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~ Natural to Nurturing ~
reflections from rose cottage

Tincture Time

29/1/2020

 
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Just the aerial parts now they're all done.  A remarkably 'medicinal' fragrance, almost like an antiseptic when I was cutting them up.  The main volatiles in the flower heads seem to be β-myrcene, α-pinene, limonene, camphene, β-pinene; all of which have anti-microbial activity and there is also camphene, and terpinene, the more 'antiseptic' smell, I suspect.
Echinacea also contains dimethyl sulphide, which smells like cabbages, but I couldn't detect that.
In my high alcohol, cold extraction, should get all the higher active volatiles, and hopefully less DMS.
1. Volatile Components of Roots, Stems, Leaves, and Flowers of Echinacea Species
G. Mazza* and and T. Cottrell, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 1999 47 (8), 3081-3085

She'll be apples

24/1/2020

 
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Our apples have finally started! 
So happy to see them, despite my somewhat late prune last year.  Thank you trees!

A blast from the past today

21/1/2020

 
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After yesterday's storm, this was the only peach with obvious skin damage.  How amazing is that! Very little leaf damage to the trees or the long legged lab-lab legumes that I 'crack planted' a while ago which are now expanding throughout W2 fixing nitrogen as they wander.  
I did my PhD on the effect of impacts, so this pattern was like looking at an old friend.  These distinct crater and finger patterns can be seen from all kind of high energy impacts, including lightning and meteors (the latter, somewhat larger than hail!).

my bucket runeth over

20/1/2020

 
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Had a feeling today we might get a storm (BOM guessed 70% x 1-5mm), so I removed a few more peaches lest the young trees sustained damage.  We're not a commercial orchard, so I can micro-manage our crop especially with such BIG peaches for such young trees - isn't nature amazing - never complains, never explains!
27ml came down from the heavens with lightning, thunder and a bit of hail thrown in for good measure.  Dogs not amused.
Not complaining. Love mud. Mud means magnificence. And muddy dogs.
Probably another bucket or two tomorrow to share around.
'Tis an ill wind that blows nobody any peaches.
'Til next time. Yum!

An antidote to craziness?

12/1/2020

 
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Every year, I purchase Thomas Zimmer's Astrological Calendar to read his thoughts on the year ahead and help me with optimal planting and garden tasks in keeping with the natural cycles.  I always find his thoughts inspiring and that is no different this year as we enter a new decade.

He speaks of the craziness unfolding as greater awareness is applied to our once (considered) noble institutions, and suggests there is a remedy for the individual through all of this..."[which] lies in the attitude of mindfulness of purpose, there is nothing quite as effective in keeping one out of negativity and despair as a clear sense of purpose.  If one is engaged in a task with a definitive aim, then the surrounding conditions, the dust and the dirt, do not seem to matter all that much."

At this point, I am reminded of Monty Python's series of rejoinders in the Life of Brian when the followers of Brian think they have found the Messiah. Suggesting the remedy is 'purpose' often evokes the response: "but I don't know what my purpose is!"  Thomas Zimmer is ahead of the game once more, "...It would be impossible to describe generally how one goes about defining such an authentic sense of purpose  for oneself - that is the work - to find that."

Welcome to 2020 and finding your purpose more fully, and through it your own personal way through the craziness.

Pauline xxx

2019:  A Year in a Jar and at rose cottage

7/12/2019

 
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It's too hot to be outside now so I am in the office thankful for air conditioning, surrounded of course by the dogs.  Despite 25% of our normal rainfall so far, our bees and trees are still surviving for which we are most grateful. Leaves and flowers are much reduced but still there - nature always does its best.  We will certainly cherish the easier and more plentiful times to come.

And, we have not let the grass grow under our feet this year - wot grass! - so here are some changes.  Pictures on the left are 2018; right, 2019.
(1) Raised veg beds now covered from hail - not entirely, so that the bees can visit.
(2) The 'West orchard' covered from birds and mulched to help retain water and give the trees a more forest floor environment.  I am so thankful for consultants Kim and Angus Deans' patient help, Mr Bendy's steel bending, Peter our perpetual builder's building skills and my husband John who quietly gets on and makes these visions happen.
Like this self-sown sunflower, we're a bit rough around the edges after the winds and dust of late, but we still lift our faces to the sun every morning and say 'good morning' to the bees.  They are still busy collecting honey from the florals and mixed boxes that strive to still flower.
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Have had lovely help and support from Claude's team at Best Nursery at the top of Inverell.  Not only a lovely mob, they know their trees and have really helped us select fruit trees that are already bearing fruit at barely 4 years old!

Finally, we have a few trees ready to plant for 2020 currently biding their time in our nursery under Uncle Walter's shady care.  I wonder what 2020 will bring, rain would be a great start! xxx
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