A visit to a Dorrigo farm: vegetables and poultry

Following a very successful plant-fair stall the previous week, Bellingen Seedsavers made a garden visit to Jodi and Michael's farm. This provided a fascinating look at how annual and perennial vegetables are grown in small market garden quantities.

We all found this mother duck fascinating.

The Dorrigo garden viewed from the road

Chicken tractors are used to prepare the garden beds.

A bank of green manure, salvias and comfrey.

Two slow clicks will enlarge each photo.

Narrow pathways and edging save valuable space.

A recycled timber pergola makes a perfect spot for Kiwi fruit and beans.

Annual vegetables are planted after the chickens.

Water is scarce, the volcanic soil drains quickly, so irrigation is necessary.

Enriching compost is made directly on the beds.

Before digging, black plastic solarises the Kikuyu grass.

The chicken tractor in the background matches the width of the garden beds.

Yacon is boiled down to a syrup..

A chicken tractor prepares for an orchard

.

Penned chickens prepare the soil.

Comfrey is cut to provide a green mulch.

This chicken tractor is moved each day.

Jodi demonstrates the 'broadfork'.

Michael demonstrates the sharpening method for his scythe.

The scythe was remarkably light, silent and efficient.

Jodi shows a tool that 'blocks' seedling mix in cubes.

A greenhouse of Jodi's seedlings.

Seedlings thrive in the 'blocked' mix at front.

Irene studies Jodi's cucumbers, beans and tomatoes.

Jodi and Michael donated two 'Newcastle Pink' heritage tomatoes for Bellingen Seedsavers to 'grow on'. This tomato has been grown by the original donor of the seeds for thirty years and he wanted the seeds preserved for posterity.