Sydney harbour balcony garden renovation, new years day

I arrived in Sydney for this Harbourside balcony garden renovation just a few minutes to midnight, new Years Eve. It felt so glamorous, just walking out the door and there was Observatory Hill, Fireworks, the world's most beautiful city filled with hope for new things.


Before and After
Here is the north-facing wall in the morning, with the usaul 'default' objects: rarely used shabby BBQ, things that just eneded up there. By the afternoon, the objects are 'elected', invested with expectaions of good things: lemons, passionfruit, flowering natives.

Why square pots?

They hold more life-giving soil than round, and take up no more space.

Why terracotta?

They cost more, but will be used forever. Terracotta will 'breathe' better than plastic, the evaporation in the hot sun helping to cool the roots and keep the plant alive. The remaining pots were 'edited', loved and harmonious ones allowed stay. The atmosphere will now be created by the plants, not the mottley crew of default pots.

What about the glazed pot?

I did worry things might 'cook' in there, especially since the glaze is metallic - its untouchable after a few hours in the sun. I lined it with some old wood that was lying about. Maybe this insulation will save the situation.

New wormfarm doubles as a sheter for the kitty litter tray(south side)

The BBQ (left) ended up covered with green cloth, acting as out-of site storage for trowels and tools. Two eyesores cancelling each other out: that's grace.

For real Permaculture, only grow edibles you will actually eat, and things that you want fresh, on hand. A look in the fridge told me that anything that goes on pizza or in thai curry would be eaten, so I reccommended corriander, dill, basil, and he says he likes thyme.

Nice in theory. But a possum family live in his fig tree, and unlike humans, they can't just go to the supermarket if someone eats their dinner - they are more dedicated to eating our edibles than we are.

Possum-free nook

'What kind of Permaculture gardener lets a few possums stop her planting herbs?" I was fretting, then noticed this 3rd floor nook: a sunny, possum-free spot. Placing water nearby makes it easy to remember to tend. Here we have added a bergonia cutting: after spending so much on good pots and potting mix, we need to find ways to get free plants.

The fireworks lasted all week, really. Suspense, a bit of creative friction, and the spectacularly unexpected: thats what you get when two human beings have to put aside their ususal ways of doing things to create something new. It only works if you are creating something alluring enought to persist in though. Like creating Eden.