Community Gardening

The third plot I was offered was an extension of my first garden, so planning it is a lot easier - all I have to do is line up the beds and continue them to the south side of the garden.
Today I finished leveling up the six beds on the western side of the garden. Two days ago I filled and planted up one bed with garlic and bok choy and today I filled two more beds, and planted out the sprouting snow potatoes in one of the beds. These beds had rabbit manure and straw mixed through them.
My nearby gardening neighbour Minh divided her famous rhubarb plants this morning and offered me some, so I've planted it opposite the globe artichoke in the middle archway bed. She also shared this wonderful-looking savoury recipe, Persian lamb with rhubarb and chelow.

Garlic and Bok Choy

Snow potatoes in the corner bed. 

Woad in Canberra

I planted some woad (Isatis tinctoria) in my garden in early March. It is still thriving, larger but staying low over the winter. I've put a cover over them to make sure my family don't bury them with leaves.
When I planted them I added blood and bone mix to the soil and in late April I mulched the site with green lucerne hay.

March 2018 (Autumn)

June 2018 (Winter)

Winter Rye

Today I planted two beds of winter rye that I bought from Eden Seeds. Not sure what variety it is but is certified organic and may survive possum attack better than my poor little spinach seedlings.
I've read that rye will grow in any well-drained soil as long as it is in full sun. It is frost tolerant and can survive temperatures down to -29C (-20F) if the plant is well established before the ground freezes. As I don't expect this bed to go below -10C this winter I'm crossing my fingers that it establishes itself quickly as I've planted it a bit late.

I'm hoping to use the rye to practice on for straw braiding for my bonnets - but if that doesn't work it will be chopped down and dug back into the soil as a winter manure crop.