, also called green vegetable beetle, stink bug or shield bug. These other names bring you to an array of bugs, not necessarily Nezara […]
What to Do About Leaf Curl
By | LastUpdated September 30, 2023
Leaf curl will be showing up in your stonefruit about now – spring being the time when fungus comes out to play. My preference is to eliminate trees that religiously go down with severe leaf curl year on year – it signals to me, that they aren’t well suited to my place. For the ease […]
October in The Vegie Patch + Leaf Curl + Citrus + Magic Beans
By | LastUpdated October 1, 2021
Its so awesome to finally have my books out in the world. What an epic mission and sharp learning curve couriering 1000 books out in one hit! I’m amazed there’s been only a few mis labelled – thankyou Kath and Matt and Kate for willing to track your books down, esp Kath for stalking her […]
Secrets in the Soil: A Gorgeous Childrens Book
By | LastUpdated September 1, 2021
Janet Bradbury is an NZ author who is right on my page. She’s illustrated and written a most beautiful childrens book called “Secrets in the Soil” which though its for kids, will teach many adults who read it aloud. Healthy soil, good nutrition and good health go hand in hand: and those creatures that contribute […]
