Hi from Morayfield

Nemesis034

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Dec 7, 2015
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10
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Sub-Tropical
Hi there.
Long time lurker to this forum and decided to join.

I enjoy the discussions and advice and might have questions from my own.

I have 2 acres and are planning to get going again as my first try with veggies were destroyed by possums.
Unfortunately you can't touch them.

However, I'm glad that I've joined.
 

Mark

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Bellmere, QLD
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Hi Nemesis,

thanks for joining us - things have been a bit quiet around SSC lately so I'm glad you've come out of lurking! Seriously though, I don't want to admin a forum where we pressurise people to contribute but it's good when our members do interact occasionally or whenever they can... :)

I was just in Morayfield shopping centre today hassling out the Telstra shop and putting in my bid for when the NBN gets here in February (hopefully it does anyway). We're only 5 kms away from the exchange (also on a few acres like you) but can only just get wireless internet and this has frustrated me since we moved here from Upper Kedron in 2006! We love living on acreage but so many acreage or country people have to forgo reasonable internet services just because they live a few ks out of the CBD - hopefully, the NBN will help improve access for everyone.

I do have several strategies to combat possums in your vegetable garden:
  • grow more than you need so it doesn't matter if the possums get some;
  • cover emerging seedlings in the patch with wire trays or upside down wire baskets until they get over 6 inches high;
  • net the whole bed;
  • grow in raised colorbond beds minimum 800mm high - the possums don't readily climb them as much;
  • situate your vegetable garden in the open away from trees;
  • keep an active dog;
  • smear Vicks Vapor rub around the patch - possums hate the smell; and
  • set up one of those movement activated sprinkler systems - mine worked GREAT but I would forget to turn mine off during the day and kept getting shot unexpectedly with streams of water so I eventually gave up using it...
I hope you enjoy using our forum. Feel free to suggest improvements etc. Welcome!
 

Nemesis034

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Premium Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
10
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Sub-Tropical
Thanks Mark & Stevo

Mark great advise, I appreciate it.

The internet is so frustrating slow, although I have it at home, but lets hope NBN will solve it for us.
I'm not even sure if i will receive it.

I've got a nice open spot and was contemplating putting growbeds and fencing it off with chicken fence or shade netting. I will have to cover it completely (i.e. roof and sides).
The dog is still in puppy stage - so still a while for that to realise.

I will look at implementing some of your other ideas.

I'm starting with my property, so I hope to contribute to the site as well, if I can.
 

Mark

Founder
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GOLD
Joined
May 27, 2012
Messages
5,192
Location
Bellmere, QLD
Website
www.selfsufficientme.com
Climate
Sub-Tropical
Starting with a blank canvas when developing your food property is heaps of fun!

I've made lots of mistakes and then had to solve them (like protecting crops) so please ask as many questions as you like.

Fully enclosing your patch is totally worth it if you can. There's a property near me who have coverted their old tennis court into an enclosed area for raised beds.

Failing that, not everything gets eaten by possums so coverage over just the sensitive grow beds instead of all can be cost effective.

There's diy netting examples on the forum and also my blog just use the search.
 

Ash

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Mar 26, 2015
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Preston, QLD
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Great advice Mark and welcome Nemesis.
Netting sounds like the way to go if high garden beds aren't easy to do.
I'll be joining you in the steep learning curve as my family and I prepare for much of the same by the year's end.
 
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