In my Back Yard

How to Help Your Armed Response Officer | Authspot

2011-05-20T05:43:00.000-07:00

How to Help Your Armed Response Officer | Authspot

This is an article worth reading if you would like your armed response officer to do a better job.

Johann's space

2011-03-09T22:42:00.000-08:00

Have a look at the ad I placed on my coaching blog Johann's space

Wix.com LifeCoach created by Johannniemand based on Close Up

2011-03-08T04:26:00.000-08:00

Take a look at the new addition to the Shine Coaching Site Wix.com LifeCoach created by Johannniemand based on Close Up

Johann's space

2011-03-04T12:40:00.001-08:00

Have a look at the new post I added on my Coaching blog Johann's space. This one is about reaching your impossible dream.

Johann's space

2011-03-04T12:40:00.000-08:00

Have a look at the new post I added on my Coaching blog Johann's space. This one is about reaching your impossible dream.

LifeCoach

2011-02-24T10:48:00.000-08:00

Have a look at the products I added on Wix.com LifeCoach created by Johannniemand based on Close Up

Dating coach available. Allow me to For Sale Cape Town Quality Classifieds | Junk Mail

2010-07-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

Dating coach available. Allow me to For Sale Cape Town Quality Classifieds | Junk Mail

Starting to streamline

2010-04-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

Since we will be starting to travel a lot in three months or so I decided to start lightening the load. I started cleaning the garage and throwing out everything that won't travel. Getting rid of the clutter is a great feeling.

Wet out

2010-04-09T04:04:00.000-07:00

It si raining today so ' am stuck inside.

Starting to look better doesn't it

2010-02-13T07:02:00.000-08:00

I did some work since the last time I took a picture of tikkel and tokkels home.

There is a lot of work still to be done, but it will all come bit by bit. Eventually the walls will be covered in vines, mirrors or murals. That goes for the whole inside garden. Its ambitious, but it keeps me out of trouble.

The Shady Route

2010-01-17T23:34:00.000-08:00

Imagine being able to walk from Cape to Cairo in the shade. No blisters, no burns. Just shade everywhere. Cool leafy shade created by billions of trees planted all over the continent by every country enroute. Sounds heavenly but impractical?

While countries are discussing reduction in toxic emissions from cars and factories and such, there's a second school of thought the proposes the planting of vegetation, and particularly trees, all over the continent in order to combat the rising water levels and global warming. Enough of them to be able to do the trip in the shade from beginning to end.

Why? Because one tree can hold/use up to 50 litres of water at any given time. Water that gets taken out of the soil by their powerful root-systems. And that water has to come from somewhere, doesn't it? You may initially have to irrigate the sapling, but later the roots will take it's water from underground sources and the rain.

Since somebody told be about this theory, it has occurred to me that, if you choose trees that bear edible fruits, these same forest of lifesavers can be used even further. They can be used to feed the population of that country in which they grow, at the same time providing employment. 'Plantations' can be developed in the format of farms who employ workers to tend the trees and pick the fruit.

Fruit trees have flowers that lure bees. Bees can be farmed too creating more work and more food. Birds feed of insects and there are more edible kinds, besides chickens, that does not fly away. Yet another farming aspect that creates labor and feeds the people. Then there is ways of preserving fruit and exporting them to countries where that particular fruit does not grow more labor and more food.

With desalination technology that was recently unveiled in South Africa, sea water can be used to irrigate where necessary, further decreasing the rising water level. You might even be able to change deserts back into green-lands as some of them used to be centuries ago. Wood from dead or very old trees, can be used in the manufacture of housing, furniture, general household items and even provide fire wood.

Initially getting such a project started will take time and money, but in the long run, it can pay for itself and prevent more than just water levels to be rising. Reducing toxic and harmful emissions are necessary, but the natural option might be far more beneficial to the planet and its population in the long run.

Alta Roberts

Cape Town, RSA

The Shady Route

2010-01-13T05:50:00.000-08:00

Alta Roberts
alta.roberts@pathcare.co.za

"Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid."
- David Hackworth
"What you think about and thank about you bring about"
John Demartini

A good start

2010-01-07T02:01:00.000-08:00

The Nissan is running again. It's a great feeling to be able to drive around again.

New house for Tikkel and Tokkel

2009-12-30T02:02:00.000-08:00

I got me a very nice Xmas present. My sister gave me 2 goldfish. I promptly named them Tikkel and Tokkel and put them outside in a plastic bakery crate. This were temporary of course, I had to find something more permanent and quick.

In the far corner of the yard we had a bit of an eyesore. What could have been a quiet and relaxing corner looked like a dump. It was the remainder of an old chicken coop with an upturned rowboat that landed there because it had a hole in it which no one bothered to repair. I decided the time for cleaning up has come.

The first thing I did was to turn the boat right side up and patch the hole with some Powermastic and a piece of inner tube I found in the garage. Then I leveled it and put in some rocks under which Tikkel and Tokkel can hide. After that I started adding plants.

