Tag: tips and tricks
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Looking After Your Soil Biology
Looking after your soil biology pays off from the start with healthier plants that put more carbon into the soil leading to better soil structures, and are healthier for us – and it costs very little to do. Avoid Chemicals that Kill Avoid using any chemical that ends in ‘cide’ – as that suffix that…
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An Introduction to the Plant Health Pyramid
The plant health pyramid is a framework that explains the links between the health of a plant and its requirements for nutritional and biological support. It was developed by John Kempf and was presented as a talk in 2021 which can be found on YouTube. It highlights that a plant needs minerals from the soil…
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The Basics of Building your own Wicking Beds
Wicking beds can be purchased, but many sold as ‘wicking boxes’ do not actually wick. Before buying, read our article on the countless ways to make wicking beds and make sure to watch out for many of the common misconceptions and design flaws of commercialised and popularised wicking beds. Proper wicking beds are easy to make. Any container…
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Grass Measurement Posts
Grass measuring posts can be used to show increased pasture growth, if any. Taking photos from the same position over a period of time is one reliable way of finding out. Improvement in pasture quality is shown by cattle consistently showing preference for one plot over the other. This too can be recorded on photos and/or in…
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The Hidden Costs of Using Cloth and Stones in Wicking Boxes and Beds
When making wicking beds and boxes, a widely promoted mistake that is based on two common misconceptions, is to put stones next to the reservoir and a sheet of cloth over both. In addition to costing money, there are hidden costs that are far more important. Rocks waste space where the soil biology should be,…
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Countless Ways to Make Wicking Beds
Wicking beds can be made from almost any materials and are limited only by our imagination. Here are some examples: Styrofoam Boxes Styrofoam boxes of all sizes can be turned into wicking beds, from 50-litre boxes to 13-litre mini versions using 40 mm PVC pipe as a reservoir. These can be decorated and placed on tables…
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Consequences of Misconceptions in Wicking Bed Designs
Many so-called “wicking beds” found on the internet fail to wick properly. Unfortunately, even reputable sources like the ABC have promoted flawed designs. These issues stem from two major misconceptions. Misconception 1: Soil Filling the Reservoir Some believe that rain or excess surface watering will cause soil to fill the water reservoir. This only happens…