Garden

THE COBURG PERMABLITZ PART 2 – ESPALIERS & BEER

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Bluestone retaining wall and mulch path at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Laying down brick edging for the mulch path at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Mark and Mathias digging out the path at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Kent and Lam building up garden beds with compost at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

The curving mulch path at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Dylan mulching garden bed at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Compost waiting to be emptied into the garden bed at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Adam Grubb from Very Edible Gardens running an espalier workshop at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Dylan resting at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Dylan's ramp in use at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Labelled cup at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Adam showing Gigi how to prune an espalier fruit tree at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Ryan sweeping the terrace that use to be home to the hills hoist at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Mathias, Dylan and Adam having a beer post blitz at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Ryan watering seedlings at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Mathias and Adam planting the espalier pear at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Mathias and Adam planting the espalier pear at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Dylan enjoying his beer after a long day working at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

The finished mulch path at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Mathias after the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Finishing up the espaliers at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

The second bluestone retaining wall and Dylan walking up the ramp at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Nasturtiums growing in the new bluestone retaining wall at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Stepping stones through the perennial bed at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Nasturtiums gifted from a neighbour planted in the bluestone retaining wall at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

After an incredible lunch of beautiful curry, rice and roti and a quick swig from our personalised cups we set out to get this thing done!

We had reached that satisfying point where, the really hard slog finished, things began to quickly take shape. The paths greedily gobbled barrow after barrow of mulch and garden beds brimmed with compost and a lucky few got their comforting layer of mulch.

The poles for the espalier supports went in nice and deep. A young permablitzer observed the 700mm footings and wryly asked whether we were expecting a tropical cyclone. Our numbers diminished as the day drew to a close, but the few remaining were gifted for their dedication and got to watch Adam’s espalier workshop and have a nice cold beer. Or in my case greedily devour the remaining cheese and fruit salad.

It will be amazing to see when the garden is planted out and lush. Perhaps with some mechanical help those palm roots can be put in their place and the pond canbrim with fishies and frogs. It was such an exciting experience to see our plans take shape. What a dedicated group of amazing workers!

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Garden

A PERMABLITZ IN COBURG PART 1 – BRICK SOLDIERS & PALM ROOTS

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Front garden gate at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

The Greyhound enjoying the sun at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Path setout before the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Rubble left over from the old path being dug upat the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia
Testing level of topsoil at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Adam working out a schedule for the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

The dog still relaxing in the sun at the Permablitx in Coburg, Australia

 

Cindy looking at the garden plan for the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Adam Grubb from Very Edible Gardens welcoming everyone to the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

The team listen to intros and do warm-up exercises at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Paras laying bluestones for the mini retaining wall at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Adam and Dylan inspecting the piles of compost and mulch at the back gate at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Finished mini retaining wall at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Walking up Dylan's wheelbarrow ramp at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Gigi's father cutting nails with an angle grinder at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia
Martin working hard on the brick border for the paths

The curving path edge at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Digging holes for the espalier posts at the Permablitz in Coburg, Australia

Dylan and I arrived at Gigi’s at 8:30am, welcomed by concrete rubble and pavers erupting from the earth. The compost and mulch piles loomed ominously at the back gate, the stairs presenting a cheerful bottleneck for the wheelbarrows. The delivery men had meant to deliver half of the mountain to the front. But Dylan and I were naively unperturbed, despite or perhaps because of never attending a Permablitz before and finding ourselves in the driving seat. So I attribute the smoothness of the event to delicious beginner’s luck and the dedication of Adam Grubb of Very Edible Gardens and the lovely group of people who turned up to sweat it out digging holes and untangling the terrible mat of roots where the palm tree once stood.

Amongst the rubble we discovered a treasury of worn bluestones that my amazing team of retaining wall builders jigsawed together. In the background four grim faced mattock wielders had the unenviable job of trying to cut through the unmoving mass of palm roots to cut the path. Leaving me with the cringing feeling of being a prison guard driving a chain gang  they broke through the mass with what seemed like sheer strength of will and sweat rolling down their brows. Like soldiers on parade the brick edging quickly fanned around the edge of the path waiting for its mulch filling.

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