Wednesday, December 19, 2012

the news from the garden 3

We have peas! We have been enjoying meals this week with ingredients all from our garden. Fun times. First peas on Dec 16th.

The garlic is harvested as of the 18th of Dec. We had a friends over the day before who is a garlic expert. Or so we think. She told us to watch our garlic because we were supposed to get some rain and the moisture could cause it to go to seed. Sure enough the next day the rain came and then the look of plants going to seed. We pulled it all and are drying on a table in the shed.

And other news
More fruit on the tomato plants. None ripe yet.
Flowers on the squash and pumpkin. I have been hand pollinating them.
Mustard greens going to seed.
Harvested white onions today. Laid them on the ground to dry. Pretty small.
Lettuce still crazy!
Peppers showing first signs of fruit.
Dill seems to be bouncing back after extreme aphid/white fly attack.
Aphids and white fly seem to have calmed down in the garden.
Some mildew starting on cucurbits. I am going to try a milk/water spray on them tonight.

the leeks that were not

A few weeks ago Nigel and I enjoyed the first of our leeks. They were pretty small. But we roasted them up like asparagus and they tasted great.
We thought that we should let them get bigger before we ate them all up.

Yesterday I was reading about how you should never plant leeks so that they are ready to be harvested in summer. The heat makes them go to seed and makes them tough and stringy.


I went out and had a look. Sure enough our leeks were going to seed. I pulled them all up and got a nice pile. I thought I would clean them all up and make a nice pot of potato leek soup.

By the time I finished salvaging what was edible I had about a cup of leek!

I threw it in a quiche.

Apparently it is important to plant the right things in the right season to get the best result.

 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1


Thursday, December 13, 2012

the post for all the kitten fans


Five Kittens and a cat in a bus.
Sounds like a sitcom.
The kittens are very cute.
We have homes for all of them, but they will be with us through the new year.

We put a litter box down with the kittens around week three. They were great. Used it right away no problem. We thought, oh how easy.

A few days ago the kittens broke containment and learned how to climb up the ledge in the back  of the bus and scurry up to the front.


Yesterday I found some puddles on the floor of the bus.

Nigel found a board in the garage.

The kittens are now secure again in the back of the bus.

Kittens are cute.










the news from the garden 2

Lots of blooms, The peas, the potatoes, the zucchini, the pumpkins, The peppers, and the tomatoes!

The round garden is going nuts. The tomatoes dont seem to be doing much since we moved them out from the green house. But they are defiantly surviving. Mustard greens are hard to keep up with. You cut the leaves off and they are back the next day. The garlic seems like it must be almost done! We hear you are supposed to harvest on the longest day. It takes all my will power not to pull one up and see what is happening under there.

Some of our carrots are going to seed, so i pulled them up to see what was happening. We ate these ones last night! These are the carrots that we planted a bit late last winter. Aprilish. I think they have been in the ground too long. Will be interesting to see how the ones we planted this spring do.
And....we have a constant battle with the aphids and whitefly. The dill is not doing well as it has been attacked by both. The green house is constantly being infiltrated. I think we have it under control.
We have lettuce coming out of our ears.
Radish trees are just starting to dry out.
Pumpkin are finally starting to grow. There are two signs of fruit on the Sunshine plant.
Okra is coming up slowly.
Beans are sending out curly tentacles.
Spinach is all gone to seed, new batch started in the green house.

the spinach marathon

The Spinach was going to seed.
So thought to myself, I will pull it all out and use what little leaves are left to make some spinach dip.
Well, what "little" leaves that were left turned out to be quite a lot!
They overfilled my big pot.
So I made my spinach dip.
Then I used some in a stir fry last night.
I made an omelet with some this morning.
Nigel used some in his salad to take to work.
I still have a mountain of spinach in my fridge!

Sometimes things are not what they seem at first glance.

I have been thinking about this lately, Things not being what they seem, not spinach.

I am living in a small town at the moment. Everyone knows everyone and everyone knows everybodys business.

So when I meet someone new to me, I make my snap judgements, as you do. Well as I do.
That person is mean, or strange, or .....

Then I will inevitably hear something about their life. Not necessary gossip just a bit of history, since your history in this town is an open book.
 And I will think, oh that makes sense, guess I was a bit harsh. Maybe someday I will learn not to put people into boxes.

