tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19421207634086256152024-03-14T00:24:43.590+13:00The Life Sentence BlockTrying to live the self-sufficient lifestyle.Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-28342287687673854462023-03-22T11:08:00.001+13:002023-03-22T11:08:30.220+13:00Returning to the Tunnel House<p>This year I thought I'd try to repeat and build on the success of last year's vege garden. I did want to include the tunnel house. It was something we've discussed over and over. Ideas, disagreements and all sorts of plans have been made and discarded. I decided to just do what I wanted, sometimes, it's better to ask forgiveness rather than permission.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOMVXjtoetmuAfCQ5a8kVT0GU9iQBMDrel2M7CCgPI19sRiSpWp2cmQaWxDxdpTyOYQ2ccT4X5ReRLms4OX4BfYBu145qMPkXpgvklZpMbzrJxP9WPEebwfhEVnnlInyK20oSe4V5e3nfUmbIclq5Mtl5jEROnfvfCsjAvT5zoqjPGNEz5sUVQAnmxg/s1920/received_798182988078867.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="939" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOMVXjtoetmuAfCQ5a8kVT0GU9iQBMDrel2M7CCgPI19sRiSpWp2cmQaWxDxdpTyOYQ2ccT4X5ReRLms4OX4BfYBu145qMPkXpgvklZpMbzrJxP9WPEebwfhEVnnlInyK20oSe4V5e3nfUmbIclq5Mtl5jEROnfvfCsjAvT5zoqjPGNEz5sUVQAnmxg/s320/received_798182988078867.jpeg" width="157" /></a></div><br /><p>I cut open the back of the tunnel house, partly to make it a natural extension of the vege garden and because I couldn't be bothered walking around to the door through all the long grass. I know myself well enough to know that it's something that I'd avoid doing and everything I tried to do in there would fail because I don't like slogging my way around to the door. To be fair, the tunnel house is a bit broken anyway. The nasty wind storm a few years ago blew the plastic sheet off the netting, weather has taken some of the plastic sheeting off the roof. The roof support structure was badly made and needs some work. And there were two plum trees growing in there. There is also the family of blackbirds that return every year to nest in a hole in the wall where a speaker used to be.</p><p>A few years ago, I put some chooks in there. They were some end of lays and injured birds from the egg farm I worked in. It was a good, gentle place to get them used to being out of a cage and learning how to free range. Until a family of ferrets visited.</p><p>The soil in there had originally been a mix of a bought bio-blend, pig manure and our crappy sour grey soil. After the chooks, it was a strange pale brown, with sawdust and rat droppings. A while back, Dad thought he'd help us out sieving the soil. Until I looked at the stones he was sieving out with his bare hands and pointed out that it was at least half rat poo. The stones that were in there originally were similar size.</p><p>I spent many hours weeding the end where I'd cut the door then sieving the soil to put into the tyres. I put the stones around to form a path and hopefully keep the weeds down.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGmbgpc1uu6MzESqoSBwEo_BBxhfIZGrU185XOQxqC2ULAY7wyqkbfqPrUNVV3JtWmxt4YbX8LAKiv3vLEZp_8IBZKvCuI_zQuIjo0aAHVRy3oY2XShdow1wGdSc7XGOUk_Zv6NH1VkhVESqj-DQySLE9ntHWM5cO_myxmTxJcqlN3A-NKfELZbfTeg/s4080/20221129_151238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGmbgpc1uu6MzESqoSBwEo_BBxhfIZGrU185XOQxqC2ULAY7wyqkbfqPrUNVV3JtWmxt4YbX8LAKiv3vLEZp_8IBZKvCuI_zQuIjo0aAHVRy3oY2XShdow1wGdSc7XGOUk_Zv6NH1VkhVESqj-DQySLE9ntHWM5cO_myxmTxJcqlN3A-NKfELZbfTeg/s320/20221129_151238.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIutxH37Ku-YzNjTJHRRTuLHJclltPi0dd3Qarp0AI6Uoqy_0E-x3u_zTFEY353Cb3IqcsqfHLsUVFDqjnLcSBtZDKMsubkH4NiG4YMS1QUQ1vYy-UO252RPNhzOf4c2Z3nN1zXeKxNtbv85n01Z8JxAdpbo2ApWVdrJCaf61J5R-cJ0t6JAvEITHTaA/s4080/20230321_114745.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIutxH37Ku-YzNjTJHRRTuLHJclltPi0dd3Qarp0AI6Uoqy_0E-x3u_zTFEY353Cb3IqcsqfHLsUVFDqjnLcSBtZDKMsubkH4NiG4YMS1QUQ1vYy-UO252RPNhzOf4c2Z3nN1zXeKxNtbv85n01Z8JxAdpbo2ApWVdrJCaf61J5R-cJ0t6JAvEITHTaA/s320/20230321_114745.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I planted as I filled the tyres. Cucumbers, rock melon, tomatoes, capsicums and chillies. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELMub-wB3UPhKen7y09LTxpK_2LhJPCmY1LxPQyiCxUVQXWCfwDQcS4tj1vTZEOpfv51TyCeankqRUOVXmsxAZ62zSN7zS9YZQAT2SB9oNwkt57WG3VdVF2Cu7VpRHhH0YjlJBUCStzwcuYDNH5N8i08ACZ-Z1bpPE0aNkTDFXr-hy22d7jkaR9Op-A/s4080/20230321_114738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELMub-wB3UPhKen7y09LTxpK_2LhJPCmY1LxPQyiCxUVQXWCfwDQcS4tj1vTZEOpfv51TyCeankqRUOVXmsxAZ62zSN7zS9YZQAT2SB9oNwkt57WG3VdVF2Cu7VpRHhH0YjlJBUCStzwcuYDNH5N8i08ACZ-Z1bpPE0aNkTDFXr-hy22d7jkaR9Op-A/s320/20230321_114738.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I've spent so much time in there, the garden hasn't gotten much attention and is still mostly a jungle of waist high grass and thistle. The down side to doing so much work on the soil is that the weeds grow very well too when not constantly being removed.</p><p>Even half done, the tunnel house has been a triumph so far. I've grown the best green cucumbers I've ever tasted, my tomatoes are starting to ripen and I've grown the biggest capsicums I've ever managed. They're still green, my research says that if I want sweet red ones, I need to wait until they turn red on the plant before I pick them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzwPX4OtkwjdXHjd1ByjttZzAHH40Vnkqp1FxNjUSrzxv5XdfhXyCYdWm9NpTa7pyi_SQyVyRTVGk1XUOV0GYpbGJ00lTmE4d-GKAogbNC-hXd72kAjlMtgTMEBNCQZM531eGUn1xuGEyAzM7vsbyREGMOLKcnZ3dxOJljbCP8sJSKVYTLT2L3zXhcQ/s4080/20230322_105142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzwPX4OtkwjdXHjd1ByjttZzAHH40Vnkqp1FxNjUSrzxv5XdfhXyCYdWm9NpTa7pyi_SQyVyRTVGk1XUOV0GYpbGJ00lTmE4d-GKAogbNC-hXd72kAjlMtgTMEBNCQZM531eGUn1xuGEyAzM7vsbyREGMOLKcnZ3dxOJljbCP8sJSKVYTLT2L3zXhcQ/s320/20230322_105142.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div>I live in the hope that I'll keep working on the garden around the tunnel house and gradually get it back.</div>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-84741738435598994462023-03-21T12:07:00.000+13:002023-03-21T12:07:34.291+13:00Growing Tomato Plants From Lateral CuttingsYears ago, someone told me to put my laterals into soil. Just pinch them off as you do and put them directly into the soil and they'll grow. I tried it and while I got some small plants, life happened and I didn't look after them very well. <div><br /></div><div>Every year I try to do it, but never really pay enough attention to them. I'm quite terrible really, I start off with the best of intentions and lose my motivation to do more than water them and pick the tomatoes. I think there's also a fear of doing something wrong, I never trust myself to actually know what I'm doing.</div><div><br /></div><div>This year, I decided to really go hard on the tomatoes. I wanted to grow a lot of tomatoes and determined to look after them properly. The best place to do this is in the tunnel house.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a fair bit of work, taming the tunnel house, I planted out my tomatoes. They are all in tyres, filled with a mix of sieved soil, chicken manure and tomato mix. With some lawn clippings and sawdust as mulch on top to keep the moisture in and the weeds down.</div><div><br /></div><div>I gradually bought tomatoes and planted them out as I cleared and filled each tyre. I have Brandywine Pink, Black Krim, Russian Reds and my all time preference, Beefsteaks. There are also two varieties of cucumbers, a rock melon, an eggplant, two chillies and several red capsicums.</div><div><br /></div><div>They mostly have strings from the roof to grow up and each day as I water, I've been true to my intentions. I give them a twist on the string, I pick off laterals and make sure the roots are still covered. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmc8w_kGQJCD9iCae9YNzKZPNPflGUvdxu5ytwRE8rFF2FUNfHdj-r7SVHdzwaMJYFxma9XRYcmAqcby-TG1FYx_jWP-BqXKaqkYIpzvjQo1X6XUw7yPcFZsdU5qZBL1cv0h-OscGBpQ3PddBHumDSE9K7uPyCKotqdYR-OO3ytR_ct_3lC7RvdNSuw/s4080/20230321_114738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmc8w_kGQJCD9iCae9YNzKZPNPflGUvdxu5ytwRE8rFF2FUNfHdj-r7SVHdzwaMJYFxma9XRYcmAqcby-TG1FYx_jWP-BqXKaqkYIpzvjQo1X6XUw7yPcFZsdU5qZBL1cv0h-OscGBpQ3PddBHumDSE9K7uPyCKotqdYR-OO3ytR_ct_3lC7RvdNSuw/s320/20230321_114738.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>One of the capsicum plants got broken off (or eaten by something) just above the two first leaves that each plant gets. It's still alive, it just hasn't done anything more. So I stuck a lateral I'd just pinched off into that tyre.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been hearing from people with all the urban wisdom that laterals might grow but they don't fruit. This one is now six foot tall and bearing fruit.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkBFJoeZQLqshNfJsPiX-7mpqx196_CYVznv7zYLEypcujqXtBUZSTmJKDrWcZbE_3fl5cWOh29Prx1OiKAO9HCrFQ5A00K4ZT6UOpNK73ZVLNuXxTR763BVOoGkQYxrgFaHytjzEQkmjnS2dAgOb1T0xhXGSdQszgCBb3_BHLjVt8pVzpnFgYctb9g/s4080/20230321_114707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkBFJoeZQLqshNfJsPiX-7mpqx196_CYVznv7zYLEypcujqXtBUZSTmJKDrWcZbE_3fl5cWOh29Prx1OiKAO9HCrFQ5A00K4ZT6UOpNK73ZVLNuXxTR763BVOoGkQYxrgFaHytjzEQkmjnS2dAgOb1T0xhXGSdQszgCBb3_BHLjVt8pVzpnFgYctb9g/s320/20230321_114707.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So now, I have pots for my healthy laterals to go into. They are almost all rooting well and several have flowered and are now growing small green tomatoes.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1BCiGolHm5AUX9bLDORCm_DPW9RSCe2sRA85XGMRZjJfKGYxg6QmMp_uE5WNOqUtD6uMp6V5WSJq5G-AMufZ-Sl6wEBYGVCqYv3SPmWag7vWlLAsf-9QTtJZeeb4Wan83l-GILPy9gCYnVYIQQl_rR48GKaIOxdJq-UNN2lqFHMMMV0tZzZRwGTqtA/s4080/20230321_114726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1BCiGolHm5AUX9bLDORCm_DPW9RSCe2sRA85XGMRZjJfKGYxg6QmMp_uE5WNOqUtD6uMp6V5WSJq5G-AMufZ-Sl6wEBYGVCqYv3SPmWag7vWlLAsf-9QTtJZeeb4Wan83l-GILPy9gCYnVYIQQl_rR48GKaIOxdJq-UNN2lqFHMMMV0tZzZRwGTqtA/s320/20230321_114726.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My plan is to see if I can keep the tunnel house growing tomatoes throughout winter. If I can have a year round supply, it will save a lot of money - we eat a lot of tomatoes. </div>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-61706113681441035102022-06-05T15:11:00.001+12:002022-08-05T19:23:25.844+12:00Yarn From Dog Hair <!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-1TMD0P3P9Y"></script>
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
gtag('js', new Date());
gtag('config', 'G-1TMD0P3P9Y');
</script>
