The Caring Network

by volunteer landscaper Giselle Stolloff, who assisted with further planting and layout

25/03/08

Hi Rose Thrilled with the garden, really think the team has worked very hard and its a small oasis. Keen to do a big plant in the firstweek of April so we can sort the wind break out and get some more trees in before winter. Have sent shopping list to Bloemendal and Little Orchard and will come back with costs. Will come with three of my team to help with the planting and will need to charge you R150 per guy for labour if that's ok. We are going to need another bag of bounceback to get through the winter and possibly some more compost. Have also been given shopping list of seeds and other bits and bobs which I will buy and then give you the invoices. Please can you send me the pics your friend took so I can send them to Kelpak? Forgot to take my camera today. Have a great weekend, Giselle

26/03/08

Hi Shauna I hope things have been going well on your farm in the Easter Cape. The team has been working very hard on the garden and it is looking so much better than when you saw it last. Thought you might like to see these pics. Planning on re-planting the empty sections of the windbreak and creating a secondary windbreak second week of April and also looking at the pond, it would be lovely if you could join us for an hour or two. Take care,

26/-3
Hi All, We are going to come and help plant on the 9/10th of April. The nursery supplying the plants is giving us a bag of bounceback. Thebelani - What size gloves do you need, and how many pairs? Will see if I can source some for you. Is round-up for the weeds? Don't think its organic so if we can avoid using it or find an alternative, that would be better. How many bags of compost do you have left? Will try and bring some wood chip with me when we come on the 9th. Will arrange for plants to be delivered on 8th April. Please can someone fax Bloemendal Nursery a map and give them a contact they can call if lost? 021 572 9101 Rose - can you arrange for Neil to collect Rowena's rocks next week so we can use them to edge the pond? If he has space in his bakkie it would be great if he could take some mulch from Arderne Gardens, I can supply him with bags to load it. Thanks for all the hard work everybody. Hi Rose I am wondering if it would be worth sending Thembalani on the Compost SEE SCHEDULE and Natural fertilizer course? Maybe the garden should start paying for itself by becoming a veggie garden training centre? Could you get govt funding? Seems like a natural extension of Care's training capabilities. Maybe people could do the Care course and then Gardening course? What do you think? We could also start growing some plants for re-sale? Would like to sit down with you and talk through some options for making the garden more self sustaining. Earth worm farming (see attached course schedule) could also be an option. Take care,

17/03

Hi Rose Please find attached the quote for the plants I would like to plant in April. They are mainly for the windbreak. I think I would like to get slightly bigger oleas, can get them for about R80 from little o. Will need some seeds and some other groundcovers too. Let me know if you are happy for me to place the order for planting in April. Many thanks,

14/03 Hi Rose Thrilled with the garden, really think the team has worked very hard and its a small oasis. Keen to do a big plant in the first week of April so we can sort the wind break out and get some more trees in before winter. Have sent shopping list to Bloemendal and Little Orchard and will come back with costs. Will come with three of my team to help with the planting and will need to charge you R150 per guy for labour if that's ok. We are going to need another bag of bounceback to get through the winter and possibly some more compost. Have also been given shopping list of seeds and other bits and bobs which I will buy and then give you the invoices. Please can you send me the pics your friend took so I can send them to Kelpak? Forgot to take my camera today. Have a great weekend,

01/02

Hi Rose Spent the morning in the garden, Sophia couldn't join us as she was at the day hospital. Planted some diates and agapanthus donated by a client. Talked Thembalani through the watering and feeding program and have left detailed instructions for watering. I have also dropped off some Bounceback and all kelpak products (no slip you will need to take my word that it was R100!) I have a couple of projects booked so won't be able to go for a couple of weeks. I am very keen for the team to stick to the program I have written down for them. I hope I am not making Thembalani dis- empowered by roaring in there with loads of instructions am trying to involve him and seek his opinion as much as possible. Chris working very nicely and learning quickly, have made him in charge of dead- heading. Having seen the watering there today I think irrigation is crucial and the only non-wasteful way to go. Drip irrigation is recommended in this month's Gardening magazine in the permaculture article so I think we are on the right track. Will pick up more donated plants from Ferndale on Tuesday, can I send them through with you on Wednesday? The team should be doing the bed preparation on Monday. We need compost, my usual supplier is happy to deliver. He charges R300 per cubic m and if we pay cash we don't pay VAT. Think its worth getting 5 cubes in so we have on site to use. What is the name of the lady I call the charm team? Preg brain! I have gone through all instructions with her and have asked her to mix up the liquid fertilizer, think her nursing training makes her the perfect choice as she knows all about measurements. Hoping she will keep a gentle eye on Thembalani and the team. Really think we can get that windbreak growing nicely with some watering so please trust me and encourage the team to keep to the program. Let me know if you have any questions.

26/01

Hi Khairunnisa I buy my bounceback wholesale for R100 for a 50kg bag, shall I just get one for the garden? So far I have spent R145.95 on sprinklers and fertilizers. I am hoping to collect some donated fertilizer on Tuesday and will bring it through to the centre and will drop off my slip. Thank you,