Hi from Australia - long time loiterer

I have watched this forum for years and love the kindness, knowledge, wisdom and positive enthusiasm of this group. Such a great vibe!
I grew up in rural central NSW (that's flat and hot and dry, sheep and wheat country), from a traditional farming family. My grandparents rarely left their farm and that's where we spent most of our school holidays. They grew walnuts and oranges, had a large veggie garden, fish from the river, yabbies from the dam (that's our native crayfish), and mutton (of course).
I always imagined I would end up with a farm, but I married a software engineer LOL and so I have embraced urban permaculture in Canberra (the bush capital). Canberra has wonderfully challenging growing conditions: hot dry summers (several days over 40°C), cool winters down to -8°C with heavy frost from late Autumn to mid Spring. The soil is old, compacted, shallow stoney clay, with very little organic matter. And the local brushtail possum population is thriving (they eat all new plants. And then wee on the front porch). It's pretty fun.
Sunken hugelkultur is the key to success here, so I dig a lot of holes.
Anyway - that's a long introduction to me!

Welcome, Agatha! Your situation does sound a bit of a challenge!

Welcome, I have similar wether so we may help each other.
I dont have possums though. I have a 20 acre playground that has proved hard to grow on.

Hey Agatha, welcome aboard! Your temperature extremes sound almost like a complete inversion of mine (for now). I'll be interested to follow your experiments in those conditions.

It seems like Aussie types are not easily deterred and don't quit easily. I just read about a town in the Northern parts that had endless trouble with a particularly aggressive crocodile. They cooked it and ate it. A problem is an opportunity!

Thanks for the welcome!

Hello, Agatha!

I'm not too familiar with Hugelkultur in general, so I'd be interested to hear how sunken Hugel has solved your problems.

Also, coming from Scotland, I kinda envy anybody who has days of 40-degree heat!  I'd wrestle a hoard of possums for the chance. :p

Cheers,

-- Jojo