<p> Just over a year ago, I was at a festival with some friends. Over a few drinks and amidst stories about keeping turkeys and peacock impersonations, one friend mentioned that when she brushes her Samoyed dog she gets enough hair off him to make another dog. </p><p>There were a few laughs and the suggestion of spinning it.</p><p>I had mostly relegated that entire conversation into a 'fun times with friends' file and forgotten about it. </p><p>Then in February, the friend I travelled to this festival with passed away. It was devastating for me. Totally unexpected and I was lost.</p><p>A parcel arrived on my doorstep from the friend who has the dog. It contained a lot of lovely white fibre. It was fine, soft and strong. I'd forgotten about our conversation and it was a bit painful to poke at the memories so it took me a few guesses before I realised what I had. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQhvZnNSrR2lmzIeJ0dFjxbavNzd6W3AmHLOpzEUECbe0Q_M6-Xtuj0BqxnSmjXzy3RNN-pDmFbZtp3_mrN7UNiQPtIZs08hcN5Hd0ZOsWvhNWPEyxDGz0lSUlNPrYfcHR4UY-wZ5STD8ng_6ti-XRoj52owgWJbm6L8AQrf26Mgc_-Z2BDttsUTf8w/s4128/20220310_092202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQhvZnNSrR2lmzIeJ0dFjxbavNzd6W3AmHLOpzEUECbe0Q_M6-Xtuj0BqxnSmjXzy3RNN-pDmFbZtp3_mrN7UNiQPtIZs08hcN5Hd0ZOsWvhNWPEyxDGz0lSUlNPrYfcHR4UY-wZ5STD8ng_6ti-XRoj52owgWJbm6L8AQrf26Mgc_-Z2BDttsUTf8w/s320/20220310_092202.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Hubby was disgusted at first. He couldn't understand why someone would send me dog hair. But it made me laugh. It lightened my days and gave me something fun to do. </p><p>I started spinning. At first it was lovely and clean, it spun a beautiful fine thread easily. Then as I got down through the bag, I reached the stuff with lots of dander.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKl8MOLfZ4K1tspiZx6nzsH-VGrp2NKjJmv0HhxN5gC950-LB9lhpUNIOHpn7wS0nFzyeWu7BOhPk60moD4QaYJ4g-CUcgTvMppIWFUR_Wvg6vvNruUmqDXznD_S_PsA1CnT3h6qeoYXPzvVW7Wc202RqZrtdD1DaF3UQhYYBbxTleEZaD2YXYP9pykQ/s4128/20220310_092218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKl8MOLfZ4K1tspiZx6nzsH-VGrp2NKjJmv0HhxN5gC950-LB9lhpUNIOHpn7wS0nFzyeWu7BOhPk60moD4QaYJ4g-CUcgTvMppIWFUR_Wvg6vvNruUmqDXznD_S_PsA1CnT3h6qeoYXPzvVW7Wc202RqZrtdD1DaF3UQhYYBbxTleEZaD2YXYP9pykQ/s320/20220310_092218.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>By the time I finished, I was needing to stop every 10 minutes to wash my hands and blow my nose. I had a pile of doggy dandruff an inch deep beneath my spinning wheel. </p><p>I did a lot of thinking while I was spinning. This tends to happen anyway. I wondered why yarn is always assumed to be sheep's wool, or lately alpaca or possum. Why aren't other fibres considered? I'm guessing it's mostly tradition. </p><p>The yarn was plyed and washed. What am I going to do with this? I wanted to make something for the friend who'd given it to me and finally settled on gumboot socks. She's a dairy farmer and I'm sure good, warm gumboot socks would always be welcome. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnxH699-YTihLloLvnlTPKszgdULmrWVaq8VWz2-Vvd6NajuTxQ3H3KNGazFXT5Di77g-XXFveSnbFVvErISLyL5MyXxQF06w2U3s6IpkgG_TpGHSbl0_gOcx3G3E-7pRHxeO8QaGM7t7OTXb-T1U4VZGS9SCT7U-5TfNtsUo4ZCzq4C3vhrvLqpMVA/s4128/20220603_083045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnxH699-YTihLloLvnlTPKszgdULmrWVaq8VWz2-Vvd6NajuTxQ3H3KNGazFXT5Di77g-XXFveSnbFVvErISLyL5MyXxQF06w2U3s6IpkgG_TpGHSbl0_gOcx3G3E-7pRHxeO8QaGM7t7OTXb-T1U4VZGS9SCT7U-5TfNtsUo4ZCzq4C3vhrvLqpMVA/s320/20220603_083045.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I worked on them while I was at the market. They made a great conversation starter, especially when crafters are comparing notes about some of the strange and wonderful things they've made. They knitted up so nicely, I'm currently working on a pair for myself and considering some mitts too. </p><p>The knitted yarn feels so soft and warm that I'm excited to get mine finished. </p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-493068908070307022022-06-05T12:38:00.002+12:002022-08-05T19:23:55.418+12:00Getting Fruit on Fruit Trees <!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-1TMD0P3P9Y"></script>
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
gtag('js', new Date());
gtag('config', 'G-1TMD0P3P9Y');
</script>
<p> I've got several fruit trees that had never produced fruit. </p><p>Well, that's not entirely true. Our first Summer and Autumn there were apricots on the tree. One of the cats would climb the tree and play with the apricots like those dangly cat toys until he knocked them off and then the dog would carefully place them between his front paws and lick them down to the stone. All before they came ripe.</p><p>We didn't get any more fruit for the next six or seven years. </p><p>There were lots of theories and wisdom offered as to why.</p><p>So one year, as I pruned it, I told the tree it was its last chance. If I didn't get any fruit next season, I'd be cutting it down. </p><p>Next season and each season since, there have been plenty of apricots. </p><p>So I tried the same thing on my feijoa trees this year. I've never had fruit on them in the eleven years we've been here. </p><p>Until now.</p><p>It's very late in the season, and I'd given up on seeing anything on them a couple of months ago. </p><p>Hubby and I were going past them on our way to ready the borrowed ram to go back home. As we were walking past the feijoas, Hubby said "what's that?" Pointing to a large feijoa on the ground. </p><p>Looking up at the tree, we saw lots more in various sizes. On both trees.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXKy1Y4ycVQ7LWuENGFFrkFXoyQ2bFE0W6XVU2GwE5ZRQzWoqnFW_9NyqzWWJKFAvirVk_Mo6eLoxYJuRL04OS__G1OmmtHjOfdms4sCzHYhgwLKbKDtDA6VB4W9DuSAvLV7aHRKcCL2FyRa7bexU_uuZvRjUX1fWeuYiiEviRnERWSEVFlY4KpZDqg/s4128/20220605_112650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXKy1Y4ycVQ7LWuENGFFrkFXoyQ2bFE0W6XVU2GwE5ZRQzWoqnFW_9NyqzWWJKFAvirVk_Mo6eLoxYJuRL04OS__G1OmmtHjOfdms4sCzHYhgwLKbKDtDA6VB4W9DuSAvLV7aHRKcCL2FyRa7bexU_uuZvRjUX1fWeuYiiEviRnERWSEVFlY4KpZDqg/s320/20220605_112650.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Aew9yIfeAxKimBeurHrgau5h8WjIY8L3ctTde1B4b90qrnzRdlfB1DYFlP0OZFjeyQe2aUAhIy3lSE2Sz_S1MrYhRkbXDu_9zi2RYELfJKDFMu6vNVezS2obukcqo-8YiNpfpWsYEGQkf-QwlJ59bU5ycQOCS2_Ri5Irx1vIefKErJJhhwBgh5IVDg/s4128/20220605_112703.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Aew9yIfeAxKimBeurHrgau5h8WjIY8L3ctTde1B4b90qrnzRdlfB1DYFlP0OZFjeyQe2aUAhIy3lSE2Sz_S1MrYhRkbXDu_9zi2RYELfJKDFMu6vNVezS2obukcqo-8YiNpfpWsYEGQkf-QwlJ59bU5ycQOCS2_Ri5Irx1vIefKErJJhhwBgh5IVDg/s320/20220605_112703.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>There's certainly something to be said for threatening fruit trees. </p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-41791372804027088072022-03-22T11:47:00.001+13:002022-08-05T19:24:19.356+12:00Zucchini Flour <!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-1TMD0P3P9Y"></script>
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
gtag('js', new Date());
gtag('config', 'G-1TMD0P3P9Y');
</script>
<p> There's been a post doing the rounds detailing how to make and use zucchini flour. </p><p>It says that it can be used to replace up to 1/3 of wheat flour in any recipe without any noticeable changes to taste or texture. It also recommends zucchini flour as a gravy thickener. </p><p>It's easy. Cut a zucchini or a marrow is better, into thin strips. Dry it thoroughly, overdry is better than under. Run it through a food processor until finely ground and voila, zucchini flour.</p><p>Since I had found two large marrows and already had plenty grated in the freezer, I thought I'd give it a go. There is also the war in Ukraine and the unusual weather here and in Australia affecting crops. Maybe it would be a useful backup to have.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmJoiuF3a1Q9WQewSzda7g5PimZ9qJHF-OR9uDuJysBUooo5VvB0yGqWqqGFyb61dptw43V-UNhDSDllhkYCp7vWFh__QaFa9IvHRhxeOeXKNnjrlPGzCDJt97EDAvKzvdixzyAFeOOiCbdUldYQdeM-c83HnZY3RXoUDzn5chc0v0fVlNxFQTM0ZgWQ=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmJoiuF3a1Q9WQewSzda7g5PimZ9qJHF-OR9uDuJysBUooo5VvB0yGqWqqGFyb61dptw43V-UNhDSDllhkYCp7vWFh__QaFa9IvHRhxeOeXKNnjrlPGzCDJt97EDAvKzvdixzyAFeOOiCbdUldYQdeM-c83HnZY3RXoUDzn5chc0v0fVlNxFQTM0ZgWQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I used a potato peeler to cut my strips and it still took three days to get two whole marrows dried. </p><p>I ran them through the food processor until I had a faintly green tinged dust rising from every little hole and opening in the bowl. </p><p>I poured it through a sieve and the coarse stuff went back into the food processor. It wasn't enough, so I ground it in my mortar and pestle. </p><p>A day of grinding and sieving and grinding some more. Of cleaning the dust from under my fingernails. Of redrying the powder in case it was still a little damp.</p><p>I have finished with maybe one cup of zucchini flour. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg43ckvy8KYLIq3oTNmI-iU0PQLo3ATu5O4kQHu3J1p9dbH6EpmHdsWsRk7aC4nSCDPPcRfmDj-OLqK3wKVG9WKbFYSygaN2ZZBjuouQdezYjtoj9ObqgRwwV28JLKMowX9mv89x32ZM3lztMvKykeXXZeIzhu0Z-HF9-5kIZQ1W6kJjOp6jXs2aDRgWA=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg43ckvy8KYLIq3oTNmI-iU0PQLo3ATu5O4kQHu3J1p9dbH6EpmHdsWsRk7aC4nSCDPPcRfmDj-OLqK3wKVG9WKbFYSygaN2ZZBjuouQdezYjtoj9ObqgRwwV28JLKMowX9mv89x32ZM3lztMvKykeXXZeIzhu0Z-HF9-5kIZQ1W6kJjOp6jXs2aDRgWA=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I'm not convinced it was worth it. I don't use wheat flour much anyway. </p><p>I tried a recipe for marrow soup today that was delicious. I think it will be a better use for my marrows.</p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-55975630560845006122022-03-20T17:19:00.004+13:002022-08-05T19:25:06.205+12:00Black Grapes<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-1TMD0P3P9Y"></script>
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
gtag('js', new Date());
gtag('config', 'G-1TMD0P3P9Y');
</script>
<p> For the last few years, I haven't gotten any grapes. They were growing just fine, quite abundantly in fact, however, the birds were eating them all before they'd even showed signs of ripening.</p><p>So last year, I decided to put up some bird netting. It was quite the mission to net over and under the grapevines growing over the arch.</p><p>We spent several months watching the grapes grow and ripen. It was quite impressive just how many there were and the sizes the bunches were growing to. The odd thrush managed to make it's way inside the nets and usually had to be helped back out.</p><p>Miss Fifteen and I picked a bucketful and barely touched the grapes that were there. </p><p>I washed and weighed some trying to decide how much would be <a href="https://lifesentenceblock.blogspot.com/2017/04/black-grape-wine.html" target="_blank">Black Grape Wine</a>. The thing is, the huge volume of wine I made four years ago has barely been touched. I've used it more for cooking than I have for drinking. More of it has been gifts. I didn't want to make a heap that would just end up getting dusty in my wine rack.</p><p>So I used 6kg of grapes and made about 16 litres of wine.</p><p>That left about 6kg of grapes still from the first picking. I didn't want to waste them, so I decided to make raisins. I've done this previously as an experiment. Unfortunately, since my grapes aren't seedless, this is quite a labour intensive process. I cut each grape open and remove the seeds before putting them into the dehydrator. </p><p>So approximately 12kg of grapes has become 16l of wine and a 1.5l jar of raisins. I still had at least four times the amount of grapes still on the vine.</p><p>Hubby suggested Grape juice. I went Googling and found a recipe. It started very similar to starting wine. Wash and mash grapes but then it said to boil them vigorously for about 20 mins. Add sugar to taste and strain gently overnight. It said that it didn't keep for too long and wasn't particularly nice if frozen.</p><p>I was talking to a friend before I had the opportunity to try it. He told me his grandfather used to make the most amazing grape juice but he never boiled his. It was a very long slow process and would keep for years.</p><p>I decided to try it. I washed the grapes and filled my stock pot. No water added except for where the grapes may have still been wet from washing. I turned my pot on very low and watched as the grapes gradually reduced to pulp, seeds and juice. I kept it going for hours and gently strained the juice out. When I say gently strained, I mean that there was no squeezing or pressure. I would put a few cupfuls into my muslin lined sieve and let it strain until it stopped dripping. I would then return the pulp to the pot and do it again until there was no more liquid in my pot.</p><p>An 8 litre stock pot filled with fresh grapes became 1.5l of grape juice. It's a little thick and syrupy but not unpleasantly so. It didn't need any sugar added, it tastes wonderful as it is.</p><p>I looked at the colour in the pulp and wondered if I could still use it. I know that it's the skins that give wine it's colour, so out of curiosity, I refilled my pot with water and the leftover pulp and heated it gently in much the same process.</p><p>It has come out just as dark as the grape juice, so we'll see how it goes as a dye.</p><p><b>Grape Juice</b></p><p>Washed grapes</p><p>Place the grapes in a large pot and heat very gently. They will reduce by about half.</p><p>Strain without squeezing, sweeten if needed and bottle.</p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-6733418579212556392022-02-27T08:47:00.008+13:002022-08-05T19:46:31.661+12:00Elderberry Lozenges<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-1TMD0P3P9Y"></script>
