GARDENING IN PARADISE
JENNY’S TROPICAL GARDENING
February 2019
WHAT an amazing month we have experienced in our gardens! We have received so much rain, followed by very high temperatures and some more rain! As I am writing this article I notice a better change in the weather and am wondering if we may get any more heavy rains in the next month or whether it will be safe to start preparing our beds for our vegetables and herbs. I have some good raised garden beds for my vegetables and I like to start preparing them for each year’s crop about this time. I do grow many vegetables all year, and instead of planting many in all-day sun, I plant them where they receive morning sun and afternoon shade and I find they do quite well. I do like to add composted material to my beds each year and I love using mushroom compost and Activ 8, along with chicken manure, cow manure and some dolomite. I then put a good layer of mulch on top and water everything in so as to give the soil a good boost of nutrition for the coming crops. Starting the bed preparation and raising seeds early gives a great start for a long season of growing lots of crops.
This Centenary lakes are so beautiful.
DELICIOUS PUMPKINS! I grow pumpkins all year and my favourite pumpkin is a cross between Kent, Bugle, and Jap pumpkins and produces many delicious pumpkins in such a variety of shapes and sizes, which have so much tasty flesh....people I have shared them with are always amazed at how heavy they are. Some do not even leave any room inside for seeds! Pumpkins are more nutritious than most cucurbits. They can be used in many ways in either sweet or savoury dishes and they make delicious soup! Cutting the top off a rounded pumpkin and scooping the flesh out, then using it to serve pumpkin soup from, is great. Pumpkin vines appreciate enough room to spread and can even be grown on a fence or trellis. I grow ours on a mound of soil and composted cane trash, with some fertiliser added and water them a few times a week. I also run the mower over the long trailing stems which escape the area I have given them and I find this also seems to help fruit production. Pumpkins should be picked when the skin colours deepen and change and when the stems go brown. Always leave about 5cm of stem on and the pumpkins can be stored in a cool, airy place for as long as needed. We have a great selection of vegetable, herb and flower seeds at Mitre 10 and I am always happy to advise people on the varieties. We have also just received a great range of fruit trees and this is the best time of year to plant them and get them off to a good start.
We also have some great mesh bags which are folded into a carry bag and these are great to use to cover a range of fruits and vegies to protect them from birds and insect pests, and they are excellent to take to the shop to put any fruits and vegetables to carry them home....they can be easily washed and re-used. Ask at the front counter for these great buys. Fruit trees such as lychees and longans, which have now finished their fruit production for this season, will benefit greatly from a good pruning to keep them at an easily manageable height. Fertilise them after pruning and water if needed. AMAZING FURCRAEAS! Furcraeas certainly make a stand-out statement in the garden and look good either in group plantings, in rows or just as a feature plant. They have thick, fleshy long leaves in green and white and can reach a couple of metres in height. They are very easy to grow but take care when cutting the leaves as the sap can irritate skin. Upon maturity, they produce stalks which can attain a height of 6-12 metres and has lovely little flowers spread along the branches, which bees love to visit to collect pollen. These stalks then produce many little bulbils which can be removed and planted. They also produce new plants on the parent plant, so they are easily multiplied! BEAUTIFUL GROUND ORCHIDS! Spathiglottus orchids are easily grown in the garden or in pots. They do like to have some protection from the sun in the hottest time of the day. They also like to be planted in a mix which will drain well as their roots do not like staying wet all the time. Deadheading (that is, removing old flowers) will help to keep the plants producing more blooms and fertilising once a month will also benefit these beautiful plants. I use a fertiliser from Manutec called Orchid Bloom Booster which gives very good results. This is also available at Mitre 10. It is best to regularly break up the clumps of plants as they multiply, as this will assist them to grow very well and produce more flowers; simply dig them up and gently pull the individual plants apart and replant. Until next month, Happy gardening!!
Jenny.
ASS FRUITORTED TREE S
Furcraea.
