Blitz 113 – Blitzing Inverloch
Naomi Tew sends us this report from Inverloch in South Gipplsand where they blitzed a primary school garden on the weekend, as part of the Bass Coast Good Living Festival:
An inspiring and beautiful day. We only had a small handfull of blitzers but everyone put in a gallant effort and we got a lot done.
Together we mulched the paths, turned over the soil and coated it with gypsum to break through the clay and then covered it with newspaper and hay.
Seila made a wicking bed in the corner of one of our seasonal vegetable beds which everyone enjoyed learning about and we look forward to comparing to our no dig beds as they grow side by side.
The blitz was part of the Inaugural Bass Coast Good Living Expo and many people came up the hill to look at our progress, talk about the plans and learn about the wicking and no dig beds.
Throughout the day, as part of the expo there were speakers on topics such as permaculture, climate change, composting, sustainable building and solar power. It was a very productive day and a great time was had by all.
The day started slowly. Seila arrived just before nine and we had a chat about how the wicking bed would be made and about what needed to be done in the garden.
Rick Coleman (from Southern Cross Permaculture Institute in Leongatha) gave a talk on permaculture and we headed up to the garden. We explained to the on lookers, how the ground work was done to utilise any water that falls, how the garden beds were made out of sustainably and locally harvested cypress and a lot of helpful parents and how we planned to build a wicking bed and no dig garden beds. We talked about the plan and how things will be planted in specific locations and with other specific plants so that they are all given the best opportunity to flourish.
Four blitzers arrived and we set to work laying down newspaper and mulching the paths. Some then moved onto the garden beds, turning them over and sprinkling them with gypsum then covering them with newspaper and straw.
Many people from the Bass Coast Good Living Expo wondered through the garden to have a look and watch the wicking bed in progress. There were many wonderful comments and inspired people.
A couple more blitzers turned up and set to work as the others dwindled off to play at the expo. At the end of the day the usual garden goers wondered up from their expo posts and finished off the things that were started.
There was a lovely cheerful and positive vibe all day long and everyone seemed to enjoyed themselves.
