Natural soil fumigation

Apple trees don't like to be planted were other apples have previously grown, so the soil needs to be 'cleaned' before replanting. Last summer we trialled a non-chemical method of fumigating the soil using mustard and sorghum crops which were ploughed in to build up the soil structure with green manure. It seemed to work. The new apples planted last winter are growing reasonably well despite other setbacks. Here's this year's first crop of mustard.

Tiny Guard Dogs!

We recently placed 20,000 of the critters on the left into apple trees throughout the orchard. They are called persimmilis. In hot weather mites like the one on the right will suck dry the leaves and fruit, killing the tree if left unchecked. Rather than use chemicals, we rely on the persimmilis to hunt out and eat the 'bad' mites. Both breed up at an incredible rate, but since persimmilis can eat two mites and five mite eggs a day they usually keep the mite population to a level at which damage is minimal.

Bees on holiday!

During the fires in October, Tim relocated his bees from our apiary, situated on the edge of the burn. The bees are unharmed, but Tim lost an apiary further west. We expect that the bees won't be back until Spring 2014 for apple pollination time.