Permablitz Numero Deis-y-Ocho April 29 2007 – A Description of the Day from host Michelle

Eight hardworking permablitzers, and a dog called Jessie, ventured into Windsor on a rainy Sunday to help us blitz our courtyard. They brought a bunch of goodies including Tamara’s big tins of saved dill and parsley seed and various cuttings of mints, strawberries and more. As the rain fell gently down, we pulled up about three-square metres of (very heavy) concrete pavers to reveal a mess of building rubble and builders sand. Undeterred we dug a good lot of it out , lay down some newspaper, and filled it all in with fresh compost, made in Andy and Michele’s new compost bay over the past few weeks. In went a pink pond (bathtub) surrounded by rocks and some sedge and flax lilies. Into the tub went azolla, with vietnamese mint and watercress in pots. A path was laid through the middle of the bed and we planted it out with various goodies, including broad beans, rocket, mint, yarrow, and strawberry cuttings. The whole thing was finished off with sprinklings of  Tamara’s dill and parsley, and finally nasturium seeds and assorted other flower seeds to attract beneficial insects. Along the way we pulled up a Silver Birch that Sam took away for her garden, along with the builder’s sand, which she plans to use for the base of a fish tank. Much eating and drinking was done. Jessie, and Andy and Michele's dogs Shorty and Luna, looked on bemused. Paul and Barbara attacked the snake vine against the west wall with gusto and Tamara proved a dab hand with the crow-bar. We also planted out some seedling trays with various herbs, veggies and lettuces for the next blitz. Thanks Shelley, Tamara, Shyoko, Anne, Sam, Barbara, Paul, and John. It was a damn fine permablitz.