You never know from looking at someone where they have come from.

And you never know from looking at the spinach in your garden just how much will fit into a pot.






Wednesday, November 14, 2012

the news from the garden

Everything in me wants to start another blog dedicated to gardening. But since i already have three blogs I will carry on here. I mean technically i am still on a journey with  Serenity. Never mind that we have been parked up for quite some time! I have realized that instead of keeping a garden journal to look back on for planting and such things next year that I can blog about it! Photos and everything.
So here is some random news from the garden.
We are trying out Artichokes. Will see what happens. And Mustard Greens. This is our Alabama plot!
Peas and carrots love to be together on a plate and in the garden. When Nigel and I sow seed I always seem to sow twice as much. I guess Nigel has more faith in the seed than me.

Potatoes are away. Three stacks three high. Might have some ready for Christmas!

Our strawberries got aphids! I made a spray with water, dish soap, and veggie oil. Sprayed them each evening for three days and the aphids seem to be gone! Yeah! We also have some aphids on our lettuce patch. I have started spraying those with a garlic and hot pepper spray. I didnt like the idea of eating oily lettuce. It has only been two days so will have to see how that works.

The first Iris! We got these bulbs from a friend and weren't sure if they would bloom or not since we got them in the ground late and everyone else seems to have already bloomed. But here they come in all their glory!

the pods

radish pods I mentioned earlier that we have been letting our radishes go to seed. It has been so interesting to me.
They are such little plants and yet they have shot up 4 times their original size. And they have these dainty little pink blossoms waving in the wind up the top. I have been watching them daily wondering what they will do next. There had been no sign of any seeds. I thought maybe they would show up somewhere when the flowers fell off.
silverbeets gone wild and lettuce blossoms Little did I know!
Pods!
The radishes are forming little pods. Inside which will be the seeds.
Of course! What was I thinking.
I guess we wait until they dry up and then crack em open.

Watching our plants go to seed is a bit of a journey for me.

It is a slow process in this fast paced life of ours. It would be much more "efficient" to just buy some new seeds from the shop and plant them than to wait the months for these plants to produce their own.

Now beside the fact that buying the seeds from the shop is not the best long term. Dont get me started on seed companies!

There is something about the letting the plants go through their natural process.

The journey of planting a seed.
Watching it grow.
Enjoying the fruit from the plant.
Watching the plant grow some more.
Enjoying the beauty of the blossoms.
Watching the plant grow more.
Harvesting the seed.
Planting a new seed.
There is more sometimes in the slow journey.



Posted via Blogaway

the conclusion on toilet paper rolls in the garden

Things are growing around here. We are busy in the green house moving our heat loving plants into bigger pots as it it still too cold to put the outside. We are busy moving not so sensitive plants out of the green house and into the ground. We are busy in the gardens mulching and weeding and putting up things for our climbers to climb on.

I talked about in an earlier post that we were using egg cartons, newspaper pots and toilet paper rolls for our seedlings. I have come to the conclusions that TP rolls are out. I am not sure why but our seeds did not seem to do as well in them. They also dont seem to decompose very quickly in the soil. So after one short season of research this is our preferred method of starting seeds.
 The egg cartons are great for starting smaller seeds. They need to be kept moist. It seems that one of those pressure mister sprayer bottles works best. We tried a normal spray bottle and it took FOREVER. Once the seedlings get about this big you will notice their roots are starting to come through the bottom. Time to transfer to the newspaper pots.

The newspaper pots are great. I watch a you tube video to get the jist of it. Just don't use the glossy paper. Bad chemicals! They are good for planting bigger seeds like pumpkin and for moving small seedlings from the egg cartons into. When you plant them in to ground you can put the whole pot in but we have been carefully unfolding the paper and planting them without the pot. The paper seems a bit thick to me.
After the paper pots we have been moving some things into the ground into the green house, some things outside, and others into plastic pots. Whey need more room to grow but cant go outside yet, It seems a shame to use plastic now when we have avoided it thus far but I have yet to come up with a cheap alternative. Any ideas?!

