Welcome to Echidna Home

Hi I'm Tazzie G,  

Tasmania the beautiful island state of Australia is where I call home. As I type rain is heavy  on my tin roof, wind is blowing gale force, I am awed by the trees yet wonder if some may snap as they flex and bend to the winds will.   Accompanying the noise of the rain and wind, snoring and snuffling can be heard from my two contented dogs.  Who lie asleep near me, after a morning of exercise and playing. I like the wind, feeling so lucky to have this beautiful roof over my head.
Part of the river near where I live 
                                       
Living in a rural location on just under 4064m2 or a little under an acre has not always been easy.  It is interesting to discover in today's world my life style is seen as self sufficient.    My home is not on town water, or sewerage services. A septic tank,  ffor my black and french drains for grey water disposal on my property.   Three rain water tanks and an electric pump provide my water.  
Researching into the cost of solar panels to provide electricity to the house is too expensive for me at this point and with an annual electricity bill of under $600 a year not viable.  I use gas stove and instant gas for hot water, and a wood fire for heating.   My gas is about $500 a year, including the admin fee.  My wood cost about $600-800 a year.   The house timber, three bedroom, double story, built by my partner it is a unique gorgeous simple home.  My partner died 10 years ago we had a wonderful relationship grief and loss taking me many years to reach the point where I the moments when grief hit me I am not stuck.   We never married, and I never wanted children.   My life as a single woman is not perfect, and I have no desire to be in a relationship at this time in my life.  I can not speak for my future. I am certainly not looking being content with being in charge and responsible for just me and my wonderful dogs.

This is the echidna that lives about my place  Just dug itself out from one of my dogs.  Not too bothered by my dog it seems as it is a regualr visitor to my garden.
 Life after a breakdown diagnosed with  PTSD complex, being unable to work, and finding it difficult to work even in a voluntary capacity due to the complexity of my mental illness means I find I am now living on a government benefit of $574(Au)  a fortnight.
Feeling very fortunate owning my home outright, and having no debt. 

 I am thankful everyday for being in this situation where in my country there is help and we have 'free' access to medical treatment for physical and mental health illnesses  and injuries. Along with subsidised medicines for low income earners.   Before my breakdown like everyone who works in Australia part of my taxes went to medicare levy.  So again I am very thankful I live in Australia as I am on a low income I also have access to more benifits for free health services.   

It is not always easy for me to live on this amount,  but I know that compared to so many people in Australia where homelessness is growing (similarly to many western countries)  where rents have gone through the roof and the prospect for many to own their own home (in the past the life goal in my country) is unachievable. The tragedy of so much of our consumer society is the increasing debt people of all ages are finding themselves in.  This is not including the mortgage so many are struggling to pay.   I am also aware of the countries where people are struggling to live full stop.  

Recently I have begun to reconnect with my vegetable garden after several years of neglect.   I am finding the connection of working in the soil, has helped me feel a sense of improved well being.   In autumn broad beans  silver beet, kale, spring onions, chives, garlic, coriander, were planted  providing some greens over winter.   Thyme, oregano, chives, lemon balm,  Egyptian onions, rhubarb, have thrived on neglect.   Self seeded lettuces are a joy to be discovering now as we head towards summer.   

Fruit trees nectarine, blue berry, apple, plums, cherry, crab apple,  red currants, jostaberry (cross between black current and gooseberry,) goose berry, cape gooseberry, fig,  a not happy passion fruit vine and a neglected grape vine.  There are lemon, lime, kaffir lime trees and a bay tree.  All received some care this spring, my hopes are for some delicious fruit and nuts.  You will also find black berries, hazel nuts and a native berry that is delicious in my garden. 

My hope is that my garden will provide a   medium of soil for "archaea, bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, algae, protozoa, and a wide variety of larger soil fauna, including springtails, mites, nematodes, earthworms, ants, insects that spend all or part of their life underground, and larger organisms such as burrowing rodents. All of these are important in making up the environment we call soil and in bringing about numerous transformations that are vitally important to life."https://www.soils4teachers.org/biology-life-soil so that in turn this soil will provide me with nutrient rich food.

Finally feeling that  spring had arrived I began planting  tomatoes and some beans, (outdoors) anticipating to plant more seedlings and create support structures in the following days. Nature had other plans.  

The reality of  growing vegetables and plants in Tasmania especially without a green house or a poly tunnel can be a bit tricky at this time of year.   We went from 28dC to 13dc day time 3dC overnight;  heavy storms with you  have full rain water tanks, when I am very  aware of how much of the big island of Australia is in drought and dealing with bush fires, (4 lives lost and many homes across two states) and it is not summer yet.   My heart aches.

My patch of paradise is a patchwork of native bush, vegies, fruit, nut area, grasses, and garden for flowers and shrubs to attract birds, bees,  lizards, insects and frogs.  Along with creating soil that worms and other insect fungi and mich the other areas I am happy to co exist with  wallabys, potaroos, possums, bandicoots, and echidna.    There are Tasmania devils about here too.   The bird life is wonderful and from sea eagles to the tiny silver eyes.  Cockatoos and galahs visit.    



Tazzie  













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