Our previous blog In the beginning gives a very brief outline of our first five years as tree-changers. This web site and blog is about what happens next, no history here - this is the story (and the web site) in the making.
We've come here, we have a great life, but we're still not getting it right. Just like our city counterparts there is not much time. My question was, what can we do to change this, and the thoughts and attitudes of others to help the current resource shortage issues? We're a part of the problem too, committed to a mortgage we also need to generate income. Looking around our farm we saw how hard it was to keep up with the gardens and manage the business...just like many other people.
We became aware of the urban and community farming movement. We read about the Detroit Agriculture Network and began to uncover more information about the benefits of Urban Farming. We were amazed at the results they, and others, are achieving. Lives are changing, crime and pollution is being reduced, children are involved and so much more.
Although we're on 32acres we have the same garden management issues as anyone else on a suburban block. (The bulk of the property is cell grazing for our sheep) We work full time, travel occasionally and are pretty much tied to our computers during the working week and some weekends. How can we make our land more productive for our lifestyle? In frustration we began to grow just a few things in pots outside the door. Herbs, lettuce, basil and a few wild tomatos that came up. This was so sucessful, and so much easier to manage than the large garden that we began to hatch some new ideas.
There is a nice patch of lawn outside the door where I work. Well, it's nice when it's green and mowed. We also don't have time to mow it and in dry times how can you pour water on unproductive lawn.? Hmmmm.....what if we gradually turned this into garden? We have water here....it's close handy to potter around in during the day...and how nice would it be to have our BBQ among our own fresh ingredients? We decided to use the patch of lawn (seen behind the planters above) and start creating our new garden. One 2.4m x 1m raised planter to start. We'll follow up with more as we progress.
It doesn't take long for an idea to become action when Jeff is around. Four days later we've made a plan and brought home the railway sleepers we need for our raised garden bed. We chose to avoid treated copper logs as the chemicals contained in them can leach out and effect the garden. Had the railway sleepers not been available we may have chosen logs cut from local hardwood, or concrete/brick blocks. Both of which would have been more labour intensive. 
We'll keep you updated as the garden begins to take shape. In the mean time, it seems that all the puzzle pieces are starting to come together. Our involvement in this site and our new goals has already generated links with nearly a dozen new contacts involved or interested in Urban Farming. We may even have our first gardener!
Next: Garden Update