Home grown pumpkin.
Seedling flowers.
Page 8 Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, February 28, 2019
NOW STORIN E
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AS a long-term resident of the Cassowary Coast area Diane Montague is excited to have had given the opportunity to join forces with Will and his amazing team at Cassowary Chiropractic. Diane looks forward to giving the opportunity for clients to become happier and healthier after experiencing what is on offer through Raynor Therapy. Diane is at the Tully Clinic Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and is looking forward to seeing current and new Clients.
“I have had a long-time interest in massage therapy since my days in aged care. I decided that Raynor Therapy in particular was the one I was wanted to specialise in,” said Diane. Diane is proficient in Therapeutic Massage but can provide Raynor if clients would prefer it. Diane is happy to speak with anyone about the treatment suited to them. “I try to specialise on the relief of residual tension and muscle tightness and by concentrating on parts of the body often neglected by traditional massage. The abdomen, hips, feet and hands. By “freeing up “ these specific areas, you generally free up the whole body,” said Diane. A source of tension in the human body can sometimes be from their emotions. Stresses or traumas may have been stored in the body for a very long time. In order to release the tension in a person’s body the therapist sometimes needs to release any emotion the client associates with the tension. This can manifest itself as an emotional release during or after a Raynor massage. After undergoing a Raynor Therapy you could experience a fit of sadness, anger, laughter, tears or any other emotion you may have been holding onto. It is important to let the emotion leave the body, and then the tension will follow.
Chiropractors
Dr Riman Dr Will
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Cassowary Chiropractic is pleased to announce Massage Therapist Diane Montague is joining us in our Tully Practice Wednesday- Friday Call to make an appointment 4068 2100
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FLOODED ROADof The Rainforest School, committee president left of some of the PAGE Deborah Schiel Zaini,WARNINGS on the 6 treasurer, vice-president Carolien Franken, committee 2019, Julie Abbott committeea teacher. current students for Scott member and Emma and House Parent staff
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STATE / NATIONAL & POLICE
Labor disunity after Shorten betrays farmers
MINISTER for Agriculture David Littleproud has savaged Federal Labor for voting against Future Drought Fund for farmers as it emerged Victorian Labor supports the Future Drought Fund. A letter from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to the Federal Government says: “We welcome your efforts to establish the Future Drought Fund for drought resilience, preparedness and recovery.” “Even the Victorian Labor Premier admits giving farmers a permanent source of funding for drought is a good idea, but Federal Labor just played politics with the misery of farmers which is a new low,” Minister Littleproud said. “The Future Drought Fund gives farmers $100 million a year for drought preparedness
climate adaptation and resilience but Labor doesn’t want farmers to have that. “Labor wants to spend that $100 million a year in city electorates. “Bill Shorten has been embarrassed by his State Labor colleagues who can at least admit a good idea when they see one. The Future Drought Fund will prepare farmers for the next drought, using the $100 million a year dividend from a $5 billion future fund. Federal Labor won’t support our farmers through the Future Drought Fund is out of spite, because the Coalition thought of it. “Bill Shorten should have listened to his state colleagues but he was determined to play politics and try to wreck farmers’ futures in the process.”
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Stealing, Warrubullen: Police are investigating the theft of a compressor and tools from a Dobbin Road address. Between February 16 and 20 a number of tools and a yellow compressor was stolen from the rear of the property. Anyone with any information are encouraged to contact police and quote reference number QP1900359371. Wilful damage, Tully: Police are seeking any witnesses to a wilful damage that occurred at a Black Street premises. Between 11am and 1.30pm on February 20, a glass door at the premises has been smashed. Anyone with any information are encouraged to contact police and quote reference number QP1900358389. Speeding, Damper Creek: A 26-year-old Redlynch man was issued with a $435 infringement notice on Wednesday. He was intercepted on the Bruce Highway, Damper Creek around 8.40am, where it will be alleged he was travelling at 121km/h in a 100km/h. Break and enter, Fitzgerald Creek: Police are investigating a theft of property from a Hernon Road address.
