Biodynamic treechange (homesteading)

Buzzing Bees and Lush Perfume Herald Spring's Arrival

This time of the year is one of my favourite - everything comes alive, and there's no place more alive at the moment than our citrus grove.

Located on the northern side of our property, and bathed in sun all day long, the grove contains 12 mature citrus, being a mix of oranges, mandarins and a lemon. We will be augmenting this extensively in the coming year by extending the orchard into the adjoining paddock, but at the moment these dozen trees provide us and the local wildlife with more than enough citrus fruit.

These easy to grow small trees generally provide fruit through the cooler parts of the year, and given their high vitamin C content, and it's use in the prevention of colds and flu, the winter bounty they provide is timely. However, by planting a range of different cultivars within each species, you can lengthen your harvest period extensively. For expert advice, you should contact your local nursery or fruit tree supplier.

Healthy nutritious produce from Near River

This is a very important day for us here at 1466.

We had a working bee over the long weekend, and with dear friends prepared more beds in our market garden paddock, pulling out grass, and turning the soil. Now all there is to do is add some calcium by way of gypsum and lime, and some aged cow manure.

The seedlings will be underway this weekend in the shadehouse, so all appears to be set.

The weather has even been onside, with good rains and as yet no frost.

And just as well, as this week we've launched our Community Supported Agriculture project, Near River Produce.