Halcyon Daze

My colleagues and I are promoting their use in remote areas of PNG. Up there they are often called "rabbits" and are only ever kept for consumption but on a limited scale. They are quite tasty and make a good alternative to endangered species such as tree kangaroos and cassowaries. They also provide the elderly and less-able with a "job" and "income". I'd love to get some better breeds up there asap. If anyone knows of any meat breeds in Australia then let us know! cheers

I've got a few friends with coffee trees and I've become quite interested in harvesting and roasting coffee beans in a sustainable manner (supposing the organic fuel source was harvested sustainably). I'm hoping to learn how to do this without the use of electricity, i.e. by using a campfire-&-tin can type set up. Even just to roast half a kilogram at a time. What would be the basics of such a revolutionary endeavor? Is it worth the hassle and would it satisfy the average coffee craving? Cheers in advance!

That's mad, thanks for the pix! Very informative indeed. 43 beans (ground) should be enough for a couple cuppas in a plunger. My coffee tree is finally on the verge of flowering, can't w8 to try this!

Spotted this one today, heading right through the middle of town.

It should be ok if you let the pot dry out between waterings. People often use a pot of sand or sandy cactus mix to get a cutting rooted, rather than soil. Because it is so well drained it promotes root development and reduces the chance of rot. After a year transplant it into a bigger pot of soil.

Hey, any PNG members who want to meet up, do some trades or just stay in touch etc in PNG then PM me I'd love to meet you. I'll be spending a lot more time there when I return in a couple weeks. Cheers!

About a year ago I noticed a small opuntia growing as an epiphyte on a huge camphor laurel tree up the street from me, it actually looked pretty cool. over the weeks and months I would always take a glance anytime I drove past and wonder what might become of this little battler. Yesterday though, the dream all came to an end when I saw someone had ripped it off the tree and thrown it onto the cement traffic island to die. I'm tempted to put it back up for fun now.

maybe you should have a comp! Here's my entry

I stumbled upon these for the first time the other day in Wollworthless's and they are awesome. From what I found on google, they are a hybrid blackberry/rasberry and they are HUGE. very similar in apperance to a very large plump mulberry but with a blackberry-ish taste. mmmm I'm eating them right now and they are delicious! Needless to say, I'm keeping all the seeds I can find. Get em while the getting's good!

totally agree, ever since I dumped the telly, quit facebook and disconnected the phone I don't hear 'bout nothin' no more! I only noticed this by fluke and when I looked outside it had already started. I guess that's why we love our forums.

Unless I've got my info wrong there should be a TLE tonight. The best of it starting around 12:00 midnight and going to around 1:00 AM. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16116227 Time for a nudie-run me thinks.

Last night was awesome, I saw the whole thing clear as a bell with my awesome gf by my side . She even chewed some of my favorite ceremonial leaves with me for the occasion. It was an incredibly beautiful experience and I even got some great pics to remember it. Sorry if you missed it, hope these help cheer you up. Peace TL eclipse .bmp blue moon dr.bmp

Shit it's already happening! Full on, go out n have a look. the best one I've ever seen.

Ok here's a game for ya, Guess the lyrics and post your own. Pretty simple really I'll get the ball rolling. "Find yourself a girl, and settle down Live a simple life in a quiet town so S***** ** *** ****"

GIRL ON THE WING by The Shins (I used google) ok my go again Why won't you make up Your mind? Give me a sign! Am I wasting my time? Living in my head? You'll be sorry when I make Up mine instead. if you can't guess this then you don't know the song

Read "Throwim way leg" by Tim Flannery, libraries often have it. He spends months in the most remote locations with head hunters while searching for and cataloging new mammals. It is pretty much the most amazing book I've ever read and a must if you want to go off the beaten track.

here's a couple pics off google images. so what's the deal with posting images from some other website anyway, are we allowed to or not? I'll delete them if I have to.

Cairns is quite a favored destination for many PNG's. It's only 1 hour cheap flight from Moresby and there's betel nut and quite a PNG community up there. And how would a plant's location make it elite or bragworthy anyway. Maybe he's just been misjudged. What a shame for us all.

"THE man who once was one of NSW's top crime fighters is to serve a minimum 16 years in jail for attempting to import more than $100 million worth of illegal drugs." http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/former-nsw-crime-fighter-mark-standen-jailed-for-drug-importing/story-e6frg6nf-1226217120397 This must be why they love to crack down on our back yard herbs and medicines... -to reduce competition!

"Steady As She Goes" by the The Raconteurs Too easy mate! Ok how about this one... "Shine is on me like a dog on a what??? BONE" Good luck! Cheat if you have to.

There's only one thing cooler than Science, and that is "WEIRD SCIENCE" Isolate a culture of black rot on agar, kill it off with antibiotics, inject a tiny amount into one of your most beloved cacti and see what kind of strange mutant cactus you create. Don't forget to report back

Yeah I've been trying to get in touch with Cassarius, hopefully he sees this and logs in. Cheers!

Can't say I've ever seen one but I'll let you know if I do. There's plenty of bamboo up there.

I'd back the scientific approach, you just can't be anti-science about such important things these days. Sure we are getting less water now, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be sustainable. The only way out of the mess is to become sustainable, the sooner the better. Will some people have to pay more for water, will some people be forced out of business??? Sure... That's life in a world of climate change. Not that I want to degrade any of your threads into an argument over whether or not climate change is real or caused by who or what. Just wait 'till you hear all the alarmist BS over how the reforms will ruin farming in this country. From what I can gather most of the water allocations are owned by wealthy foreigners anyway. Screw 'em, they're thieving from the country and ruining the future of farming for everyone here. Glad I got that off my chest lol.

I've had the cutting for about 2.5 years and it's finally putting on growth again. Mine also aborted it's first flowers which was a bummer. I also secretly want to cross it onto Setiechinopsis mirabilis for a smaller nocturnal ornamental hanger. I'll have to try and see with that one though lol. I've seen pics of white thelogonus and hot pink ones, I'm not sure what to expect with mine.