There are still a lot to do to get the corner looking great but in time it will all get done.

2009-12-29T00:26:00.000-08:00

After Xmas the only reminder we have is the pictures on my PC. This year were a good one though. We had a lot of fun and the main focus were the lights and lanterns in the back yard. I couldn't get everything I planned done, but what I did do were great.

The lanterns we put out in the garden also worked out great. the whole occasion were planned as an evening event, so everyone came late and waited till dark so we could light the candles.

All of my old decorations came out, the angel with the lights you will remember from last year. A lot of new decorations also appeared. The Nativity scene in the background were my wifes idea. I were enlisted to make the wire bodies and then she clothed them with pieces from the sewing box.

The highlight for the kids of course were the presents.

We Create our own memories.

Happy New Year

2009-12-28T04:51:00.000-08:00

I have been off line for a while, but that is the way life goes. Sometimes you have more and sometimes less - it works like that with everything.

It is only a few says to the new year and a new start. I have great plans for this year. With the climate changes and all of the economic problems we face, I believe that what I am planning in my back yard will change my future. My ideas will maybe change some of yours.

The last storm and other things

2009-10-29T02:52:00.000-07:00

In the last storm we lost three chicks from the bunch I got as a present. It seems they were not clever enough to follow the rest under cover. Thats the way the worm turns then.

The rest of the garden is still going well. It looks like we will be eating well from the garden this year. I am still collecting plants though. This morning I went out to put out some ads for the garage sale on Saturday and I found some succulents someone threw out. I picked up those that looked best and took them home.

The garage sale is still on this Saturday and I am sorting out what can go. my wife mentioned some stuff that can go too. If you are staying close enough you should come see on Saturday. I am even putting out some of my extra plants for sale.

After The stormy weekend

2009-10-26T01:54:00.000-07:00

We had a lot of wind last night, trees were toppled and a lot of damage was done. Lucky for me no damage were done to my farm. The headcount showed all animals present this morning and the plants did not show much damage.

Before the weekend I got 7 chicks from the headmaster at Boston house. She said they were Bantams, but there are two strange looking ones that could be Guinea Fowl. They all survived the storm; hopefully they will survive long enough so we can get more eggs. The second hen is now sitting on her last batch of eggs while the older one is still rearing her children. The farm keeps growing.

Happy birthday

2009-10-21T05:45:00.000-07:00

Friday is my wifes birthday. We are planning something small for her birthday, and if you want to send any well wishes you can send it to diziette@yahoo.com

Happy farm

2009-10-20T12:16:00.000-07:00

Things have been standing still on my backyard farm lately. It feels like everything has been standing still. I decided to relieve the boredom and have a garage sale. Clean out the garage for a bit, maybe that helps things along a bit.

I also decided to start a new business. I am starting an admin service, doing some typing and taking care of peoples mail and faxes. Seems like a good idea.

Starting Summer

2009-10-19T03:08:00.000-07:00

While the season is rapidly changing I am working on my pride and joy; my garden. I love my garden and I love working in it every day. Even on a day like today when the temperature is up to 31 degrees, I still love being outside.

I have a lot off plans, but the important thing at the moment is to get the water supply to be sufficient for the whole summer. That will take some digging. I haven't started the well yet, so I have to do something before the ground is too hard and dry.

All over the garden the food plants are starting to take shape and bear fruit. This will be a good year. I have more different types of plants going than before. I even have some strange ones which I never planted before too.

Lucky Me

2009-10-15T01:55:00.000-07:00

I were picking dates when I realized how lucky I am. This time of the year I start picking dates, strawberries and gooseberries. I have a whole garden full of free food, I simply had to make sure that the seeds get into the ground at the right time and the trees get pruned on time.

I also have free water. I had to dig the hole, but you only do it once. With that go lots and lots of free fuel for cooking my food. It is a by product of keeping my trees in shape.

Now I just need free money to pay the rent.

More eggs

2009-10-13T02:21:00.001-07:00

Sgt Gordon brought me a chicken. It started laying immediately, so now we have another batch of chicks on the way while my older hen is still rearing the two chicks I left her.

Hole in the ground

2009-09-24T00:30:00.000-07:00

Watering the garden I noticed that the water was running away through a hole in the grass where there should not be a hole. The hole also did not seem to fill up either.
I started digging …

Back before the council laid pipes to run off the sewage we had sludge tanks. Someone got lazy when the council installed the pipes and filled the tank with sand where the manhole was, not bothering to level it out so the tank was filled in evenly. The cement used to cover the manhole cracked and fell in. All of this was covered up with a thin layer of sand and grass. There were no sign of what were hidden beneath until the water starting to run in.

After pondering this for a moment I realized this is an opportunity. If I dig out all of the sand and seal the bottom and all of the cracks this would be the perfect rainwater tank. Most of the tank is under the driveway so it does not take up any space in the garden.

This will make a nice addition to my plans to cut down on the water bill.

Starting to grow.

