The Case for Garlic

Why grow garlic?

1. Garlic is in short supply globally and the costs have risen dramatically the past years. Prices above $30kg are common.
2. Garlic is fumigated with methyl bromide at entry to Australia for quarantine reasons
3. Imported garlic is often whitened by using chlorine or with a mixture of sulphur and wood ash. 
4. Imported garlic is often dosed with growth inhibitors. This not only extents shelf life but also stops sprouting while being shipped.
5. How can imported garlic be 'organic'?
6. In 2006 Australia produced 300 to 500 tonnes of garlic. Fresh garlic consumption stood around 3,500 tonnes that year. 
7. Garlic is good for the health.
8. Garlic makes food taste great!

Growing garlic in Tasmania

Plant in April harvest in December. Southern Harvest supply good quality garlic for planting. The also have some good tips for growing garlic.

What we've planted
August was when I came to understand garlic would be a good crop. My planting of about 30 plants was very late in the season. I reckon we will harvest in late January. Most of the crop will go to next seasons sowing. Plans are for large cultivation next year! 


...... garlic ..... do it !  ..... next year even bigger.

New Season Pink Eye Harvest

New season potatoes are very popular this time of year. We planted Pink Eyes in August and the crop is coming on strong now. We've been harvesting for about 2 weeks and have about 2 weeks left.


The bucket of spuds, in back of car, are bound for Source at Sandy Bay. I discovered this place recently and the concept is interesting. They describe themselves in two ways:


1. AN ORGANIC FOOD CO-OPERATIVE:
Providing affordable organic, local, minimally packaged & fair trade goods. The co-op lives in a beautiful straw and earth bale building located on French St. on the campus of the University of Tasmania, in Sandy Bay.

2. A COMMUNITY GARDEN: 
Providing a fun & healthy way for people to spend time together, share valuable skills & grow their own food. The garden includes a wood-fired pizza oven, small apple orchard and composting facility.  

M · U · S · H · I

M · U · S · H · I

The Great Dane 

Often mistaken for a small horse

Killer of wallabies and roosters

Lord protector of the garden

Weeding

The joys of spring: weeds! 


The raised beds make it easier to control the weeds at the main event, where the vegetables grow.

'Amish Deer Tongue'

Today planted 'Amish Deer Tongue' lettuce seed in open ground. This seed comes from the 'The Lost Seed' a purveyor of rare & heirloom seeds.

Stake The Tomatoes

Sunday: 
Tie up and stake the climbing tomatoes. 
We have 80 plants in ground. 
One was lost yesterday from wind.

The 'Coke' Bottle Green House

We often use this type of green house to protect and promote growth for our small seedlings. 

From the photos you can see how to make and deploy this green house. Note how the lid is removed from the top of the bottle. We have found the temperature is too hot when the lid is left on. Water can be tipped into the top when required. 


Dad's used PET bottles for green houses for as long as I can remember. It has been very successful for us.