Dear Yogis,
Merry Christmas (translate – Happy Christmas), quiet with family and friends, giving thanks for the fabulous life and advantages we have.
Yesterday I took CARE BEARS to St.Mary’s church in Woodend. Small ones for under the tree, larger huggable ones for the “Blue Christmas” service. On Sunday I took bears for under the tree to St.Mary’s Anglican church in Kyneton. I always need more bears. Please drop them on my verandah if I am not here. Also let me know if you need any for a crisis where you are.
I know I should be painting but I am inspired in this climate to move forward with my HUGELKULTURE growing technique. You grow in mounds and not Bunning veggie boxes.
This means that you grow on mounds of logs and tree branches cut from the garden in pruning. I made a corner of my garden like this and it is very very productive, so I did it again….. I am refining this, and building a new one over the Christmas break. When you build like this, the base of decomposing branches adds nutrition and water to the plants, doesn’t compact quickly like the veggie boxes do, and I am going to refresh my boxes using this method, rather than just piling in new compost etc. in this way they can make their own nutrition. Seeds and plants love it, and it uses waste otherwise destined for the fire or chipping mulch. I start at the base, using what I have around or have saved. Be a ZERO WASTE YOGI.
I have noticed that Bunnings have got in on the act, but you are encouraged to build with sleepers etc purchased from them of course. Totally unnecessary, and against the idea of frugal or zero waste.
Hugelkultur, pronounced hoo-gul-culture, means hill culture or hill mound, and has been used for hundreds of years in Europe. Instead of putting branches, leaves and grass clippings in bags by the curbside for the bin men… build a hugel bed. Simply mound logs, branches, leaves, grass clippings, straw, cardboard, petroleum-free newspaper, manure, compost or whatever other biomass you have available (not ivy or things that can re sprout – although apple twigs will do just that), top with soil and plant your veggies. I would imagine that even if a fire went through, the mounds would remain, and could be replanted.
The advantages of a hugel bed are many, including: The gradual decay of wood is a consistent source of long-term nutrients for the plants. A large bed might give out a constant supply of nutrients for 20 years (or even longer if you use only hardwoods). The composting wood also generates heat which should extend the growing season and Soil aeration increases as those branches and logs break down… meaning the bed will be no till, long term.
The logs and branches act like a sponge. Rainwater is stored and then released during drier times. Actually you may never need to water your hugel bed again after the first year (except during long term droughts – I do water every few days in these hot months….). Hugel beds also sequester carbon into the soil.
To make such a bed on what is now a lawn, cut out a section of the lawn, digging a small trench and filling the trench with logs and branches or building upwards with logs as side supports which is what I did because I have them. Then fill the space with the upside down turf. On top of the turf add grass clippings, seaweed, compost, aged manure, straw, green leaves, mulch, etc… Whatever you have. Water well to settle and then plant when it has rested.
I am an impatient gardener, and last time it took me only a weekend to do this in a bed about 8ft x 6 ft, building up because trenching was impossible in the dry clay ground. It has supplied me with veggies although the winter, and now is giving me strawberries, rhubarb, sorrel, potatoes, beans, mint, dock…… I am planting Zucchinis in it over the break, they did so well last time. Because we have deep frost, I use my old flyscreens around the bed in winter as frost protection – it works, and uses waste flyscreens.
WHATS ON IN THE STUDIO.
(Christmas? Our last yoga class Friday 20th December at 10am – First 2025 class Friday 10th January at 10am)
Windarring Yoga – Kyneton Tues. 1pm,(last class the 24th December!) 9.30AM in Gisborne on break to new year
STUDIO YOGA, WOODEND: closed for Christmas – open 10th January, at 10am for restorative yoga and then ongoing
DISABILITY YOGA CLASS (YOGA FOR WHEELIES AND WALKERS) in NORMA RICHARDSON hall, starting 9.30am every Wednesday by donation. Please arrive close to 9.30 and we will start when we are settled. Closed until 15th January.
YOGA PHILOSOPHY CLASSES AS USUAL ZOOM. Monday 6.30pm. Closed until the end of January.
MT.MACEDON GALLERY: I will be there 10 am to 1 pm on Sunday 5th January – my first duty for the year. Do visit.
YOGA MONTHLY LUNCH: at The Full Moon Saloon starting again in the new year.
NAMASTE – JAHNE
