Meredith Thomas's Page

For the 2011/2012 growing season I am extending my garden and striving to implement permaculture pratices. My garden will be half medicinal and culinary herbs mixed in with vegetable plants. There will also be a mix of flowers that attract beneficial insects. We have a lot of tree lucerne growing on the property and will be using this as mulch along with pea straw to add another deminsion in growing new soil and feeding plants. We will be attempting to produce better compost via the 18 day heat and turn method, well that's the plan anyway! Time will tell. I have always had some herbs mixed in with vegetables but realized that more variety and mixture was needed to really enhance the pest control. I would like to avoid the use of pyrethrum spray if possible as while it is effective when controlling aphids, it is not good for the beneficials. Interestingly, the only plants that were affected by aphids were the standard heritage tomatos and cucumber plants. This year I will be growing more cherry tomato plants as they were not bothered by aphids or disease. My husband still wants me to grow a mortgage lifter type tomato so I will put this right in the middle of a herb and flower patch and see how it goes. Wish me luck!