The Beret and the Garden Fork
"Gardening is in a sense, a higher art than poetry." William Wordsworth, poet (1770-1850)
Wordsworth’s collaborator Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote that art is "the mediatress between, and reconciler of nature and man". Perhaps Wordsworth, himself an accomplished landscaper, was suggesting gardening is the most profound ‘mediatress’ of all. For in it we work with the limits, gifts and whims of nature directly, in a kind of evolving dance at times stomping, at times delicate, with rhythms and patterns but never the same exact move twice. Or he may have simply and humbly been suggesting that poetry is rubbish. We may never know.
But the good news is that above all the other benefits of gardening, it might also be seen to justify self indulgent expression, unrestrained moodiness and semi legitimate opportunities to ask people to undress in the name of art. More difficult with landscaping than lifedrawing admittedly. While there are no upcoming blitzes over the summer break to express your artistic temperament at, you can try it on at home. And if you need encouragement, come along to one of our very exciting courses this week and next…
~~~ Our Very Exciting Courses ~~~
Beginners Guide to compost and worms @ Port Philip Eco-Centre Thurs Dec 11 7-9pm
Learn about how to employ the work of worms and microbes at no cost to turn your household waste into beautiful organic soil. The number one secret of good organic gardening, and good health. More info and registrations…
Home Food Growing for Beginners @ Port Philip Eco-Centre Tues Dec 16 7-9pm
Paul, Adam, Nathan & Dan from Permablitz are inviting all to this 2-hour workshop on how and why to successfully grow your own veges and fruit. Topics include soil care, waterwise gardening, chooks and how to grow from seed and propagate seedlings. More info and registrations…
~~~ Blitz Report Backs ~~~
Eat up these wonderful photos and report backs from Kim and Paul and the Dandenong Edible Gardens Project!
The food: perfect! The atmosphere: electric! The hosts: delightful. The weather: fine. The gardening achievements: spectacular. Over 25 volunteers came to Gopal and Mamta’s flat in North Dandenong to create a magical day. More…
25 volunteers gathered at the house of Elizabeth and her 5 children in Noble Park to convert their lawn and tree area into an edible garden. It was great to see 5 past hosts of Permablitzes coming along to help out – there was a great mix of regular volunteers and first-time volunteers aged from about 5 years old to 75 years old. More…
Stuart’s Dandenong Blitz
This blitz turned out to be one of the loveliest days that I’ve ever been a part of – thanks in no small part to the group of over 25 volunteers who shared their time and their story as we learned together and transformed Stuart’s backyard. More…
Check out the photos three months later at Willow Lodge. Decorative!
Five months later in Dandenong. Lush!
~~~ 155 ~~~
"Melburnians will be asked to limit water use to 155 litres a day per person" as an alternative to stage 4 water restrictions. Stage 3A still applies which means twice weekly waterings, which is just enough for established and sheltered vegetable gardens most of the time, but not enough to get seedlings started.
<http://www.theage.com.au/
<http://ourwater.vic.gov.au/
Why not scrap the watering restrictions all together and instead enforce targets?
The minister has now been sent hundreds of the above signed postcards by the Food Gardeners Alliance asking for water allocations for home food gardeners and a dialogue has been opened. Some critics might say the dialogue has so far been a bit cramped and uninspired on the part of the minister, but it does continue.
~~~ Sustainable Gardeners Australia ~~~
Big ups and a plug to SGA who put out a great newsletter called Cuttings and have a website full of truly excellent resources. Check out www.sgaonline.org.au
~~~ Investment Tips ~~~
Steven Oke, in the Border Permaculture Association (Albury/Wodonga region) November newsletter writes:
~~~
We will take a break from the newsletters till the new year so have a great drunken season and see you in 2009, Year of the Blitz
Adam @ Permablitz Decentral
References:
The Wordsworth quote comes from Steve’s t-shirt, p1
