Chicken Coop and Garden

Shed with door and back totally removed. Waiting for us to tie down chicken wire to enclose back - which forms part of perimeter. Back view with cot springs laid against half ready to tie in place. Cat cage and lawn mower catcher ready to be used as laying boxes after being filled with cane mulch.

Backyard Chicken Coop

Started our new project last weekend. We have been attempting to use all materials we have on hand. We had a small garden shed we are attempting to convert. We realized in the heat it would be unbearably hot in summer, so we removed the rivets and took the back off and both the windows. Are going to replace all with chicken wire so can have air flow.
Went to the tip shop and spent $10 in total for a cot wire spring bottom, small roll chicken wire, and 2 lawn mower catchers and cat cage without a door ( for egg laying boxes).
Went to Bunnings Hardware and got 50 metres of chicken wire for $56 dollars. Already have 6 star pickets. Plan is to put 3 star pickets in row with pair opposite (6 in total). Then place poly pipe ( not bought yet) in loop over a pair of stakes and fix with cable ties (already got). Then drape over chicken wire and fix with cable ties. Build frame from wood that left over and in garage to make a door to enter coop ( doors already taken off shed). Will put pictures up on weekend! It will either work well or be a disaster. If money unlimited no issue, but this avoiding point of recycling and low cost we trying to strive for. Does anyone know where can get ex factory chickens from either free or cheap near Bundaberg?

New plantings and spring 2012

Everlasting spinach looking luscious! Mild chilli - beautiful lime green colour - doing well on neglect. What is this caterpillar on my lemon tree? I won't kill him in case he turns into beneficial butterfly? Pawpaw trees looking great so far! Pineapple sage produced some beautiful iced tea - the flowers add gorgeous addition to salads. Cardamom just planted in shady spot under a tree. Nutmeg bush just planted and yes it smells divinely of nutmeg! Bush tucker tree producing beginnings of small fruit but lost its label and can't remember what it called! Got to investigate. Planted out 3 new guavas - all different. Kei apple planted. The Norfolk pine is loaded with baby pine cone seeds!!!! Hoping my moringa seeds sprout so can plant some shade hedge over summer for garden to protect from intense heat.

Garden 29 October 2012

Two little pumpkins growing. The plant is dying in plants so hope they ripen. Beautiful cats whisker flower. Also blue agapanthus just opening up. What is this caterpillar? Is it good or bad insect for my garden?

Garden 29 October 2012

Nasturtium flower

Garlic Chives

Garlic chives are simple to grow and quite hardy. They can take a lot of neglect and keep on growing. They taste great added to salads and are terrific on ham sandwiches.

Posted with Blogsy

Bindweed

I read something very interesting about this weed that continues to try and strangle our mock orange bush in our front garden. It was some facts about this common pest: "In one laboratory test plot, a single bindweed, six months after germination, produced 197 vertical roots for a total count of 788 feet of roots. Add to that 34 horizontal roots on which there were 144 new shoot buds, each of which were capable of be becoming a new plant" - The book entitled "The quarter acre farm" by Spring Warren. No wonder after 3 years of pulling it out it still returns just as strong as ever.