Between 9.30pm and 10pm on Sunday February 24, a gurney and Honda generator was stolen from a garage area. Anyone with any information are encouraged to contact police and quote reference number QP1900391653. Drugs located, Goondi Bend: A search warrant was executed at a Moriarty Street address around 2.30pm on Thursday afternoon. It will be alleged as a result of the search officers located a large quantity of cannabis and drug utensils. A 65-year-old local man was charged with two counts of drug possession, and one count each of possess property suspected of having been acquired for the purpose of committing a drug offence, possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, and possess drug utensils. He is scheduled to appear at the Innisfail Magistrates Court on March 18. Drug Charges, East Feluga: A -51-year-old East Feluga man was charged with one count each of producing dangerous drugs Schedule 2 drug quantity of or exceeding Schedule 3, possessing dangerous drugs Schedule 2 drug quantity of or exceeding Schedule 3, possessing anything used in the commission of crime defined in Part 2, and
possess drug utensils. Detectives from Innisfail Criminal investigation Branch executed a search warrant at a East Feluga Road address around 8am Friday morning. It will be alleged as a result of that search officers located a large quantity of cannabis, cannabis plants, gardening equipment and drug paraphernalia. He is scheduled to appear at the Tully Magistrates Court on March 28. Speeding, Kennedy: A 23-year-old Manoora woman was intercepted around 6pm on Monday evening. It will be alleged she was travelling at a 121km/h in a 100km/h zone. She was issued with a $435 infringement notice. Drug Driver, Cardwell: A 43-year-old Cardwell man was intercepted on Victoria Street around 5.30pm Monday afternoon for a roadside drug test. It will be alleged as a result of that test he has returned a positive reading. The relevant samples from the roadside drug test have been forwarded to a laboratory testing facility for scientific analysis. His licence was suspended for an initial period of 24 hours and he is scheduled to appear at the Tully Magistrates Court on April 18.
RURAL REPORT
Bill a kick in the guts to growers’ Reef commitment
CANEGROWERS is warning a bill introduced to the Queensland Parliament this week will frustrate sugarcane growers with more bureaucratic intrusion into their businesses without any guarantee of benefits for the Great Barrier Reef. “Just as growers are picking themselves up from a summer of natural disasters, the Queensland Government is putting a further regulatory cloud over our businesses,” CANEGROWERS Chairman Paul Schembri said. CANEGROWERS says the Envrironmental Protection (Great Barrier Reef Protection Measures) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 seeks to: * undermine the valuable efforts of growers to improve water quality, * impose big brother supervision over everyday farming
decisions and * hobble the sugarcane industry’s ability to expand. “We absolutely take our responsibilities towards reef water quality seriously,” Mr Schembri said. “That’s why we’ve voluntarily gone down the road of an industry-developed and independently assessed best management practices program – Smartcane BMP. “Under this, growers have shown initiative and commitment, improving their productivity while addressing issues of fertiliser and sediment runoff. “The program has recorded real and positive momentum with participation going from zero to 70% of the state’s sugarcane area within five years. “What we should be seeing is the removal of regulations the areas where growers have proven the highest commitment and results towards Reef water
quality. “CANEGROWERS has invited the Premier to visit a cane farm to give growers the opportunity to explain exactly what impact these laws will have but to date she hasn’t taken up our offer,” he said. In the most sensitive area for Reef water quality, the Wet Tropics region, participation in Smartcane BMP involvement is strongest with over a third of the area now independently accredited as operating at or above industry best practice. Across the state, 90% of growers engaged with Smartcane BMP are now applying fertilisers underground to prevent any washing away, 80% of the cane is cut green with a mulch/trash blanket left on the paddock and 80% of growers use fallow rotations to protect and nourish their soil between cane crops.