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
gtag('js', new Date());
gtag('config', 'G-1TMD0P3P9Y');
</script>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Elderberry Lozenges</h3>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">1.5 litres of water<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">Approximately 1.5kg elderberries<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">3 C sugar<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">1 tsp cream of tartar<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">1 tsp butter<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">1 tsp lemon juice<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">Combine water and berries in a large
saucepan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring to the boil. Reduce heat
and simmer for 30 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remove from
heat, cover and let stand for approximately 30 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">Strain, discarding berries and reserving
the liquid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">Combine liquid, sugar and cream of
tartar in a medium saucepan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly
bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook, without stirring until
mixture reaches 104</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">˚</span><span lang="EN-NZ">C (220</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">˚</span><span lang="EN-NZ">F).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add butter, do not stir.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">Continue cooking without stirring, until
mixture reaches hard crack stage (150</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">˚</span><span lang="EN-NZ">C - 300</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">˚</span><span lang="EN-NZ">F).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">Add lemon juice (do not stir) and gently
shake the pan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">Pour syrup into buttered dish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allow to cool a little, until you can pinch
off a piece without it being too sticky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Roll into balls or spoon into moulds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cool until firm and wrap.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">The original recipe said to mark in 1”
squares and cut or break when completely cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I tried this the first time and ended up with a solid glass-like mass
that would not break apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had spent
about an hour running the knife through to mark the squares and then couldn’t
lift them out of the dish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to
reheat the entire batch and try again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is why I shape them into balls (which generally flatten) or pour
into moulds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">If kept in the fridge, the lozenges do
stick together a bit, but are easily pulled apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If stored in the pantry, they gradually meld
together into a jar shaped mega-lozenge. I still have two jars of horehound
candy waiting for me to reheat and reshape them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">I wrapped the most recent batch in
gladwrap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made it a long and
painstaking process, but they are magic for a sore throat so I feel it was
worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">Any herb you may be wanting to use can be substituted in for elderberries. </span></p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-87376964028280127152022-02-27T08:44:00.003+13:002022-02-27T09:05:46.656+13:00February Foragings<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">I had promised myself I would be doing
plenty with my usual foraging fare this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Three times I made it around the farm picking plums, blackberries and
elderberries before the rain hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first two times, I was able to wash, weigh and bag the berries and put them in
the fridge to wait for a bigger volume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> After I'd made eight jars of plum jam. </span>The third time I had to throw it all away, I had just started to take
the elderberries off the stalks when I got the news about my friend and wasn’t
able to come back to them for over a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-pUFZssbY8Kp7XErHCVOW3Nw_CK2vUnBPAr2c72GYXO3mNUmNh3NlAOdMjydO3he2hV8GQO3HgO2PxGgAf8E1qtM1yFHm_KvJlhlzY2A_EdAvUdA1iRtNQGFsZfRDoxEnLh79EU6Z_20MWtO0SydPoSMQUuC4FHJIqKcokKZgumirZQi0lyPqR2noSw=s4128" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-pUFZssbY8Kp7XErHCVOW3Nw_CK2vUnBPAr2c72GYXO3mNUmNh3NlAOdMjydO3he2hV8GQO3HgO2PxGgAf8E1qtM1yFHm_KvJlhlzY2A_EdAvUdA1iRtNQGFsZfRDoxEnLh79EU6Z_20MWtO0SydPoSMQUuC4FHJIqKcokKZgumirZQi0lyPqR2noSw=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">Last weekend, I went for a big forage,
hoping that I hadn’t missed too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because of all the rain, the creek is still running, which is pretty
much unheard of in February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I went out
with Hubby’s waders on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t wearing
a belt to hook the side straps up to, but I thought since they reached mid-thigh, I should be right.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">The blackberry pick was impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In two hours, splashing through the creek to
reach them, I picked nearly 3kg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I only stopped when I misjudged a deep part of the creek and filled up
one wader.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizy_6iwV1Iszf2cRL--ew7h-3ksZaiZtolsamQe7t7raalGppArrKwZOreoO2i7uLxd09K2f-BQUV60_48DL8Qw_s9Z8ztqzAi7E2wwrC3MeKHlEDZ94nNqsF-lQtVM7HhnXE9DZbJBzH-lmWNhUUrCv-gf7qVP8qL2U2vznHgxtuRAv6mtuhov1-4Ig=s4128" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizy_6iwV1Iszf2cRL--ew7h-3ksZaiZtolsamQe7t7raalGppArrKwZOreoO2i7uLxd09K2f-BQUV60_48DL8Qw_s9Z8ztqzAi7E2wwrC3MeKHlEDZ94nNqsF-lQtVM7HhnXE9DZbJBzH-lmWNhUUrCv-gf7qVP8qL2U2vznHgxtuRAv6mtuhov1-4Ig=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">I’d already filled a bucket with
elderberries from three young trees that have turned up on the fence line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are more berries than leaves on two of
them, and the majority are still not quite ripe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFLsO4pmZQT54rZ1rtKBraeue3eFt7rfhlqZ9LrF7SC_6wp4JWfUmS6HWpi1JSWBb5aP7jyr2hAQvuqdxoIGF_cOgt6SFnvLYZ78c-ptH5muaslkLcgXLbTpOrs9lDW1sXH5WYHXzKz8HYLaZrfNcb5ymCNFQX7KGdx-7FA7YMhVEOmwq4Sma2QD_RwA=s4128" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFLsO4pmZQT54rZ1rtKBraeue3eFt7rfhlqZ9LrF7SC_6wp4JWfUmS6HWpi1JSWBb5aP7jyr2hAQvuqdxoIGF_cOgt6SFnvLYZ78c-ptH5muaslkLcgXLbTpOrs9lDW1sXH5WYHXzKz8HYLaZrfNcb5ymCNFQX7KGdx-7FA7YMhVEOmwq4Sma2QD_RwA=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">I spent a morning sorting, washing and
stripping the berries. 3kg of blackberries has turned into something partway
between jam and jelly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used a jam
recipe but ran it through the mouli to remove all the seeds. It’s not set as
well as I would like, but it’s set enough and there are 10 jars of blackberry
jam in the pantry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">I spent a day adapting a horehound candy
recipe to make <a href="https://lifesentenceblock.blogspot.com/2022/02/elderberry-lozenges.html?m=1" target="_blank">elderberry lozenges</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
haven’t quite set as well as I’d like, but I wrapped them and keep them in the
fridge so they’ll do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">I’ve started a batch of <a href="http://lifesentenceblock.blogspot.com/2013/03/elderberries.html?m=1" target="_blank">elderberry wine</a>,
with whatever blackberries I had leftover in too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been making elderberry wine for eleven
years now, I’m sure this is the first one that started bubbling almost as soon
as I put the bubbler into the barrel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">All the summer rain has made the
<a href="https://lifesentenceblock.blogspot.com/2014/03/field-mushrooms.html?m=1" target="_blank">mushrooms</a> grow well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that I can
find them easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the last few
years of drought, I made the decision that we had too many animals and the
paddocks needed some resting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m now
down to two cows (from five last year) and ten adult sheep (it was more than twenty). With all the rain, the paddocks I’m resting are growing like I’ve never
seen before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost have too much
feed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's more good luck than
anything else spotting field mushrooms in knee-high grass.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt-DjQjBFEVwk_V2fWhGPQhLwX7QVTj9RLhbadrAzdZFO0UZEpipX8Zr-NqYsQqk9zLhB1L6nNbEsivJhvMS-lpS5IVGZfbI8oV1Sr3CZDWR5a6zm9h1Iren07ueV9shMFzyOs5OgpaSRjGnP0wkMB7L4Zr8Q9ruOi38gBeLkmAAW1WqHwLGRfyXkuXA=s4128" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt-DjQjBFEVwk_V2fWhGPQhLwX7QVTj9RLhbadrAzdZFO0UZEpipX8Zr-NqYsQqk9zLhB1L6nNbEsivJhvMS-lpS5IVGZfbI8oV1Sr3CZDWR5a6zm9h1Iren07ueV9shMFzyOs5OgpaSRjGnP0wkMB7L4Zr8Q9ruOi38gBeLkmAAW1WqHwLGRfyXkuXA=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">However, the stocks of frozen fried
