A question from Frank

Why did I start this blog anyway... well it all began with  question from Frank (of Plukrijp) He asked me to put something on his website about the progress I made and the things I have learned. I tried to upload some pictures but i always got a message saying "error". If this was 5 years ago, I would have been frustrated, but now I tried to figure a out a creative solution... so the idea of a blog popped up in my head. And since I'm planning a trip to other countries, it seemed like a good idea for friends and family who are interested about I'm doing. I'm writing it in english so the people at Plukrijp kan also read it if they want to.

At this moment, I am living alone in the house in Kapelle-op-den- Bos. My wife (soon ex-wife) is living with her parents.  This means that there are moments when I'm home alone. As I said before, I'm going on a trip for a year... destination yet unknown but that's ok. A friend of mine asked me what I do with this time alone. I proudly told him that I'm preparing my garden to grow some veggies in a sustainable way. He asked me why, because I'm leaving around summertime, when the garden will we flourishing... and that it's just a waste of time. I answered him i got inspired by this quote:

And so I did :-) I have even planted two! Frank's words also rang a bell: "Just start DOing something!!" And so I did... and guess what: "I'm loving it!" No, not Mc Donalds! I learn a lot by helping out at the farm, but I'm also learning by doing stuff myself. Permaculture has inspired me a lot and that is why I wish to start a small project for myself for the time I'm still living in this house in Kapelle-op-den-Bos. I trying new things, sometimes with succes, sometimes with a little bit more difficulties... but I enjoy doing it and that is what is most important. My goal is also to this in a sustainble way, without investing a lot (or no money at all) in it. I'm also getting in touch with my neigbours, who can help me with my project. I'm starting to feel that this is what permaculture is all about...

So, what I have recently done? Well, I started out last year november with planting two apple trees. I bought them locally and planted them in the back of the garden. 

 I made this raised bed with wood I still had laying in my shed. The horsemanure comes from a farm where they make horsemilk and other products. It is not so far from where i live.

I topped it with with 40 cm of soil from my neigbour ( who I started to talk to last wednesday) I discovered he also grows some vegetables, and has some chickens and goats. I borrowed his wheelbarrow because I do not own this. The level of the soil has gone down because of the rain, so I'll put on some more later this week. One can learn only by trying and doing, right? I mixed the soil with homemade compost which I'm very proud of ;-) This warm bed will provide heat so plants and sprouts get that little extra they need to grow. The heat will be produced by the soillife and bacteria reacting with straw and  the horsemanure.

This where the compost is made. I have two systems. I made this compostheap some years ago using recycled materials. 

I look at soil in a very different way now... it's pure gold

Precious moments in life....
....priceless.

What else did I do? Well, I trimmed my blackberrybushes and high grasses. My neighbour told me he could use the wood for making a natural fence so his goats wood stay in their fence. His chickens use the grass cuttings for making their nest. I still kept some for myself, just in case old man winter decides to show up so I can cover up the soil. I also gave some young berryplants to my neighbour (for the use of the wheelbarrow and the soil) and while I was at it, I took out some more for all the other neighbours. They where very happy with it and it made me happy as well. 

My famous berrybushes

Last fall, I made a tiny greenhouse from (with leftovers of a plastic roof )where i grew some endives and salads.  Soon, it will be the place to grow some young sprouts. 

some happy little veggies :) enjoying their first rays

I like veggies a lot, but I love the animals as well!! That 's why I also commited to make some things from for the birds, who will help me with eating the insects that might attack my garden. Maybe if I send out positive vibes, they will leave my veggies in peace (and not in peaces :-) I made a few birdhouses and birdfeeders and they seem to  enjoy it..

This will become a shelter for bugs and bees... a project I will work on soon.

Last fall I also made a composttoilet out of pallet wood. I put it in my shed and I know it's not perfect, but it does the trick. I made it because I wanted to stop the insanity  of flushing this precious fresh water down the toilet. 

my pee-bucket. 

Indoors i have moved my couch away from the south-facing window so I can grow some young seedlings and plants. Since I stopped watch television, it's more fun to watch these little guys grow. 

garlic ans spinach

Plants from Plukrijp, loving the rays of sunshien coming through

And in my basement is growing a little secret underneath a black plastic bag... i got some chicoryroots from a friend at school and they are slowly making their way upward. I cant wait till they are ready!! Yummy! This is the proof that even people in appartements can grew some edible greens.

One more week of school, and then you'll probably find me at the Plukrijpfarm again to find myself surrounded again by loving people...