Permablitzin’ for ten years – time to party!

Did you know that Permablitz turned ten this year? Sounds like someone ought to have a party!

Right now it’s a great time of the year – trees are blossoming, bees are buzzing and we’re just itching to plant seedlings out into the garden! To celebrate this increasing sunshine and the associated feelings of happiness, we’re dedicating this month’s theme song to the most wholesome fictional band of all time – It’s a Sunshine Day by the Brady Bunch!

Permablitz News

Permablitz turns ten - let's party!

Did you know that Permablitz turned ten this year? Sounds like someone ought to have a party! Check out our latest newsletter, chock-full of latest blitzin news and events. And info on the upcoming Permablitz Turns Ten Party!

A milestone such as this just can’t pass us by without some kind of celebration – there’s just too many supremely awesome people to thank for the good times we’ve had so far!

Join us for an afternoon in the sun as we thank the founders, the designers, the former hosts, the Collective members from both then and now, those that inspired us, and of course the volunteers that make it all possible.

Join us there!

Forest Hill Permabee

People recognised the house by a *massive* pile of mulch lying on the pavement. Meanwhile, in the backyard an enthusiastic gang of blitzers were sharing their experiences with trees. For some this was limited to climbing and hugging.

There was workshops and food galore, with espaliering, tool maintenance, soil blocks and fruit tree pruning!

Read all about it here (with pruning tips!)

Permablitz #184- Northcote

A sunny winter’s day spent blitzing the gnome: with grub eating, archaeological digs, earth beats and gardening galore! Orchard planting, swale digging, bee hotel construction, hot composting and more fun than you can poke a stick at…

Check out all the photos and full recap here!

Permablitz #183 - Clayton - a follow-up

With the help of Terry, Pooja, Natacha, Den and three of Mei’s own children, trenches were dug from the tap point to each garden bed and 13mm polypipe set down, ready for the weeper hoses.

Read about all the action here!

Rental house cornucopia - as seen in Earth Garden!

Housemates Laura, Harriet, Henry and Permablitz Collective’s very own Matt and Hermann have created a thriving and productive garden in their rental home, establishing an apiary, a chook run and aquaponics system.

Check it out here!

Eka forages for PIP!

Eka of the Permablitz Collective is an urban forager. She wants to show people how they can maintain a normal lifestyle with a nine-to-five job and still lead a secret life as a forager, and Pip Magazine is sharing her story with the world!

Check out the full article here!

Sourceable profiles the Permablitz movement!

So can we make the suburbs edible again? Permablitz networks around the country are showing that we can, one backyard at a time. The Permablitz concept combines physical outcomes with social outcomes.

Read the full article here

Hero of the Month

Rocket

Rocket grows like a rocket!  It is so fast that only two weeks after planting, the leaves will be ready to pick for salads and sandwiches.  It’s definitely worth growing in the vegie patch and because it self-seeds, once it has been planted there will probably always be a crop.

Read more about the wonders of rocket here.

A Herb For Thought

Tulsi

Here is Naomi’s latest Herb For Thought, this time on one of her favourite tea herbs, Tulsi (aka Holy Basil).

Looking at its history, together with modern day uses, it will forever remain up the top of Naomi’s all-time favourite go-to plants for healing and nurturing.

An annual plant in Mediterranean regions and a perennial in more temperate climates, Tulsi relishes full sun with minimal shade, and light to sandy, fertile, well-drained soil. It grows up to 70cm tall and consumes a similar width of space.

Find out all about the magics of Tulsi here!

Bits and Pieces

Companion Planting Chart

Most of us have heard of the benefits of companion planting, but some may not know what companion planting means and how its principles can be applied within the garden.

Get yourself this most excellent Companion Planting Chart for your wall!

Growing Seedlings with Seed Blocks

Alison of Whitehorse Urban Harvest gave a talk at the recent Forest Hill Permabee, and here shares her experiences with Soil Blocks –  these allow seedlings roots to be pruned by the air and allow plants to quickly re-establish after transplanting thanks to minimal root disturbance.

Planning your organic seed crop list

Want to know what to plant and when? This crop list is a fantastic resource – print it out and whack it on the fridge so you know the best times to get planting.

Remember that Melbourne is in the “Cool” region, and many of these can be sown direct.

In the Garden

Spring is here! Which means the days are getting longer and the soil is getting warmer – soon the summer crops will be going in! If you’ve been thinking about planting bare-rooted trees, then don’t wait any more – get them in now. It’s also a good time to feed your fruit trees if you haven’t done so already.

Seeds you can plant in September include:

Remember: some seeds do better starting off in punnets, some in pots and some in the ground. To get the best from your seedlings be sure to check the best methods first!

From the greenhouse of Permablitz Melbourne – be green!