mushrooms are being replenished.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">So while it feels like the rest of the
world has gone mad with a pandemic, protests and potential war in Europe, I
feel like my little corner of the world is doing ok.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-4317622702173610412022-02-26T13:49:00.003+13:002022-02-26T13:49:22.490+13:00Late February in My Vege Garden<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ">After a fairly hellish month, my vege
garden is a jungle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two weeks of heavy
rain, one tropical cyclone, the unexpected passing of my closest friend, a
covid scare with isolation and my garden is a place best described as survival
of the fittest.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht1p8pZHExUJREaPihCyfBbtyjAoMiT-ZuUpyN7E9yru8lzZ7ucVdKfA0JMj7ok9LM8JUYzxeBR5go1hEKfy8P3jmP179QlAF3oEXh6bGvl0-muo6ISTFCFaC6jqxYNUBfYZYworhiiDR_H8ZJUTEakHAdy9RpAZFHUhM-GQ7rjvlPwdu6y8mRQJn4tA=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht1p8pZHExUJREaPihCyfBbtyjAoMiT-ZuUpyN7E9yru8lzZ7ucVdKfA0JMj7ok9LM8JUYzxeBR5go1hEKfy8P3jmP179QlAF3oEXh6bGvl0-muo6ISTFCFaC6jqxYNUBfYZYworhiiDR_H8ZJUTEakHAdy9RpAZFHUhM-GQ7rjvlPwdu6y8mRQJn4tA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">The pumpkins seem to be making a run for
the title of ruler of this jungle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are smothering most of the competition, all of the paths and also managing to
grow some big fat healthy looking pumpkins.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDwXzVh_J7TEM0vbtSlmkZhbEiH_2yrSp6cQ_QFMcKZrwd6sqDMroPkcXi32XEJOVnURNKItzrOOYrbGo18ay5sMg8nDy8HwudahNY6PUx312BAx2MZGw88qbY-sVPlwQWWylM4oXgEoDuBBaQU2xtFZ3VFUsRGjQ8caOUYGn9lBCFyJO9MbCXU3q9cg=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDwXzVh_J7TEM0vbtSlmkZhbEiH_2yrSp6cQ_QFMcKZrwd6sqDMroPkcXi32XEJOVnURNKItzrOOYrbGo18ay5sMg8nDy8HwudahNY6PUx312BAx2MZGw88qbY-sVPlwQWWylM4oXgEoDuBBaQU2xtFZ3VFUsRGjQ8caOUYGn9lBCFyJO9MbCXU3q9cg=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /><o:p><br /></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">The beans don’t think much of this and
are climbing the sunflowers to escape.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOGEy1Phyj2zMo3Ej-rs3tGfHqbuv6bBa1-Jzuui0GiV7o3wkxW5LCGV0VUs1Mx2aTNl9bOzm-VXdQPiOyKiD7BeRB9aEkgyedNdtOFv-AQG9T4tnf04OzuA_KPJFEJ-UmEmKWE3b2Cu5EvvfhjNJC1IFel3KyXXKKGFaXqWZR_PWWHOjJZ9tyka3bvQ=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOGEy1Phyj2zMo3Ej-rs3tGfHqbuv6bBa1-Jzuui0GiV7o3wkxW5LCGV0VUs1Mx2aTNl9bOzm-VXdQPiOyKiD7BeRB9aEkgyedNdtOFv-AQG9T4tnf04OzuA_KPJFEJ-UmEmKWE3b2Cu5EvvfhjNJC1IFel3KyXXKKGFaXqWZR_PWWHOjJZ9tyka3bvQ=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPXwFJyT90nERyCYPhA9ulVxCnUle8lGgYCbj8DrBZrwdktl57A-HVsKkBWJsA9VnzM4Q_zKpQVn1E_pAdrdm035eUsRY8DeD3mbG3hhcJOH3OiBy4quLVHjb7YzfxVV2yHyDKC4fRSYF7V_GbwyMftCWAJnOwA_M_hUvtsR88NJ71JxQSlf7E6pghLQ=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPXwFJyT90nERyCYPhA9ulVxCnUle8lGgYCbj8DrBZrwdktl57A-HVsKkBWJsA9VnzM4Q_zKpQVn1E_pAdrdm035eUsRY8DeD3mbG3hhcJOH3OiBy4quLVHjb7YzfxVV2yHyDKC4fRSYF7V_GbwyMftCWAJnOwA_M_hUvtsR88NJ71JxQSlf7E6pghLQ=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">My single courgette plant seems
determined to join the uprising and is trying to reach the ground to either
take on the pumpkins or join them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtHv4btpj7UkBoBg62pT-C6wf7I9gpTJlzF36vF_7WDnq9qC3sA33bbhsqcR2AD2_h-EvCleITNwsPc9_9v9tkWfZvy8g-Z99ypxJOu49an78vzb-bgk1iger2XapyPX1rk3oUqgpY_KRQ7t1aj5g7t1rsSP8vHIxNSqttMwlBA-mFLoG7Q86oEZYlTQ=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtHv4btpj7UkBoBg62pT-C6wf7I9gpTJlzF36vF_7WDnq9qC3sA33bbhsqcR2AD2_h-EvCleITNwsPc9_9v9tkWfZvy8g-Z99ypxJOu49an78vzb-bgk1iger2XapyPX1rk3oUqgpY_KRQ7t1aj5g7t1rsSP8vHIxNSqttMwlBA-mFLoG7Q86oEZYlTQ=s320" width="240" /></a></span></div><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">The beetroot is still bravely growing
under and over the sneaky tendrils, although a rather large pumpkin has managed
to jam their transportation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2S8fZ3m-ojOzJFyiBIR8luVqMnDbCp6agxD65cNIPI3rzcoSolGnxE9ZxcBSDOuMl6ULlfv4dpnNFFLB33hqhSSQ9DpEjgLEbV1YqZ53whj-5xKwCaj6q1cun_xbVZn2l0tB4kUWH81FLcy26XxvNJqF_LrBpHTmXsyDLnDlT14QQISPUYQij7nI7bg=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2S8fZ3m-ojOzJFyiBIR8luVqMnDbCp6agxD65cNIPI3rzcoSolGnxE9ZxcBSDOuMl6ULlfv4dpnNFFLB33hqhSSQ9DpEjgLEbV1YqZ53whj-5xKwCaj6q1cun_xbVZn2l0tB4kUWH81FLcy26XxvNJqF_LrBpHTmXsyDLnDlT14QQISPUYQij7nI7bg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvz3xYV1SfV1vNh77rCilygsM-z904vEJA5jUkVTsWEjULkjn4YjfnqS3u7NKh6IAEVkt-HRDU7HHg2a3FI6UpeHo6ApYUYm7eiBuTxSCJtx1Bgb0BFcNKhH9o8mlwtrRxen4ccEWuEKytJCF5OWCMZXHCEW9zTHYhmjfQ3DuDT4aRuNabvVDnnx0vIA=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvz3xYV1SfV1vNh77rCilygsM-z904vEJA5jUkVTsWEjULkjn4YjfnqS3u7NKh6IAEVkt-HRDU7HHg2a3FI6UpeHo6ApYUYm7eiBuTxSCJtx1Bgb0BFcNKhH9o8mlwtrRxen4ccEWuEKytJCF5OWCMZXHCEW9zTHYhmjfQ3DuDT4aRuNabvVDnnx0vIA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">The first lot of peas I planted along
the net on the edge of the tunnel house keep trying and frequently show new
growth, but they have gotten fairly dismal on the whole. But the second sowing
has taken off to be taller than me and growing masses of fat pods with juicy
peas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s unclear what they think of
the attempted pumpkin coup, but perhaps they haven’t noticed because they’re
somewhat removed from it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGwnCv5YEvMpIBsk1_K7gADbiejmW7PR5VOXeSY82CSHFk2mXtI_9cqn7DHG3rK1yI4nJYktXfwq-3q2sPyWwndruc_Vm8f48rL2q7Oh38_wmDINe9pElrxIohgHlavRRooXmXa8P8BIHoPL4E0qjxPDlB-I-LyznSwjuW6FkA3QWwJXwD_VyMyGhlLA=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGwnCv5YEvMpIBsk1_K7gADbiejmW7PR5VOXeSY82CSHFk2mXtI_9cqn7DHG3rK1yI4nJYktXfwq-3q2sPyWwndruc_Vm8f48rL2q7Oh38_wmDINe9pElrxIohgHlavRRooXmXa8P8BIHoPL4E0qjxPDlB-I-LyznSwjuW6FkA3QWwJXwD_VyMyGhlLA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">Most of the tomatoes, cucumber and
chillies just don’t seem to care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
cherry tomatoes are possibly making a run of their own and aiming to close the
borders.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTByLPqETifDJ03zu4uehyNlhPa_k78dDRiPYBODAiy0qmNSrVsX333bwhNwIDWI4hP9j-Qm1W6cB5A0BkVW0NVer1pZYGhd4y4z5M7ZctxnkWRteCfbUjWWTcexO-c1YNSIvKjQa71KVEZAltvsjW1KfBowkh9JyoRv59EJgDCIEGR497sPxCrLYHGw=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTByLPqETifDJ03zu4uehyNlhPa_k78dDRiPYBODAiy0qmNSrVsX333bwhNwIDWI4hP9j-Qm1W6cB5A0BkVW0NVer1pZYGhd4y4z5M7ZctxnkWRteCfbUjWWTcexO-c1YNSIvKjQa71KVEZAltvsjW1KfBowkh9JyoRv59EJgDCIEGR497sPxCrLYHGw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">The carrots in the water trough were
drowned in the rain and have surrendered peacefully. Or so it seems, I don’t
know if they’re going to just rot or try for a more hydroponic lifestyle. Who
can tell?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-NZ">It seems my garden heard my idea of it
being a surprise around every corner and took it to heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-44805189876014634512022-01-19T14:18:00.000+13:002022-01-19T14:18:24.921+13:00January in My Vege Garden <p> Happy New Year everyone. I hope you've had a lovely holiday. </p><p>We never seem to do relaxing. After all the windows and weatherboards were replaced last summer, this year has been about all the preparation and painting. Hubby is determined that we do a very good job so that it will last for years. </p><p>I've been hard at work in my garden. The weeds are an ongoing battle, but not as bad as previous years when I hadn't mulched.</p><p>The beans and sunflowers that I'd been lamenting have finally grown. Only three sunflowers, but I'll take it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjh7cgklJ8AH4RfRyeODIVWJYIDGuAMZpgvBcOPrjrJPdxut4zoyYU3miRkeHANpOhyOXpRXnj_DJYOHtPqdyvqhkNXaUL5DCmSm3wxEjpXV-GN1yearpdUT0wkN51Ydnkyzo_xQRXkEKBopfkU73SlpbwLA6SFF9q3S4Dtk3qbd4AqbrCw87tbMAsDMg=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjh7cgklJ8AH4RfRyeODIVWJYIDGuAMZpgvBcOPrjrJPdxut4zoyYU3miRkeHANpOhyOXpRXnj_DJYOHtPqdyvqhkNXaUL5DCmSm3wxEjpXV-GN1yearpdUT0wkN51Ydnkyzo_xQRXkEKBopfkU73SlpbwLA6SFF9q3S4Dtk3qbd4AqbrCw87tbMAsDMg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I fixed the drainage problem in the carrot trough. I keep seeing videos showing people putting inverted soft drink bottles with an end cut off into plant pots as a way to water plants. It occurred to me that it could also work the other way. This bottle has holes drilled in it all around and up and down the length of the bottle. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo42zIDyO_FWUKSwCBPVKWLwhzHtf9VFhelLkCzl0-Zh6gMWnxDhfAy6LH-7S_7OEH5f2hKf52WdJ9QtH1YjCVW2B6C5JmzHL277LCNFKP3kwcg9E5BRX0THyWDx9uNZenT9ycm11l1QcvPLB8da1hGbbC7BM-YcDzY6d-uPua-ACDRu3OFKtdhGi4Fg=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo42zIDyO_FWUKSwCBPVKWLwhzHtf9VFhelLkCzl0-Zh6gMWnxDhfAy6LH-7S_7OEH5f2hKf52WdJ9QtH1YjCVW2B6C5JmzHL277LCNFKP3kwcg9E5BRX0THyWDx9uNZenT9ycm11l1QcvPLB8da1hGbbC7BM-YcDzY6d-uPua-ACDRu3OFKtdhGi4Fg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The day I put it in, I scooped out the excess water as the bottle filled. I took out at least 5 litres. I also pulled out a lot of rotting carrots. I guess that's one way of thinning them. </p><p>Everything seems to growing rampant. We're starting to pick and eat from the garden. Last night was our first entirely grown at home meal for the year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtqxfEFbhuOBwWsOOGCdriLMsK31HAi6vp9LwkWVXsPfYS2w880q2xoGT_52cafz2FCBYMys2-DtRVuOrKNHkBDN4_JKWmyx9gZVRKV7A_qAcHS7ydYPIGoMFawa9UwNuFpmq34E6pD-gl086VElf45rISuWrrzDkGCfbr2aj05gyeV8IUt2kikJkPRg=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtqxfEFbhuOBwWsOOGCdriLMsK31HAi6vp9LwkWVXsPfYS2w880q2xoGT_52cafz2FCBYMys2-DtRVuOrKNHkBDN4_JKWmyx9gZVRKV7A_qAcHS7ydYPIGoMFawa9UwNuFpmq34E6pD-gl086VElf45rISuWrrzDkGCfbr2aj05gyeV8IUt2kikJkPRg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-38632805168447429332021-12-30T14:41:00.006+13:002021-12-30T14:41:32.774+13:00Some Success in My Vege Garden <p> My garden is still very up and down and the weather has been the same. We alternate between 30+ degrees Celsius and freezing rain and wind. I even had the fire going about a week ago. </p><p>I've just been spending some time in the sun, listening to the bellbirds singing in the oak tree, trying to make a dent in the weeds that have taken off and reflecting on what a lovely and peaceful place it is even so.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg52s7436Pknu7vtr483P-ND00WBHR9z_dgJ5kxmQ8olqcG9Gc0SqjuJ7fE2y1mBUle5UJs_YT_bCx_cVnzPwtLuGyXn0ypXxne5OAo_c7j3bLLNTobXgc9-oQoIwHXMwpRnoCmFuYscPg92fChwBKYV49xaYVnT_vWCbRadZf9YJkl88jsgOu39hld7A=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg52s7436Pknu7vtr483P-ND00WBHR9z_dgJ5kxmQ8olqcG9Gc0SqjuJ7fE2y1mBUle5UJs_YT_bCx_cVnzPwtLuGyXn0ypXxne5OAo_c7j3bLLNTobXgc9-oQoIwHXMwpRnoCmFuYscPg92fChwBKYV49xaYVnT_vWCbRadZf9YJkl88jsgOu39hld7A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I wasn't able to provide fresh peas for Christmas lunch, but I was able to pick four pods yesterday. I did provide some new potatoes. They were carefully exposed and picked without disturbing the rest of the growing potatoes or plants very much.