Friday, October 26, 2012

the potato tires

We are trying to grow potatoes in tires this year.
The tire method seems good for a few reasons.
1. You dont have to dig around for your potatoes. They will all be in the tire.
2.You can harvest them one tire at a time.
3.The black tire keeps the soil nice and warm which means we were able to start our potatoes early.

You start out with one tire. Put your seed potato in it and cover it with soil. As the potato starts to show its green leaves you cover it with more soil adding more tires as needed.

We are stopping with three. We heard of a woman who went six high!

We also have some lettuce planted with the potatoes and some beans. The beans will give the soil some good nitrogen. The potatoes will give the lettuce some shade. And everyone's happy!

Posted via Blogaway


Posted via Blogaway

the radish trees

We are loving having a garden. This is the first time since we have been married that we have been in one place long enough to plant and watch grow and enjoy the fruits or vegetables of a garden!
Spring is slowly on its way and we are waiting a bit impaitently to get stuff into the groud. There is still a bit to keep us busy.
We have let some of our winter radishes go to seed. It is interesting. You dont usually see vegetables in their flower/seed form. I have yet to see the seeds, but the little pink flowers are pretty. And they are so tall! Little trees.
Nigel built us a pea wheel for the circle garden. I think it is going to look great once the peas start climbing.
 We have tried some mulch on the onions and carrots. After a bit of research we have decided to use dried pine needles from the paddock which have the added benefit of being laced with sheep poo. Nice right? And on top of this we have sprinkled coffee grounds which I collect from the cafe. I found a blog where this woman tried a bunch of different mulches. I might do some testing of my own!

Friday, September 28, 2012

the green little green house

Aprons are out and gardening is in at the moment. Okay who am I kidding I have been slack on the aprons for quite some time.
I have however been up to some new projects. Nigel made us a wonderful little green house. The frame was already here stuck under some trees. He found some thick plastic and got to work.
It is so great. We pretend it is our own little conservatory and have breakfast out there together when we are both home in the mornings.
I have been doing a bit of "green" reading the last couple years. I have been inspired by Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and No Impact Man and slightly freaked out by Plastic Free (I haven't yet finished this book, I got too scared!)
So with all that green info in my back pocket we are trying to grow veggies from seed and take care that we are thinking about what is going into them right from the start.
We found a place not far from us that sells heirloom seeds, and have been getting our seedlings ready in the greenhouse to go outside when the last hint of frost has passed.
Some cool ideas we have found out and put into practice are growing our seeds in egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, and making our own newspaper "pots" for the bigger ones.
It all seems so much nicer than starting our seeds in plastic pots that may or may or be leaching who knows what into the plant!
Also nicer for the plant since at planting time they can just pop straight into the soil in what ever paper pot they are in at the moment.
 PS I am aware of the irony of trying to have a plastic free garden in a plastic green house!














Wednesday, September 5, 2012

the bloomin tree

Someone said to me the other day. "Bloom where you're planted."

I thought oh yeah that is a nice little saying I have heard many times.
Cute little flower in a desert somewhere.

A few days later I got a new picture in my mind. 







This tree here is out the back of the cafe I work at. It is gorgeous.
It doesn't care that it is next to a rusty ol fence and that not very many people will see it. It just blooms anyways.  It blooms with everything its got.


So I guess its about giving your best even if you are situated next to an ol rusty fence.






Saturday, September 1, 2012

the kale

We got to enjoy some of the fruits....ah veggies....of our winter garden yesterday. Some very large radishes, cabbage and a colander full of kale. That kale grew all winter long and didnt really get too big, but it is enough for some veggie soup. That is Luna in the background wondering what I have done with her kale patch. I often found her sitting in the middle of it chomping on the kale, might be part of the reason it stayed so small! Our cute kale eating cat.

the caffeine

I have a problem with caffeine. The problem being that I dont usually have any, so when I do I am wired! I used to be an avid caffeine drinker. First Mountain Dew and then Diet Coke. For years I lived off my caffeine beverage of choice. I have been off it for about 5 years.
So this morning I popped a caffeine laden Excedrin to battle my headache. I now I am awake and out of bed at 7am. Partly due to the caffeine and partly due to jet-leg. I often wonder at the things I could accomplish in a day if I were to get up at such an early hour.
It is chilly in the mornings here in Woodville, NZ. A lovely 38F this morning. So first I put on my possum socks and wooly sweater and then put the jug on for a cup of hot tea. I made some Delicious Fig and Coconut Baked Oatmeal, see recipe below, got the quilt and computer and sat down to blog.
I thought blogging a better choice than waking my soundly sleeping husband up with my caffeine induced morning chatter.
So... 8am. No one up around here on a sunday morning except me and the birds. Even the cat has abandoned me for the cozy warm bed.
I will wait for the Oatmeal to bake, enjoy my cuppa and see what Catherine is up to. My first time reading Jane Austens Northanger Abbey.