2009-09-14T01:35:00.001-07:00

Things are slowly looking up in my garden. The list of veggies I planted is getting longer and longer. I added butternuts and melons. Now I have corn and sunflowers growing out of the bathwater outflow to feed the rabbits and the chickens. I am also adding worms to my worm farm every day to. Once that population starts growing it will be a good protein supplement for the chickens.

Fencing the whole thing still stays a problem, and saving up water for the dry season. Those we will sort out soon.

Seed trays

2009-09-06T23:30:00.000-07:00

For a while now I have been struggling to get seed trays. It’s not expensive to buy, but the budget sometimes doesn’t stretch that far. I made an easy to do plan though.

The insides of a toilet paper roll cut in half, and then packed into a container with holes for drainage works fine. Now I can take out the small plants separately without damaging others around it.

If you have any simple to make Ideas that works nicely in the garden, do share.

Fencing the garden

2009-09-03T03:19:00.000-07:00

Having recently been retired on a disability income far less than my usual income I decided to start a vegetable garden to help support my family. Due to the nature of the area we live in, the fruits of my labour dissapear at night. To stop this I have to get it fenced on. An ordinary wire fence will do fine if I can fund it.

If you would like to help click here

The first batch

2009-09-01T01:34:00.000-07:00

The old hen found a new home, so now we have a younger one trying to take her place.

Looks like she is winning the battle.

This would be the first full batch once she is done. These we will be leaving to hatch. I had a nice offer from the petshop for chicks.

Space Heating

2009-08-26T01:45:00.000-07:00

We stay in the most beautiful house, built way back when with thick walls. Even the inside walls are thicker than the standard outside walls around these parts. One extra feature it does have is something we don’t find in many houses. A feature that is very useful in the time of shortage we live in.

It is in our living room, built over the fireplace. It is a Trombe wall, named after a professor who developed a lot of solar technology. In ordinary everyday language it is simply a very thick wall usually built out of stone. It can be built out of any element that retains heat and releases it slowly. The basic Idea behind this wall is to place it where it can be heated so it can release its heat slowly to heat the house.

Ours, being over the fireplace, heats very nicely when you make a fire and heats the adjoining rooms. In summer the process reverse. In the day time when it is hot the wall absorbs the heat from the rooms around it and at night when everything cools down it radiates the heat out into the cold night air.

It’s the most wonderful heating and cooling concept. It saves a lot of energy.

My backyard Homestead

2009-08-25T23:49:00.000-07:00

Homesteading seemed such a nice idea to begin with. I must have romanticized it a bit though, but still, it seemed very nice to be able to have fresh veggies every day and to live off the land, so to speak. It spoke to my soul it seemed.

Then I woke up to reality. If I don’t cut enough wood I won’t be eating till I have done. I won’t be able to cook my food. If I don’t cut wood to dry till next season, the same applies. Then having to get up before sunrise to make sure the geyser is fired up so everyone can have hot water to start the day. It almost seems like it’s getting too much. I am not even talking about the digging to get the vegetables planted.

I don’t mind all of that. I still think it is fun and sometimes very funny. Especially when the kids are running up and down being bored because the power is out again; they moan and groan about not having TV or not being able to go on the net. Their lives suddenly seem so empty. Mine does not revolve around the utility company like theirs. I am always having fun.

Keep the kids busy

2009-08-24T01:32:00.000-07:00

I am lucky to have some trees in my yard. I am also lucky to have the grandkids over regularly and have to keep them busy. A simple thing provided itself. I did it and it gave the kids hours of peasure. Its silly actually. A simple piece of role, with some knots in it. I tied one end up in a tree.

The kids love it. When they are here, they climb on it and swing on it. Amazing how simple it is to make life fun.

New clones

2009-08-20T05:06:00.000-07:00

Even on rainy days I have something to do in my backyard.

I love lavender borders. So a while back I got my hands on 2 Lavender plants and planted them in two large buckets. Then I took some rooting powder and started cloning. I tried out 10 new plants. They now grow in the garden. Today I planted 10 more.

A small change

2009-08-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

My front garden is very small. I don't bother with it much, apart from problems that arise.

A few days ago, a small problem did arise. Our resident evil parks his car on the front lawn. This would not be a problem in itself, apart from it being the raining season. In the pictures you can see the muddy tracks. The mud traveled right into the front door too, since you had to get out of the car into the mud before you got to the steps.

Since no one listened when I told them not to, I came up with a different strategy. I simply closed up the space they drive in. I made two small flower beds and added two decorative treestumps. Problem solved ...

Starting a good habit.

2009-08-14T01:28:00.000-07:00

I work from home so I spend a lot of time on my own. Every day anound noon I take a break and pop into the garden. I am not the greatest gardener ever, but I love pottering around. it breaks the monotony of sitting in front of the PC the whole day.

I decided to do a few small garden decorating projects and get a vegetable garden going. Both things I know very little about, so this would be fun.

A little something from my back yard

2009-08-11T01:49:00.000-07:00

This is my wifes Idea. After we visited Fairy World in Swellendam we started and they are taking over.