Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Good luck Quachy - a hard decision to leave, I know, when you've put that much work into a place. But if you find what you're looking for, it should be a blast !

thanks all! it is a hard decision made even more frustrating with the cost of land... even when it is miles away from anything.... keeping positive, i'm sure something will pop up....eventually

I was looking at some nice pieces of land in dalesford. Some 60 acres for 240k.

Havnt looked in a couple of months.

Once in a while I start looking, then realize that I could never afford to give up my job and pay and make the change.

Just had the same loveley outcome after talking to the bank last week Vlt, No way any bank is going to loan to a self employed plumber to purchase the 71 acre dream block I saw the other weekend. It bloody sucks really, although I understand why they make it so hard to buy land, I hate the fact that it is!

Hello all, been a long time since I have posted here! Been really busy lately selling and buying houses.... had a few (read bloody lot) of dramas, but I can now say we have finally officially sold our house (at least we have an unconditional contract) we have also bought a house and some land (16 acres!!!!) south of Ballarat (Jim I won;t be too far from you ) and I am currently working on plans for AP System MK III. Surfice to say I will miss our current system but am busily harvesting as much as I can before we have to get out (early Feb). The new owner wants to keep the system, which is great as she it most likely means she will keep the garden as we have planned, that is, functional and productive, rather than subdividing (which she won't be able to do anyway as council will not approve and there is an easement).

The vegies are going crazy at the moment. We had a minor blockage while we were away camping for a couple of weeks, but a quick flush and all good. No harm done to the plants.

Water temps hitting 28 degs on hot days but now steady at 24. Still have 7 brown trout hanging in there... hoping they will last until we move so i can put them in the dam... will also take the bigger silvers and some small ones, but will leave about 50 medium silvers and the cod. Some of the cod are getting pretty big and as much as I would like to take them with, I am sure the other fish will not particular like it

Dirt garden going really well, harvest up to 50kgs of potatoes so far in the no dig of the front of our house, with maybe another 20kg to go. Not bad from 16 seed potatoes and no maintanence! Still have the potatoes in the wicking bed, another no dig and the dirt garden to go. Now just need to work out the best way to store them to use through the year.

Apricots going off and this years apples will be beautiful, pity we won't be here for the harvest

Had some AP corn and man they are sweet and juicy! This year I staggered the planting, so we will have a steady supply (as will the new owners) well into the season. Tomatoes and capsicum going well as are the eggplants. Strawberries are crazy again this year, the bury the bannana seems to work a treat. Haven't added seasol for almost a year. Blackberries have finished up and the boy loved every last one of them, I think my wife and I managed to get a handful between us.... Our bean arch worked perfectly with beans dangling to be picked still. Hops plants have gone crazy and are just starting to flower now, may even get some flowers to dry for my beer making before we go!!!!! Rasberries have thrived, but yet to flower. They are a late season so should see some buds in just as we leave. All other plants thriving as well... it will be a sad day when we go, but we will be moving to another clean slate to play with! To infinity and beyond!!!!!

Thats great news Quachy, My Blackberry you gave me is still ripening and has a new set of flowers setting. So far have havested around 400gms of blackberries which are in the freezer (some in my tummy) I plan to make a blackberry liquer.
Will try and make a day to come down and grab them chooks and barrels, stilll not sure what I will do with em yet but im thinking.
How many Murray's have you got, and would you consider selling one or two of them too. Sorry if i'm getting greedy.

Sounds like you are going to be busy Quachy. Are you transferring to a new school??
Will look forward to your progress

Hi Quachy looking forward to catch up and a chat i know the area well.
Jim.

I've had a feeling hops would perform really well in an AP system. Quachy, are you using flood and drain for the hops bed? Sorry if I missed that somewhere...really long thread.

G'day all! Haven't forgotten you guys, just been somewhat busy!

A quick update:
We have moved out of the Marsh and are now living south of Ballarat on a 16acre property. Life is great, the family happy and healthy, number three 3 weeks away and as always we have been crazy busy!

The farm life is slowly getting set up, with sheep, alpacas, highland cows and our beloved chickens. Trout have gone into the dam as well as runt silver and golden perch (that's another story - not happy).

I am now commuting work and enjoying the quiet I have in the morning and the evening before the joys of family hit me hard and fast as soon as I walk in the door

MK3 AP system in planning, with a large greenhouse and a 6-7000lt system in mind. More on that as time progresses!

Anyway, here is a link to my new blog detailing our journey:
http://quachclanjourney.wordpress.com/

Cheers all
Quachy

Welcome back Quachy.
Great to hear your move has gone well and the the small farm seems to be to your liking, great stuff.
Look forward to seeing the new ap system build