</p><p>Unfortunately, all the rain has created a problem with the old water trough I planted carrots and radishes in. I had hoped that the stones I'd filled the bottom with would be sufficient drainage, but they weren't enough for the amount of rain we've had. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpibAJKZ3cx-tTCevCk07BXbX4TduIyaO_GtCNgdBTmMN8kSXbj-MD9-scw2K2CjZlXgu51-VPjFELmgdU47PYAr_yKlm1q_rFDsiVHkynFH79r-GeGjoxxjpg8HLpvEGl1qoC0f7C4KW4wYR-ZhvxPkooY4Lo3s0Ye3Ir_Q2JSQIaZcEwyoQxTgytsw=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpibAJKZ3cx-tTCevCk07BXbX4TduIyaO_GtCNgdBTmMN8kSXbj-MD9-scw2K2CjZlXgu51-VPjFELmgdU47PYAr_yKlm1q_rFDsiVHkynFH79r-GeGjoxxjpg8HLpvEGl1qoC0f7C4KW4wYR-ZhvxPkooY4Lo3s0Ye3Ir_Q2JSQIaZcEwyoQxTgytsw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Many of my carrots and radishes have rotted just beneath the surface. I did look at the bung that these troughs have at the bottom. But I don't think this has moved at all since the trough was made however many decades ago and it isn't moving now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLlyO-KoSA4-dYunidhEicEBaIPbe5JLT4v_Xc5a8pqh1OXrJPCuFZheypR0ZrHX7t9efhc9yAXClbeP1pnntoo41IpSwTHJZ2vRPP0TrEHWutvXRRseJ_bX934KjgLlTZla1aQEf3odjpOrpcvKAjoBhKg0ZRuvSPZHs1YYgNhmOb2TeaSP9I3sZjjQ=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLlyO-KoSA4-dYunidhEicEBaIPbe5JLT4v_Xc5a8pqh1OXrJPCuFZheypR0ZrHX7t9efhc9yAXClbeP1pnntoo41IpSwTHJZ2vRPP0TrEHWutvXRRseJ_bX934KjgLlTZla1aQEf3odjpOrpcvKAjoBhKg0ZRuvSPZHs1YYgNhmOb2TeaSP9I3sZjjQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We've discussed drilling it out and drilling holes in the trough itself but no one is prepared to commit to retiring it from possible future use as an actual water trough. </p><p>My tomatoes are doing very well. I've been sticking the laterals I pick off into the ground. They seem to sulk and wilt for a day or so, but the majority look like young, freshly planted tomato plants now. I'm hopeful for a good crop.</p><p>Both my cucumber plants (third Lebanese and second apple) are thriving. I have a small maybe 4 inch long Lebanese cucumber on the plant and I can honestly say it's the biggest cucumber I've ever managed to grow. </p><p>I had to take the nets off as the beans were starting to grow through the netting instead of the support strings I've provided. </p><p>I've decided to leave the wild part of my garden alone for now. I'm not keeping up with the weeds in the planted parts of the garden as it is and I don't currently have anything to plant in it. </p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-29663981107693852062021-12-14T10:59:00.007+13:002021-12-14T10:59:54.394+13:00December in My Vege Garden <p> It's been a while since I shared any of the goings on in my garden, I was asked about it recently by a friend who has been following the story.</p><p>There hasn't been a lot to tell really. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5-wmvez_VtdoRSLA_-HrmBfe_vSYgcxGOruQSPSQ8oD178j9VWC6MVP-rDkLmQOvfKrAPdKP2Y4RUDR-f0It2VQ1P5LXPA8G5zs0jBjKgOu3vBskdAXG74jjN03VPCXtUmoQ2iR6YUc-NBZqdfRnD6kZZBqPSNPXysw6AIYOoD7y69cbdeBR63K3BAQ=s4128" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5-wmvez_VtdoRSLA_-HrmBfe_vSYgcxGOruQSPSQ8oD178j9VWC6MVP-rDkLmQOvfKrAPdKP2Y4RUDR-f0It2VQ1P5LXPA8G5zs0jBjKgOu3vBskdAXG74jjN03VPCXtUmoQ2iR6YUc-NBZqdfRnD6kZZBqPSNPXysw6AIYOoD7y69cbdeBR63K3BAQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I tightened up the nets since the blackbirds were still finding ways in. I planted more beans and sunflowers. Some of them have even started growing. </p><p>Both my cucumber plants suddenly died. I've been told not to plant another cucumber in the same spot as there may be fungus in the soil that attacks cucumbers. I don't know if this is true, but it's easy enough to plant new ones somewhere else. </p><p>The chilli seeds I planted have shown no signs of coming up. So I visited my Happy Place, as I've started calling Woodend Nursery, a local garden centre. The only chilli varieties they had were Jaiwas, a green chilli I'd never heard of before. I bought two and while I was there, I bought two new cucumber plants, one Lebanese and one Apple. I also picked up some red capsicum plants. </p><p>I've since bought some habanero plants and wildfire chillies. </p><p>Something was still eating my plants. It looked like slug damage, so I spread around some slug and snail bait. </p><p>What a difference that made! In a week my beans doubled in size and grew new tendrils. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQwMIzt3jWhqOIwyFhiH8ohijX4wenIH2cFkY1GPpZqmQ5vflt6-gm08Dx7szOcJbzesq121-TIRLVJx9dUNb0zQ2hnOvfGaC2WxkUiRUC9wUfvaG7E2xCIKSajaow9ZYdtEf_OoeT7t1H2_Gtb42TA-s5WZ40CcH1LiilEtp3IYM0WDoJpLeo-o272g=s4128" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQwMIzt3jWhqOIwyFhiH8ohijX4wenIH2cFkY1GPpZqmQ5vflt6-gm08Dx7szOcJbzesq121-TIRLVJx9dUNb0zQ2hnOvfGaC2WxkUiRUC9wUfvaG7E2xCIKSajaow9ZYdtEf_OoeT7t1H2_Gtb42TA-s5WZ40CcH1LiilEtp3IYM0WDoJpLeo-o272g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Potatoes are still growing beautifully. I've been struggling with finding material to go into the tyres. We ran out of old branches to mulch and my pile of aged, rotted manure has all gone. I could use some of the fresher stuff from the paddocks but there is a fairly high chance of lots of problem seed growing in it too. Grass clippings and leaf mulch have been in use with some mulch from freshly cut branches. </p><p>I haven't done much more clearing of the wild untouched parts. Partly because of the lack of mulch, partly because I don't have much yet to plant in it and partly because the weather has been hideous for the past few weeks. Any fine days are spent weeding and caring for existing plants. </p><p>I have set up a mini greenhouse for raising seedlings. I had plenty started in it when a nasty storm with a lot of wind threw my little greenhouse and all its contents across my deck. I scooped up all the soil and unsprouted seeds into a large tray. We'll see if anything comes up in that. I rescued the sprouting sunflowers and Kumara. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEa1VIngP1035vvvqM09xIlAQYdpNqQFU46snU4yLXAo2QZ-3szLhMX6r9xFzZ7YYHPJXcvPp5UfjRjWnHDSEuHEjZMOLfTHjBDe8bIjVW87wOZn0YAoJx40mGIZLbVUGUcYr8knnGHmUgPRw52-IDxmKo-PMGI3VNxFIR-BChyr-lBcfPCWecbQqOIg=s4128" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEa1VIngP1035vvvqM09xIlAQYdpNqQFU46snU4yLXAo2QZ-3szLhMX6r9xFzZ7YYHPJXcvPp5UfjRjWnHDSEuHEjZMOLfTHjBDe8bIjVW87wOZn0YAoJx40mGIZLbVUGUcYr8knnGHmUgPRw52-IDxmKo-PMGI3VNxFIR-BChyr-lBcfPCWecbQqOIg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>My plan was to start a few more brassicas every few weeks in successive plantings. They don't really freeze well so fresh is better. </p><p>I haven't spoken about the drive behind this garden. I didn't want to open myself up to judgement if I failed. </p><p>I've given up smoking. Gardening has been my distraction and my reward. Garden art has also played a fairly big part. I'm painting rocks to put around my garden. I've made a 'Welcome to My Garden' sign, although that hasn't made it into the garden yet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEih816mL2WIYu3cc47olHWCAt7NrjRHNQg5vBzRm_CBny1Awr7Db7ssvcJ0oyhyUamc4k0OliYkQbefIBr8gdNI3BD8IpzBxnyxcGgbr4Nlk2mDnFYBaSlq5B_h6-kiOXJ6F0erCCYtiGG9OHW_0PeanQSGmuCzkG-asu45d6ZbGu5zsEwOpzvd21lKaQ=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEih816mL2WIYu3cc47olHWCAt7NrjRHNQg5vBzRm_CBny1Awr7Db7ssvcJ0oyhyUamc4k0OliYkQbefIBr8gdNI3BD8IpzBxnyxcGgbr4Nlk2mDnFYBaSlq5B_h6-kiOXJ6F0erCCYtiGG9OHW_0PeanQSGmuCzkG-asu45d6ZbGu5zsEwOpzvd21lKaQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>I've also made personalised similar signs as Christmas presents for family, but you don't get to see them until after their new owners do.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirRA7RHGbVu9CkXLxmAVARZZ6un_8OGHMAQtHrBIJFVioL3n1CrcQQMp2AEaPswYfFCLkpjwRioYTB4tBMkL8GfqvRY0vJHPcD9pspFnwojNoz4VcO1TbECxiIuD7B8FvAHGVkC5Doj3BYj-h_6hR6-6w1ReMjbXisk3gPt07tj32eJWcFepO2Y7kMAQ=s4128" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirRA7RHGbVu9CkXLxmAVARZZ6un_8OGHMAQtHrBIJFVioL3n1CrcQQMp2AEaPswYfFCLkpjwRioYTB4tBMkL8GfqvRY0vJHPcD9pspFnwojNoz4VcO1TbECxiIuD7B8FvAHGVkC5Doj3BYj-h_6hR6-6w1ReMjbXisk3gPt07tj32eJWcFepO2Y7kMAQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-54283533206780391322021-11-10T11:07:00.000+13:002021-11-10T11:07:30.830+13:00War in My Vege Garden <p> I'm in a war with vermin. </p><p>Every time I walk into my garden, several blackbirds fly out. They are getting into the netting through small holes and having a field day.</p><p>I have had to replant many of my pea plants and three or four tomatoes. I found the husks of my sunflower seeds and no signs of plants. I have had to buy more plants and seeds to replace the damaged and missing ones. </p><p>Over the weekend, my replacement cucumber suddenly died. It had been growing beautifully for two weeks, then overnight went greyish and fell over.</p><p>I questioned everything I had done. I thought the previous one had suffered wind damage so this one was well protected from the wind. It got plenty of sun and I was careful to water the soil and not the leaves. I put slug and snail bait around it. Maybe there was something wrong with the soil? But surely that would have shown up straightaway. </p><p>The next day it was gone completely and there was a small hole where it had been. A tomato plant that had been nearly a foot tall and starting to flower was also missing. I picked up the next tomato plant from the path and replanted it in its spot. </p><p>My peas have had their growing tips trimmed off. Where I'd had a 100% hit rate from my seed, I suddenly found gaps. </p><p>I made windchimes and a rough scarecrow and noisemakers. I fixed up the bigger holes in the netting. I tried leaving a patch of soft turned over soil for them to play in. </p><p>Yesterday, I saw a small rabbit running out of my garden as I went in. </p><p>Today I found devastation in my brassica patch. I also found the hole the rabbit had gotten in through and blocked it up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23VbsRse0IE/YYrwMj6qoBI/AAAAAAAAB-w/rXA7QDDvz3MVDkjAs0SaL0_aGv4ulps_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211110_093918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23VbsRse0IE/YYrwMj6qoBI/AAAAAAAAB-w/rXA7QDDvz3MVDkjAs0SaL0_aGv4ulps_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211110_093918.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>It's getting hard to stick to the concept I wanted in this garden. I feel like it's going to turn into a fortress rather than a fun peaceful garden. </p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-91172934217982168522021-11-10T10:45:00.002+13:002021-11-10T10:45:22.663+13:00Growing Potatoes <p> I've always heard lots of stories about growing potatoes. I'm told my grandfather grew them in 44 gallon drums and had to either chip them out carefully or cut the drum because he was so successful. </p><p>But there are so many stories and different ways of doing it. They need a lot of water, but water sparingly or they'll rot in the ground. Plant potatoes to prepare a plot for future gardens, but not anywhere where you're going to want anything else because they will keep coming back forever. Cover them completely when you mound them up but leave some leaf tips above ground. </p><p>A few years ago I tried growing them in tyres. As it grows, you fill up the tyre and then add another. When you're ready to harvest, tip your tyre pile over and pick up the potatoes. It worked beautifully. </p><p>Dad and Hubby weren't convinced, so the year of the super garden we had both tyres and traditional rows that got mounded up. There were more potatoes in the mounds but they were mostly very small, think golf ball sized. In the tyres, they grew to easily fist-sized and bigger, but there were fewer of them. We still got an excellent crop and didn't need to buy potatoes for most of the year. We also kept Mum and Dad in potatoes. </p><p>I'm doing tyres again this year. Mostly, I'm finding where potatoes are popping up from previous years crops and putting a tyre on top. Some are taking off and some are slower. </p><p>I'm filling the tyres with layers of grass clippings, manure, leaf litter and wood mulch. </p><p>I am curious to see how high I can get some of them before they start flowering. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_en6E6Be9eA/YYrrFAuIezI/AAAAAAAAB-o/hcg4ZP1HcIkj9yKEV87NTOgcWc1novHjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211110_101921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_en6E6Be9eA/YYrrFAuIezI/AAAAAAAAB-o/hcg4ZP1HcIkj9yKEV87NTOgcWc1novHjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211110_101921.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-22596114125058036802021-11-01T14:29:00.006+13:002021-11-01T14:29:36.611+13:00California Thistle in My Vege Garden <p> When I wrote this morning about clearing the last patch of my garden and how long and slow it would be, I neglected to mention all the California Thistle in there.</p><p>Right now, as I'm spending I don't know how long picking thistles out of the soft parts of my hands, that is feeling like quite a big omission. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_k_nI2tmY8/YX9CqOnY2OI/AAAAAAAAB-E/4wg3vi51eG0YDhjtVVbFDE4vLgZ2FYXqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211101_135958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_k_nI2tmY8/YX9CqOnY2OI/AAAAAAAAB-E/4wg3vi51eG0YDhjtVVbFDE4vLgZ2FYXqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211101_135958.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>On the surface, California Thistle is easy to get rid of. All its spreadability lies in the root system. What looks like hundreds and thousands of plants spread over a patch is actually only one plant. Cut off everything at ground level and it will die. Seeds are not viable, they're a distraction. </p><p>However, in a patch like this, growing in and around the flowering quince that I'm leaving to cut tomorrow, taking it out at ground level is a lot more difficult. </p><p>I've found that a gentle tug on the stem pulls out that stem plus some rootlets, so I've been doing it that way. I'm having to go into it by feel and there's a whole lot of last year's dead and dried stems lying around ready to stab unsuspecting fingers. </p><p>I would normally be wearing gloves for this, but I rather foolishly (and for the first time) left my gloves in the garden last night and it rained. </p><p>I will get there but I'm swearing a lot about it right now. </p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-61716007965707561582021-11-01T08:38:00.008+13:002021-11-01T08:38:59.552+13:00My Netted Vege Garden <p> After realising that blackbirds were responsible for damage in my garden, I was rather upset. It wasn't helped by the plants they have just pulled out and broken. I've had to replant several peas, tomatoes and marigolds. </p><p>I did the bare minimum in my garden for about a week. What was the point? The gobshite blackbirds were just going to trash it anyway. </p><p>But in the back of my mind, I was thinking of solutions and working through the pros and cons for each. </p><p>I could make a scarecrow, but for how long would that be effective? Would windchimes make a difference? What about a sparkly wind spinner thing?</p><p>I've made windchimes out of some old wheel braces and car jack parts, but finding somewhere high enough and strong enough to hang it is waiting on Hubby. It's currently hanging in a nearby tree, but doesn't get enough wind there to ring often. </p><p>It occurred to me on the weekend that I used to net my gardens to keep chickens out. I have lettuces and brassicas netted to stop the brassica moths and any other caterpillars causing pests from doing their thing. Why don't I just net my young plants? Once they're big enough with a more established root system, I should be able to take the netting back off again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEwTgrkllkY/YX7uSZVgLqI/AAAAAAAAB9k/_VY3dHsk0uM949ev7x8o_JVy0PwcLS2SwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211101_082206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEwTgrkllkY/YX7uSZVgLqI/AAAAAAAAB9k/_VY3dHsk0uM949ev7x8o_JVy0PwcLS2SwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211101_082206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jt76YT94iUo/YX7uYKwHZ7I/AAAAAAAAB9o/6oap4OmgzeYMu6MhtjSZlCUQBD7nWpYNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211101_082210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jt76YT94iUo/YX7uYKwHZ7I/AAAAAAAAB9o/6oap4OmgzeYMu6MhtjSZlCUQBD7nWpYNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211101_082210.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I also bought more plants and seed over the weekend. </p><p>I was planting more sunflower seeds in the ravaged spot under the net this time, when I found a young sunflower close to breaking through the soil. It still had its seed husk capping the tips of the first leaves. That made me happy, but I also realised that I was finding plenty more but they'd all been broken off just below those leaves. </p><p>I had a poke around the pot where I had planted zucchini seeds, just to see if anything was happening and found one about to break through the soil. So I'm much happier about the garden and more excited to get back into it this week. </p><p>The last bit to clear is dragging out. Or maybe I'm dragging it out. There's a lot of flowering quince to remove and that's slow and frustrating work. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fal83BBzofw/YX7vhARiT0I/AAAAAAAAB98/EYmsDycKjiUX_cjIOxLzb7E9nBq8qLSxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211101_082329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fal83BBzofw/YX7vhARiT0I/AAAAAAAAB98/EYmsDycKjiUX_cjIOxLzb7E9nBq8qLSxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211101_082329.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuswiDbx0MA/YX7uzcEQPNI/AAAAAAAAB90/2o2e0d-ZwVcfcM7-vtOQNrXF5FL2djdcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211016_172851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuswiDbx0MA/YX7uzcEQPNI/AAAAAAAAB90/2o2e0d-ZwVcfcM7-vtOQNrXF5FL2djdcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211016_172851.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Flowering quince is all through this garden. We have tried digging it out, but it is very deep rooting and the tiniest piece left behind turns into more. Several different pigs have dug over this patch turning it into a wasteland for a time and they didn't get it all. It throws up lots of suckers and gets quite dense at the base. So I hit Google. Several fora and websites said the only way was to cut and paint the fresh cut with undiluted concentrated glyphosate. </p><p>I went to Farmlands and had a chat with someone there. I came home with a picloram gel product that has the brush top. </p><p>When I clear around the base of a patch, I leave it until morning after watering as you need to be sure there's no rain forecast for 12 hours after application. I cut and gel. I pick up every last piece I've cut and put it in the incinerator. I'm burning this stuff, I won't risk having it come back again. </p><p>Then I have to leave the blue painted tips undisturbed for the day. I don't want to risk accidentally poisoning anything else. So I have to find a different spot to work in. </p><p>The last part will be slow but I'm feeling motivated again. </p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-63561579474819782142021-10-27T13:53:00.003+13:002021-10-27T13:53:16.845+13:00Heartbreak in My Vege Garden <p> Peas and radishes are growing beautifully, potatoes are taking off and delicate carrot fronds are definitely a thing. So where are the beans and sunflowers that I planted?</p><p>Where I thought I had bean sprouts, I found they were more potatoes. There might be some baby spinach plants in among the puha that's coming up. It's too early to be sure. </p><p>So I did some digging. When I found a bean seed, it had a hole in the side and the rest was either hollow or rotten. Something has been eating my seeds. I went all along the rows and it was the same everywhere I'd planted them. </p><p>There was an entire packet of Kentucky Pole beans gone.</p><p>I have a container of bean seeds that I'd harvested quite a few years ago. It was a mix of the pole beans and two colours of dwarf beans. </p><p>I also had a paper bag of runner beans and purple beans from about 20 years ago. I've been meaning to give them to the chickens. I'm not particularly fond of runner beans unless I pick them when they are really small and tender. </p><p>I decided to float them to see if they were still viable, with a very few exceptions, they all seemed good. </p><p>I've planted them out in much heavier concentration than before. If anything is going to eat them, hopefully they won't get to all of them and the odd ones will grow first.</p><p>I still have some left in case it doesn't work. </p><p>While I was planting them out, I noticed sunflower seed husks scattered around where I planted the sunflowers. The seeds are gone and the husks have been broken up and spread around. Even the ones coated in fungicide. That was three packets of seeds.</p><p>I'm blaming the blackbirds for that.</p><p>I think I might have to start seeds in pots and transplant them out. I didn't want to do that because I don't usually manage to harden the plants off very well and forget to transplant them in time. </p><p>I'm a little gutted.</p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-83963175358431669522021-10-24T16:00:00.000+13:002021-10-24T16:00:05.105+13:00Sycamore Maples Everywhere <p> We have three large Sycamore Maple (<i>acer pseudoplatanus)</i> trees. They've been there since before we moved to this block. They are lovely big old trees. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLE6miN-zDQ/YXS49lZvtlI/AAAAAAAAB9A/9dNgTqPyDTEzNS0zehdV_S0letoXgjKZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211024_104717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLE6miN-zDQ/YXS49lZvtlI/AAAAAAAAB9A/9dNgTqPyDTEzNS0zehdV_S0letoXgjKZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211024_104717.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Every year, there are heaps of small seedlings popping up. Almost none of them usually make it taller than about 20cm. </p><p>Until we took out the macrocarpa hedge. Now there are hundreds of seedlings, varying in size from barely emerged to a metre and half tall. They are everywhere. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUUofgNRvj0/YXS6yIFgpdI/AAAAAAAAB9I/K6Hy9OO02HIPnQjwGWwLLsX9pBIUN6qHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211024_104508.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUUofgNRvj0/YXS6yIFgpdI/AAAAAAAAB9I/K6Hy9OO02HIPnQjwGWwLLsX9pBIUN6qHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211024_104508.