LV's backyard

Lord Viykor · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 12:49 pm

We are currently on a normal suburban block (read 24 perch) I've managed to take over 1/2 the usable space in the backyard.

Tomatoes

Herbs in hanging pots

Chillies

Native Bees

Inside the hives

For anyone who is keen photos are stored here
Chilli photo album
Vegetables, Herbs and Fruit photo album
Native Bees photo album

earthbound · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:39 pm

Wow, those native bee hives are brilliant, like something out of a science fiction alien movie. Where did you get them from Tony?

Lord Viykor · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:57 pm

earthbound wrote:

Wow, those native bee hives are brilliant, like something out of a science fiction alien movie. Where did you get them from Tony?

They're Trigona carbonaria (Common in southern Queensland and NSW) a mate who put me onto aquaponics put me on to them as well.

I got put onto this site http://www.aussiebee.com.au/ and gave Col Webb a call. Got both my hives from him. They should give me around 1kg of honey each per year, plus they pollinate my garden.

Interesting little things to watch.

dufflight · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:17 am

I like the way you use arrows.

Lord Viykor · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:40 am

dufflight wrote:

I like the way you use arrows.

LOL, a few people have said that. Had to do something with them, I wouldn't subject my carbon fibre ones to that though.

They make good plant stakes and the vanes stand out so you don't nearly poke your eyes out working in the garden.

Granny Smith · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:57 pm

Are your native bees the non-stinging variety, LV? DH won't have a hive on our property because he's afraid of getting stung.

Lord Viykor · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:06 pm

Granny Smith wrote:

Are your native bees the non-stinging variety, LV? DH won't have a hive on our property because he's afraid of getting stung.

Yep the Trigonas are a stingless variety.

earthbound · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:08 pm

Unfortunately looks like you can't have those bees here in the south west of W.A.. We have a few varieties here in W.A. I've seen at least a couple and we have one here at the shop quite regularly. However, I'm not sure that they are a "hive" type. The one I have seen further down south is a solitary sort of bee that has it's house in a hole in the ground.

Lord Viykor · **Posted:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:13 pm

earthbound wrote:

Unfortunately looks like you can't have those bees here in the south west of W.A.. We have a few varieties here in W.A. I've seen at least a couple and we have one here at the shop quite regularly. However, I'm not sure that they are a "hive" type. The one I have seen further down south is a solitary sort of bee that has it's house in a hole in the ground.

It is a bummer you can't get them in WA, only the semi social bees produce honey stores.

chillidude · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:32 am

Yeah, it's mainly European bees and native wasps in my part of the hills. Do see native bees occasionally, but they always seem to be solitary and I've never come across anything that resembles a hive.

Bummer - yours look really cool LV.

Lord Viykor · **Posted:** Sat Mar 06, 2010 7:21 pm

Been busy in the yard today, I've set-up my Aldi greenhouse early this year. This constant rain hasn't been doing my potted chilli plants any good. Thought it was time to get them out of the weather and let them dry out a bit.

Now that I moved a lot of plants into the greenhouse I have only one pallet left with pots on it. This gives me another grow bed to make use of. Also going to make a new raised bed around 500mm X 3000mm down the narrow side of the house.

The bed that used to have to tomatoes is most likely going to become a spot for a second AP set-up. Looking at making a smaller version of the shade house in this topic http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum ... 03&start=0

I have enough space for a 3.5m X 3m shade house, put in a 1000l fish tank and a couple of bath tubs for the grow beds. The planned chook area will back onto the shade house.

If the rain ever stops I'll take some photos of the changes.

earthbound · **Posted:** Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:51 pm

Crazy weather all over the eastern states at the moment....

Lord Viykor · **Posted:** Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:40 pm

earthbound wrote:

Crazy weather all over the eastern states at the moment....

You're not wrong there, got some good photos of the damage to the rail line out Quilpie way. Lot's of rain out the way I'm sure they've had enough by now.

As promised some photos of the ongoing changes.

We had a pallet here with chillies in pots, thinking about planting some sweet corn. Need to put in some treated sleepers a bed of 2m X 2m

Had a couple of pallets here with more chillies in pots, this will be getting some more narrow raised beds like the one I have for the chillies. Should be a good spot for some tomatoes in the
spring. Throw in some soil and horse/cow manure and allow it to all rot down.

My $40 Aldi greenhouse, got it out early this year my chillies in pots were getting waterlogged. Worked a treat last year for overwintering the chillies.

earthbound · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:03 pm

Yep, keep it going Tony, I can see that within no time you will be rid of that nasty lawn....

Lord Viykor · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2010 6:04 pm

earthbound wrote:

Yep, keep it going Tony, I can see that within no time you will be rid of that nasty lawn....

I am trying, my wife is on to my plan though.

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LV's backyard

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