House design is an integral aspect of permaculture with passive solar and other low energy input designs. The conundrum is that we really need different designs for winter and summer. In Japan we have cold dry winters and hot muggy summers so the Japanese approach was that it was better to be cool in summer and freeze in winter. If I paint the west facing wall matt black the concrete will absorb heat during the day and radiate half of it back into the house at night. In summer a white wall…

Water melon and cucumbers have done well in the searing heat by the west facing wall of the house. Everything else seems to struggle. It's all about trial and observation. I want to avoid being dependent on hand watering if possible. I'm considering another grape or peach against this wall as they seem to be able to find water.

The banana roots and taro I chucked in the soak hole to die have revived and are doing well. It's the lowest point of the site so they must be getting water. Should have put them there in the first place. As Jacques Cousteau said 'Life is very persistent.'

2015 is the International Year of Soils

Well, now that we are at the end of December, my garden is finally starting to take off :) I started planting Labour weekend, but everything I planted failed to grow and some things were taken out by the thousands of little slugs I have living in my woodchips. After talking to friends, I think the plants failed to grow because the ground was covered with mulch and took longer to warm up. Plus the garden is exposed to the sou-wester winds, soil is a bit compacted etc etc. Next year I will…

Inhabit: A Permaculture Perspective offers stories and solutions for meeting human needs while simultaneously restoring the health of the ecosystems we live in.

Looking forward to watching this documentary when it gets released! More info…

Have constructed more terraces for annual veg beds. Big problem germinating seeds this year. Kali's toms have self sown along with lettuces left to go to seed. Now have comfrey and seaweed tea barrels for fert. 99% ground covered with weeds but removed some to make clean terrace beds. Still adding grass clippings and coffee. I miss my chickens.