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We have moved a lot and planted them out in shelter belts. They're excellent for the east-west belts as they are deciduous, fast growing and have a good canopy. </p><p>They are drought-hardy, don't mind a frost, all round useful trees.</p><p>So it seemed a shame to be just pulling out the excess. We contacted a couple of big tree companies but they weren't interested. We spoke to a chap at our favourite nursery, he told us that it's now listed as a noxious weed and they're not allowed to sell it. </p><p>They do spread quickly and easily, and in more tropical climates, like the North Island, they can smother anything else. He said there's no real need for their pest status down here, and he thinks they are an awesome tree.</p><p>But we have to either find new homes for them here, give them away or just discard them. Which makes me sad.</p><p><br /></p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-91030206878583319162021-10-22T22:32:00.001+13:002021-10-22T22:32:28.985+13:00My Sprouting Vege Garden <p> I have sprouts!!</p><p>Some of the seeds I have sown are turning into plants. The peas I planted first have an almost 100% strike rate. I'm not sure if the gaps are because a seed hasn't germinated or because I missed a spot.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8ZIkML0-PE/YXJ-kZxaXVI/AAAAAAAAB8o/KJXbafvZFJEuM2zI9Xu0fBU6nRXvPLINgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211022_172948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8ZIkML0-PE/YXJ-kZxaXVI/AAAAAAAAB8o/KJXbafvZFJEuM2zI9Xu0fBU6nRXvPLINgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211022_172948.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Immediately following the peas, radishes have been popping up with their distinctive heart shaped first leaves.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Pa1P0nQd6M/YXJ_FSwbrNI/AAAAAAAAB8w/-9k2lZUmBwo_8zKCeUnOr468wHz96lUzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211022_172750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Pa1P0nQd6M/YXJ_FSwbrNI/AAAAAAAAB8w/-9k2lZUmBwo_8zKCeUnOr468wHz96lUzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211022_172750.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I spread radishes (as I always do) through the carrots and it thins the carrots without sacrificing anything. The radish seed was at least 20 years out of date, so proof that sometimes it's worth ignoring the best before dates. I think I can see early carrot fronds poking up too, but so far they're too small to be sure.</p><p>I'm not keeping up very well with the potatoes. There are so many and they are growing very quickly. I've stopped rescuing the potatoes I dig up, unless they are at least palm sized. I'm not going to need to buy any seed potatoes this year.</p><p>I also think I have a couple of beans up. I'm watching to see if more happens. </p><p>I'm maybe halfway through clearing the patch. I think the difference this year is I'm planting as I'm clearing. Normally, we'd clear the whole area before doing anything else and nothing would happen for at least a month. </p><p>It's a battle to not plan everything in advance. I start to worry that I'm going to run out of ideas or repeat myself, but then I get to the next part and I'm inspired again. </p><p>Hubby is laughing that I'm taking anything that's not nailed down. The water trough, the cracked wheelbarrow with a broken wheel, a few pots and there's an old concrete laundry tub sitting in a paddock waiting for me to move it into my garden. I think I'm cleaning up loose bits in useful ways. </p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-81334482467379275472021-10-16T17:50:00.000+13:002021-10-16T17:50:08.370+13:00My Puntastic Vege Garden <p> As I'm planting lots and lots of seeds, it quickly became clear that some signs were needed, so I could be sure what I'd planted where.</p><p>Who wants ordinary signs though? Let's have some fun with them. </p><p>I set a challenge for the spawn to come up with simple and fun vegetable puns for our signs. Normally, my son would be all over anything to do with puns, autistic kids are very talented at them, but this time it was the oldest who contributed the most. </p><p>I also went searching online to see if there was anything we could do with broccoli and cauliflower that wasn't beyond my artistic capabilities (Barack-oli) or needed explanation which misses the point (Broc n Caul - Rock n Roll). But not even punpedia (yes it's a real website, look it up) was much help there.</p><p>Three days of gale force winds, torrential rain and snow on the mountain gave me time to start making signs. </p><p>Some are music inspired: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R2vCywwCmeM/YWpYLGIEF8I/AAAAAAAAB7o/SWyh7bi46HgYT8-rdKhbg9gywXFLMaLlACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211016_172803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R2vCywwCmeM/YWpYLGIEF8I/AAAAAAAAB7o/SWyh7bi46HgYT8-rdKhbg9gywXFLMaLlACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211016_172803.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJxhcwFHNZU/YWpYZOF5CEI/AAAAAAAAB7w/efjwN9DLqJwqxt38FXDeyYZupUGvuY98gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211016_163410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJxhcwFHNZU/YWpYZOF5CEI/AAAAAAAAB7w/efjwN9DLqJwqxt38FXDeyYZupUGvuY98gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211016_163410.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bz0ROPLJetA/YWpYZFqsFhI/AAAAAAAAB7s/vZ7rtile5tw4wXofBMbs5QwQyIzYfy4vwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211016_163403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bz0ROPLJetA/YWpYZFqsFhI/AAAAAAAAB7s/vZ7rtile5tw4wXofBMbs5QwQyIzYfy4vwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211016_163403.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And some are just wholesome, heartfelt messages for anyone wandering through my garden:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fRr6heKm7oM/YWpZck0tDwI/AAAAAAAAB8E/tZymcKnI2vg13d84AC5ng1i8HuYRWzg4wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211016_163449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fRr6heKm7oM/YWpZck0tDwI/AAAAAAAAB8E/tZymcKnI2vg13d84AC5ng1i8HuYRWzg4wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211016_163449.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNKZP1Ft0YI/YWpZW4ug97I/AAAAAAAAB78/hJN_wfOrBqURa4bh7lhe-mW97M4eXxuggCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211016_163440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNKZP1Ft0YI/YWpZW4ug97I/AAAAAAAAB78/hJN_wfOrBqURa4bh7lhe-mW97M4eXxuggCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211016_163440.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONn7CrvpEf4/YWpZaNJtrII/AAAAAAAAB8A/7Clj8EjFRcEQ6vkL3zsOt25Q1jyKzGYegCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211016_163352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONn7CrvpEf4/YWpZaNJtrII/AAAAAAAAB8A/7Clj8EjFRcEQ6vkL3zsOt25Q1jyKzGYegCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211016_163352.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>There are still more to come. Watch this space.</p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-36331275684346256482021-10-10T17:21:00.003+13:002021-10-10T17:21:38.902+13:00My Barren Vege Garden <p> Gosh, that sounds a bit dramatic doesn't it.</p><p>My garden isn't actually barren, it just looks that way right now. </p><p>I've cleared probably four times as much ground area as I had done last week. I've layered beds with lawn clippings, mulch and manure. I've made lovely paths, also with mulch. I've shifted pots, driven posts and with Hubby's help, shifted a large concrete water trough. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ItWbMZBg224/YWJpvqJlr4I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/sUrB_s90IFYE7jm58FXwMD0RiSbd4DJeACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211010_170001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ItWbMZBg224/YWJpvqJlr4I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/sUrB_s90IFYE7jm58FXwMD0RiSbd4DJeACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211010_170001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I have boxes and boxes of seeds. Some were left behind by the people we bought this place from, some were ours. Every year I think I get this idea that I'm going to start some veges from seed, some years I even do it, but who can seriously resist the 3 6-cell vege plant punnets for $12 that you find in hardware stores at this time of year. </p><p>I decided this year, I would use this seed. If it grows, great, if not, I haven't really lost anything. To be clear, one of the packets of seed I emptied this week was "good for growing season 2000". Most are more recent than that, if not always by much. </p><p>The down side is, since I've planted out so much seed, there's nothing to see yet. There's nothing to cluck and fuss over, nothing to tidy or check. </p><p>For the most part, I look at my garden and it seems like a barren wasteland of mulch, posts and planters.</p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-77339289922675560312021-10-06T16:43:00.004+13:002021-10-06T16:43:56.098+13:00My Surprising Vege Garden <p> So I posted about my vege garden, how I want it to be surprising and random and an adventure. </p><p>It would seem that my garden (or the spirit of my garden?) heard and approved. </p><p>An hour after posting last time, I found sprouting potatoes in the garden. </p><p>The year that I left Hubby to it, he planted potatoes down this end. He dug trenches in the stony, sour soil, planted spuds and pretty much ignored them after that. There were minimal efforts made to mound the growing potatoes and when those efforts were made, he just used more of the same soil. The few spuds we got were small and unpleasant and we'd pretty much forgotten about it. </p><p>So I've moved these few into tyres and started building it up with grass clippings, manure and mulch.</p><p>Not too long after my pleasant spud surprise I found onions.</p><p>I planted them a year or two ago, I really don't remember. They didn't seem to do very well and Hubby kept pulling them out with weeds, so I had assumed they had all gone.</p><p>I was wrong. Some are clearly last season's onions, most of the small bulb has rotted down but there's new growth coming from it. Others are new, at least one of last year's must have flowered and dropped seed.</p><p>Now I'm carefully inspecting every handful of weeds I pull up. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mydMsI_tVM0/YV0arqa92KI/AAAAAAAAB7A/TYohMjQeqoU6GIVJVLT0p_fzF3SeqacRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211006_142018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mydMsI_tVM0/YV0arqa92KI/AAAAAAAAB7A/TYohMjQeqoU6GIVJVLT0p_fzF3SeqacRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211006_142018.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-67892766581361487892021-10-06T11:05:00.000+13:002021-10-06T11:05:32.454+13:00My Vege Garden <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQ_W5jz-j8M/YVzLB-SQFsI/AAAAAAAAB6o/zXW_milKW_UEC3QLa1WRvRZ6iofdxPOLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211006_104844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQ_W5jz-j8M/YVzLB-SQFsI/AAAAAAAAB6o/zXW_milKW_UEC3QLa1WRvRZ6iofdxPOLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211006_104844.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />This is my vege garden.
