Weather bureau predicts warm spring across Australia

With the south of the country still chilled, -3 degrees in my home town this morning, it is hard for Australian's to be aware that according to the US-based National Climatic Data Centre, the world is experiencing its hottest year on record.

I know while I am enjoying the 20 to 25 degree temperatures (though not the six weeks of tropical rain,) here in north Queensland, my family have been shivering down south, through recent cold snaps.

As I need to return home as soon as it is warm enough, to get some medical treatment, I have been trying to get weather predictions of when the winter chill will break and it looks promising, to me, the best personalized gift  I could get right now is to know spring will not be late arriving this year and it will be OK to plan our arrival home for late August to very early September. J, I LOVE Springtime in my cottage garden.

I will make sure I take full advantage of every aspect of the weather, if it is raining here in north Queensland, I will at least take the opportunity to continue visiting the waterfalls in the region and enjoy the spectacular scenery of tropical clouds, mountains and seascape with light breaking through clouds to give wonderful effects..


The bureau's spring forecast shows rainfall is expected to be about average, that is great, we desparatelly needed the rain after a prolonged drought. It will make ideal conditions, to produce a locust plague and dairy farmers have been advised to be on the alert for egg hatchings and take early action. I live opposite an oat field, in rural Northern Victoria, so I guess than means I need to have the pyrethrim and garlic sprey on hand and keep my own eye out over my plants and zap the locusts with a safe product, before they get my plants.

 

When Reg and I moved into most of our homes we had little more than rock hard clay soil to start the garden with and by the time our garden was a couple of years old, we had moisture retaining, friable nutritious, for the plants, good garden loam, all by adding our own compost to the soil. 

We have cut back on many traditional lifestyle items, we own our own homes but not the land they are on, this allows us the freedom of owning a small truck/car and our eco-tourer caravan and touring the country for half of every year.  We have downsized on possessions to be free  for a life of travel, but I never could downsize on having NC health insurance or a garden, so I return, to northern Victoria every springtime as the sun warms the soil, tidy and fertilize, my garden and watch it emerge from, its winter hibernation and burst forth into a glory of springtime blooms. No garden was more challenging than our latest in Northern Victoria, an area that can be hot and dry in summer. A lot of well-rotted organic matter and mulching is essential to keep moisture in the soil in the hot dry summer.
 
North Victoria, is cold and frosty in winter (why we are not there, lol ), once again the organic material, in the soil helps; this time to stop tender plant roots, from freezing and organic matter keeps the soil, porous, allowing it to drain, excess water which could otherwise, drown the plant’s roots. Clay soil is actually highly nutritious but it is usually too hard or too wet for plants to survive well without the advantage of added organic matter.  The best way to add organic matter is with compost.  I also have made worm farms, using tiger worms, as they do not leave the farm as readily as other worms. I use the worm farm liquid as liquid manure and I have a Japanese, fermenting composter and again this makes great liquid manure and my plants get fertilized from scraps. This combination of adding compost and homemade liquid manure made from organic scraps,  produces a fantastic healthy garden and saves me money, I don’t need to buy any fertilizer aside from a tub of my favourite rose food, to boost my rose blooms for the greedy artist in me J who wants bunches to paint.



How to make Compost

 

Reg and I have our summer home, in an area where only the grey filtered water, is used, for the laundry, bathroom, toilet and garden. We have Low- Flow toilets, using filtered gray water (mostly storm water runoff), for the flush. We do not have a dual flush toilet  and I will look into the conversion kits there are, to Save Water. There is ample grey water at the moment and no water restrictions and I am allowed, to water our garden whenever it needs it, so I am able to grow many of my own vegetables and fruits. 

Living in the country as I do and with an avenue of poplar trees across the road from us there is always armfuls of leaf litter available to add to the garden as mulch and further conserve water evaporation from the garden.

The Goulburn Valley region of Victoria has pioneering the adoption of “Water Sensitive Urban Design” principles, reducing the environmental impact of stormwater runoff on the local rivers and minimising flooding.

Major urban development projects, the largest of which is Kialla Lakes Estate, Kialla, having a total project cost of $40M, was constructed in $1.3M stages. Kialla Lakes, estate, is built around an anabranch of the Broken River within a floodplain.

Kialla Lakes Estate has become the showcase for the Goulburn Valley regarding the incorporation of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) features into the management of stormwater.

The excellent management of using storm water to minimise subsequent flooding in the Goulburn Valley area, has allowed this area to be, developed, into orchards and oat fields, interspersed with housing communities. Once a vast flood prone plain it is now a fertile region termed, ‘the fruit bowl, of Victoria’.

At Vara-Ville Village, land was an excavated, to create Lake Dorothy. The excavated soil was used to elevate the surrounding area, to raise it above the flood level and make this former flood prone plain, suitable for housing.  Lake Dorothy provides the filtered grey water system available to the laundry, bathrooms, toilet and for garden use for the surrounding estate and fresh drinking quality water is only used in the kitchens for cooking and drinking purposes.

