Hi from NSW

[Alice]

Hello, my name is Alice. I am s stay at home mother of three small children(i.e domestic goddess).This is the third season we have been in our own home and the third year I have grown my families vegetables. This last few months I have started reading up on permaculture, slowly as I dont get much reading time, andit feels like the way I think we should head in the future. I already tried to companion plant and had things spread out not planted in rows though this was due to space restrictions and large established plants than anything else. I had already noticed myself things like an overabundance of certain pests when alot of same things were planted together. I was already not using chemicals, I mean I feed this stuff to my kids I dont want poison on it.For many years I have wanted to own a larger bit of land and work towards becoming more self sufficient, I love the ideals of a permaculture farm and I amhoping to use this time in my ,little yard as a practice and beginning while we aim towards bigger things. This year about half my seeds came from my own seed save and me and the kids have recently built a worm farm(poor little worms get a bit to much attention). So we are on the beginning of this part of our journey. I feel very nervous of an uncertain future for my childrren and I think I owe it to them to try and learn and teach as much as I can, for us to be a family that doesnt need to rely on only the food? and lifestyle that advertisers try to sell us everywhere we look. Thats about it for now.

[purplepear]

Hello Alice and welcome to the forum.
May I say at the outset that you can produce a heap of your food in a backyard with a proper plan.

It makes no sense, does it, to put poisons on stuff you intend to eat. You have a lovely vision of where you and your family is heading and I wish you well. Please stay in touch and let us all know how things develop.
Regards

[Alice]

Thank you, I have seen some of the food gardens on shows like Vasilli and Costa the amount is amazing. The garden we have has a lot of old giant camelias, a huge magnolia and a few other large trees on a fairly average but stangely shaped block. We want to keep these trees as we hope this house is a stepping stone for us and they add so much appeal to the property. (My kids are huge/loud and our house is tiny my sanity could rest on a bit more room to move in a few years.) The problem I am finding is there are so many roots everywhere. If I build up the soil higher it will beup the trunks of the trees. I rake all the mulch up and put it on, blood n bone, choo poo, seasol,compost, every so often manure but I think the trees steal it all. They hardly flowered first year we were here but this year two seasons on they all bloomed like crazy. The soil seems poor at the moment I guess I will have to factor extra fertilizer etc to cover the humungo trees. I am happy to have come across this site, its just the right time of year.

[Michaelangelica]

Hi Alice/Domestic Godess
Welcome to the PDF
Yep. food can be produced anywhere, if you have heaps of water and no snails caterpillars, grasshoppers, bush turkeys, possums dogs, fungi, insects etc.
But it is fun trying! and you do keep your vitamin D levels up and maintain a contact with the "real" world.
Lots here who would be happy to help with advice.

[Bird]

Hi Alice and welcome

All i can say is teaching kids to garden without chemicals would have to be the greatest thing, not only for them but also for earth. organic's & pemie should be on every school cariculum as far as i'm concered.

good luck and happy gardening.

Bird

[gemjill]

G'day and a belated welcome to the forum
Sounds like you have some great things going at your place; and you're right it is really good to get started on a small area to gain experience for something bigger down the track.
I am in suburbia, and it is great to have a garden oasis to enjoy and eat.
keep us posted how you go
cheers