REAL: New addition to the house

I almost wanted to make the heading new additon to the family. . . But wouldn't want to mis-lead anyone. But a family airlume it is.

Earlier in January 2013 I spotted this lovely cupboard in my mom-in-law's house and just fell inlove with it. I mentioned to my mom-in-law that if she ever wanted to get rid of it (it was awkwardly placed in a small room), I would be more than happy to have it, but ofcause I know she loves it, but throught I'll just say. Her response was, this old thing! Nobody wants it, you can have it with the greatest of pleasure!

So yesterday we picked it up, just-just fit it into my small 4 x 4.

Our first plan for it was to place it in the guest bathroom and to fill it with rolled up fresh towels, toilet paper and other amenities. The guest bathroom does not have any fanity space currently, excpet for a very sad half cracked glass shelf, a small glass shelf, placed just on the side above the toilet. The first time I used the toilet the shelf nearly didn't survive when I came up, so, we will have to take it down before a guest gets injured!

Our second plan for it (should it not fit into the bathroom) was to turn it into a shoe cabinet in our bedroom! :-) Ohhhh did I love that idea.

As the saying goes, RECYCLE - REUSE!!!

So, for now it is in the bathroom, just moved it in last night. I still have to clean it and rework it a bit, but here is a sneak preview.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Veg - Spinach and Rocket

Just two more before and after photo's for now.

Below: Spinach - We have had some and there's still plenty for us to use over the next week or two. And if you are wondering, the sticks with the plastic bags tied to them is great for recycling/reusing BUT are really there to chase off unwanted mouse birds that eat my crops.

Below: Rocket - Our bearded dragon loves the Rocket so much!!! In the after photo below it has already made flowers and started producing seed. Will be taking them out and planting some petty pan pumpkins.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Portager Pathways

So our portager started off with just plain soily paths with some natural looking stepping stones. But this is rather messy and not all that nice. Portagers are somewhat more formal and hence the decision to start dollying up the paths.

We have only completed the one pathway so far. Will have to do it piece by piece as the pebbles can work out rather expensive depending on the size of the area one wants to cover.

So firstly we lifted the stones already layed down. We then layed a weed sheet down to stop weeds from growing in the pathway. We then layed down the stones again and filled it with white pebbles. I love the combination of the brown stones and the white pebbles. We also placed some solar pannel garden lanterns right at the entrance and built a focus point cirlce in the middle with spebbles and a little garden girl catching butterflies! And she helps to keep the birds away from the spinach and lettuce.

Next to the pathway in sequance we planted rosemary, mint and red basil on either side.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Herbs - Chives

Our CHIVES have gone bushy!!!!

And they are so yum!!!! They have gone into quite a few home baked breads, stew dishes, our house warming party meals, brinjal dishes, etc. And there are still plenty left. So, I conclude, it is true - Herbs produce more and more as you use of them.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Veg - Artichoke

Before and after archichoke - they are still growing. It is the first time I am trying to grow tehse and I am not sure at which point we will see "fruit", but keeping an eye on them patiently.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Salad and Parsley

This is a beautiful before and after example of the eco-circle gardening method from start to finish. We used take away bear mugs that we found at a expo where we enjoyed our lunch. Everyone wanted to know what we were collecting them for, they were just being thrown in the trash. Everyone also loved the idea.

Here you water into the containers that have been prepared with little holes to allow the water to seap throught to the roots of the vegetables.

Below: Butterlettuce and parsley.

GARDEN: Portager Phase 2 - Let the games begin

Phase 2 has been tiring and is not even nearly finished, but here's what we did get done in one day!

Below: Went of to the Nursery on Sunday and got some square steppings tones and plants for the portager.

Below: The plants packed out in the shade.

Below: Start of the resting area / portager patio!

Below: Just some details on the stones. 4 squares making one big square in the same patterns. Example below. Surrounded by 6 square other with various designs, not one of the 6 are the same.

Below: Deciding what goes where opened up a can of worms!!! Clearly this garden is muuuuccchhh bigger than what I thought, look, not even half the beds will be filled. From this photo you can also see the stones we started laying in the pathways leading in and down to the resting area.

Below: Revealing the secrets. We got these take away beer mugs at an expo on Saturday and we collected them. No, we did not drink that much beer!!!! They will work great in our eco-circles, which is the eco friendly garden style we decided on for this portager. More on this eco-circles to be revealed in good time.

Below: Planting decorative grass and ground coverings in between the square stones.

Below: The concept of the eco-circle is to have one large plastic plant container in the centre, planted in the circular bed. Or 2L coke bottle with the top cut off. Drill holes and plant it. I have planted 3 of the beer cups after we drilled little holes in them. Just to see as a test how this will work. I may make some of the other beds slightly different. When you water, you only fill the container(s) in the middle as appose to spraying water all over the plants.

 

Below: you can clearly see the 3 circles where I added compost to the soil. I counted about 15 circles in my garden. HEEEELLLPPPP!!!!! What was I thinking.

Below: Finally - one bed done!!! Butter lettuce and parsley mixed in my first eco-circle! And my only eco-circle for now. I think it will take a while to have the entire garden planted, but THIS is part of the journey, seeing it grow, and appreciating every step for what it is and for what it teaches us about ourselves and life in this world as we know it.



GARDEN: Portager Phase 1 - Humble Beginnings

Humble Beginnings Indeed. . .

Just a few shots to give you an idea what I mission it has been just to complete PHASE 1 - PREPARING THE SPACE.

Below: 3 photos from original state to final state of the portager before planting and layout can start.

Below: The area directly next to the portager will be converted into 2 parking spaces. So what we did here was to transplant the lavendar bushes further back behind and next to the small tree. We then transplanted some of the grass to the empty spot where the lavender bushes were before. Opening up more space for the parking area.

IDEAS: NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS

The whole world through media and awareness are turning towards "greener" ideas and ways of living.

Our new home does not have a swimming pool and although we actually really wanted to have one the up side of this is that we can build our own pool the way that we want it to be and it will be new, it won't be a old pool that needs to be revamped.

What do you think of these natural pools? Would you swim in one of these???

The water is clean, in fact so clean you could drink it!!!!

Above: Absolutely fabulous!!!! I don't think our slopy little hill is nearly steap enough for this effect, but I really really love this one.

Above: I love the bridge idea, it would also be stunning with jumping rocks.

IDEA: 1 PLANET LIVING CHALLENGE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk2MbjtGb4o

Do yourself a favour, if you are keen on living a green lifestyle, do some research. Above is a link hubby sent on to me. The theory is that we need 3 living planets to sustain the current pase and lifestyle needs. . . We only have one!

So we are taking on this challenge of 1 living planet and living a sustainable life.

We will definately implement, all in due time, a grey water system, we will harvest rain water, we will plant a vegetable garden (small scale at first), we will most probably source second hand solar panels where we can and buid a solar energy system over time. A solar geyser is also a great idea, but I have heard they are gasltly expensive!