at0m Posted April 14, 2016 For the last few years I've been living down in the burbs and not doing too well. Eating badly, not getting out a lot, mental health, etc. So headed up to my dad's place for a few days to try clear my head and get some IT stuff done for him. In those few days, I (slowly) came to the realisation that even though I have some personal/political disagreements with my father and his wife, it's MUCH better for me to be out here so... here I am! Living in the country for the foreseeable future! So what am I doing out here? (very image heavy below) Well, we've got wireless NBN so I'm not entirely ditching technology, it's still my profession (and hobby). (I'm not going to include a picture of my computer...) Now that I've got some space again, I'm going to get back into gardening. There's some really nice large beds laid out here already to build upon (and maintain...) PS: Yes, we know the black irrigation pipe is gross looking. New gravel to cover it is coming next week (hopefully) so we've got until then to make sure 100% of it is working... We're probably going to clear the center of this front-circle out a bit and fill it with some cacti (as a side note: why would one huge protea completely die but the two next to it be in near perfect health? I have more garden questions at some point too) This is our only 'people grass' right now but I kinda like it that way. yes, that is a chess board. no, I don't have the pieces - the previous owner took them so I'm going to have to make my own. Previous owner was nice enough to start a little fruit orchard. Previous owner was not nice enough to take care of it I think it goes apple (not pictured), misc barrel shit, mandarin of some variety (with spikes! delicious but ouch!), apricot, dead citrus, dead apple, nearly dead citrus, apple (at the end) Spiky mandarin-thing Apricot maybe? ein Apfel Tips for caring for these fruit trees would be crazy helpful and appreciated! Some nice sheds too (though never big enough, of course) for working on whatever I happen to feel like. Cars, wood, metal, bikes, ??? (that thing standing on the boxes is my thicknesser! nyewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. also peep them pallets!) I get to see my cat again and the other cat that lives here and is pretty cute too we've got a couple neighbours but they're not too baaaad and finally there's about 1.5-2 acres of land we're not entirely sure what to do with yet. Big open field(s) down the back. We're (probably) going to get some mini dairy goats (nigerian dwarf goats for those of you interested in talking goats) because I found out a) I'm lactose intolerant, goat milk products are deliciouss, c) they don't make me want to die a few hours later and d) side money maybe? who knows. oh and the view at night isn't too bad either #CountryLife now. 15 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BedOSpines Posted April 14, 2016 Top spot mate, Wish you luck. 1.5 achre of cactus I reckon 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theuserformallyknownasd00d Posted April 14, 2016 Lovely place at0m, LOVELY! yeh that move will do you great man, I reckon living there would do anyone great !! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
El Presidente Hillbillios Posted April 14, 2016 fkn awesome news man, want some seeds or somthing too plant? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alice Posted April 14, 2016 Awesome place, I love it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
at0m Posted April 14, 2016 These sunsets though... for real. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
botanicalSEEKER Posted April 14, 2016 Hit the local pub, meet the kind folk that inhabit this place. By far the most welcoming folk are country. Stay away from the shearers unless you like drinking, smoking and long nights on the piss. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayN Posted April 14, 2016 gorgeous photos. is this south oz? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
at0m Posted April 14, 2016 gorgeous photos. is this south oz? Sure is. Down by the river. fkn awesome news man, want some seeds or somthing too plant? Never going to say no to more plants to grow I'll drop you a PM. I'm really glad to see so many familiar names and new ones too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spooge Posted April 15, 2016 Very nice place Atom So neat and well scaped Bedofspines said it - fill the acre and a half with trichs Prolly not to far from you, if you'd like a few cuts to start let me know man 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
☽Ţ ҉ĥϋηϠ₡яღ☯ॐ€ðяئॐ♡Pϟiℓℴϟℴ Posted April 15, 2016 Awww those kitties are awesome!!! *swoons at beautiful garden* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
