This is the first major stage of our property plan, the beds are being filled up with a rich, loamy soil that has silted up the spring fed dam.

The house is sitting on a large slab of rock, the backyard in patchy grass on 2-7cms on soil(much erroded from January's rainfall events) on this rock shelf (part of an extinct volcano). This area on the north side of the house generates significant heat, It was 37 in the shade the other day and it was 43 out in that part of the house yard. The straw bale beds are an effective way of produceing a microclimate in this very hot location, the area is ofcourse right outside the kitchen and laundry door and the clothes line has been appropriately positioned in this hot area...

Frangapani trees and mulberry trees provide some seasonal shade to this area.

For more information or to get involved and learn skills, don't hesitate to contact me.