Farmsmith

16/01/2022

We’ve been quiet but we are still here!

Just enjoying the school holidays together, swimming and picking those yellow squash 😋

24/12/2021

Amazing to see our yellow squash recovering so well! They were shredded in the recent hail storm and I was tempted to pull them out.

11/11/2021

A rainy day walk just because 💦

07/11/2021

Rainy Sundays are perfect for reflection.

Recently I dug up some soil samples to see how our vegetable beds are looking.

On the left, is the original subsoil taken from a depth of about 15cm. The middle has had compost incorporated once and then one multi species cover crop. I can see the improved soil structure. On the right, this bed has had compost incorporated once, and then four successions of multi species cover crops. I’ve noticed improved water infiltration and water holding capacity - plus that darker colour!

Think I’m ready to tackle the rest of the front yard!

26/10/2021

“Spring breathes new life into the world around us”

19/10/2021

Busy, busy, busy....

Possibly I let this compost bin get a bit dry 🙃

08/10/2021

It’s not just the fungi working away to improve the structure of our heavy clay soils 💚

So many worms and so many worm holes.

05/10/2021

Surprised but happy (Ithink!) to find threads of fungi all through what was once impenetrable clay.

Fungi can do all sorts have good things to improve soil - clay can be broken up to allow space for air and water.

Fungal networks can also scavenge water and nutrients beyond the reach of plants root systems. Now to work out what sort of fungi it might be 🤔



UPDATE: I've since learnt that mycorrhizal fungi aren't visible to the naked eye. This is a type of decomposer fungi that's breaking down organic matter and is also beneficial for improving soil structure.

03/10/2021

We’re back! Refreshed from a well deserved rest over winter, time spent with family and regular bushwalks to see the mountains of flowers in bloom this year...

I’m so grateful for the opportunities that starting a small business has given me. But also know that rest and self care are important too.

28/07/2021

“I am a part of the changing face of farming”

Calling for the courageous and committed faces of the amazing women that care and nurture so much of our farmland, grow our food, run businesses, research, lead, inspire and shape our agricultural industries and food security.

The is this years Young Farmers Connect feature magazine focusing on the visions, voices and values of our amazing female farmers, feminists, advocates and food systems allies.

Send a selfie straight from the field or post with the hashtag and share why you grow food, farm or support a fair food system.

All pictures using this hashtag will be published as a part of a mosaic of the women that feed our country. Closes August 1st.

21/07/2021

It's a challenging time. I've been incredibly fortunate to learn and practice holistic management with Brian Wehlburg from Inside Outside Management over the last few years.

Holistic management is for everyone; gardeners are farmers too.

Having a clear vision helps us to create the future we hope for, keeps us focused on what is within our control, and supports us to make sustainable changes despite the inevitable challenges, and crises.

02/07/2021

‘Humus is one of the most important of the soil’s constituents’ Department of Agriculture NSW, 1920

A timeless perspective; humus enables the natural water and nutrient cycles to work effectively in the soil to support healthy plants to grow. Part of our approach is to increase the levels of humus in our garden soils so we can see the benefits of a naturally productive and resilient garden system.

28/06/2021

To be able to grow vegetables we need healthy soil. Working towards healthy soil is a process; plan, observe, adapt, repeat.

A year ago when I started our new garden I could see that our soil was severely compacted and water infiltration was poor. Without air and water in the soil, the worms and microbes can’t survive. The structure, function and health of our soil was poor.

Best practice or prescriptive advice would suggest that digging or tilling the soil is bad for soil health.

I find it more helpful to consider tillage as a tool, just one of the tools I have available to work towards a healthy soil. Depending on how, why and when I till the soil will influence if we are moving towards a healthy soil or degrading it further.

In our case, that once off double digging (tilling), adding compost, creating permanent beds and growing successions of diverse cover crops has helped to improve the health of our soil.

This afternoon I did a simple aggregate test. The sample on the left is our original soil, the sample on the right is the garden soil one year later.

I think we are headed in the right direction 🌱

25/06/2021

Rest and reflection feel good in the week of the winter solstice. I feel so grateful for the many opportunities I have had to learn and grow this past year. Without planning so, the year shaped up to be my 'accidental apprenticeship' in the art and science of farming.

Insight into the critical difference between simple, complex and complicated has been invaluable. Nature, business, and people are inherently complex, there is so much diversity, connections, and interrelated components.

As people, we prefer to solve complicated problems and work according to a rule, recipe, or process. In general, we prefer certainty and safety.

Farming has taught me to consciously manage complexity; to adopt a plan, observe, and adapt approach every day.

08/06/2021

I can feel the momentum 🌏🌿🌱🌻☀️

We can't 'save the world' by ourselves. The issues are too big and too varied, and we're busy people who still have to cook dinner and get the kids to school...

Sometimes we get bogged down in thinking 'I need to start a new thing', and 'what can I do?'. But how about thinking 'what's already out there that I can support?' and 'how can my skills be useful in this transition?'

When we ask the right questions, we've got a greater chance of making the right choices, and taking a big weight off our own shoulders while we're at it. None of us has to go this alone, but all of us can offer something important.

This movement is turning things around for the better. Now that's something I'm happy to get used to!

What programs and projects are already going on in your area that you'd like people to know about? I'm excited about our revegetation program, and the local men's shed is doing great stuff for our community.

01/06/2021

‘All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, till they take root in our personal experience.’
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

27/05/2021

It such a privilege to attend this workshop continuing to learn how to manage the complexity in farming and business. Inspiring people, doing amazing things, and eager to continue to innovate towards a stable and connected future for us all.

Thanks Young Farmers Connect!

11/05/2021

The last of our summer green manures were incorporated into the soil today. The process seems to be working; the soil in these raised beds is looking darker, has good structure and the number of worms is incredible. Meanwhile our front yard is looking a bit neglected...