<div><br /></div><div>Every year, I tell myself I'm going to have an amazing, productive garden and some years, I even achieve that.</div><div><br /></div><div>About 5 years ago, we decided to turn this patch into a vege garden. Everyone got excited about it. Hubby sprayed the grass and weeds and turned it over with the rotary hoe. Then he just kind of left it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I did get his help to put in the deer fence height warratahs to stake my tomatoes. </div><div><br /></div><div>But I made the beds, I planted and weeded and watered, I nipped laterals from tomato plants and tied them up, I mounded up potatoes, I picked several kg of beans each day to keep them fruiting. </div><div><br /></div><div>I picked, I podded, I blanched, I froze, I bottled and preserved in every way you can imagine and possibly a few you can't. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I was a little pissed when I heard my darling Hubby bragging about his vege garden and how well he's done with it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The following year, I left him to it. And it was pitiful. I managed to rescue several of the jalapenos and count that as a win.</div><div><br /></div><div>The year after, I decided to try hugelkultur beds. I was soundly criticised by family and the beds didn't really take off. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last year, I was working a physical job and didn't have the energy after work to put into a garden. But I did experiment with a patch of it. I spread a thick layer of chainsaw shavings over this stretch. I topped it with a decent layer of well rotted manure and then another layer of shavings. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was about as wide as a footpath and ran for maybe 8m. I planted some tomatoes and a cucumber in this patch and surrounded it with a net to keep rabbits, chickens and our one remaining turkey out.</div><div><br /></div><div>It went okay. Nothing particularly special, but better than we'd seen for a while. </div><div><br /></div><div>This year, I'm feeling a bit more motivated. I weeded the patch I'd built up last year. It was so easy. The roots came up with barely any force, I was pulling up entire root systems for cooch and yarrow with ease.</div><div><br /></div><div>And the soil! It was rich and dark and full of life. It was light and healthy. </div><div><br /></div><div>A two finger salute to the people who tried to convince me that macrocarpa mulch is toxic and kills the soil. </div><div><br /></div><div>So this inspired me even more. We've got plenty of wood mulch, Hubby is chipping the too-small-for-firewood trimmings from the macrocarpa hedge we had cut down last year. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have started with a bed along the length of the tunnelhouse. I wanted to put tall climbing peas there. They need support. Ideas were tossed around. I decided to make my own, with the help of a few years worth of baling twine and a gun stapler.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1BaROed_uU/YVzLe5nRjwI/AAAAAAAAB6w/fI8yhLLTKaQrx6aLI1M0plTWVT7T2O3GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211006_104902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1BaROed_uU/YVzLe5nRjwI/AAAAAAAAB6w/fI8yhLLTKaQrx6aLI1M0plTWVT7T2O3GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211006_104902.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Hubby has been looking at my work with a puzzled frown and confused judgement. But I've decided it's my garden this year and he can just stay out of it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday I started working out where my beans are going. I'm cleaning up the ground and making beds and paths as I go. I'm using stuff we have around the place for supports and inspiration. Yes the beans are going to be in wavy lines, and in the curves, I'm planting other stuff. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qOWWv-bqTlU/YVzL8ChxWbI/AAAAAAAAB64/nQ5kGWA01L4ShbFsyIxZh62tx6tFyOgyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20211006_104911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qOWWv-bqTlU/YVzL8ChxWbI/AAAAAAAAB64/nQ5kGWA01L4ShbFsyIxZh62tx6tFyOgyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20211006_104911.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going for a wilder garden, few straight lines, no monoculture beds, random, glorious chaos. I want a vege garden that's fun, where a wander through is a bit of an adventure. Turn a corner and there's some unexpected broccoli, or sunflowers or that patch of wild fennel I chose to leave where it was. </div><div><br /></div><div>He keeps asking me what's my plan for this part. No plans, isn't it exciting?</div><div><br /></div><div>He thinks I'm crazy but hasn't said it out loud. I don't care. Currently it's a work in progress, I will keep you updated. </div>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-88517299948283205222021-04-21T14:35:00.000+12:002021-04-21T14:35:24.672+12:00Dyeing Wool with Blackberries<p> Our relatively wet summer showed itself this year in the size and volume of <a href="https://lifesentenceblock.blogspot.com/2013/02/wild-blackberries.html" target="_blank">wild blackberries</a>. I only travelled a short distance through the brambles and picked several kg of large, fat, juicy berries.</p><p>The problem, as ever, is what will I do with them this year.</p><p>I tried cordial one year, a non-alcoholic one. The first attempt was weak and unpleasant. The second was wonderful but grew a hideous mould fairly quickly and had to be thrown out.</p><p>This year, I made some <a href="https://lifesentenceblock.blogspot.com/2014/03/fruit-leather.html" target="_blank">fruit leather</a> with them, but still had heaps left over. I wondered, could I use it for dyeing my wool?</p><p>A quick Google search showed me I could. To my surprise, the <a href="https://www.instructables.com/Natural-Dye-Blackberries-On-wool-yarn/" target="_blank">page I found explaining the process</a> showed a lovely blue from dyeing with blackberries. I was determined to try it. </p><p>The instructions said to gently heat the berries in water. Not to let it simmer or boil. I didn't have a stick mixer at this point, so once the berries were softened, I mashed them.</p><p>I mordanted my yarn, including a scarf I'd recently woven and dyed it. </p><p>My first batch came out a lovely purple, with a pink tone to the purple. Quite a bit different to the colour shown on the website.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-my1Q_JDyuc0/YH-Maqf2j7I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/Qobh0qZzIHAe2IUAIPGrydcKSbUm8x99ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210303_090208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-my1Q_JDyuc0/YH-Maqf2j7I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/Qobh0qZzIHAe2IUAIPGrydcKSbUm8x99ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/20210303_090208.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the dye bath</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HaXyaskATiY/YH-MjgTpVBI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/f96ytm5603QiRU_ttH0z7DWtE3DTf47ggCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210303_144850.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HaXyaskATiY/YH-MjgTpVBI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/f96ytm5603QiRU_ttH0z7DWtE3DTf47ggCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/20210303_144850.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scarf drying</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I dyed some more yarn using the same dye bath and it came out a different shade of purple, more blue than purple this time. A third batch through the dye bath came out in a silvery grey with faint hint of blue. Miss Fifteen argues with me about whether there is any blue or purple hint to the grey.</p><p>I picked more blackberries to do this some more, but because I was going to be away for a week, I didn't have time to dye any of it, so I froze them until I did have time.</p><p>Successive dyeing has turned out quite a range of colours. No two are quite the same, and sometimes two skeins in the same batch came out in different colours. The batch that accidentally simmered came out with the least amount of colour, even though it was a fresh batch of blackberry dye liquor.</p><p>I have to say I haven't been particularly scientific or consistent in this process. Next summer when the blackberries are fruiting again, I think I will be. I will pay attention to times and temperatures, to ratios and ripeness and possibly even test the pH levels of my water.</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFk96z9x-Ok/YH-MiOLYjUI/AAAAAAAAB2U/d1_inF4ByJYmCycgot9Io9e-s6jf7qBHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210420_145313.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFk96z9x-Ok/YH-MiOLYjUI/AAAAAAAAB2U/d1_inF4ByJYmCycgot9Io9e-s6jf7qBHwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/20210420_145313.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All my different colour results</td></tr></tbody></table></p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942120763408625615.post-82995803610859980912021-04-21T13:52:00.002+12:002021-04-21T13:52:46.975+12:00Peaches <p></p><br /> Another autumn and another mass gift of peaches. Black boy peaches from previously mentioned friend and normal peaches from my inlaws. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>Another year of "what shall I do with this lot?"</p><p>We're not eating bottled peaches any more than we have previously. I think we've eaten one bottle in the past year. We're still well overstocked with jams and jellies. Even after a summer of renovations and making scones with jam and cream for lunches.</p><p>We are out of crumbles in the freezer. So I decided on peach crumbles using <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1942120763408625615/8462954222656794202?hl=en" target="_blank">this previous recipe</a>. We are also out of <a href="https://lifesentenceblock.blogspot.com/2014/03/fruit-leather.html" target="_blank">fruit leather</a>, so I will use the black boy peaches for that. </p><p>I still had plenty of peaches left over after making several peach crumbles so I decided to try drying them.</p><p>They were washed, stones removed and cut into fairly thin slices before being laid out on dehydrator trays. They dried fairly quickly and taste great. I managed quite a good yield from them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-60Z44Wm7dCc/YH-E1JU5N2I/AAAAAAAAB2I/0tYFo-eicBE79nl49aXR3jNl5rAjY3htACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210319_151216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-60Z44Wm7dCc/YH-E1JU5N2I/AAAAAAAAB2I/0tYFo-eicBE79nl49aXR3jNl5rAjY3htACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/20210319_151216.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've kept enough for us and the rest will go for snacks for the grandchildren.</p><p><br /></p>Debbie Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05165633698868069538noreply@blogger.com0