General

Obtain a Yield

We are starting to reap the rewards from the focus to improve production. The many composting systems that are in place are building the fertility of the soil and the water harvesting/infiltration design has improved the capacity of the property. We have also adapted some of the gardens to produce a larger harvest of produce at a time. The yields that we are getting are quite gratifying. The focus before was on the opportunity for students and volunteers to learn what a property needs to function and how permaculture systems work within the design. Now we are focusing on getting a yield from the property and to generate an income from the produce.

Mandarines boxed and ready to go the the local organic co-op.
Mandarines boxed and ready to go the the local organic co-op.

We have been trialling different varieties of sweet potato and the common orange one seems to go very well. The rats think it tastes real good so we are still working on a solution towards them.

A preharvest to beat the rats is quite productive.
A preharvest to beat the rats is quite productive.

I am the milker of the cows and I also usually separate the cream and it can be very interesting to see how much milk and then from the milk how much cream we get. There are so many patterns in what influences the yields and we measured the most cream so far this week.

2.2 Litres of cream!!
2.2 Litres of cream!!

It is very interesting to note that in the early stages of lactating the percentage of cream is only about 2-3 percent and then the percentage builds up. At the moment we are getting near to 10 percent. The feed from the different paddocks also has an effect.There is also a cycle with the cow letting down of the milk, which can be frustrating. I have been anxious on how one of the cows, Anna was going to let down her milk for me once I took away her calf. So far she has been great and given her milk well. Hopefully this keeps happening.

For a wealth of great material, please head over to Toms and Zaias’ website https://diyfoodandhealth.com

Or to Toms and Zaias’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/permaculturesunshinecoast

Originally published: https://diyfoodandhealth.com/2016/06/14/obtain-a-yield/

Tom Kendall

Tom Kendall is a permaculture farmer with a lifelong broad acre agricultural background. He is co-founder of the PRI Sunshine Coast Inc and PRI Luganville, Vanuatu and runs PDC and Practical Life Skills training courses on his Permaculture Demonstration Site “Maungaraeeda”. He is part of the Permaculture Sustainable Consulting team and does regular personal consultations. He has extensive experience in tropical, sub tropical and dry land climates and has the ability to read large scale as well as smaller scale landscapes. With his farming background, Tom is a very hands on and practical man and is solution focused. He has extensive travel experience, integrates easily with local cultures and people and enjoys studying landscapes, buildings and the effects of climate on structures, flora and fauna.

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