Totally awesome cloud formations

I went out to harvest a large zucc, then I noticed the sky...

Pretty sweet I thought.

Spunky kookaburras

These guys hang out around the St Andrews market, we see them every week, & they seem to get more & more brave. You can hand feed them, not that I'd recommend it since they may get sick from eating weird human food, but they will swoop down & steal it right from your hands if you're not careful... The fact that they don't give a damn means I could get pretty close, & get some lovely pics though! :D

 

 

Natural building workshop - Tiny round cob house

I've spent the last week camping in a paddock in a town just outside of Moe, VIC. During my time there I worked with a group of completely awesome people to build a super cool tiny cob structure.

We learned all the basic building skills needed to construct a simple cob home, & made a bunch of new friends & connections.
It's summertime here at the moment, the weather was pretty hot (though thankfully cool at night), & there were fires not far away, but we worked flat out for 6 days, & completed the drainage, foundations & the cob walls.

Brief summary of how we did it -
We started by cleaning up the drainage trench, filling it with gravel, & laying ag pipe for drainage.
Next we layed the lime mortar, blue stone, & clay bricks, this is the foundation that gives you a sturdy base to build on, & separates the cob walls from direct contact with the earth to avoid any problems with rising damp.
At this point we had already mixed lots of cob. We made our cob mixes by stomping clay, sharp sand, straw, & water. We built the walls as high as we could without the walls slumping (cob needs time to dry a little between layers, you can only build so high in a day or it will sink & bulge) We used sticks cut to 300mm to check the width of the walls as we were building.
In the mornings we would check the walls, & used a hand saw to cut off any bulging areas inside & out to make the walls as straight & level as possible. Although cob is low tech, the walls can fall if they are too messy & become overbalanced.
Soon we added the door frame, & some windows, these were all leveled & braced in place. The edges are 'porcupined' with nails so they will lock into the cob wall, lintels & internal braces are used to avoid bowing under the weight of the cob. Anything added into a cob wall must first be wet with a clay slip to help the cob adhere properly.
Some coloured bottles were added into the wall, which later formed the face of an owl, & some simple shelves were build into the walls.
As we got higher some extra windows were added for more light, & we continued mixing & laying cob until we reached the final height. We were also able to hide leftover bricks in the cob wall as we built, this means less cob is needed, & you can get rid of some unused materials.

The paddock we camped in for the week :)

Early stages of the building. Unfortunately my phone was flat on the first couple of days, so I couldn't take photos right from the start :/

Close up of the blue stone foundation, lime mortar, & the cob wall. Below that is the drainage ditch filled with gravel & agricultural pipe ('ag pipe'), which runs down away from the building, & opens out into to paddock.

On the inside you can see regular red bricks, these were used to widen the foundation to accommodate the cob walls. Regular bricks are much cheaper than blue stone, & will be covered once the floor is layed :)

You can also see some of the 300mm sticks we used for checking the width of wall.

A window that has been leveled & braced into place. The nails along the edges will help it lock into the cob, it's known as 'porcupining'

The door frame is braced on the inside to prevent the weight of the cob bowing it, so the door will fit in properly at the end. The frame is porcupined, & some extra pieces of wood are attached to the sides of the frame & porcupined as well for extra stability.

The bottles were added straight into the wall, with slip straw running across the top for strength & protection to avoid the bottles breaking under the weight of the cob. This area was also given extra time to dry so the section above the bottles was more sturdy.

This is the lovely owl sculpture added around the bottles once the wall was higher. It is made of the same cob mix as the rest of the wall, attached by roughing the surface of the wall, adding some clay slip, & attaching sculpted cob.

This is the completed structure on the final day :D

The walls are at full height, all the windows are in, & external bracing has been removed.

The inside of the building standing in the door frame.

A roof with eaves will be built on in a weeks time, & once the earth floor is layed the bricks at the bottom will no longer be visible. The final step will be rendering the walls, which will make them neat, smooth, & more resistant to weather, etc.

 

Simple shelves built into the cob wall, & a little cob kiwi bird struttin'

My favorite window all cobed in :)

Building with cob is very low tech, & very labor intensive. Once you know the basics, you can build a beautiful natural home with family & friends. It's definitely best to have at least one person with lots of experience on the site, but because cob is quite a simple technique anyone can easily pick up the basics & help with building. :)

As you can see this is just a small room, which would be great for woofers, etc, but it has no electrics or plumbing, we are hoping to attend more workshops to learn more about that, & maybe some different building techniques too, I'm particularly interested in 'slip straw', also called 'light clay'.

Hopefully in the few years I'll be working on my own natural home!

Why Vegan? -A summary-

I've wanted to make this post for a while, basically my aim is to make short summaries of the main reasons why I think being vegan is so damn important.

