Thread: Getting back to living off the land.....

That veranda roof is handy

@Coote Especially when it's teeming down. Usually it would have gone under the horse chestnut tree.

I use it as a burglar warning. Hang a sign on it saying "This is the last burglar who tried to break in".... It's wrapped in a sheet now so more convincing .....

i used to have a sign on the front door " tonight's burglar is tomorrows dogshit"
might have to get another one made up

mine on the gate says 'bugger the dog - beware of the 12 gauge'

2 legs from that big billy in the fridge and a bucket load of meat for mincing. Took a couple of fillets to my friend's place for a taste test. Too gamey and it will be mince for my cat. It was lovely tasting and tender!!!!

I think the key is to not take them during the rutting season; which is just common sense. Also; I always have a bucket of soapy water and a bucket of plain water to keep hands scrupulously clean when skinning every animal. It keeps the meat clean, and prevents any chance of transferring any hair/scent/dirt etc to the meat.

You are fortunate to have such a great resource nearby.

Originally Posted by Coote

You are fortunate to have such a great resource nearby.

I'm amazed how good these older billies are! I think they get a bad reputation due to people smelling p%ssed up rutting billies and skinning them and transferring the smell to the meat. These ones are all in good nick and on good tucker though.

I have permission to hunt on a narrow strip of land that reaches the skyline at the top of our valley. Most days I scan the area with my binoculars to look for the tell-tale white patches in the scrub that indicates that the local mob of (maybe nine) goats are in the 'permitted' zone. Haven't seen them there for ages. But I'm ready. Hopefully I will get some meat that looks as nice as the stuff in your photo.... if not, the family dog will get all that I carry home.

A new garden going into the old duck enclosure; that was always going to be a berry cage. The ducks were in there for over 12 months so the nitrogen levels will be through the roof.
The idea is to plant it up with leafy green veges for quite some time to suck as much up as possible. Cardboard down over the bare earth to suppress any weeds and straw on top. I'd prefer to use compost; but when breaking in a new garden straw is cheaper.

Straw can harbour slugs, whereas compost doesn't, but I don't want to add more fertility and hopefully the carbon from the straw will help with the nitrogen.
I'll make "pockets" in the straw, pierce the cardboard with a knife to allow the plant roots to penetrate the cardboard at the bottom of the pocket, fill the pocket with potting mix and plant the vege seedling

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

A new garden going into the old duck enclosure; that was always going to be a berry cage. The ducks were in there for over 12 months so the nitrogen levels will be through the roof.
The idea is to plant it up with leafy green veges for quite some time to suck as much up as possible. Cardboard down over the bare earth to suppress any weeds and straw on top. I'd prefer to use compost; but when breaking in a new garden straw is cheaper.

Straw can harbour slugs, whereas compost doesn't, but I don't want to add more fertility and hopefully the carbon from the straw will help with the nitrogen.
I'll make "pockets" in the straw, pierce the cardboard with a knife to allow the plant roots to penetrate the cardboard at the bottom of the pocket, fill the pocket with potting mix and plant the vege seedling

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Greetings Bumblefoot,
In the 1970's I planted cabbages in the floor of what had been an old chook house. From distant memory they were OS cross or Jubilee Hybrid. They were the largest I have ever grown. Our family of four scarcely put a dent in them so the balance were spread around the neighborhood.
Regards Grandpamac.

i just planted 10 broccoli plants, needless to say the mrs and her family will be the ones eating them !!

remember the golden rule " if its green its mean"

Roast goat, leek, onion, garlic, ginger, Jerusalem artichoke, mushroom, spinach, capsicum and tomato soup for lunch... I used the leftover slow cooker liquor for the base of the soup; it packs tons of flavour!

Anyone have any experience keeping ducks in the vege garden? About to move into a new place with a massive vege garden and I’ve read that keeping ducks in near the veges keeps the snails and catterpillars off them?


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I think it depends how resilient your garden is. I've heard the same as you about ducks in the vege patch; but my ducks were beside the veges. I gave them greens each day; but they still reached between the wooden fence slats to eat all the veges. I had to put some mesh on the fence. They use them a lot in Asia; but it mostly seems in rice paddies or forest gardens,