This little construction has once again allowed me to recycle more waste materials – with pleasing results. Appearing rough and ready, the structure has surprised due to its performance during the cold winter days and frosty nights. Able to maintain a warm daytime environment, even when cloudy, I have been able to bring my tomato crop forward by about two months. Built two years ago in 2009 it has survived strong winds on plenty of occasions, giving the impression it will “hold up” for many years to come. Hothouse Design Considerations There are enough gaps at the top of the hothouse for ventilation and plenty of light is both reflected from the north-facing wall of the implement shed, as well as directly through the plastic sides. The gaps also allow small birds such as Willie Wagtails to enter when looking for insects or worms. The hothouse has made it...
Hobby Farm Recycling
Stairway To Heaven
This recycling project has resulted in the reincarnation of a stairway that needed to be demolished, into a shade house for the farm. Stairway Frame And Steps Constructed of hardwood, the frame and steps of the stairway were used in the shade house without any treatments. Additional pine beams were sealed, being softwoods, in order to avoid rotting. Protected Environment For Seedling Trees The main aim of this project was to develop a protected environment for seedling quandong trees. Young quandongs are seriously affected if the air is too humid and lots of ventilation is needed. A shaded environment is needed, hence the need for shade cloth. The Recycled Materials By recycling most of the materials used, this 10 square metre structure costed under $100 to produce. Using new materials, the completed structure including benches would amount to over $1000. Materials destined for the council rubbish tip included; old...
Spring Cleaning
Spring is a pleasant but busy time, weeds grow faster, insects are more active and fungal diseases can take hold in warm moist conditions. It also tends to be windy during this period and care needs to be taken to ensure young plantings are protected from drying winds. Convert Weeds Into Mulch I have taken the opportunity to use the maturing rape-weed or wild canola found throughout the farm as a mulch layer around young windbreak trees. First all weed growth found near the tree needs to be removed as it competes for moisture and then placed around the base of the tree. This mulch will gradually break down releasing nutrients, but in the meantime it will reduce moisture loss from the soil and also shade the stem of the tree in hot weather. Being so windy, the mulch may need to be repositioned if dislodged from the base...
Recycling On The Farm
Recycling of organic matter in the form of mulch and compost is now a common activity on farms and in gardens. Water shortages and drought conditions have also led to a general trend towards the harvesting, storage and recycling of water. Conservation and generation of energy is also becoming an important issue. Recycling On My Hobby Farm But an area of recycling on the farm which is often overlooked is the recycling of used materials such as wood, glass, bricks and plastic. I have recently constructed a small cold frame, a sheltered area for growing seedlings and cuttings, from old materials scatted around the farm. Old wooden pallets made the frame while foam boxes and assorted pieces of wood and plastic were used to enclose the structure. The structure may not have much aesthetic appeal, but it does its intended job well. Recycling Materials For Farm Materials which will...