Animal rights: 

Selective breeding - Animals used within industry, whether it's meat, milk, eggs, wool, etc have all been selectively breed to best suit the purpose humans have imposed upon them. They are far removed from their original, natural form, & this often has crippling effects on their health.

Unnatural environment - Most 'industry animals' (dairy cows, pigs, meat & egg chickens, etc), spend their lives in small, uncomfortable surrounds, some to the point that they suffer endlessly, day in & day out. 'Free range' is not a solution, in many cases the animals only have slightly more room than in factory farms. Most animals suffer in filthy, cramped conditions, & exhibit all kinds of distressing behaviors, from attacking one another, to crying, & chewing on the metal bars of there confines.

Slaughter - If you believe in the idea of 'humane slaughter', then I would ask you to imagine your beloved family pet in the same situation as that which a cow, pig, or chicken must face, in that light does it still seem humane? Also consider that virtually all industry animals are only permitted to live a fraction of their natural lives, male chicks, & bobby calves are only babies when they are slaughtered.

Cruel practices - Within animal industries there are many standard practices that are extremely cruel, baby pigs have there teeth & tails cut off, with absolutely no pain relief. Young chickens have the ends of their beaks & toes removed (to stop fighting in crowded conditions), cows are branded with a red-hot iron, & often have large metal rings put in their noses. We do these horrible things to control & subdue these animals, so that we can keep them in unnatural situations.

Natural behavior denied - Virtually all industry animals are forced to live in a way which denies them their basic natural instincts, pigs love to explore, dig, take mud baths, plays, & build a nest when they are pregnant, no such behaviors are possible in the conditions most animals are raised in.

Dairy cows - The dairy industry baffles my mind. The basic cycle is -
We artificially impregnate cows, so that they will produce milk for their baby, when the baby is born, we tear it away from it's mother so that we can harvest the milk for ourselves, some of the babies will enter the dairy industry, but most are slaughtered just days, or weeks after birth, cold, hungry, & afraid without their mothers. The mother cows cry out for their babies for days, as we steal the milk intended for their offspring.
This cycle continues, on average, for 8 years, until the cows body is too depleted to produce high enough quantities of milk, at which point, after a life of service she is sent to slaughter.

A short life - Industry animals are only kept alive for a minimal amount of time. For meat animals, this is until they reach full size (this has been increased, & sped up via selective breeding, hormones, etc), for dairy cows, & egg chickens this is until their bodies tire, & their production drops, or stops. We look at these beings as objects, to be used, & disposed of as we see fit, furthermore we are taught to view industry animals differently from companion animals, this is not fair, & not a healthy mentality.

Animals deserve respect, & they have the right to live happily, & carry out their natural instincts. There is nothing natural about what we put these animals through, their lives are short & miserable, & we can help put a stop to it by simply choosing a vegan lifestyle.

Environmental impact:

We raise millions of animals every year, & it requires a massive amount of resources, including land, feed, fresh water, medications, etc. We clear vast habitats & eradicate native species to make room for domesticated animals, to grow their feed, & we dedicate tons of fresh water to raise them, if we redirected all these efforts & resources, no one in the world would be without food & water!
Animals must also be moved around a lot, to & from farms, then to the slaughterhouse, then onward to be processed, packaged, & yet again to reach the shop. Huge trucks are needed, moving is stressful for the animals, & very polluting. The huge quantities of blood, & offal from processing often ends up contaminating soil, nearby waterways, & the ocean.
Animals of course produce lots of waste themselves, including excrement, & gas, in such unnaturally high concentration it causes massive problems for the environment, it results in poor air quality, polluted soil & water, & many other serious problems.

Personal health:

Human beings gain nothing by eating animal products. This has been well documented for decades, & there are thousands of fit, healthy vegans that stand as testament to this fact.
Animals products are riddled with fats, cholesterol, harmful hormones, & dangerous proteins.
There is nothing provided by animal products that is not available in a healthier form from plant foods.
Fruits, vegetables, salad greens, & nuts are the ideal foods for our bodies, eating simple whole foods, & more fresh raw food (especially fruit) will result in a slimmer, healthier body, with a greatly reduced risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, etc.

A very simple way to know if a food is good for your body is if it is acid-forming when digested, or alkaline-forming when digested. The human body is alkaline (except the stomach when digesting certain foods), & alkaline-forming foods support us best.
*Alkaline-forming foods: all vegetables (except asparagus, which is mildly acid-forming), All fruit (except blueberries, & olives), all sprouts, & some nuts - almonds, chestnuts, coconuts, etc.
*Acid-forming foods: all dairy products (except butter, which is neutral), all animal products (except blood & bone), & all grains & grain products (except millet, which is mildly alkaline-forming)
Acid forming-foods must be neutralised by our body, this is achieved using alkaline minerals, primarily calcium & iron, which is sourced from our bones, blood, etc. This is why, contrary to what we are told, dairy is not good for our bones!

