Permablitz #194 – Eltham North
On the first (and most probably last!) proper summer day in Melbourne, Permablitz was conveniently held in the leafy suburb of Eltham North. The sweltering day was made cooler by the enclave of native vegetation throughout Anne-Marie’s property. She and her family moved to Eltham North a few years ago, but required Permablitz’s support to complete their edible garden.
The team faced stimulating challenges of a larger block.
Creating mulch with the offcuts
Swales, ponds and water capturing.
A lot of thought was given by the design team as to the best way to capture water flowing down the steeply sloping block. The solution: swales! Water channels were dug and lined with gravel to redirect the water into a pond. The team also planted a Mulberry tree nearby and sheet mulched the area to prevent weed and grass regrowth. The sound of running water combined with the fruiting trees created a peaceful area for contemplation.
Compost bays.
Ahh.. On a largish property compost bays are definitely worth the effort. Recycling was the ethos of the day and three composting bays were built out of re-purposed wooden pallets and some corrugated iron. All wood cuttings were re-used for retaining walls or passed through a wood chipper to create mulch. Matt, the designer, gave a practical rundown on the compost construction.
The reward.
Refreshing elderberry cordial was flowing all day.
Feeding time – yay!
The rest of the menu included of:
- Morning tea: delicious homemade scones with jam and cream, washed down with a variety teas and coffee.
- Lunch: homemade sausage rolls, a quiche, various curries on rice.
- Afternoon tea: an array of homemade lovely cakes, cheese cake and slices.
In return for homemade delicatessens, Anna-Marie and her young family now has much better use of their garden space which is more productive, whilst being sympathetic to the lovely setting.
Photos by Andeas Nikakis. Click here see Permablitz #194 – Eltham North’s full gallery!
