Group Gathering 6 March 2023, Art Gallery

The Gympie Permaculture Group have a gathering at the Art Gallery on the first Monday evening of each month. The usual starting time is 6pm with harvest swap and then a round table discussion. For a relative new comer to the group, I initially thought that this was mostly just a “chat amongst gardeners” and wondered where the permaculture bit came in. When I think about it now, I realise that it really is a great permaculture activity.

The principles that I have noticed:

• Observe and interact – people discuss what is going on in their garden and look for advice to improve things
• Apply self-regulation and accept feedback – we show and tell and ask for advice from others
• Produce no waste – we bring along our surplus to swap and share
• Use and value diversity – we gain knowledge from the diverse range of people

The ethics are taken care of:

• Earth care – we are trying in our own ways to improve the environmental outcomes of the areas of influence we have by sharing and teaching how we garden and manage our land.
• People care – this is the big one – we come together as a community to share knowledge and friendship and to support each other.
• Fair share – the harvest swap enables everyone to be involved. Swapping produce, seeds or plants.

In big groups, shy people or newcomers don’t always get to have a say, so it is refreshing to see that everyone gets their chance to speak and to be listened to in the round table discussion that we have. I do think that we could all benefit a bit more if we think about what we want to get out of the group think tank. If we need advice on something that we’re instigating at home or if we’ve actually done something that was pretty cool and think others may benefit, then we should share that.

I for one, was not prepared and being first one to speak, felt afterwards that I’d lost a great opportunity seek advice.

Damien was one who came prepared with some very good questions:

1. He was after the name of a good tree lopper – Deans Trees was mentioned
2. Rooster to give away – if you would like one for using in your flock, comment below.
3. Chicken mites – diatomaceous earth – both to add to feed as well as use in their dust bath. Wood ash also helps in a dust bath.
4. Swales and what to do about the weeds on the bare earth – weeds are a pioneer species – use as a chop and drop mulch/green manure. Try to do this before they set seed. Weeds will change the soil to make it more beneficial for other plants (eventually)

Gabriel had some green slimy issues on his dam. The water quality was quite bad, however has added barley hay and has adjusted his pumping technique and can now aerate the water. This has helped with the quality of the water, but not the green slime – any suggestions for Gabriel?

Serge would like some passionfruit seeds for the Seed Bank, and he had a seedy question in regard to comfrey. Do they actually set seed? The general view is that perhaps they don’t. I said that my comfrey was a little strange and growing little comfrey leaves from the actual flower – see photos.

Now is the time to transplant strawberry runners. Strawberries perform best when the runners are removed. Serge was told when he first came to this region that the best time to plant garlic was around Anzac Day, so maybe we don’t need to get excited and plant to early.

Anne has already started shooting her garlic so that it is well advanced when she does plant it. She does this by placing the bottom of a whole knob of garlic above some water so it’s just touching the water. She has devised a method using cake racks or ice cube trays. Individual cloves or entire knobs can be sprouted. Plant out when they have roots and shoots.

Lots of people are finding the hot dry weather has been a challenge, but that’s part of living in the sub tropics. As Regula mentioned, we are very lucky to live in a climatic zone that enables us to grow apples and pineapples, so maybe we need to think about how we manage the extremes. Permaculture design is very important tool in dealing with hot or cold or wet or dry weather.

This has been long enough so I won’t give a full review of the discussions held. If you want to know more of what we talk about, come along and join the gathering. If you would like to be a guest blogger, please contact me direct.

Lucy House

@lucyhouse