Everything is glistening wet. My freshly planted seedlings have been released from their prison of shadecloth, only slightly singed. Is it only gardeners who feel relief when a storm breaks a 30C streak?

My wicking beds are finally filled and the faces of tiny bean seedlings have pushed through the soil. I had forgotten that feeling of sweet expectancy, waiting for life. Garden it has been too long!

After fantastic results with square foot gardening in my community garden bed I have carefully laid out a grid and begun companion planting a bed of strawberries and tomatoes. It’s a fantastic method for people like me who enjoy getting their watercolours out for a good planning sesh. Crop rotation covered!

Installing drip irrigation and wicking beds is going to reduce my mosquito bites dramatically this summer, no more standing in the dark reviving shriveled seedling! Soon some more wicking beds should be sprouting up in Flemington and Ballarat, as we repay in labour our friends and family who helped move sand, gravel and soil into our raised beds. For anyone interested in understanding how wicking beds work I can highly recommend VEG’s wicking bed site.

I’ve got high expectations for the year’s gardening now I can capture winter sun and hopefully protect my plants from dehydration. I have gone through quite a few variegated oregano and thyme plants in the past so all my optimism is resting on the shoulders of my new pretty herb purchases. Let’s hope it’s not too much of an emotion burden for them to bear and they are bolstered by their new home. Next I want to get my hands on some willow, because tomato stakes just don’t cut it when a woven teepee could be had instead.