at0m Posted May 4, 2016 (edited) So today I did a bit of tractor-gardening. If you compare it to some photos from my first posts, you can see the changes we've made This is going to be the cactus bed. I dislike how shit it often looks at the beginning of a process like this but I'm sure once we dump gravel all over it (and have things planted of course...) it will look a million times better. The little raised bed style thing is planned to be used for smaller cacti so they don't get lost in the mix. Here's a bonus cat and another vertical pallet garden too. I put a bunch more effort into this one as it's a paid job Edited May 4, 2016 by at0m 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spooge Posted May 5, 2016 Cool pre prep for a cacti garden Atom love that tractor Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
saylor twift Posted May 7, 2016 epic space man lookin good, cant wait to see 90000000 cacti Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
at0m Posted May 7, 2016 (edited) It looked like a lot more before I started planting them... Some of them are rooted, the majority are cuts from existing plants at my old place (left a few stumps and smaller ones there) I love the look of the monster in the front. Fucked if I remember what it is though, labels were lost a long time ago. I may have to do an ID run (and get some more ) Definitely need a load of gravel soon too. Looking a bit bare and open for my liking. We've been pulling shit out all over the place too. The previous owner of the place planted a lot of shit which isn't doing so well now that we moved in and don't water it daily so anything that looks like it's not doing crash hot from lack of water is going to be/is being replaced by drought hardy natives. We'll need more gravel for those beds too... Would love some suggestions for replacements (SA, natives preferred, looking to water once a week max in summer). Those fruit trees from the original post are all gone now too. They were severely neglected and would be, imo, too much work to repair them, the soil and everything else. Additionally, we don't know exactly what they were sooo... they're gone. We now have a super nice, flat, clear stretch about 18 x 7 (give or take). So in their place I'm thinking something like... Very rough draft buuuuuuuuuuut it's what we're after I think Shade tunnel + outdoor raised beds + hydroponic benches + shaded raised beds. Size is about 6x18 but I'm seriously considering taking it down to 6x12 (halving the front garden) because I'm just not sure if I can use all of those beds buuuuut we'll see. It may get even longer and include a small shed... who knows. Edited May 7, 2016 by at0m 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horus Posted May 8, 2016 Nice place, wide open space. Has cactus garden written all over it. Thanks for sharing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
at0m Posted May 15, 2016 So here goes the start of the tunnel. It's much bigger when you see it in person instead of drawings on your screen. Lots more levelling, working out how to properly secure the damn thing and of course building left to go. Pictures for reference purposes only. Final project subject to change. 100% open to the advice and wisdom of everyone who's done this before. We're making it up as we go really. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AbleKay Posted May 15, 2016 (edited) looking good, been wanting to put some of that (irrigation?) tubing in my back yard for vines to cover but not sure how tight a space they would work in. Ive got a 3m wide yard but presumably narrower gauge pipe would work... haven't found much online about this did you have a reference? Edited May 15, 2016 by AbleKay 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AbleKay Posted May 15, 2016 (edited) do you know if the curve balances/ becomes more symmetrical over time? Edited May 15, 2016 by AbleKay 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
at0m Posted May 15, 2016 15 minutes ago, AbleKay said: looking good, been wanting to put some of that (irrigation?) tubing in my back yard for vines to cover but not sure how tight a space they would work in. Ive got a 3m wide yard but presumably narrower gauge pipe would work... haven't found much online about this did you have a reference? We're using irrigation piping, 2" I think? I don't have the numbers on me and I'm not going outside right now With a smaller yard, I'd definitely consider something smaller. Won't have any growing on mine as they'll be holding up shade cloth 9 minutes ago, AbleKay said: do you know if the curve balances/ becomes more symmetrical over time? In our case, I think we're just a bit over the self-rigid/symmetry sweet spot. It's going to require a lot of fastening and shit to get it to sit properly. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AbleKay Posted May 15, 2016 I've seen similar piping perfectly curved over a smaller span, so yeah, what you say makes sense and is a good lead. cheers 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterboy 2.0 Posted May 15, 2016 stick with the 2inch or you will regret it at0m, and a star dropper(post if u call it that) fits perfect in it Could use one of the high pressure poly types for a smaller structure. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AbleKay Posted May 15, 2016 #StarPicket ,) Thanks 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
at0m Posted May 15, 2016 Semi related: http://www.ecofilms.com.au/easy-to-build-polypipe-greenhouse/ Rosina knows what's up 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites