David Holmgren’s farm “Melliodora” is located in Daylesford, VIC. It covers mere 2.5 acres, yet it took us 5 hours (!) to briefly discuss its design and features. David’s house is open for tours once a month, and is well worth it. The tour can be booked on his website, come and see for yourself, if you like. Or check out some photos and facts below :)
Guest post by Alisa Bryce
Water repellence is when water can’t filter into a soil. Instead it pools on top and often runs off, sometimes causing erosion.
Water repellent soil (or hydrophobic soil) develops for two main reasons.
Fresh compost and mulches are a frequent source of waxy coatings. This is why it’s important to use aged compost and mulch.
In Australia, overhanging eucalyptus trees are another common culprit of water repellence. As the leaves decompose, the eucalyptus oil inside is released and coats soil particles.
Planet – Jones Valley Urban Farm by Southernpixel
Whether you are switching from conventional gardening, or (like me) just jumping into organic gardening direct, it can be confusing to navigate the new and unfamiliar vocabulary. Knowing your organic gardening terms will help you feel confident when selecting your seeds, planning the garden or reading gardening magazines.
It seems only appropriate to address the meaning of the term ‘organic’ first. What does ‘organic gardening’ really mean?
The key to the success of this system is the specifically designed Bokashi Bucket, and the use of EM Bokashi.
Bokashi is a Japanese term that means “fermented organic matter”. EM Bokashi is a pleasant smelling product made using a combination of sawdust and bran that has been infused with Effective Micro-organisms (EM). EM Bokashi has traditionally been used to increase the microbial diversity and activity in soils and to supply nutrients to plants.