Foxes, protection and potting mix

To answer the many questions from Janelle:

• Foxes - The dome is not fox proof. Last year we lost several chooks one night - a fox got in through the lid of the old oil drum we were using as a nesting box and yanked out 3 or 4 chicks. At the time, the dome was parked at the far end of the garden (away from the mandalas and way past the end of the dog's running chain). We moved the dome closer to the mandalas and extended Woody's running chain, and have had no more problems. So, we think that the only thing keeping foxes at bay is the dog.

• Protection - I used to worry a lot about the chooks not having enough protection from the weather, and I put up some shade cloth around the base of the original dome, but now they have very little protection and must be reasonably happy because they are producing lots of eggs.
  The flatter, geodesic dome works better for us than the original design - the flatter top makes it easier to give the chooks protection with the tarpaulin that goes over the top. We extend that tarpaulin to the ground on the side where the wind usually comes from, we also spray them with water when it gets really hot. I have thought of experimenting with sacks filled with straw, to make some sort of cover for the top, but haven't got round to that yet.

• Spreading out scraps  - our mandalas are on a gentle slope, so all the material we chuck in ends up in a heap at the bottom. We just pull it all to the middle of the circle and redistribute it before planting.

• Potting mix - I used to make potting mix to Linda's recipe (one third each of compost, sand and worm castings), and her seedraising mix (which I think was pulverised cow manure and sand). However, I've lost my enthusiasm for seed raising, so I buy seedlings from the local farmers market instead (where I can get all sorts of heirloom varieties), and just throw a handful of worm castings into the hole when planting out the seedlings.

Comments

[Hugh]

Gday Hilary,

Your greens look great. Our circular beds are in progress, so it is good to get some inspiration on how they could end up one day!

I came across another possible use of the dome idea recently, which was to have a second dome which is mostly covered in clear plastic, creating a sort of greenhouse. This can be put over young seedlings to keep them moist, get them started early and protect from birds. I think it's a great idea!

Keep up the good work

Hugh