Flowering Broccolini at 4am

Currently it is 4am in the morning.  I have been awake since 2.30am. Getting out of bed to do something productive is not my preferred option – it is just too cold and may wake the sleeping family.

So now I am hiding under the covers so the illuminated light from my mobile phone doesn’t awake my husband.

Sharing a photograph of flowering broccolini at 4am just feels appropriate (not sure why).

I have allowed one full bed of brocollini to flower this season because it attracts the bees and because it also attracts me to the garden too – as very little is currently flowering.  Don’t worry there is plenty of brocollini to eat.

I’m feeling a little sleepy now….

What Are You Harvesting Now?

Up early this morning to capture the garden in the gentle morning light.

My lack of edible gardening posts at home, is a direct result of not venturing outside.  As much as I love being outside in the garden, sometimes life gets in the way of doing what you want.

I sense life is changing back to allow more time in the garden.  Bliss can once again return.

Mandarins

Snow Peas

Spinach

Flowering Rockett

Broccolini

Broad Beans

Chilies

Garlic

New Community Garden Update – Clearing the Overgrowth

Green = raised garden beds, Blue = compost, Red = permanent no dig garden

A massive clean up and tidy was organised yesterday behind our town’s community hall.  Trees were trimmed, rubbished removed and weeds cleared.  Everyone was getting ready for phase one of our community garden project.

I am totally amazed and impressed with the ‘can do’ attitude and vision of those who are behind the building of this community garden.

Keeping it fun and enjoyable is what you want if you desire to attract others to the vision.

Not Allowing the Weather to Keep Me From the Veggie Patch

Finally the gale force winds subsided to just a breezey day.  Outside in the sun it was bliss.  After two weeks away from my spirit heeling garden, I ventured outside.

Gardening calms my busy mind, allowing me to be more connected and mindful to the moment – not revisiting the past or planning for the future.  Just being and just enjoying the now.

As our Little One slept, I was lost in the warmth of the moment – not aware of the cold approaching.

The loud thunder crash had me spinning on the spot to look up.  There is green in those clouds!!!! Run!!!!!

It was a mad rush to get our cars undercover and windows shut.  Luckily our fifth hail storm for the year, caused no damage. 

Tomorrow I plan to spend more time in our garden planting more peas, garlic and broad beans.

Despite the weather challenges we have had recently, I am determined to bring more balance to my life and my blog writing – getting in the garden will achieve both.

P.S. Today I was told it was ‘Mindful’ May. Something to ponder.

Cooking Up a Roasted Tomato Pasta Sauce Storm

I have been cooking up a storm in the kitchen – making my roasted tomato, pasta sauce in bulk.

This pasta sauce fed my family last night.  It will also feed the Ladies at the Picton CWA branch today and the Seed Savers group on Saturday.

All ingredients in my sauce were sourced within a 30 kilometer radius from my home (except the pine nuts):

* Tomatoes and carrots from a local farmer
* Garlic from Little Field Mice Farm
* Basil and oregano from my garden

Do you rely 100% on supermarkets for your food?

Or are you one of the increasing numbers of people taking control of their own food sourcing, growing and producing – their food security?

If you have never grown your own food, it is never too late to join the millions of home growers.  My advice is to start with herbs or rockett lettuce (both will be kind to the beginner).

Data suggest that more than half (52 per cent) of all Australian households are growing some of their own food and a further 13 per cent report they intend to start.

What will you start growing today or what was the very first edible plant you grew?

Easy Fence Making with Weaving Wattle Branches

It is raining.  It always rains over Easter.  I can only remember two Easters it hasn’t rained.

Most projects on my long weekend todo list, requires sunlight (painting, building etc). Despite the rain I was very keen to get into the garden.

Amongst the rain falling on my face, I had a random, spontaneous idea. “Let’s make a veggie garden patch fence with wattle branches”. We have a wattle vine bush in our back yard which is in desperate need of a major trim.  Now I have a use for those wattle brances.

Three hours later (and thanks to our Little One for having a big sleep), I completed my weaving creation.

Standing approximately 40 cm tall, it will help to keep two white fluff balls and a cheeky toddler out of my new broad bean seedlings.  Think I will continue weaving around the circumference of this garden patch – for complete protection.

Feeling very satisfied with my efforts today.

Why is it Sustainable to Add Fun for Children in an Edible Garden?

A friend told me a story years ago that profoundly changed my attitude towards gardening and sustainability.

She described her own childhood with sustainable ‘hippie’ parents. Gardening for her as a child was a chore – always work that she, her siblings and parents needed to do in order to ensure food was on the table.

What struck me as noteworthy was now as an adult, she wants nothing to do with growing food, as she holds the belief, it is just hard work.

Her story has impacted my sustainable gardening approach.  I want dearly to create a magical and fun garden for children to love as well as a food growing garden.

Perhaps when building a sustainable edible garden, including fun ‘spaces’ for children is the most sustainable thing we can do – to inspire the next generation.

Fun, inspirational, magical, colourful, creative and beautiful is just as important for our garden, as sustainable and practical.

Every day I am adding new, exciting and fun items for our Little One to discover and interact with in the garden.  These little birds have been ‘liquid nailed’ to our recently repaired back deck rails.  I watched and waited till she saw them – her reaction was pure joy (for me and her).