HOBBY FARM FIRST YEAR

First Milestone

The fruit garden is now established and all of the plantings are making good progress

Most of the native trees planted last year have survived and many are now well over 1 metre in height

One of my favourite flowering trees, the red flowering gum, will soon have it's first set of blossoms

Last year bare and over-cultivated soil was exposed to the wind and sun. This year there is a healthy cover of annual and perennial growth

Many established pines did not survive last summer's drought. There are new plantings of native trees gradually being planted in order to provide a sustainable windbreak for the future

My water harvesting system is slowly being developed. Hilled areas have been covered with plastic in order to collect and channel rainwater to collection tanks

Young date palms had to be moved to a new site as the original site resulted in very poor growth. A site where the soil is more fertile was needed. Mistakes will continue to be made and new solutions gradually evolve over time

A pleasing addition to the farm was gladly accepted when a friend removed a mulberry tree from his garden. It has taken well to its new site and will produce fruit this summer

Young natives near the driveway have suffered much wind exposure, but are now making good progress after spring rains this year

The double grafted peach-plum tree is making excellent progress. I expect a good crop of peaches next year

These young native allocasurina and carob seedlings will be planted next autumn. They have been collected from local trees and are making good progress

The farm has seen a lot of changes in the first year since it was purchased in August 2006.

A Difficult Start

After a difficult drought last summer, compounded by a severe lack of water for irrigation, the plantings have mostly responded well to some good spring rain this year. Many mistakes and errors of judgement had to be dealt with. Some plantings did not respond well to infertile soils lacking organic matter. The expensive date palms nearly died and had to be relocated to a better site.

A Year With Significant Progress

Generally there much more organic matter present within the topsoil and also a cover of slashed vegetation will provide much more protection from the elements this summer.

Worms which were very hard to find last year are much more common and I expect there is lots more activity within the soil from micro-organisms as they feed on the residual soil organic matter.

Looking back on the first year I am pleased to see significant progress and certainly have enjoyed the vegetable harvests.

Wishing all the readers a happy and safe new year 2008.

Alf Di Bella
Dec 2007