Grand broccili: Since the floppy fence was installed the night time raids have almost stopped – or maybe it’s just that the perky onion and garlic sprouts don’t appeal!

Floppy fence

Here’s the onions getting Jonah’s special mix from a special pixie:

The compost made in mid winter is ready for turning.

The horse poo, goat poo, and vegetation cake - just asking for a mix up.

With digging and watering the soil has come a long way in many of the beds – from huge hard clods to pretty friable soil.

Cloddy bed

This time last year the digging was mercilessly heavy but now in the dry dry dry, the sprinkler has been working well to soften the ground a little before digging.

Fairly friable bed

If we are to take up the  kind offer of transferring mature blackcurrant bushes to the community garden, holes need to be dug along the north-eastern boundary, and the plants pruned and dug up for transfer.

So if anyone feels like some exercise in the next week or two please feel free to pitch fork the compost, or dig holes for currants.

The next big planting job – Nicola potatoes – will be in mid October. We’ll let you know which weekend.  There is often someone at the garden on Saturday mid afternoons and Mondays middle of the day (and any other time it takes your fancy).

Chris & Carol's splendid Wom Bok et al

Jonah watering in the fertilizer

1. Rake up a good pile of leaves and position your rake and sack next to it. Try to smile while you are working (photo on left)
2. Put the rake flat, just inside the mouth of the sack
3. Using your preferred foot, pin the rake handle to the ground
4. Using your non-preferred hand, hold the top of the sack’s mouth open
5. A taut, tiangular opening to the sack will be evident (middle photo)
6. Use your preferred hand, glove on, to sweep the leaves into the sack (photo on right).

This is a local supplier run by a dedicated and energetic collective.

They are open Wed to Saturday afternoons, French Street (just above the university campus).

Some fruit and vegetables are sprayed a lot, others not so. Some absorb pesticides, others are more resilient. How the hell do we find out?

Click on Continue Reading below to find out. And thanks to Dorka for finding this list.

Fruits (Buy these ones organic)

Apples – Multiple pesticides are found on apples- a favourite food of many children

Apricots, nectarines, peaches – Most stone fruits are highly likely to contain pesticide residues

Cherries – During their growth cycle, cherries are sprayed 8 to 10 times with various pesticides and other chemicals, and are likely to contain pesticide residue

Grapes (Imported) – Buy only organic or avoid imported grapes entirely, especially for children. Imported grapes may be fumigated with highly toxic methylbromide.

Lemons, limes, oranges – Most pesticide residue is concentrated in the peel, so buy organic when using peel in baking or drinks

Pears – Highly likely to contain pesticide residues after harvest

Raspberries – Highly likely to contain pesticide and fungicide residue – buy local.

Strawberries – When the USDA’s pesticide data program releases its annual list of produce samples with residues that exceed tolerable levels, strawberries appear more often than any other.

Fruits (OK to buy these ones non-organic)

Blueberries – Have low pesticide residues– buy local.

Cantaloupe (Domestic) – It’s OK to eat domestically grown non-organic melons in season. However, cantaloupes imported from Mexico frequently test positive for pesticide residues and should be avoided

Bananas – Low pesticide residues and a thick skin made non-organic an acceptable choice. Fair-trade or organic bananas are often the same price as non-organic.

Grapes (Domestic) – Grapes grown in the U.S. typically test low for pesticide residue. Non-organic grapes are fine but for small children organic is the best choice

Grapefruit, Tangerines – Among citrus fruits, both rank low in pesticide residue. Most pesticide residue is concentrated in the peel. Buy organic if using the peel

Mangoes – This thick skinned tropical fruit typically has little or no pesticide residue

Watermelon – Pesticides do not work well for this crop and are used sparingly

Nuts, Seeds & Legumes (Buy organic)

Almonds – Many toxic pesticides and herbicides are used on almond trees. If you eat almonds daily, buy organic

Peanuts (and peanut butter) – Peanuts grown underground and are known to absorb toxins from the soil.

Pecans- If you can find organic pecans, they’re a good choice because pecan trees tend to be sprayed frequently, herbicides, and miticides

Soy Foods – Soy foods, soymilk and tofu are so processed that few pesticide residues remain; however, several very toxic pesticides are used to grow conventional soybeans.

Nuts, Seeds & Legumes (Ok to buy these ones non-organic)

Beans – Dried beans are usually washed, soaked, rinsed, and boiled, so insecticide residues are likely removed in the process.

Cashews – Are grown almost exclusively in tropical locations where pesticides are rarely used.

Macadamia Nuts – Few pesticides are used, if any.

Sesame Seeds – Organic is better, but pesticide residues are minor in non-organic sesame seeds and oils

Vegetables (Buy Organic)

Beets – Thin skinned veggies that grow underground can absorb pesticides and heavy metals. Organic is best.

