The Garden
A true sense of moving with the seasons
Welcome to The Garden. Stage 1 has been the repurposing of a piggery ruin, into a flourishing raised vegetable garden.
This ruin stood empty for many years, filled with remnants and slowly crumbling. We cleaned it out, sourced some recycled bricks and rebricked to a height suitable for vegetables.
The soil here is very sandy and nutrient poor. The red gums thrive once their roots get to the clay beneath, but vegetables struggle in the ground.
The piggery offered us a unique solution. Concrete bases prevent root competition and rapid drying of the soil. They also add thermal mass.
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Once rebricked, we added 70 cubic metres of soil. A mix of local reclaimed soil in the base, topped with rich organic matter and raised garden mix. We then added chicken manure from our own chickens, drip irrigation and a fence to protect from rabbits and kanagaroos.
First planting occurred in Spring 2024 and we’ve had a hugely successful season. Looking forward to sharing more in coming seasons.
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COMING SOON
The Fruit Bowl
On Cockatoo Lane was once home to a Pear orchard and market garden. It had 2 bores and pumped water into a large dam, allowing the ground water to warm until safe to pump onto trees and crops.
The dam has long been dry and the lining damaged. Investigations were made into reinstating one bore and the dam but low ground water levels meant it would have been environmentally irresponsible. Its always been a pretty spot and a part of the history of the property. Filling it in was considered but then the idea formed to repurpose it into an orchard.
The clay lining should help nurture the trees and the position is ideal. The plan is to create a spiral walkway with fruit trees either side and a sitting area at the bottom for guests to enjoy. Work is due to commence in Autumn 2025 and include fencing the area, creating the path, irrigating and planting before spring 2025.
Fencing on Cockatoo Lane is for small areas of purpose. The rest of the property is for the local wildlife to enjoy.
