Friday 31 January 2014

:Getting down to the Roots of Nazca civilisation: Huarango



Some time ago I watched a documentary about the Nazca people. Surprisingly the Nazca lines were not the documentaries main focus, instead the Nazca people and the environment in which they lived were discussed at length. Even so when I saw the beautiful ceramics and textiles which they created I was stunned. Clearly there had been more going on in this desert landscape than I imagined.

That should have been my first clue...Desert.... Often a small number of species will provide habitat, capture moisture, add organic matter to the soil and generally make it possible for a wide variety of species to thrive.


Which Key species allowed the Nazca to develop their civilisation? The dominant tree in this region  is the Huarango Prosopis pallida.  This tree is deep rooted, long lived, has seeds which can provide food for humans and livestock, useful timber and provides habitat numerous species.  The video below highlights some of the current problems and the solutions being tried.








Friday 24 January 2014

PRE-INCAN TEXTILES, SERIOUSLY COOLER THAN THE GOLD!





Today I went to see the National Gallery of Australia exhibition  Gold and the Incas: lost worlds of Peru . I expected to enjoy it, I expected to see ritual golden artifacts and a few other items. I wasn't prepared for the exquisite textiles and ceramics.

These pictures, while not all from the exhibition do give you an idea of what to expect.
CHUQUIBAMBA culture Southern highlands 1000 – 1475 AD
Textile length with 'tocapus' pattern 1000-1475 AD wool , tapestry weave
218.8 (h) x 91.2 (w) cm National Gallery of Australia, Canberra NGA 1981.1089
                


Moche
North coast, Peru

Portrait Vessel of a Ruler, 100 B.C./A.D. 500
Ceramic and pigment
35.6 x 24.1 cm (14 x 9 1/2 in.)
     
Mantle border fragment, 1st–2nd century Peru; Nazca Cotton, camelid hair; L. 41 3/8 in. (105 cm)  
CHANCAY culture Central coast 1200 – 1450 AD
Open-work textile with fish design 1200-1450 AD cotton
105.0 (h) x 96.0 (w) cm 
    


If you get the chance see it. I'm going to and find out more about these Peruvian cultures.

ILLAWARRA FOLK FESTIVAL 2014

I had a ball, seriously. I have to admit I was a little reserved and it took me a while to get over that, but I did. Next time I will take some form of percussion with me, perhaps I should revisit the idea of dished out bottle tops. While there I went in a story telling competition, recited my sad Lemur limerick and ate, drank and was merry.

Saturday 11 January 2014

Between Kaleen and Giralang


The heavy humid air offers promises of lightning 
and the roar of thunder.

 I am led through pale straw grassland, blue bells and the bleached white husks of wild oats in windrows.


































I am transported High on this ridge.

So long as I look forward. One sideways glance is all it takes,


And the spell is broken.

Friday 10 January 2014

What a load of Carp

I began a rant about coarse fishing and sports fishing and hunting..... and then I stopped, I should do something not sit here carping about it








Quail, the super producing backyard bird for egg an Meat  production, the ultimate in "micro livestock" suitable for those trying to live in a more ethical and sustainable manner.

However a quick glance at many of the websites suggesting this show a method of quail raising which looks disturbingly like a cage/battery system.

http://www.microponics.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Quail1.jpg      


















 Why I am considering Quail

According to the N.S.W Department of Primary Industry
  •   Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) are   hardy birds that thrive in small cages and are inexpensive to keep.
  • They are fairly disease resistant. 
  • Japanese quail mature in about 6 weeks
  •  Usually in full egg production by 50 days of age.  
  •  With proper care, hens should lay  200 eggs in their first year of lay. 
Then there are the other cage types which I think I will lean towards.

 Quail will still be kept at higher densities than  would keep chickens, but at lower densities than the the  cage systems shown above.


http://www.ablfarm.com/2013/11/ 
    Big pluses for this type of system are:
  • The quail get to express natural behaviours. Dustbathing, Foraging,etc
  • Quail will eat weed seeds and fertilize lawn and garden areas.
  • The will have access to the sun.
  • I will feel less mean.
So that this works I will need to remember to make garden beds and cages the same size!


The above image is from a site with some interesting information about this quail keeping method and the way it impacts the lawn.