crop rotation

One of the things I want to do once I have chickens: Crop rotation.

Easy Crop Rotation - this is a seasonal one, growing one set of vegies in a bed each year. Could work with multiple beds, although may not necessarily deal with what happens in winter.

This link deals more in-depth with families and planting cycles, including seasons somewhat. Although I suspect that the best solution is always going to be one's own observations and experiences in one's garden space.

It's a little confusing because there are so many things that I like growing, but finding the space for them is another matter, and everything takes longer in my garden - I'm not sure if this is a ground nutrients issue, or something else.

Some thoughts on crop rotation:
Tomatoes/eggplant => cabbage/caulis => Corn/Cucumber/Pumpkins => beans/peas
Capsicums/zucchini => broccoli/brussel sprouts => beans/peas => Potatoes
Corn/Cucumber/Pumpkins => green manures => Tomatoes/eggplant => cabbage/caulis
Cucumber/Pumpkins => onions/carrots => silverbeet/lettuces => green manures
Potatoes => beets/radishes => Capsicums/zucchini => broccoli/brussel sprouts
silverbeet/lettuces => green manures => Cucumber/Pumpkins => onions/carrots

Hopefully, the chickens will help reduce the need for legumes/green manures, though.

Chook Dome: I still have fantasies about doing this circular, but I think circular may have to wait for the front yard, while I go for the space-saving option of rectangular in the backyard, still using a moveable chook tractor - just a rectangular one...

THOUGHT: Sow a line of barrel medic/lucerne along the fencelines, particularly under the crepe myrtle.

LINK: Growing Trout in a bathtub system...

spring is in

I've rented some chickens for the spring. I plan to move them around the garden in a moveable chicken coop, but I guess we'll see how that goes. I know what I want for them to do, but actually getting them to do it may very well be another matter (honestly, it's largely fertiliser and fruit fly management).

None of the plants that I bought have yet been transplanted. Largely because I asked the lawn guys if they'd dig the holes on the outside of the fence, and they were worried about the council (which is decidedly punitive about things that they don't like which, peculiarly, includes not chopping down annoying trees, but not allowing people to plant trees that might otherwise flourish. *sigh*

Anyway, the lilly pillies died when I failed to water them during a hot spell after a long dry spell, and are not responding to my seaweed brew therapy. I think they're probably dead. As the grapevines I transplanted may be. (Dammit.)

The back fence has not yet been dug out (those damned rocks that the previous owner put in to deter weeds), and with hockey ramping up to the finals series, I haven't dared to wreck myself by going out and doing the work of a chilly winter evening. I think I need someone to help me with the garden - who doesn't cost the earth, and who doesn't mind a day or so of 'bit' work.

- passionfruit fence
- front hedge trees
- avocado