Our 'house cow' supplies milk to the household and raises calves for meat or profit, plus provides
compost for the garden and clears areas of the property where machinery would normally be required. The chooks cultivate
the vegetable beds and clear up fallen fruit around the orchard, whilst providing meat and eggs for the table.
Our pony provides recreation for the children as well as conducting 'mowing' duties and providing manure for the garden.
He also provides company for calves during weaning.
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| Hay bale composting |
Our vegetable garden covers an area of approximately 120 square meters and consists of a rotational multi bed system within
2 seperate growing areas. We have several areas set aside for composting and endeavour to recycle all organic waste produced
on the property. We also welcome friends and neighbours to 'donate' their scraps to our chooks and regularly take delivery
of stable manure to compost and mulch from the local municipal tip, for mulching the ornamental gardens.
Our 'mini' orchard contains one or two trees of each variety which we feel does well in our local area. Over time we've had
to modify our expectations as certain species don't seem to do well with our frosts.
We have an extensive citrus orchard, which provide fresh fruit, juice and marmalade, and stone fruits which provide fresh
fruit, jams, jellies and pastes.
The orchard is irrigated via seepage from the grey water and rainwater tanks in the dryer part of Summer.
An extensive herb garden has been established taking advantage of otherwise wasted space along the dividing fenceline. We
are currently growing cullinary and medicinal herbs and can be used fresh or dried.
Additional rainwater tanks are gradually being installed alongside each building, taking advantage
of roof space to capture water. These tanks currently provide all of the water for irrigation and
penned livestock. In the future, additional tanks will also provide most of the water supply to the household.
Whilst the picturesque creek not only provides habitat for yabbies, and several species of fish, it also provides
a continuous water supply for our livestock.
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