We are taught to eat those foods which can be most easily monopolised, & mass produced, because they achieve the greatest profits. Animal welfare, & human health are not priority, profit is. Most people simply do not know any better, & never understand why they become ill. I felt this way when I was diagnosed with multiple diseases at the age of 19, but as I learned, & adjusted my diet my health is improving :)

We all have the ability to help end animal suffering, reduce damage to the environment, & improve our health. Changing to a vegan lifestyle is a powerful start, knowledge is key, so read as much as you can, watch all the documentaries you can, also observe the world around you to help you make the right decisions. The truth can be tricky to find, but it is there.

Resources:

Two of the best documentaries I have seen, I highly recommend checking out both!

'Forks over knives' (watch trailer), &
'Peaceable kingdom: the journey home' (watch trailer).

Buy Peaceable Kingdom DVD  - HERE
Buy Forks over Knives DVD - HERE or HERE

Websites:
vegankit.com
lunchboxbunch.com
WorldVeganDay
veganonline.com.au
crueltyfreeshop.com.au
TheVeganZombie
squidmaster.net
ThugKitchen.com - (Warning! Coarse language)
VeganMenu
VeganCheatSheet

Handy tools - Garden sickle/scythe

We have a few scythes now, & they're really handy, if you're into veggie gardening I highly recommend them.

We bought ours >>> HERE <<<

They're affordable, & have lasted us really well so far, even after some rough treatment. :0
The 2 we use the most are the 'Narrow Serrated Sickle' & the 'Large Serrated Sickle'. The narrow sickle is great for harvesting, & the large sickle is really good for cutting plants back/light chop & drop, etc.

Narrow sickle.

Large sickle.

It's actually the same size...

These are great for general use around the veggie patch. :)
Take care when using them, they can leave you with quite a nasty cut.

Happy gardening~

Hello? Yes, this is zucchini...

We left this particular zucc a little longer than intended...

It grew bigger than my face, & makes a remarkably effective communication device (If the people communicating are in the same room)

Playing with food is actually awesome.

Later tonight, this beast will become dinner! :V

Awesome walk

We're having some pretty perfect weather today, an ideal opportunity for a stroll with our voodle friend.

Some pretty typical looking Australian bush. It gets really dry during summer, & you always have to be on the look out for snakes, cause most of them are horribly poisonous...

Oak tree. Acorns are so cute :3

Walking under the pigeon bridge.

This guy :p

We went down by the creek so Addi could cool off, & she ended up trotting off the end of a ramp coming out from a drain & face-planted into the water, I almost fell over laughing as she entered 'emergency swim mode' & frantically paddled her way back to shore.

Random fig tree \[:D/ Discovering fruit trees always makes me happy, & there are quite a few around the area :)

 

A lovely tree I noticed on the way home, we thought it might be some kind of redwood? I really like the foliage.

Heading back, admiring the views :)

Addi is damp, & smells like adventure, good walk!

How I make a compost pile (post number 300) [:0-Woh!

Garden bed with compost added.

This is one of those things you can probably do in endless combinations, using everything from animal bits to poop, but being vegan, we avoid all animal products, & I like to take it easy (ok, I'm lazy), so I wanted to make a 'low risk' compost pile, where little could go wrong, & last year I successfully made a pile that required almost no effort ':D<boom.
All I did was layer a fine mulch with food scraps (all plant-based, no animal products). Once it was full I left the pile to sit & compost itself, I didn't turn it, or touch it at all, & it worked out really well :) As the pile breaks down it will reduce in size, & you can add more to the top as it shrinks if you want to.
I probably could have/should have left my pile to sit longer to break down more, but I wanted to add it this spring, it was well broken down, & smelled fine, so I used it.

I highly recommend composting your food scraps, it's ridiculously easy, & assuming nothing goes horribly wrong, you'll be left with a lovely material to add to your garden.
In my mind there are only two things that can really go wrong with a compost pile -
1. It's too wet - it'll go mushy & gross., & maybe smell a bit.
2. It's too dry - it won't break down, nothing much will happen.

These problems are pretty easy to avoid, & largely come down to where you make your pile. In a cool damp climate, a spot with good drainage, & a little sunlight would be a good choice, also use more mulch between layers. In a warm dry climate, make your pile in a shaded spot, & you can get away with using less mulch.
Piles can also be adjusted; turn + add mulch if too wet, shade + add a little water if too dry. 
The mulch you use to compost must be dry (ie. not green) Using a finer mulch helps the pile break down more quickly. Mulch takes the longest time to break down, so keep that in mind when selecting the type you're going to use.

