FARM CHALLENGES

Open farm land to be planted with Carob trees

A completed planting. The mushroom compost (dark area) will slow down water loss due to evaporation

A young carob

A rabbit borrow in the vegetable patch.

This colourful weed known as Salvation Jane needs to be controlled.

These young Serrated Tussock plants need to be removed before they produce seed.

Spring time in Victoria is certainly the most beautiful season. Unfortunately the weather is often windy and changeable. Without windbreaks plants will quickly be damaged and young plantings are literally torn out of the ground in very exposed situations.

Boundary Windbreaks

My most urgent task is to develop and plant effective windbreaks. I have chosen some of the hardiest of natives such as Myoporum, Melaleuca and Eucalyptus species for boundary windbreaks.

Within this windbreak will be a row of Carob trees (Ceratonia siliqua).The carob is an extremely hardy tree which can tolerate extended drought, also producing an edible pod. It is often mentioned as St. John’s bread or the Locust bean. The foliage is an edible animal feed, and the deep-rooted tree brings up valuable nutrients that are recycled when leaves decompose. Some new varieties now available have in excess of 50% sugar within the long dark bean pods. There are endless uses in my hobby farm for this most versatile tree. To cap all this off, the tree has a beautiful and glossy evergreen canopy.

Water For My Hobby Farm

The second urgent challenge is to develop a reliable store of fresh water on my hobby farm. Most of southern Australia has had below average rainfall and water restrictions are in operation in most areas. This will cost a significant amount of money to establish but there is little chance of success without an effective water harvesting system. Drainage contours will need to be graded, as well, tanks and pumps will need to be installed. At present I rely on town water, and as a result, will not be able to plant many trees until autumn rains arrive.

Rabbit Fence

The third challenge is to deter the resident rabbit population without turning my hobby farm into a killing field. Suitable fences will be required in order to keep rabbits away from vegetables and young plantings. There are several predators and introduced viruses that generally keep rabbit numbers under control, however, during springtime numbers can rise quickly.

Weed Control

The fourth challenge is to keep a noxious weed under control. The weed -Serrated Tussock (Nassella trichotoma) has become a serious problem in the grassy plains west of Melbourne; landowners are required to implement a control program. It is a quick way to become unpopular with neighbours if this work is neglected.

Thanks for reading so far, I hope you remain interested in the progress of this site, and I welcome your feedback.