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The meeting for November was held at the home of Fred and Joan’s The meeting was attend by 10 members and being our last meeting for the year it was followed by a small end of year party. Thank you Fred and Joan for your wonderful hospitality.
We sincerely hope everyone had a joyous Christmas and are now into a prosperous and lucky new year. I am not sure whether that last statement pertains to us so far this year we have had to get a new fridge, a new hot water system and a new dividing fence between our neighbors I guess it could be classed as prosperous.
Our next meeting is in March and the weather should start to cool down a bit so it is time to start working on our next seasons planting. I am endeavoring to get hold of some strawberry runners so if anyone wants some let me know at our next meeting.
Finally I am going to give a talk on hydroponic to the Coral Coast Garden Society in February maybe I can create some interest amongst these members to give hydroponics a go.
Coming Events
March Meeting will be held at Col and Cheryl’s.
Starts at 9.30 am and will be followed by morning tea. Please try to come along as we have some important topics to discuss.
Reminder:
1. Please bring a folding Chair.
2. Something for the raffle table.
3. One Dollar ($1) each for morning tea.
4. The host to give a talk.
5. The host to write an article for the Newsletter.
6. Please draw a map on how to find your house. (give to Col or Cheryl.)
This Month Recipes
Courtesy of Cheryl Walker.
ZUCCHINI RICE SLICE (Pat Jackson, Childers)
INGREDIENTS:
½ cup long grain rice, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 onion(finely chopped), 1 tablespoon curry powder, 1 egg, lightly beaten, ½ cup stale breadcrumbs.
TOPPING: 1 medium zucchini(grated), 25g butter, 1 x 210g can creamed corn, 1 cup shredded chicken, ½ cup grated tasty cheese, 5 eggs, lightly beaten, ½ cup milk.
METHOD:
Grease base of a shallow, ovenproof dish (8 cup capacity). Line base with non-stick baking paper.
Add rice to a large pan of boiling water, boil uncovered for about 12 minutes or until tender. Drain, transfer rice to a bowl.
Heat oil in pan, add onion and curry powder. Cook stirring until onion is soft. Stir into rice. Add egg and breadcrumbs, mix well. Press over base of prepared dish.
TOPPING: Using hands squeeze excess moisture from zucchini. Heat butter in a pan, add zucchini, and stir over high heat until softened. Transfer to a bowl. Pour topping over rice base. Cook uncovered in moderate oven (180 degrees Celsius) for about 50 minutes or until set. Stand for 10 minutes before cutting.
SWEET PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
INGREDIENTS:
3 x 250g packets soft cream cheese, such as Philadelphia
2/3 cup castor sugar, 5 large eggs, 2 cups cooked, mashed pumpkin, 2/3 cup light sour cream, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 3 tablespoons palm sugar, 1/3 cup water.
METHOD:
Line a 23cm spring form pan with baking paper. Preheat the oven to moderately slow 160C.
Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until well incorporated, then, one at a time, beat in eggs. Add pumpkin, sour cream and spices and continue to beat until well blended.
Pour pumpkin mixture into tin and bake for about 1 hour, or until the filling is set around the edges and is lightly golden on top. Turn off oven, prop door open and let the cheesecake cool down. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
Meanwhile, heat the palm sugar with the water in a small saucepan, bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer until syrup becomes thick. To serve, cut the cheesecake into wedges and spoon the syrup over. Serve with whipped cream. Serves 8-10.
POETRY:
NOSTALGIA by S.G. Kelly
I hear the horse bells ringing they echo through the night.
I hear the flying foxes squealing in the trees they’re out of sight.
I hear the horses on the campsite their hobble chains clink.
I hear the stockmen move among them they’re talking up a link.
I hear wild bull’s bellowing before they charge and fight.
I hear curlews screaming in the middle of the night:
I hear the crackle of the campfire imagine the embers glowing red.
I hear stockmen joking before they go to bed.
I hear the cattle rushing a rumbling vibration through the ground,
I hear the stockyard rails breaking it’s a loud sharp cracking sound.
I hear the sound of thunder as they stampede across the flat.
I hear the stockmen cursing as they try to turn them back.
