What's growing on?
Welcome to the May edition of the Gardens for Harvest Newsletter. We hope you are all enjoying the last of your tomatoes and zucchinis, and the beginning of the time to snuggle by the fire or heater.
Our local Indigenous people- the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation refer to this as WARING - WOMBAT SEASON
- Waring (Wombats) emerge to graze and bask in the sunshine
- Male Bulen-Bulen (Superb Lyrebirds) perform their courtship displays
- Hearts of kombadik (soft tree-ferns) are the major food when no fruits are available
- Cool rainy days follow misty mornings
- Days are short, nights are long
- Constellation of Sagitarius rises in the south-east after sunset, indicating the mid-point of cold weather.
Many people are preserving, saucing, stewing, and harvesting pumpkins at this time too, with the excitement of many a winter feast ahead.
|
|
May- Cool to Cold Areas
Low temperatures for extended periods of time (all of Tasmania, most of Victoria, the southern highlands of NSW, the ACT and a tiny southern bit of SA)
- It’s almost time for bare rooted fruit trees, so start preparing beds now;
- Lots of lovely rich organic matter, a bit of moisture and some mulch will see the soil absolutely gorgeous by the time your trees are ready to go in!
- Have a think about what tree varieties you are after, you may need to do some research into the best supplier. Especially if you are after an heirloom or unusual variety.
- Give Brassicas a blast this month, and pop the following into your patch:
- broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Plant some sage with these guys as a great, caterpillar and moth-repelling companion!
- By putting in peas and broad beans now, you are giving them the winter to extend their roots deep. This means that when the weather does start getting warmer and the frosts disappear you are ahead of the game. Radish, Swedes, turnips and spinach will also crop well if planted now. Don’t forget spring onions either this month.
- Set aside a bit of space and pop in an artichoke! These are gorgeous additions to the patch, look amazing and taste pretty good too!
- Add some colour and movement to the patch and pop in some pretties;
- dianthus, cornflower, pansy, viola, verbena and lupins. Having these around your veggies will give some interest to the patch, and act as beneficial insect attractors!
- Top up mulch on your veggie patches, herb gardens and ornamental beds, especially important for weed suppression at this time of year. Mulch to a depth of about 7cm after watering the patch. Keep mulch clear of plant stem, especially young seedlings. Choose a low environmental impact, locally sourced mulch that will enrich your soil as it breaks down.
- Green manure crops, including oats, wheat, faba beans and field peas are good to go now… improve that dormant veggie patch, and get ready for next seasons heavy feeding plants!
- Plants feel the need for a feed at this time of year. A seaweed tea, or any low environmental impact liquid fertiliser is perfect for the seedlings you’ve just popped in. Apply to the soil early in the morning and in the concentrations mentioned on the packet.
- Weeds run rampant this time of year. Cut down the competition between your produce plants and these space invaders. It may sound tedious, but it’s incredibly rewarding! Try making a weed tea to feed your winter crops.
- Water smarter at this time of year. Water first thing in the morning, and instead of quickie irrigation, a nice, deep drink a couple of times a week is far more beneficial! Always check soil moisture before watering at this time of year….don’t waste your precious drinking water if Mother Nature has already done all the hard work for you!
- Cold days mean a bit of shed time… why not build yourself a nice blackboard for the shed, to keep track of what has been planted in your patch where and when? This makes crop rotation a load easier, and allows you to keep track of feeding times and dates, what worked, what didn’t and what’s happening in the veggie garden.
April Garden tips | Sustainable Gardening Australia (sgaonline.org.au)
|
|
Congratulations Yarra Valley ECOSS on winning 2 Premiers Sustainability Awards.
In 2021 Yarra Valley ECOSS was the winner of 2 Premiers Sustainability Awards, they want to encourage other groups in the Yarra Ranges Council Area to apply with their initiatives, and showcase what a wonderful Council area we are. Check out their awards here:
Sustainability Victoria | Yarra Valley ECOSS: 2021 Winner – Sustainable places
|
|
Positions Vacant
Agribusiness Yarra Valley are looking for new representatives to join the Agribusiness Yarra Valley Board. We have vacancies for two people to represent the orchard and berry fruit industry.
We are looking for people who are passionate about their industries and would be willing to devote a little time to our board. We hold meetings approximately three to four times per year. Meetings are held in Wandin, starting at 5.30pm on the 3rd Wednesday of the month in February, June, September and November. Its a dinner meeting (provided). If this is an opportunity you'd like to accept or discuss further, then I'd love to hear from you.
Contact Kylie cab@agribusiness-yarravalley.com or phone 0491 141 008
|
|
A bit about the weather!