Baked Oatmeal.....very loosely based on a weight watchers recipe. Feeds 4

1 1/2 C old fashioned oats
1/4C dried figs
1/4 C dried coconut
3T raw sugar
1t baking powder
1/2t cinnamon
pinch of salt

1/4 c plain yogurt
1/4 milk
2 small eggs (or one large)
1 T oil
1 t vanilla extract

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet in another then mix together. Pour into a greased baking dish 8x8. Bake 30 min at 350F or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool ten min then serve with some milk pour over top.

Monday, June 11, 2012

the smell of diesel

I am walking down the main street of Woodville and a big semi truck drives by. I get blasted in the face with a big whiff of diesel.
Ahhh I love that smell.

I will say it again.

I love the smell of diesel.

It reminds me of our bus travels.
Standing behind the bus trying to help Nigel navigate out of one tight spot or another.
We have been in quite a few tight spots in our journeys with Rainbow.

Once we lost speed up a hill and got stuck just at the top. We had to back all they way back down and then Nigel put the pedal to the metal and we made it over.

Once in Shawnee there was so much mud on the side of the road that our bus kept sinking deeper and deeper, we did not get out of that one with out calling a tow truck in!

I  love how smells can bring you back in time.

I find myself wondering what smells from this little season will bring me back.

Maybe the smell of our pot belly stove keeping us warm in the chilly weather.

Maybe the smell of sheep poo from the paddock next to us! Ha ha!


Sunday, March 4, 2012

the change of plans

Sometimes plans change.

We arrived in New Zealand the beginning of December for a two month visit.
Three months later and we are still here.

Here's the story.

Christmas Eve I said a little prayer. "Lord if it is in your plans for us to stay in New Zealand and look after Nigels Gran then I am willing. Please just let Nigel know as well."

I am not sure exactly where this prayer came from. It is something that we talk about from time to time and we were going to see Gran the next day. It is just one of those things I prayed out without thinking too much about it!

The next day we had a lovely Christmas picnic on the beach with Gran and Mum. On the drive back Nigel says to me,"I would really like to move back here for a bit and take care of my Gran. What do you think?"

I replied out loud with, "Um I think you really need to be sure about it."
I replied in my head with. "WHAT! We are supposed to be going back to the states! We are commited to a LOT of things! Did i really just pray this yesterday?!"

So a month and a half later and we decide that yes this is where we are supposed to be at the moment.

We are currently in Woodville, Nigels hometown. And by town I do mean town. We are still in our big green bus and are working on getting a place ready for Gran to move into.

We are missing our friends and family back in the USA but we know that this is where we are supposed to be for the next season.

Sometimes plans change.


the lemons

 I have been walking around Woodville for the last couple weeks.

Looking for a job, going to the library, getting a feel for my new home.



I noticed on my walks a yard that had two trees full of lemons. So full! Falling on the ground full.

The yard also had two very large dogs in it. Very large! Scary large.

I brought Nigel around to the house and we knocked on the door. We said we couldn't help but notice the beautiful lemon trees and were wondering if we could get a few bags of lemons.
"Sure!" they said, "Thanks for asking, help yourself."
We gathered two large bags of lemons and I spent the week dealing with them.

Lemon curd.
Lemon cordial.
Lemon poppy seed muffins.
Lemon curd muffins.
Lemon poppy seed and curd muffins.
Lemon bars.
Lemon ginger slice.
Lemon juice.
Lemon and ginger juice.

I froze it all.

This has been the first time in years that I have been able to stock up in the freezer and know that I will be there in a few months to eat it all!
It is very exciting for me.


I might be going overboard on the lemons.