I hear the dingoes howling they’re yelping at the moon.
I hear the kookaburras laughing know dawn will break quite soon.
I hear the camp cook calling he’s in a nasty mood.
I hear the black crows cawing they’re waiting for scraps of food.
I hear a mouth organ playing its vamp is nice and slow,
I hear a stockman singing his voice is soft and low.
I hear wild pigs squealing as they wallow in the mud,
I hear the sound of cattle imagine cows chewing their cud.
I hear the cattle lowing they’re yarded for the night.
I hear the cold wind gusting the moon is big and bright.
I hear the night stomping he’s tethered to a tree.
I hear the night owls hooting there’s a sense of being free.
I hear the plovers chattering as they gambol in the water,
I hear the bullocks bellowing when driven away for slaughter.
I hear the wild geese honking they’ve migrated far away.
I hear the stock whips cracking at the closing of the day.
I hear the rush of water the river is in flood.
I hear the rapids roaring the bush is in my blood.
This Month’s Hydroponic Information
As this is the first newsletter for the year I thought a timely reminder of a few important factors was required.
PH and its Importance
Courtesy of Bill Brennan
pH is without a doubt the most important factor in a plants life. If the pH is wrong all the nutrients are wrong.
Why is it so important?
The nutrients, the water, the elements, the growing medium and the gases at the root zone have different electrical charges which are all engaged in a continual battle. All of these surround the root system and are exchanging positive and negative charges which is the way nutrients are absorbed by the roots to feed the plants.
The pH is the most important factor for hydroponic growers to monitor because the pH of a nutrient solution determines the outcome of the challenge that is waged between the roots and everything surrounding them.
pH should be closely monitored because the protein and enzyme molecules in a plant are structured in very specific shapes in order to catalyse a chemical reaction to build plant cells. To achieve this there is a need for reactant molecules to interlock precisely which dictates that all of the positive and negative charges must line up exactly.
Always be mindful that a low or acidic pH means a greater number of hydrogen (+) charges, whereas a neutral or high pH means more hydroxide (-) charges.
It is essential to have the correct balance of positive and negative charges in order for the plant’s roots to absorb the nutrient solution more readily. The pH of the plants internally must reflect closely the pH of the nutrient solution.
The pH levels differ for optimum nutrient uptake for each type of growing medium used. This is influenced by the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) of the particular medium.
In hydroponic growing mediums with low CEC the pH is absolutely critical as a wrong nutrient uptake by the plant due to a pH imbalance is difficult to detect and with the limited nutrient uptake can severely affect the plant growth and is not that readily identified. In many cases severe damage to the plant occurs.
PLANT STRESSES
Plants do not appreciate surprises!!
Variations to the norm can result in plant stress which in turn can impact adversely on the plants growth cycle.
1. Water Stress: Both a lack of water as well as too much water can cause stress. Water stress in plants causes Abscisic Acid to build up which in turn closes down the Stomata-the breathing holes on the underside of the leaves.
2. Nutrient Stress: Can be caused by too much, too little or an imbalance of nutrient. Nutrient stress can attract diseases as well as disrupting the root functions.
3. Element Stress: Results from an element imbalance in the plant tissues, usually due to adding continually to recirculating systems without consideration of this impact upon the plant despite the fact that nutrient readings can indicate the desired level.
Because plant root systems have the ability to separate and take up only certain elements within the solution it is not possible without extensive testing to determine what these may be and replenish these deficiencies separately.
The best solution to this problem is to periodically dump the nutrient solution and replenish with new solution unless you are using a “closed system” such as the AutoPot System.
4. pHStress: The pH of the nutrient solution is continually changing as the plants take up the elements within the nutrient solution in particular as the water is transpired by the leaves and evaporates from the nutrient solution. Ensure that the pH level of the nutrient is within the plants” tolerance.
If the pH is wrong everything is wrong.
5. Age Stress: As plants age their nutrient needs change. Mature or ageing plants require far less nutrient than young vigorous plants.
In the larger hydroponic growing systems it is common practice to increase the nutrient strengths early in the growing cycle. This is not always an option in small systems due to the plants being at various growth stages.