An active La Niña at this time of the year is very unusual. Most models predict it to collapse in autumn, but the NCEP model stands alone predicting it to march on for a third year in a row. While double La Niñas are not uncommon, triple ones have only occurred three times since 1877. It’s a case of watch this space.
My assessment of 12 climate models for Victoria shows a split between likely wetter and neutral rainfall and neutral and likely warmer temperatures for the next three months.
Climate outlook overview
Issued: 14 April 2022
- May to July rainfall is likely to be above median for most of Australia, but south-west WA and western Tasmania are likely to be below median.
- May to July maximum temperatures are likely to be above median for north, west and south-east Australia.
- Minimum temperatures for May to July are very likely to be warmer than median across almost all of Australia.
- The weakening La Niña, the Indian Ocean, and other localised drivers are likely to be influencing this outlook.
The Bureau of Meteorology has released their, Climate and Water Outlook Video, May - July 2022
Visit http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/overview/video
|
|
Yarra Valley Queensland Fruit Fly News
MARCH 18th 2021 UPDATE
Bronwyn Koll, Queensland Fruit Fly Regional Coordinator (Yarra Valley) has provided a list of updates in and around the YV:
NEW – Chum Creek, isolated and contained at this stage
NEW – Silvan (RapidAIM detection, residential yard) – possibly linked to Silvan/Mt Evelyn issue, baiting started
NEW – Silvan (discovery of an old QFF in an unchecked trap)- possibly linked to Silvan/Mt Evelyn issue, baiting started
NEW – Silvan, roadside trap (possibly linked to Silvan 2020 detection, same area) Door knocking started. No flies in nearby traps.
NEW – Hoddles Creek (TBC)
Updates
- Gruyere (baiting started, no further detections). Gruyere other: suspect activity in another RapidAIM trap, landholder buying own traps)
- Warrandyte (count now above 30 flies, crop removed and bait applications now having effect on trap counts
- Coldstream (no further detections at either site)
- Healesville (suspect insect was not QFF)
- Silvan (flies in trap not yet confirmed, larvae in peach confirmed as QFF using LAMP)
- Strathewen (suspect, three properties, treating if it is QFF, Nillumbik Shire/PPWCMA providing clean up assistance)
- Silvan (suspect, fly in trap not yet confirmed)
- Seville (no further detections)
- Hoddles Creek – no further detections in this area, but new HC detection (suspect) 17th March
- Mt. Evelyn - total of 2 flies so far, 2 further Mt.Ev detections of larvae (confirmed), suspect flies in Silvan, 86 houses door knocked, PPWCMA assistance declined by landholder (deemed under control).
- Kinglake – no further detections
- Badger Creek – no further detections
PROTEIN BAIT WEEKLY, REPEAT AFTER RAIN, CONTINUE 3 WEEKS POST HARVEST (min)
INSTALL EXTRA TRAPS (for those who do not have a sufficient surveillance grid)
REMOVE FRUIT BEFORE IT FALLS
DESTROY FALLEN FRUIT & WASTE FRUIT- ASAP
|
|
Do you follow Gardens for Harvest on Facebook? Here's the link:
|
|
|
Gardens for Harvest May Webinar- Soil Health with Stuart Ryder.
May 17, 2022 07:00 PM
Learn the key elements of soil health that contribute to producing nutrient dense backyard produce along with the 3 M’s - soil Minerals, organic Matter and Microbiology and how they work together to produce healthy functional soils.
You'll also learn:
• the physical characteristics of soils
• how to identify your own soil type
• soil pH and the role of soil testing and techniques to improve your soils such as composting, mineral amendments and compost teas.
Time
Register via this link: https://yarraranges-vic.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8nWhopnGTj25FqZcP-dfrQ
For links to previous webinars see here:
Gardens for Harvest webinars Yarra Ranges Council
|
|
|
Belgrave Food Garden invites you to join us for a Home Composting Workshop 1st May 10am -12 midday
Home Compost 101 https://fb.me/e/3lNph6Ity
Divert garden and kitchen waste from landfill to create black gold – compost!
Home composting can be easy, with a little know-how. In this free two hour hands on workshop, learn composting basics:
- Keep your compost pile odourless and pest-free
- Difference between hot and cold composting
- How to set up the right system for you
Register is essential
The Belgrave Food Garden is able to host this workshop free of charge thanks to the support of Yarra Ranges Council.
The workshop will be held in the garden, ensure you dress for the weather.
This is a COVID safe event, please only attend if you are feeling well
- When: 1st May
- Time: 10-12 midday
- Where: 1624 Burwood highway, Belgrave
.
|
|
Are you familiar with Yarra Ranges Food Connections? Follow this link to learn more:
|
|
|
Mooroolbark Urban Harvest – Food Swap
- When: Monthly on the 2nd Saturday @ 10:00 – 11:30am
- Where: Red Earth Community Park Brice Ave, Mooroolbark VIC 3138
- Contact: Claire Smith Ph:0425 700 280
- Cost: Free
.
|
|
The Valley Market ECOSS
is excited to present our next Festive Market at Yarra Valley ECOSS on Friday May 20th!
This will be a very special night of Classical Indian performances! There will be Indian food and Chai available to purchase on the night as well as performance from Sarita McHarg duo, more to be announced!
Come along to The Valley Market ECOSS where you can purchase local art, produce and craft, have dinner and stay for a wonderful evening of Indian music!
(11) Festive Market at ECOSS with Sarita McHarg | Facebook
Market @ ECOSS
Come visit us every Friday from 3:30pm-6:00pm
at Yarra Valley ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn.
http://www.ecoss.org.au
Market @ Warby
The Valley Market Warburton replaces the Warby Summer Produce Market. First Sunday of the month 11am-3pm.
|
|
|
Mooroolbark Urban Harvest – Food Swap
- When: Monthly on the 2nd Saturday @ 10:00 – 11:30am
- Where: Red Earth Community Park Brice Ave, Mooroolbark VIC 3138
- Contact: Claire Smith Ph:0425 700 280
- Cost: Free
|
|
Fabulous Peas 2022
15th to16th October
Mount Evelyn and Karwarra Gardens
Discover the extraordinary world of Australian pea plants. This seminar will cover subjects including how to identify the major genera, how to propagate and how to grow pea plants. We hope choosing peas as the seminar topic may expand our knowledge and encourage us to find places for a few more peas in our gardens.
|
|
|
|
Yarra Valley ECOSS
Crops for Community
Educating and empowering volunteers of all abilities to grow food crops for both distribution and sale.
This initiative marries the ECOSS Community Garden volunteers, with the weekly produce Market, local food relief organisations and ECOSS nursery, enabling opportunities for connection, skill building and greater food security in the Yarra Valley.
Social and community benefits
Firstly, this initiative marries the ECOSS Community Garden and all abilities programme with the ECOSS Weekly Market so that 1/3rd of vegetables grown are sold as fresh produce.
Secondly, 1/3rd of ECOSS produce grown through the ‘Crops for Community Programme is donated to the KOHA Community Cafe. Koha Community Cafe is a local community based project. Based on the Lentil As Anything concept, anyone can come and have a meal paying only what they can afford or what they think it is worth. Koha’s aim is to promote inclusion, and community self reliance. A further 1/3rd is donated to the OONAH Indigenous Services Tuckerbag Programme. Oonah currently runs a Tucker Bag Program each Friday during school term to provide stable food relief to anyone in the local community who requires the extra support.
Where possible and practical, some of the produce is prepared and cooked as curries and soups to be sold at various festivals and happenings occurring at ECOSS. Our allabilities team participates in this value adding process learning many skills. These three streams of access provide opportunities for connection and greater food security in the Yarra Ranges and a wonderful engagement for our Crops For Community volunteers.
Involvement in the ‘Crops For Community’ programme allows our volunteers of all abilities to gain skills in:
- Propagation and seed planting
- Plant care
- Pruning
- Plant ID
- Harvesting
- Preparation
- Cooking
- Sales and promotion
- Pest management
- Composting and worm farming
- Bed Preparation and soil health
To be involved in ECOSS’s Crops for Community volunteer program please contact
Melanie
Disabilities and Volunteer Project Development Officer
allabilities@ecoss.org.au
John
Crops for Community Coordinator
cropsforcommunity@ecoss.org.au
|
|
|
|
♻️🥕 A rebate of up to $40 is available to Yarra Ranges residents to purchase eligible items for home composting and to start composting their food waste at home.
👩🌾🌱 Food waste makes up around 40% of the contents of our rubbish bins. Composting at home helps to reduce our food waste and creates valuable soil additives that can be used in vegetable and ornamental gardens.
Find out more and apply on the Yarra Ranges website »
|
|
Gardens for Harvest would like to respectfully acknowledge that we are operating on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Woi Wurung language group of the Kulin Nation.
We wish to work respectfully with our local elders and community members, to protect and care for country. We send our respects to our local Indigenous community and all First Nations people, as well as all natures inhabitants on the earth, under the earth, in the water and in the sky. The seen and unseen.
|
|
|
|
|