Page 18 Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, February 28, 2019
“Huge changes have been made and the sugarcane growers of Queensland should be congratulated for their effort and commitment,” Mr Schembri said. “But instead, with the introduction of this bill to the Queensland Parliament, the Labor Party is telling growers that no matter what you do, how much you spend or change the way you run your farm, we will shift the goal posts on you again and again.” CANEGROWERS says the bill will give the Queensland Government the ability to demand information from any advisor or company working with cane farmers. “Not only will this bill increase the red tape burden on individual farm businesses reporting to government but it is ringing alarm bells right through the sugarcane industry’s supply chain,” Mr Schem-
bri said. “The Queensland Government’s own drafting document says the bill should give it the power to require data from fertiliser sellers, agronomists, wholesalers, sugar mills and industry extension officers. “Nothing will be safe from the cold hand of the bureaucratic big brother!” CANEGROWERS is also warning that the bill could prevent growers from making the best possible use of the land they own and farm. “If you haven’t cropped an area of your farm for some time and you want to put cane in, the State Government wants to make you go through the same sort of environmental impact statement that a mining company does,” Mr Schembri explained. “This amounts to the Labor Party telling us we can’t
expand our industry onto land our growers already own and manage without government approval. “With international companies now looking at sugarcane as a valuable feedstock for a new generation of bioplastics, biochemicals and biofuels, we won’t be able to grow to meet new opportunities. “This would be very short-sighted, throwing a roadblock in front of our industry and potential bio-futures investment in Queensland.” CANEGROWERS urges the Queensland Parliament to reject this bill and the ALP’s attempt to re-regulate both the size of the sugarcane industry and each farm’s practices and production decisions.
RURAL REPORT
Progressive primary producers invited to participate in digital training program MORE than 100 of the region’s most progressive primary producers are being invited to participate in a digital technology project being rolled out across all agricultural commodities in North Queensland. The Digital Farm Project is a 12-month training program developed and facilitated by Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network Manager (FNQ), Leanne Kruss, using funding under the State Government’s Training in Emerging and Innovative Industries Fund, with the support of FNQ Growers. The project is designed to help primary producers take advantage of the digital world, and provide assistance to agricultural industries impacted by digital disruption. Ms Kruss said the training aimed to enhance practical business skills. “It will provide the essential knowledge needed to more effectively manage your farm and will help farmers identify areas
for innovation and improvement,” Ms Kruss said. “Good business management practices are key to a successful, profitable and sustainable business. “Farmers who are just starting out, those with no business management training or those wanting to take their businesses to the next level have an opportunity to strengthen their business management skills.” Since its launch in October last year, the project has received 100 expressions of interest from growers keen to strengthen their business management skills. Under the project, the AHCSS000030 Farm Business Management Skill Set will comprise modules on business planning, business performance and budgeting, business structures and relationships and managing risk. Workshops are tailor made – available in various formats including workshops and on-
line modules - depending on the primary producer’s availability and capacity. The training will be rolled out monthly beginning in March. To qualify to participate in the program, participants must be a current owner, manager or worker of a farm in North Queensland. Participation in the program will be at no cost to approved applicants. Dates have been set for workshops in Mareeba (12 and 13 March), Atherton (14 and 15 March) and Georgetown and the Oasis Roadhouse (16-19 March). Workshops in Innisfail, Tully, Ingham, and Rollingstone will be held in April, Burdekin, Ayr and Bowen in May and those in north-west Queensland in June, pending recovery from the flooding crisis. Anyone wishing to participate can contact Ms Kruss at leannefnqagriculture@gmail. com or on 0431 743 633.