Conclusion: For healthy, happy plants endeavor Not to Surprise your plants too often.
Sterilisation of Hydroponic Medium
It is a good practice in Hydroponics to sterilize the medium (Qloxynti, Perlite, Clay Balls,etc) between crops.
This will remove any build-up of pests and diseases which may be harbored in the medium thus minimizing the challenges to new crops.
Sterilising can be by either steam or chemicals, for obvious reasons we use chemicals.
Again we suggest a chemical called Hy-San which is a combination of hydrogen peroxide 12% and complex silver salts. It is chlorine free. The benefit of this product is there are no nasty residuals left as it reverts to oxygen and water.
The simplest method is:
1. Remove any solid matter from the medium, such as root balls and discard.
2. Place the balance of medium into a 15 litre plastic pail (Qloxynti bucket)
3. Fill to no higher than 50mm (2 inches) from top of the bucket.
4. Mix 30ml of Hy-San into 10 litres of clean water. Be careful to always use chemical gloves as Hydrogen peroxide will cause burns to the skin.
5. Pour the ten litres of water and Hy-San into the bucket of medium until it covers the contents.
6. Let stand for 24hrs and the medium will be sanitized.
7. After 24hrs drain the liquid and let the medium dry before reuse.
This Month’s jokes
Courtesy of Molly
HAVE A LAUGH
AN OLD sea-dog pirate limped into the tavern. He had a wooden right leg, a hook on his right arm in place of a hand and a patch over the right eye.
A sailor perched at the bar asked him, “Old-timer, what happened to you?” “AARR,” he said, “the right leg I lost when I took the full brunt of a cannonball during a fight for a ship at sea.”
“Wow,” said the sailor, “that must have been an impressive wound. What happened to your right hand?”
“AAAAAR,” said the old pirate. “You wouldn’t believe it. I was fighting off two buccaneers when I slipped with my wooden leg and the mongrels cut my sword hand off and I had to get a hook for my hand.”
“Incredible old man, but what happened to your right eye?”
“AAAAAAAARR, well, that be a seagull did that.”
The sailor asked incredulously, “A seagull?”
“AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR,” said the old pirate. “The seagull pooped in my eye!”
The sailor laughed and asked,”How could a seagull do that by pooping in your eye?”
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR, it be the first day I had the hook, wouldn’t it!”
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
MONEY: A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs. A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn’t need, but it’s on sale.
BATHROOMS: A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel. The average number of items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than twenty of these items.
ARGUMENTS: A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
CATS: Women love cats. Men say they love cats, but when women aren’t looking men kick cats.
FUTURE: A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
SUCCESS: A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
MARRIAGE: A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t. A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, but she does.
NATURAL: Men wake up as good looking as they went to bed. Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING: Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A married man should forget his mistakes. There’s no use in two people remembering the same thing!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Adolescence is a period of rapid changes. Between the ages of 12 and 17, for example, a parent ages as much as 20 years. Anon.
A couple lived near the ocean and used to walk the beach a lot. One summer they noticed a girl who was at the beach almost every day.
She wasn’t unusual nor was the travel bag she carried except for one thing-she would approach people who were sitting on the beach, glance around furtively, and then speak to them.
Generally, the people would respond negatively and she would wander off. But occasionally someone would nod and there would be a quick exchange of money and something she carried in her bag.
The couple assumed that she was selling drugs and debated calling the cops, but since they didn’t know for sure, they just continued to watch her.
After a couple of weeks the wife said, “Honey, have you ever noticed that she only goes up to people with boom boxes and other electronic devices?” He hadn’t-and said so.
Then she said, “Tomorrow I want you to get a towel and our big radio and go lie out on the beach. Then we can find out what she’s really doing.”
Well, the plan went off without a hitch and the wife was almost hopping up and down with anticipation when she saw the girl talk to her husband and then leave.
The man then walked up the beach and met his wife at the road. “Well, is she selling drugs?” she asked excitedly.
“No, she’s not,” he said. “Well, what is it then? What does she do?” his wife fairly shrieked.
The man grinned and said, “She’s a battery salesperson.”
“Batteries?” cried the wife. “Yes,” he replied, “She sells C cells by the seashore.”
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