tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743532158600929042.post8779331412325118351..comments2024-02-01T08:02:17.476+10:30Comments on out back tania: how to make a wicking bath ~ our wayTaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10176661940614462611noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743532158600929042.post-48819276369363874812017-05-13T19:57:32.849+09:302017-05-13T19:57:32.849+09:30Hi Harry, long time, no see. Its great that you c...Hi Harry, long time, no see. Its great that you could visit again :)<br /><br />You are most welcome to pass this information on to other folk.<br /><br />Hope you and your wife are keeping well. <br /><br />xTania<br /><br />Taniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10176661940614462611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743532158600929042.post-71141455725814804942017-05-13T15:26:19.122+09:302017-05-13T15:26:19.122+09:30I am frequently amazed at how good Australians see...I am frequently amazed at how good Australians seem to be about adapting to their environment. I've never even heard of this system, even though drought has been a real problem here in the Smokey Mountains of North Georgia for well over a year now. I will tell some other folks here about this post.Harry Flashmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05071021900005041592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743532158600929042.post-8416378642743218062017-05-12T05:44:46.581+09:302017-05-12T05:44:46.581+09:30Thanks, I will check them out when I get time.
Thanks, I will check them out when I get time.<br />Cherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07900993246451486017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743532158600929042.post-2597059870340513612017-05-11T09:51:24.729+09:302017-05-11T09:51:24.729+09:30That's great to hear Jane, I always worry abou...That's great to hear Jane, I always worry about forgetting something important. One thing that I did forget to mention was to put a cover of shade cloth over the drain plug. We forgot to do it this time around, but it is not a big issue because we have used double layer shade cloth to prevent debris mixing with the rocks. <br /><br />I was amazed this morning to read a post on using old fridges for wicking beds. I think these would actually be better as they are insulated. The thing I noticed when reading other methods is that they don't use the straw to wick (our method was learned from Rob Bob on youtube). They just put the soil straight on top of the shade cloth. I found this interesting but not sure if it is an issue or not. I guess the soil will wick anyway. It does mean that I wont have to empty out my beds to replace the straw every couple of years if it is going to wick anyway. I will include the link to the fridge wicking bed for you as it is explained really well :)<br /><br />http://salvageart.org/2016/01/13/how-to-make-a-wicking-bed-from-an-old-fridge/<br /><br />I hope Bluey is feeling a lot better very soon.<br /><br />I look forward to seeing your slice on IG :)<br /><br />Have a lovely day,<br /><br />xTaniaTaniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10176661940614462611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743532158600929042.post-88608320636916942862017-05-11T09:29:30.450+09:302017-05-11T09:29:30.450+09:30Tania this is perfect! Thank you so very much for ...Tania this is perfect! Thank you so very much for showing this. I wanted to use old baths but I have been unable to work out how to end up with a reservoir. Woohoo. Bluey is currently not very well so I will wait until he is a bit better before asking him to do this with/for me. I am making the apple slice today. Will Instagram a photo of it for you. Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06964345893499561504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743532158600929042.post-82555165655432198072017-05-11T08:58:39.676+09:302017-05-11T08:58:39.676+09:30Back again Cheryl.
We might try this next time us...Back again Cheryl.<br /><br />We might try this next time using an old fridge. A pretty good tutorial on this one :)<br /><br />http://salvageart.org/2016/01/13/how-to-make-a-wicking-bed-from-an-old-fridge/<br /><br />xTaniaTaniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10176661940614462611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743532158600929042.post-50908446170437227582017-05-11T08:52:57.248+09:302017-05-11T08:52:57.248+09:30Thank you Julie.
Yes we live in an arid area of...Thank you Julie. <br /><br />Yes we live in an arid area of Australia, lots of red dirt and flies lol! I struggled for years to grow a garden and failed dismally so this was my last resort so I can grow our own food. This years produce from the garden has been the best yet in nine years of gardening. So I am happy now :)<br /><br />Wishing you a lovely week,<br />xTaniaTaniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10176661940614462611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743532158600929042.post-84750736829584745042017-05-11T08:48:12.006+09:302017-05-11T08:48:12.006+09:30Hi Cheryl,
Yes I do water from the top if I need...Hi Cheryl, <br /><br />Yes I do water from the top if I need to use the bed straight away. Otherwise it takes a few days to wick up and you may need to add more water to the reservoir. I just sprinkle a little on the top to help the soil pack down and speed up the wicking process.<br /><br />You can use any big container for wicking beds so long as they are leak proof. People use IBC containers with success but I decided not to use them as the plastic part breaks down too easily. We are lucky enough to know a builder that replaces baths in government housing, so this is where we were able to get ours. Otherwise hubby has picked them up from the side of the road and sometimes people give away on local fb pages. Even the large (or smaller) boxes from the cheap shops can be used. <br /><br />Have a look these images so you can get an idea of how wicking beds work. <br /><br />https://www.google.com.au/search?q=what+can+you+use+for+wicking+beds&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjtmq28uObTAhWBpJQKHZDoB4kQ_AUICygC&biw=1366&bih=662<br /><br />Thank you for your response and questions, I knew I would forget something lol!<br /><br />Happy gardening,<br />xTaniaTaniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10176661940614462611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743532158600929042.post-28087869658415428162017-05-11T07:38:15.394+09:302017-05-11T07:38:15.394+09:30Thats amazing Tania, thanks for the great tutorial...Thats amazing Tania, thanks for the great tutorial. When you mentioned wicking baths a couple of posts ago I was not sure what they were. Then I wondered why you didnt just plant into the garden. So now I realise that water is the problem. I have never heard of them before but what a wonderful idea & you have explained it all so perfectly. Thanks so much for sharing. Your blog is great & I do enjoy your posts so very much. Happy week to you Tania.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08301647145550214950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743532158600929042.post-88299450154067466172017-05-11T06:32:44.288+09:302017-05-11T06:32:44.288+09:30Funny I only just read one of your old posts on ho...Funny I only just read one of your old posts on how you do your wicking beds, so this post has come at a great time!<br />I am very interested in this method of gardening, it just makes sense. It's hard to source old baths in my area, because everyone is into it up here, and they go real quick, I've been trying to find other alternatives, but to no avail yet. I will persist, as this is a gardening method I really want to try.<br /><br />Do you find you have to water from the top for a while until the wicking process is working? And how long might you water from the top?Cherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07900993246451486017noreply@blogger.com