Miranda Energy Park

• Beehives are placed near the Permaculture Orchard

  After installing the first hive in early spring, numbers have expanded quickly after swarms have been caught – excellent! Lots of bees to pollinate all the fruit trees.

• The Permaculture Orchard is in bloom – plums are first.

  Plums are laden with fruit this year (2018), the second summer in their short lives. The bees introduced no doubt have made a big difference!

• Runner ducks introduced to control slugs & snails, & it works!

  When ducks go foraging in the grass, they dig deep into mud & undergrowth with their beaks and sniff out the bugs.

• Red Rascal potatoes.

  Red Rascal are a main crop potato. This picture shows Red Rascal growing in “Potato towers”.

• NZ Spinach, Cauliflower, Coloured Beet

  Making the most of available space during the winter months.

• Lettuce, beet & kale grow well during winter, and not so fast as in summer.

  It doesn’t bolt in winter, and it’s too cold for the snails to come out.

• Lots of leafy greens get their nutrients from compost made on the property.

  Compost is made from cut grass, chipped prunings, and organic chicken manure.

• Vertical crops

  Beans are a regular crop – high yields in a small space.

• Chickens add biodiversity to growing areas.

  Heritage breed laying hens produce excellent eggs, but more importantly they break pest cycles when foraging.