Category Archives: DEG News

AGM at 10.30 over morning tea

The Annual General Meeting for Duncraig Edible Garden will be held on 15th July at 10.30am over morning tea at the garden. Everyone is welcome to come and hear reports vote for a new committee and executive committee, and enjoy what is likely to be a yummy spread (if recent morning teas are anything to go by!)

DEG Newsletter June 2021

Logo
Welcome to the June 2021 Duncraig Edible Garden (DEG) Newsletter.
The Noongar season of Makuru is a season of fertility. Its colour is the blue of the flowers we now call leschenaultia. The coldest and wettest time of the year Makuru has strong winds, storms, and rain. It is a good time to gather around a fire and tell stories.

DEG runs on a volunteer basis – it is great to share garden skills, learn new skills and meet up with our friendly group. Spend a few hours with us and share a cuppa.
We meet every 2nd Saturday from 9am – 12pm
The next DEG day was to be 3rd July 2021
We will postpone the AGM until further notice.

Then we will plan to garden in the morning, have the AGM at 10.30am and share warm food together.
Probably best to bring your own mug, bowl and spoon.
Distancing is easily done outdoors. Keep informed of changing restrictions and wear a mask if required. Stay safe.

DEG memberships become due each 30th June.
Please transfer your $15 for individual or $25 for family membership by online banking or direct transfer to
DEG bank account BSB: 633000 Account Number: 154918551 with your name as the reference (so we know whose membership is being paid)
or talk to Kath at DEG before the AGM to pay your dues and be financial in time to vote or to stand for a position on the committee of management.
Brrrrrr In the cold days of winter, there is still a lot to do in the garden, put on a winter coat or rain jacket and brave the conditions outside. We still have many sunny days to enjoy and winter can bring downpours of rain which is great for our garden.
Be sure to turn off your reticulation during winter. A total sprinkler ban applies from the 1 June – 31 August 2021.
What’s new in our Garden?
Peas are growing well in our new garden bed. Our community garden is thriving thanks to the commitment from our volunteers watering during the summer, fertilising in the growing seasons weeding regularly and planting new seedlings. Regular weed control is key. Acting early saves a lot of damage and work. Now is the time to tackle the weeds and pests before they take over the garden. Sprinkle dry crushed egg shells around plants to deter snails and slugs.
Planting our cabbages early meant the plants had time to establish and get stronger when pests came to them. We have aphids and white cabbage moth caterpillars, but our plants are healthy and strong, so they don’t show too much damage. Our members inspect the plants for these pests, pick them off, squash them and leave some for the ladybirds. Squishing a few of the pests brings their natural predators to feast on the rest.
We have planted broad beans, peas, potatoes, cabbages and calendula. Our cabbages are fist size and plentiful. New Passion fruit vines have been planted and looking very healthy. We have recently harvested paw paw (papaya) bok choy, mouse melons, bitter melon, lemons and loofah.
Can you see the tiny mouse melon hanging from the vine under the shadecloth arch?

Our olive tree has produce a great crop of olives this season, our volunteers have harvest and pickled them using various recipes – Delicious!
The native verge garden is growing well due to the recent rains – it attracts ongoing positive comments from the public and is popular with the local birds and bees. We have replanted with new shrubs kindly donated by our native specialist gardener Richard.
Friends of Duncraig Library Bushland are a newly formed group right near us who invite you to join them in protecting and conserving the important 0.3ha remnant banksia woodland located on the corner of Warwick Rd and Marmion Ave. Their objectives are: To work with the City of Joondalup to conserve and protect the natural area that is the Duncraig Library Bushland;To undertake activities to advance this objective; andTo raise community awareness of the conservation and environmental values of the Duncraig Library Bushland.
Contact them at: friendsduncraiglibrarybushland@gmail.com
Co-ordinator: Robyn 0409886985


Workshops at DEG have been on hold for a while due to uncertainty around COVID restrictions. What would you like to learn about in the garden? We plan to start holding workshops again soon and would welcome suggestions for topics you want to hear about. Please talk to us on DEG days and write your suggestions in the sign in book, or email us deginfo@duncraigediblegarden.org.au
The next Sustainable Living Course will begin on 5th August. This course will run for 6 weeks with 2 hour sessions from 12.30 to 2.30pm on Thursday afternoons finishing in time to pick kids up from school.
Venue is St Nicolas Anglican Church Hall, Poynter Drive Duncraig.
Register online at
https://events.humanitix.com/2021-sustainable-living-course-duncraig
LogoCopyright (C) 2021 Duncraig Edible Garden. All rights reserved.


Our mailing address is:
Duncraig Edible GardenDEG, c/o Duncraig Public Librarycnr Marmion Ave and Warwick RdDuncraig, WA 6023 Australia

Wicking beds installation of 23 June 2018

We installed some above ground wicking beds next to the library. Everyone was needed to move them in place.

These Wicking Beds have been constructed from re-purposed International Bulk Containers (IBCs), scrap fencing sheets,
and wood from old Pallets.


We mixed Vegetable concentrate from Green Life Soils with sand and other inputs to form a good mix for our vegetables to grow in.


Filling the socks of the wicking tubes with clean sand. The wicks are filled so the water will travel from the bottom of the reservoir to the soil in the bed above.


Two beds are in the meeting area in the library forecourt. The others are to the north of the library near the rainwater tanks.

 


When there has been a lot of rain, the reservoir fills up. The excess is removed from the drainage hole to prevent water-logging the soil.


 

 

 

DEG Dates for 2017

DEG days for 2017

Regular DEG dates for 2017
7th and 21st January,
4th and 18th February,
4th and 18th March,
1st, 15th and 29th April,
13th and 27th May,
10th and 24th June,
8th and 22nd (AGM) July,
5th and 19th August,
2nd, 16th and 30th September,
14th and 28th October,
11th and 25th November,
9th and 23rd December.

Charles Otway from Terra Perma Design to give Food Forest seminar at the City of Joondalup

Who would have thought we would be presenting on Permaculture and Food Forests for the councils in Perth.

Join us in Joondalup on the 17 November 2016.

Register for this free event and Learn innovative ways to incorporate organic food production in your own backyard. Topics will include how to set up a garden with fruit trees, growing tips, water efficiency measures, pest management, vertical gardening and chickens under fruit trees.
For more details see “events.joondalup.wa.gov.au”