The example set by the Greater Shepparton and Goulburn Valley region of Victoria, in water management is an inspiration to other communities that have water wastage from storm runoff and flooding issues. The fruit growing industry supports a thriving region, all due to this excellent water management and conservation system.

 

I am promoting a fantastic plant, I would love to own for my own garden, and a great opportunity to support a worthwhile charity auction. Take a look.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1x-Large-shiraz-grape-vine-in-45ltr-bag-12-yrs-old_W0QQitemZ300393279158QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Plants_Seeds_Bulbs?hash=item45f0d5aeb6

1x Large shiraz grape vine in 45ltr bag 12 yrs old – Value $150.00 - please note picture is for illustration purposes only, your plant will differ, all proceeds go to the Hope From Ashes charity to assist those rebuilding their lives after the Toodyay Fires of December 2009


1x Large shiraz grape vine in 45ltr bag 12 yrs old – Value $150.00 Syrah, or Shiraz as the grape is known in Australia (and increasingly elsewhere too) has an exotic history. Thought to be of Middle Eastern origin, it is very possible that the grape was originally grown in the area which includes the ancient city of Shiraz which lay to the south east of what is now Iran. The vine was probably brought to Marseilles by the Romans or the Phocaeans and was certainly established in the Rhone Valley in the latter part of the Roman occupation. Syrah reached Australia rather later in the 1830s where it was to find another great home. Today about 40% of all red wine plantings in Australia are of the Shiraz grape variety.

Syrah is a grape that produces wine that is dark coloured and dense with wonderful smokey and spicy characteristics – attributes which have made it very popular amongst those who appreciate full rich fruit flavours. But with modern wine making techniques it can be produced to be everything from a medium weight crisp red to a classic powerful blockbuster like an Australian Barossa Shiraz or even a Hermitage from the Rhone. This is undoubtedly one of the world’s classic grape varieties ( value $150)

Provided by Tass 1 Trees


 

Hope from Ashes
The Hope From Ashes auction will run online starting on the date of the benefit concert with new items being put up daily over the next week.  This online auction will raise awareness and funds and give people the opportunity to contribute and help Toodyay people who are rebuilding after the fire.

We have tried to gather together a range of diverse and high quality items and services that in some way reflect the diversity and creativity of the Toodyay community. In finding a gift for yourself you will be giving to the Toodyay community and we hope the excitement and high energy of the auction will be uplifting and inspiring in its way.

The auction has the Hope From Ashes flavour celebrating and demonstrating the generosity, positivity and support that has flowed so readily for and within the Toodyay community.

As well as people from Perth many local Toodyay businesses and individuals have also contributed to the auction, some although deeply affected by the fires through loss of home or workplace. Artworks, craft items, trips away, fantastic meals and even life coaching sessions, massages, motoring items, clothing and collectors plates are just a few of the amazing items we can offer you. The list grows every day so “no napping” or you may miss a fabulous item…which is just what you need!

We hope you will enjoy the items on offer and we hope you have fun whilst you bid big as we pull together to raise much needed funds for the survivors of the Toodyay Bushfires.

If you would like more information about the auction or have a donation for us to consider please contact Bruce or Linda Sharman by completing the website contact and writing DONATION at the beginning of your message.

If you wish to make a donation in person, please use the following Bendigo Bank details. Thank you.
Hope from Ashes
BSB: 633 000
Account: 139 064 364

The Hope From Ashes auction will run online starting on the date of the benefit concert with new items being put up daily over the next week.  This online auction will raise awareness and funds and give people the opportunity to contribute and help Toodyay people who are rebuilding after the fire.

We have tried to gather together a range of diverse and high quality items and services that in some way reflect the diversity and creativity of the Toodyay community. In finding a gift for yourself you will be giving to the Toodyay community and we hope the excitement and high energy of the auction will be uplifting and inspiring in its way.

The auction has the Hope From Ashes flavour celebrating and demonstrating the generosity, positivity and support that has flowed so readily for and within the Toodyay community.

As well as people from Perth many local Toodyay businesses and individuals have also contributed to the auction, some although deeply affected by the fires through loss of home or workplace. Artworks, craft items, trips away, fantastic meals and even life coaching sessions, massages, motoring items, clothing and collectors plates are just a few of the amazing items we can offer you. The list grows every day so “no napping” or you may miss a fabulous item…which is just what you need!

We hope you will enjoy the items on offer and we hope you have fun whilst you bid big as we pull together to raise much needed funds for the survivors of the Toodyay Bushfires.

If you would like more information about the auction please contact Bruce or Linda Sharman by completing the website contact and writing DONATION at the beginning of your message.

If you wish to make a donation in person, please use the following Bendigo Bank details. Thank you.
Hope from Ashes
BSB: 633 000
Account: 139 064 364