The experimental crop of Yacon has begun to grow from the root stock planted just over a month ago and we wait with impatience to see how they will develop. If you’re coming past the garden drop in and read the information on the bed – the humble Yacon could become a healthy addition to everyone's diet. We will be able to share root stock next autumn so get in early and let us know if you want to trial it at home.First ever no dig potato patch
Our last community garden day was a real challenge as we were all new to the concept of no dig gardens, but with information in hand from the web and materials delivered to our site we tackled it enthusiastically. A big thanks must go to The Grain Store for supplying the straw and hay, to Dahlsens for donating the manure and compost and to Goodman's who provided the seed potatoes.
For everyone's information and just in case we can tempt you to try this technique yourself we followed these simple steps.
For every layer , particularly the first two layers, we watered the bed well.
First layer was cardboard overlapped, the second newspapers also overlapped - this provides the bed for the garden and will stop weeds growing through from the lawn.
Subsequent layers comprised Lucerne hay broken into thin bats and laid down, a generous scattering of manure (we used cow and horse manure) and wood ash. Straw can also be included. We made just 3 layers before our materials ran out but you could do more to make the bed higher.
The final layer was a thick covering of straw. On top of this we laid the potatoes where they were to grow and then for each potato parted the straw and filled the hole with compost and then planted. In total 24 potatoes were planted with two varieties used - Dutch cream (a good all-rounder) and Ruby Lou (a pink skinned variety good for salads, baking & frying).
The simple concept of a no dig potato patch is that the potatoes get a head start while the layers below slowly turn into beautiful organic compost providing all the nutrients they will need to produce a bumper crop. We’re looking forward to some tasty results.
We’ve had visitors
Our community garden has recently been contacted by a small group of interested residents from Paynesville and surrounds. They visited us on our last gardening day and were keen to know about our beginnings and what we had achieved so far. Their goal is to create a community garden space in Paynesville. Looks like gardens will be popping up everywhere!
Got some spare gardening equipment that you no longer use?
Our group is in need of two lidded compost bins to help keep the garden area tidy. We’re also on the lookout for a wheelbarrow for general garden use.
Please contact Pat & John Wilson 5156 6850 if you are able to help out.
We warmly invite all islanders to drop in catch up with what is happening in the garden. Our next gardening morning is on 14th September. Free cuppa and chat available. Hope you can make it.