Bell Peppers (all colors) – Conventionally grown peppers are highly likely to contain multiple pesticide residues

Carrots – Carrots are so good at absorbing heavy metals from soil, they are sometimes grown as a throw away crop to rid a field of lead or arsenic contamination. Always buy organic.

Celery – Is the vegetable most likely to contain pesticide residues. 82% of samples have tested positive

Collard & Salad greens, Swiss chard – Leafy greens that grow close to the ground tend to have high pesticide residue levels

Cucumbers – Highly toxic organophosophate pesticides are used on conventionally grown cucumbers

Green Beans – Sprayed multiple times with pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides

Potatoes – Especially russets, are highly likely to contain multiple pesticide residues

Spinach – Is often grown in less-than-ideal conditions, so conventional farmers use significant amounts of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides. More than 60% of the non-organic spinach tested by the FDA contains pesticide residue, including DDT and permethrin

Winter Squash -Mild pesticides are used on hard winter squashes. Conventionally grown winter squash is coated with an oily wax, making the skin inedible. Organic is a better choice but non-organic is acceptable if you don’t eat the skin.

Vegetables (Ok to buy non-organic)

Asparagus – Does not appeal to many pests and is rarely treated with pesticides

Avocados – Low pesticide residues and a thick skin make non-organic avocados an acceptable choice

Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, Cabbage – Pesticides don’t work well on these veggies so few are used.

Corn, sweet – Although it may be sprayed with herbicides and some pesticides, sweet corn almost never contains pesticide residue (buy local).

Eggplant (all varieties) – Because it is selectively sprayed with minimally toxic pesticides, eggplant rarely contains pesticide residue

Garlic – Has natural pest control and is rarely sprayed

Onions (all) – Have natural pest control and are not sprayed much. Green onions are sometimes sprayed with an herbicide. Organic is better, but non is acceptable

Rhubarb – Pesticides are almost never used on rhubarb, as the leaves are already highly toxic to many creatures including humans

Sweet Potatoes – Pesticides do not work well for this crop and are used sparingly

Tomatoes – Buy local tomatoes. Always. If you cannot find them, buy whatever tomato smells the closest to a home grown tomato

Zucchini – Does not tolerate many pesticides and herbicides, but the pesticides used on this crop include several known carcinogens

Dairy (Organic is best!)

Butter – Typically shows low pesticide levels, but pesticide residues are stored in fat and butter is nearly all fat

Cheese – is mostly fat, and pesticides and persistent organic pollutants tend to accumulate in animal fat. Organic cheese is best, but hard to find. For children, buy only organic. Local cheese may be a good option. BUY LOCAL

Eggs – Local pastured eggs are wonderful if you have access to a farm. If not, organic eggs are the next best choice, followed by cage-free eggs. BUY LOCAL

Milk, Yogurt – Organic milk and milk products contain no hormones or antibiotics. Organic milk is highly recommended.

Source: Vegetarian Times Magazine & To Buy or Not to buy by Cindy Burke

Over the last two years in the middle of winter, thousands of Tasmanians chose to spend a day outside learning more about how to live a sustainable life.

This is a very popular event. It’s on again on June 6th, so put it in your diary now.

Click HERE to see details.

Come and support the hard working wonderful, spirited people who run the Source food outlet.

If you haven’t been to Source yet, just do it. They’re just above the university campus in French Street.

They’re open from 11 am each Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

(Just click on the image to see feast details)

(You can click on the images to make then bigger)

Karen is an ace professional photographer and activist, if you ever need portrait or event photos click HERE to contact her.

Spud harvesting and more planting taking place this Saturday 20th (3pm on).

Jonah G @ 46.

Spuds will be next and the beds are now being prepared for autumn / winter crops of beetroot, wom bok, kale and a variety of other crops.

For anyone interested, next Saturday (20th Feb) will do more bean harvesting and planting of seeds and seedlings. For the record we have 30 garden beds, each of them allocated to a person or family to manage.

Thanks to Dave Graddon for the photos.

Calling all you wonderful valley people who would like to help set up our second Harvest Fair about fun, food and sustainable living – it’s on Sunday March 28. Click HERE to see poster.

I am hostessing weekly morning teas (with scones) 10am at my house (144 Waterworks Rd) every Wednesday before the fair.

Amanda Sully (sully.amanda@gmail.com)

Please come if you are able to put in some real time and energy as we need your help!!!

It was such a lovely day last year and at least 50 fab locals helped pull it off with $1,200 raised that has set up the brilliant “Waterworks Community Garden”. Such structures as fences and a watering system was installed through the fair profits which is great and a special thanks to the generous Graddons!

We need people to suggest and coordinate all/any sorts of local produce, garden seedlings and crafts stalls, provide entertainment, resources, time and any ideas.

Please contact me if you are able to help, or I will see you at morning tea next Wednesday 24th at 10am!!

Lets prepare for harvest time!