RSD TESTING STARTING EARLY Research done some years RATOON Stunting Disease is es, not just cane set aside for ago indicated that for every 1$ mentioned often in the sugar planting. Like many diseases of spent on RSD management, cane industry because it is one of the most economically sig- sugar cane, you can’t actual- the industry can potentially nificant diseases of the crop. ly see RSD, so taking a juice gain a $16 return. A lot of work has also been Like all pests and diseases, the sample and sending it away level of awareness and under- to the SRA labs in Brisbane done to highlight the potential standing of this disease varies for testing is the only way to impact of the crop yields of and the only real cure is man- make sure it is present or not this disease. I remember when agement, not eradication. in planting material. RSD is I first came into the industry a With that in mind our local caused by bacteria that affects trial had been set up in Ingham Tully Cane Productivity Ser- the flow of water though the where RSD affected cane was vices staff go out every year to cane plant, which can there- grown beside RSD free clean cane. You could see the differperform two key tasks to man- fore affect overall crop yield. age this disease and its impact. While the clean seed plots ence in crop size very clearly. The main task they perform is open in June, the sampling of If you can see the difference in to operate clean (free of RSD) cane that is going to be used a cane crop from the road, it seed plots throughout the dis- for planting usually takes place can mean a yield difference of trict for growers to access in April but this year TCPSL is at least 6t/ha. Therefore, testing seed clean seed for plant. starting this process early-this cane for RSD is money well The second major function week in fact. A combination of grower spent as this disease has the is to provide a cane testing service to see if cane planned to demand and the dry spell af- potential to reduce yields in be used as seed has the disease ter all the January rain means Tully, especially in drier times or not. In 2018 TCPSL also farms are easily accessible of the year when the cane crop conducted a district survey to without damaging headlands, is trying to access as much wasee how prevalent the disease so TCPSL are out and about ter as possible. was in Tully for all crop class- now sampling.
RSD Testing starting early image003. An RSD demo which shows the impact of RSD (right hand side of photo) on crop yields.
Leanne Kruss (Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network Manager FNQ, Martin Inderbitzin (Kairi avocado grower) and Steve Tiley (Growcom Hort360 Innovation Coach).
Support Australian; Farmers, Industry and Individuals
Regional agricultural landcare facilitators a one-stop-shop for farmers
WE are here to help you with innovative and sustainable farming – that’s the message for landholders from the Far North’s three agricultural landcare facilitators. Jen Redway, Andrew Hartwig and Laura Miller are calling on farmers to pick up the phone or come and speak with them when they need help with new ideas, methods and grant applications. Jen said the three-regional agricultural landcare facilitators - who work for natural resource management bodies in the Wet Tropics, Cape York and Northern Gulf – were a “one-stopshop” for farmers. “We can put you in touch with specialists in the field or like-minded growers, recommend funding opportunities, let you know about relevant workshops or farm demonstrations
and basically be your contact to support sustainable agriculture and farm management,’’ she said. New funding has been announced for regional agricultural landcare facilitators, or RALFs, through the Australian Government’s Regional Landcare Program. The RALF roles now have a greater focus on agricultural land management practices that improve soil quality, biodiversity and vegetation. “Farmers have a huge bank of knowledge already but there are always new things to learn about agricultural sustainability,’’ Jen, who works for Terrain NRM, said. “We can connect you with the latest ideas, information and innovations. Often people are working on common issues and it can help to bounce ideas off each other. Working togeth-
er can also lead to better onground outcomes.” Cape York NRM’s RALF Andrew Hartwig encouraged farmers to pick up the phone. “We are also a point of contact for government information relating to agriculture and we’d like to see more people use us in this way as well,” he said. The trio has recently been helping farmers to apply for SmartFarm grants and supporting projects ranging from a soil health program for landholders to a riparian revegetation and watercourse stabilisation initiative. Jen can be contacted through Terrain NRM on 0415 136 328. Andrew works with Cape York NRM and is on 0418 216 300 and Laura looks after the Northern Gulf RMG region and can be contacted on 0438 705 477.
The Far North’s Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitators: Terrain NRM’s Jen Redway, Cape York NRM’s Andrew Hartwig and Northern Gulf RMG’s Laura Miller.
Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, February 28, 2019 Page 19