Butterfly House/ Shelter/ Feeder

This butterfly house/ shelter/ feeder gives migrating and hibernating butterflies a helping hand by providing them a place to live. When butterflies migrate they need to find shelter from bad weather. Usually they seek shelter in cracks of trees or buildings. Some butterflies will hibernate in the winter…

Some of you may be aware that Ooooby is a social business.  This means that our main reason for being in business is to rebuild our local food systems for the benefit of the society we live in. This does not mean that we are a volunteer organisation. Everyone at Ooooby gets paid market rates for their time and expertise.



Ooooby is also a not-for-profit organisation,…

It just occurred to me that weve had far less flies in the house this year, in spite of all the organic waste. My car also has a number of spiders in residence in various crevices. I conclude that a higher spider population is controlling fly breeding.

Coffee grounds have a pH of 5.0 to 5.5 Potatoes prefer a pH of 4.8 to 5.5 so adding coffee grounds to your potatoes should increase their growth. Youll need a local coffee shop to provide enough grounds to make a difference. All my spuds are from crop rejected by consumers and diverted from the veg shop waste bin which would otherwise have gone to landfill.…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSJjB7GttqE&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1QJxa9vc9I&feature=related

In case you havent seen it, or havent embraced it yet. Its taken me a year to get my head around the permaculture concept, particularly no cultivation, 'disorder', sacrificing 'productive' land for support systems and inclusion of 15% water by area. Accepting new ideas takes multiple exposures over time because ideas are literally grown into the…

Sifting dung from stable waste on the way back from Parakai thermal pools. This way I dont increase my carbon footprint collecting organic fertiliser.

Very encouraged to read how Fukuoka established citrus orchards on heavy clay by including Australian Acacia trees to provide nitrogen, wind shelter and mulch, and to penetrate and open up the soil. He also added clover and daikon radish.

Survived the chooks assault

Taking off in warmer weather.

Two identical peach trees planted in very similar conditions. Why the difference in growth?…

Water cooler bottles reused to accelerate veg growth by creating warmer, more humid micro-climate.

Three out of 50 diverted from the veg shop skip have germinated. Possibly most were sterile F1 hybrids? I read that cherry toms most closely resemble the natural form so are best for naturalising seed.

Congrats to East Tamaki Primary for growing their own veg and cooking their own lunches - well done the Duchess of Cornwall for visiting them and well done John Campbell for covering the story.

Happened to call in to the library and found a copy of Fukuokas One Straw Revolution on the discards shelf for $1. Whilst Im pleased to get this book Im disappointed that they would toss it out. Maybe it was the coffee stain on page 27?

Feeder fence made from cot parts from the inorganic stops hens from walking over and crapping on their lunch

Now flowering and growing much faster since moving to W facing wall for sun, rain and mulch. Could be an income earner down the track?

Tips saved from pruning back a vine that has overtaken its fig tree host. Anyone know how best to get these to strike?

  HERE’S AN IDEA:  let’s buy Christmas presents from small local businesses and self-employed people. For example, from your neighbour who sells on-line, the local crafts person who makes gifts  for the home and garden, the girl who has a stunning florist the local gift store, your friend who runs a shop, the local bakers that bake homemade cakes, buns and chocolates and sells at the local farmers market. Let’s make sure that our money goes…