checking out down under

checking to see if down under forum is working.

WardinWake wrote:checking to see if down under forum is working.

Working down under and glad to be back on the forum.
I have a new "handle" now ray'ssfg rather than grante9 (my son set that up previously) with his name.
So looking forward to participating as the real me.
Cheers from Aus
Ray

"I have a new "handle" now ray'ssfg rather than grante9"

I'm glad I happened to catch your post.....Ray!

Hey, you're the first birthday on the new calendar we get to celebrate-bottom's up

boffer wrote:"I have a new "handle" now ray'ssfg rather than grante9"

I'm glad I happened to catch your post.....Ray!

Hey, you're the first birthday on the new calendar we get to celebrate-bottom's up

Thanks Boffer, first time for anything for me I think, then again a few days to go yet so maybe someone else will slip in first.
Looking forward to hearing about your spring plantings.
Cheers Ray

Crumb ....Boff beat me to it,,, but still, Happy Birthday Ray!

Lavender Debs wrote:Crumb ....Boff beat me to it,,, but still, Happy Birthday Ray!

Hi Deb,
Thank you for the birthday wishes. Spent the day planting winter greens and then out to lunch at a lovely cafe overlooking the lakes.
Google "Paynesville Australia" and you should come up with some sites about where I live. 75 miles of inland lakes separated from the coast by a sand dune, the lakes are very popular for tourists, boating and fishing.
Cheers Ray

boffer wrote:"I have a new "handle" now ray'ssfg rather than grante9"

I'm glad I happened to catch your post.....Ray!

Hey, you're the first birthday on the new calendar we get to celebrate-bottom's up

Happy birthday Boffer
I hope you have a great celebration.
Cheers Ray from Down Under

Well add me to the "down under" list

recently moved from Northern Victoria to Townsville..bit of a shock weather wise.
It rains up here



Trapper

N.Q wrote:Well add me to the "down under" list

recently moved from Northern Victoria to Townsville..bit of a shock weather wise.
It rains up here



Trapper

Hi Trapper, nice to have another Aussie on the forum, it has been a bit lonely. There were several others on the old forum but they don't seem to have signed up again so far.
I am interested to hear about your garden and what you are planning.
I am really enjoying the forum and there are lots of interesting posts and pictures of gardens.
Cheers Ray

Hi Ray, at the moment we have three 3*7* 200 mm beds made from some old red gum sleepers given to us. Really didnt understand the full deal when we set them up but the concept seemed great so we just went ahead and did it.
Just used some soil and potting mix but managed to grow a bit of stuff throug nearly 1000mm summer so the raised beds really proved the point.
A friend was over and saw what we had done and wanted one built for her elderly father so I built them a 1200*1200*400 bed and capped 2 sides to use as seats so he doesn't have to stand to do the gardening.

Looking to build some 2*6 square raised on to rhs frames for a couple of elderly people I know.

Where have you sourced vermiculite and peat moss from? I'm having a bit of trouble finding bulk amounts.

A school teacher has asked if I'd be interested in teaching the SFG concept to some primary aged kids so I want to be able to set them up properly from th ebeginning

cheers
Trapper

Trapper, the folks in Europe are having some luck finding vermiculite at a builders' merchant -- it's usually found near the insulation...don't know if that holds true in Oz, but it might be worth a look! (It's much cheaper that way, too!)

Hi Trapper,
We have a garden supply company here in Bairnsdale who stock Vermiculite as we have a lot of commercial vegetable growers in the area.
They get it from "EXFOLIATORS Australia PTY LTD" ph 0397066049
They have a web site if you google the above name.
It would be worth asking them if they distribute to Qld.
I use grade 3 and get it in 6kg bags.

I also have a friend who has a large nursery business in Melb who told me not to use Australian peat moss as it is different to the USA version and not suitable for use in our sfg's.
I just use sandy loam soil, lots of compost and vermiculite and it has been fine.

I have 7 9x2 beds = 126 squares buit up 2 feet with pine sleepers. I can sit on the edge and work on the bed next to it. There are some pictures on the forum under "gallery"
I put in a drip watering system today with a timer to get more consistent watering as I am very busy with my work.
Hope the info helps.
Cheers Ray

Hi Ray , managed to track down 100 litre bags of grade 3 vermiculite from Mareeba.
Now need to find bulk supply of peat moss

Trapper

a bed i built for an older gentleman





Trapper

That's a real beauty you got there. definitely worth achieving with the fruits of labor.