New member

[Jackie K]

Hi everyone, Ive been browsing the forum and have found many subjects of interest. Such a wealth of knowledge in here, and looking forward to learning more. I did a Permaculture Design Couse and some workshops back in the 1980's and since then have had animals and veg/ herb garden. Depending on the level of work commitments I have had varying degrees of self sufficiency. Now I have escaped the suburban sprawl and settled in a broad acre farm area near Northampton, WestAust. So I can really let my hair down and no work commitments means I can use all my energy and resources to practice Permaculture. I'm starting from scratch here, and with the worst drought in 100 years there aren't even weeds for compost/mulch. Still plenty to do and I guess it will rain sooner or later. Nothing like a challenge to keep the brain active. Good to see there are some Wassies participating here. I sent a few emails to the W A Permaculture group, with a view to joining, but have never received a reply, which was a bit disappointing. Maybe it was meant to that I should find this site and participate here instead. Anyway looking forward to it.
Catch you all later.
Jackie K

[gardenlen]

welcome jackie k,

yep the place to be to get a wide knowledge of answers hey?

len

[frosty]

Hi jackie

welcome to the forum :D

great to have someone else from north of Perth here :D although I am a long way from you being down near Lancelin

we are getting some rain enough for weeds to germinate but not much else ........ but we get Geraldton ABC and I know things dont look good up your way :(

frosty

[Jackie K]

Hi Gardenlen and Frosty ,
Thanks for the welcome. Yes things are pretty grim here as far as rain goes. According to the oldtimers, the last time there was any sort of a drought here was 1906 or something. The year after was flood conditions, so everyone is keeping their fingers crossed. It has been uncanny though. We have watched massive rain bearing storms pass inland only 10 -20 kms north of here, get just inland of us 20kms, then proceeds south dumping 30mm rain as it goes. Like we've got a big glass bubble over us. We've only been here a year so are still adapting to the different seasons and haven't yet settled into a pattern of what the weather is usually like. The locals have become a bit complacent, I think, about their "guaranteed" wet season and didn't keep back any more grain than they needed for seeding. They have had to buy it back from CBH at far higher cost than they were paid for it at the end of harvest. Theres that middle man again, making money from the misfortune of others. Oh well, tis the way it 'tis. Too busy trying to carve a veg garden and get some greenfeed going. Planted an area to lucerne. Was going fine, but as the bush has died bit by bit, the roos, whats left of them, have found it. They have taken it down to ground level, but they are desperate enough to come in in the middle of the day and I don't have the heart to chase them off. It's going to take years for the bush to regenerate. The rabbits, of which there are only a few scrawney half grown ones around, have come in and eaten all my pond plants out of the ornamental pond next to the house. I had some native Pygmy Perch in there to prevent the mosquito pop taking advantage, but when we had 12mm a couple months ago all the burrowing frogs (White Spotted, beautiful and funny; I love them) came out and I think they had some fast food. No more Perch. It is wonderful to see the wildlife which in normal times probably won't be so obvious. The King Brown snakes I can do without, but they have a place in the scheme of things too. So I tread carefully. We lost one of the dogs to one 5 weeks ago. Very quick to die. But I love it here and wouldn't be anywhere else for quids. I do go down to Perth occassionally and would love to drop in and catch up with you Frosty seeing we are next door neighbors ( hey it's just a big door, always open ) I have followed your various posts with interest. I'm still browsing gardenlens website. An absolute wealth of information. I'll be there for a while Gardenlen. Gives me something to justify to myself to take a break. Gotta go do some work. The "projects" await. Keep well all
Jackie K

[Ev]

Hi Jackie K sounds great what you are doing, I am currently in Balga perth researching various permaculture and aquaponic methods on my triplex block preparing for the next bigger block I move to.

Great to have another Wassie on board.

[frosty]

Hi jackie

it would be great to meet you an have a chat :D I will pm you my contact details

but dont expect to see much in the way of lush gardens and a thriving food forest here :lol: :lol: we have 8 acres of coastal health growing in black beach sand with a few pityful efforts at growing food and that is after we have had a bit of rain :( but we do have 4 lovely British Alpine goats 8)

frosty

[Jackie K]

Hi Frosty, Thanks. I have a bit of an idea of your soil type and realize how hungry it is. However, I may be able to help. I have 20 horses, who are exellent at converting hay to manure. I'm sure I can spare some. My next trip to Perth I will be using a 1tonne ute and can load it with bags of the stuff. Bags make it easier to handle and store. Don't know when it will be though. My partner is working away because of the drought,so I have to wait for him to come home to look after the livestock. I have 2 Saanens milking and an Anglonubian doe goatling. Love goat personalities. Make me laugh except when I let them out for a roam and they head straight for the young grape vines. AND THEY KNOW Give me a look like - we knew that would get you going - then I still have to laugh
Looking forward to meeting you. Hopefully we will have had rain. Actually saw a faint rainbow as the sun came up this morning.

Jackie K

[Jackie K]

Well, we've had some rain, just patches of light rain,which soaked straight in. 6mm so far and it looks like there might be some more on the way. I can't beleive hoe excited I am, must have been stressing more than I realised.
Jackie K

[teela]

Hi Jackie K, Welcome.
Isn't it funny about rain. Years ago when it rained we thought 'darn it, it's raining' Now when it rains we get all excited and think 'yipeeeeeeeee it's raining. How times have changed.
Teela

[Jackie K]

Yes, I actually like to hibernate when it rains for days on end. Not my scene at all Of course I can't and I develop a certain ambivalence when I've got to go wrestle with chores in rain and mud. But especially this year there will only be muffled mutterings just in case I might frighten the rain away. Just went out to check the rain guage; still only 6mm BUT for the first time since we've been here the frogs are singing up a storm. Do they know something???? :)
Jackie K

[frosty]

Hi Jackie

we had 6mm throught the day yesterday and were a bit disapointed but overnight we got another 10mm :D

looking forward to meeting you too and all poo is VERY gratefully accepted :D

we get some horse poo from the local riding school and are trying to cover all our goat paddocks with horse poo ........ which going to take quite a while ...........

what do yo do with your horses ? I used to breed and show western breeds and Australian stock horses .............

frosty

[*redreamer*]

Well, we've had some rain, just patches of light rain,which soaked straight in. 6mm so far and it looks like there might be some more on the way. I can't beleive hoe excited I am, must have been stressing more than I realised.
Jackie K

yes i totally appreciate that sentiment..... its something that really gets to you after a while....cause while the rain brings moisture relief and therefore renewal and hope for tomorrow theres also the additional sense of safety from fires that tends to always sit in the back of your mind.

hell when it rains i used to GO OUTSIDE......just cause...... my boys called rain skyjuice (to differentiate it from orange juice.......) until recently......

bit now in the fingerlakes region water is much more taken for granted and i STILL WONDER at it........ maybe i am part fremen???????? its nice to have it when it comes tho .... hoping you get more....... keep us updated,....

[Jackie K]

I must admit, I did go outside and jumped around squeeling with delight and got wet through. The dogs stayed on the verandah in the dry transfixed at the spectacle. Jackie K :D :D :D

[Jez]

Welcome Jackie.