Volume 8 - Introduction

I've been really busy in my backyard. There's been a bit of planting action going on and the garlic, broccoli, Chinese greens, and Savoy cabbages are all snuggled into their freshly composted raised garden bed. They've even enjoyed a few cups of delicious worm tea – lucky little seedlings. And I figure that if for some reason everything perishes or if the pesky snails manage to haul themselves up for a munch-fest, well...we can always survive on the good old fashioned, super-hardy and supertasty silverbeet that springs up everywhere.
However, gardening is only a small percentage of my backyard busyness. I've been spending a lot of time hanging out with the honeyeaters and other native birds and happily shooting them – with a camera that is. I find birds quite mesmerising and it's a privilege to be amongst them, observe their activity and take a few shots; although I suspect thatsome of them are involved in their own spot of observation. Our olive tree is laden thisyear and we are all (birds and humans) waiting for the first olives to turn from green to black. I might not find my avian friends quite as endearing if they strip that tree!
I've also been busy unearthing some fantastic stories for this latest volume of Back Yard Farmer. I hope you'll find bucket-loads of inspiration and practical know-how within these pages.
And I hope you like the fresh new look – we'd love to hear your thoughts. Happy back yarding.

PS. Back Yard Farmer is here to stay and we need you!  If you'd like the opportunity to contribute to a future volume, please email editorial@earthgarden.com.au with your idea – we'd love to hear from you.