My Little Seed Tunnel...

I was getting a bit tired of humping all my trays back and forth every morning and night...

So I cut some pliable bamboo, bent it to fit in between the table palings and wrapped a thick plastic over it...

Eggs, Glorious Eggs...

It was starting to feel  like forever since the girls laid an egg, but this week I was surprised to find a sole egg nestled in the hay...and from then on eggs everyday. How wonderful to have them back.

The Orange Oil And Vinegar Experiment...

I read recently a recipe for a household spray and wipe cleaner, only two ingredients, so I decided to give it a whirl and see if it really works. On the 13th of August I rifled through my nieces leftovers from her visit and emerged with an orange worth of peels. I removed the pith and placed them (artfully of course) in the jar. Then I covered them with white vinegar and sealed the jar. About a week ago I opened the jar, very little vinegar smell, light change in colour.

Today 29th Aug, this is the concentrate. It will be interesting to see how well this works.The colour is nice and the vinegar smell has mostly gone. I just used one orange worth of peel and vinegar to cover it. Put in a glass jar with a good fitting top. Leave sit for two weeks and then dilute with water they say...wish me luck!

Has Spring...Sprung?

So much growth in the garden at the moment. I was really surprised how quickly my garlic come up...now there are little sprouts all over the place! Its my first time growing garlic so I am quite chuffed. And if home grown garlic is worth waiting for as much as home grown asparagus is...then I will be in heaven.

The coriander is looking great. Did have a slow start but I think it likes its new position now...

Here is one of the small pieces I removed from the rhubarb pot and planted in the big garden, it has so much new growth on it. The second piece I planted is doing well and the third piece that I left in the tin bucket has spread itself out. I'm hoping to have three large plants with any luck. Theres going to be lots of rhubarb nummies in my kitchen soon!

A wayward Urenika growing very happily. I have some more sprouting in the cupboard at the moment so i am going to throw those in too. I didn't actually eat any this time, I thought it better to build up seed spuds in this first year...yes it might be crazy but I want lots *giggles*

Its That Time Again...

Seeds, seeds, seeds!

Over the last few days I have sown a lot of seed. Some larger quantities to get an early start on and some smaller quantities to start successive sowings. Here is everything so far...



Amish Paste tomato                                                
Evergreen tomato
Fardenlosa bean
Barlotti bean
Catnip
Painted Mountain corn
Calendula
Borage
Cayenne peppers
Butternut pumpkin
Jack Be Little pumpkin
Sage                                                               
Sunflower (3rd gen seed)
Onwards Peas (2nd gen seed)
Broad beans
Swan plants
Rosemary
Silverbeet
Marigold
Goji berry
Thorn less Blackberry

The Garden Post...

Growing a little bit more every day...flowering passionfruit. I am hoping it will grow all over this bamboo fence and provide a bit of shelter for the garden. I still have one more plant about the same size which I have to find a home for as well.

The borage seems to like its new spot and apart from the odd nibble, is looking very healthy. They will make a lovely border later on and I'm sure the bees will appreciate them too!

More spears of asparagus coming up. Even the ones I have missed which have grown quite long are sweet and tender...and are still getting devoured before getting past the garden gate. I have always been passionate about asparagus but when you grow it from seed and then wait patiently for a couple of years before harvesting, its just that much better!

The first calendula bloom...just love that vibrant orange glow. A great companion plant and there is always something so cheery about them.

I got an early birthday present from my Mum and Dad, the book 'Choosing & Raising Chickens'. My first chicken book...yay. Even my nieces wanted to have a look at it. Though, when you are 6 and 9 yrs old,  names like "Transylvanian Naked Neck" and "Scots Dumpy" are hilariously funny...Hell, I'm 43 and I think they are funny! Humour aside, it is a great book and will be well read.

Sundown...

Little Cottontails...

Lipstick grazing in the garden. She is never far away from Sugar or the chooks, especially at breakfast time!

Here is that cactus pup I removed from the large one in the garden last year...as you can see, it has its own pup now and is growing happily on the deck at my brothers house.

Five minute fridge magnet diy, cheap and cheerful and will hold a ton of artwork in place!

An Afternoon In The Garden...

We had lovely blue sky yesterday so I braved the cool breeze, made a cup of tea and wandered down to the garden for a potter. There was still garlic to plant and a couple of other little jobs to do (planting a flowering passionfruit and large calendula, stringing up bamboo tepee for beans and peas and some weeding) and a fine day is not to be sniffed at this time of the year. 

I got to nibble on a few smaller asparagus spears which were absolutely divine! Guess there won’t be any making it to the grill this year...they haven’t got past the garden gate as yet. The borage plants have grown a little bigger and even the cape gooseberries have braved the cold and had a little spurt.

 Tonight I dragged out my seeds, bagged up some goodies to send the garlic lady and also put aside some I want to plant shortly. Most things grow really well under the back veranda so I am going to make use of this to get an early start on spring/summer seedlings. This year all the extra seedlings I grow will be used as part of the “Food Is Free” project...Cliff styles! If you haven’t heard of it you are missing out on some really feel good fuzzies. People all over the world are sharing their extra garden goodies and extra plants by putting them out the front of their house with a food is free sign...and anyone can come and take something or leave something to share. Not a new concept but a worthwhile one all the same.  

                                                                             

The Vintage Quilt...

 
My sniffle has turned for the worse and for the last two days I have been a snotty, wheezing lump. I would love to say that I have planted the rest of the Garlic or stripped the rest of the Rimu table but I haven’t, just reaching for a tissue is tiring. 

It has been a busy day and after making a cuppa and filling my hotty bottle I climbed into a fresh bed with my new vintage quilt which is making quite a cheerful addition to my room...and I thought I would share.

Not only is this lime green gem colourful and bright, it is warm and comforting. It seems to be a cotton/linen type fabric and given its age, it is in fabulous condition. I remember my Nana having quilts like these in the camphor chest, more than many moons ago! And how did this darling quilt end up adorning my bed? I found it in an opshop for two dollars.  

Aww, Aunty...Not Another One!

This was the greeting I got when I picked up my nieces from school last week. In the back of my nana wagon sat an old table, painted sunshine yellow and that had seen better days.

I had found it on my travels, its price tag $3. After having a quick look I found that underneath that “averagely pleasant” sunshine yellow paint was a lovely Rimu table, just waiting to be discovered. It HAD to come home with me, there was no question about it. I turned and looked at Liv who was smiling cheekily and explained that this was no ordinary table, this was treasure! Here is the table as I got it.

While I wrestled to get it up the side of the house the legs got tangled on some weeds and off they came, leaving me standing on the path with nothing but the table top. I was both legless and speechless! 

Luckily, the legs weren’t damaged during their tumble and I was also saved the task of having to remove the top for stripping. Yesterday I got most of the paint stripped off the legs and skirt and here you can see how lovely the wood is underneath.

The Latest From The Garden...

Despite a turn for the worse in the weather, the garden has had some nice growth. The Borage the girls and I planted is noticeably bigger and the Rhubarb and Coriander are settling in well. There are lots of spears growing on the Asparagus so I might even get to grill a couple as a treat this year, yum! The Rosemary and Limes have lovely flowers on them and the Cape Gooseberry and Chilli are enjoying their winter spot sheltered under the porch. 

Today I pulled out the last of the baby carrots, the last five surviving parsnips and most of the beets to make way for some of the garlic a lovely lady sent to me, yes I’m late, I know...but better late than never. In exchange for the garlic I am sending her a feast of seeds from my collection, I LOVE sharing seed! The garlic is Kakanui and Takahue, I’ve never grown garlic before so I hope it does well in my little garden.