You can build a compost pile in just about anything. Our first one is inside a simple oval frame made from scrap chicken wire, & our second pile is in a frame made from re-claimed wooden fence. As long as it has ample drainage at the bottom, just about anything will do.
You may have other things to consider, such as keeping pets or wild animals out, in that case you may need something more sturdy, with some kind of cover on top.
Many people worry about rodents, our pile was visited several times by mice & rats, but they just dig a little then move on, so no harm done!

Here's the super simple process -

Lay a decent layer of mulch.

Add your veggie scraps & spread them out a little.

Cover the scraps with more mulch.

Then add more scraps, cover with mulch, & repeat.

Once your pile is full, leave it to sit & break down.
After that last addition of scraps & mulch, it's a good idea to let to pile compost for about 6 months or more, a whole year is a good idea. Larger material takes longer to break down, so times can vary, & things break down more quickly during the wet season.

A good finished compost will look & smell like lovely soil, it will be crumbly & damp, but neither wet or dry. As mentioned above, my pile could have used another 6 months, but I needed it, & it will break down more on the garden beds.

Seed saving + Ibis visit.

Seed saving is something all gardeners should get in the habit of. It's simple, but it does take time (like everything in the natural world).
Saving seed has many advantages, the most obvious is that you don't have to keep buying seed, you just collect your own! Another major advantage is that plants acclimatize themselves, meaning that they adjust to your specific local conditions, which results in the plants becoming stronger generation by generation.
Remember to collect seed from the best plants you have, that way you have the best chance of increasing your success the following year, I read a farmers saying that goes - 'Collect the best, eat the rest' :3

My current technique for saving seed:
*Let the seed pods fully develop on the plant.
*Cut a big section off.
*Label each one using masking tape + a sharpie.
*Hang them undercover to dry (this may take several weeks, depending on the weather).
*Open the pods over a bowl (preferably one with a spout)
*Remove any husk, etc.
*Transfer the seeds into zip-lock bags (which I also label using masking tape + sharpie)

It's a bit of a process, especially shelling the seeds, but it's fairly enjoyable if you have somewhere comfy to sit, & maybe a friend to chat to :)

The process is similar for fruiting plants, which have seeds directly inside them (rather than growing seed pods like salads, broccoli, radish, etc)
Allow the fruit to fully mature, harvest it, remove the seeds, & allow them to dry completely on a rack/tray before bagging + labeling.
For fruit such as zucchini & cucumber it's a good idea to allow one or two good looking fruit to grow quite large, so the seeds are big & mature, & therefore, easier to collect.
You don't necessarily have to buy all your seeds, you can collect some from fruit + veg that you buy, I've done this several times, especially with tomato, pumpkin, & capsicum :) or if you know someone with a garden, chances are they have extra seed, so maybe ask them as well, sharing seed, & encouraging gardening is a great habit to get into!

As I was wondering around collecting seeds last week, I noticed a large Ibis wandering around the property. I've got no idea why he dropped by, but it was interesting to watch him investigate, & eat whatever he could find. It's probably the closest I've ever gotten to a large water bird :)

Ladies - 3 sketches

First two are traditional medium (pen + coloured markers), third is the usual digital, drawn from scratch using Photoshop. I had planned to fully colour the third pic, but not sure I'll get around to it now.

Two Zero One Four

It's the first day of the new year, so I will share my new years resolutions! In no particular order, they are -

1. Keep better control of my diet, eat more raw, especially fruit.
2. Make art, sell art.
3. Do more in the garden, grow more food than ever!
4. Be less serious, & more friendly.

These are the things I hope to achieve this year. :)

Anyone care to share their resolution/s?...

catch up + todays harvest

December has gone by in a flash, & I was so very busy/stressed with Christmas that I have barely thought about blogging at all.

I think 2014 will be a good year, & now that I know how to control my health issues better, I plan to try to earn some money, my plan is to make & sell art stuff. 

A n y w a y , I'm making this post to share some produce I harvested today -
 

'Costa romaneque zucchini'

'Red shine onions'. These are the first we have ever grown :D

The gardens are doing well here, both the original existing bed, & the 2 new ones we put in since moving here. I also used up my first compost pile today! Distributing it around all the garden beds to add nutrients + help retain water c: The compost pile was a great success, even though I never turned it, & actually didn't do anything, except add material & leave it alone. It was damp, & smelled nice, & I'm sure the compost will be a welcomed addition to the garden beds :) I'll make a post about how I made the compost pile soon, as I'll be starting a new one now that my first one is done & gone.

Happy new year everyone!

Sudden art dump

Boom!!!

Self portrait.

The dragon is my first drawing using traditional mediums for quite some time.

Drawn using pencil, fine liner pens, copic sketch markers, & pencils.

Both digital & traditional techniques have their own challenges, so it's good to do both. c:

I hate that I've been so in-active, but December is quite a challenging month. Don't be thinking I've ditched on this blog, life is just hectic, I haven't even done housework for ages, I have to get on top of that too!

Ok, no more rambles.