Our Vegetable Garden Gets Us Through Tax Time

I'd rather be gluing glitter than doing my tax

The brand new fiancial year, means the commencement of a period of being ‘out of balance’. 

Complaining isn’t helpful so I focus on just getting the job done – completing  our tax returns for our businesses.  If I had a full day or two the task would be relatively easy however this is the season for juggling multitasks.

There is a slight saving grace this tax period – our veggie garden.  For over two weeks we have been totally eating out our pantry after totally eating out the fridge.  However having fresh produce in our garden meant it didn’t matter that we hadn’t got to the  grocery store in weeks. We ate well and have now got to the grocery store but I still need to finish my tax return.

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.

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.

DIY Bean and Peas Climbing Trellis

This post is not a ‘how to build’ instructional guide on building your own trellis.  I am no expert.

This was my first attempt of building a climbing frame from tree branches that had blown down in storms. I just decided to give it a go. The string is unbleached and organic so hence will break down in time in the garden.

Is it toddler proof? Not really up to a grade 4 or 5 toddler destruction storm but should be OK for the winds we regularly get around here.

Underneath my home made trellis, our Little One and I planted more snow peas.

Thinking it may become a statuette feature in the garden when covered in snow peas.  I’ll post photos in a couple of weeks.

Happy gardening 🙂

Teaching Your Children to Grow Food

This weekend I had the chance to get into the garden with our Little One.  Only two years old and she loves planting seeds with her Mummy.

I truly believe, teaching children to grow food is a wonderful gift to give them.  Even if you have no idea of growing your own food, you can still be a great teacher – the best way to learn is to teach (in my humble opinion).

If you have never grown any plants before but want to start your teaching edible garden – what do I suggest?

*  Start with a large garden pot as your garden (I starting growing out of pots because at the time I didn’t have a garden).

* Choose a location that gets at least six hours of sunshine a day and preferably with shade protection from the harsh late summer afternoon light (remember pots can be moved if you change your mind on the location).

* Fill your garden pot with good organic potting mixture and organic compost – 1 part compost to 2 parts potting mixture. Soil is very important for the success of the plants – edible plants need organic matter to feed on, so hence why add extra compost (organic potting mixture and compost can be purchased at your local nursery ).

* My choice of seeds if teaching children, is cherry tomatoes (if planting in spring) or sugar snap peas (if planting in Autumn).  Both these plants will produce food that children can eat straight off the plant and are relatively easy to grow.  Please note both of these plants will need help supporting their weight – tie them against a fence, wooden stake etc as they grow.

* Water daily.

Children get so much enjoyment from growing their own food.  I believe one of the reasons, our Little One is a good fruit and vegetable eater, is because of the excitement she has picking her own food to eat.

If you have never grown your own food,  my bet is you will be equally excited when the plant starts to grow.

Just have fun!

Photograph Sunday – Veggie Patch Harvesting

I love Autumn – still lots of summer harvest to collect and enjoy, with the excitement of commencing the Autumn seed planting.

Stopping regularly to snack on cherry tomatoes, beans and chick peas – the veggie garden is a wonderful real life ‘class room’ for children.

This weekend we will be getting an abundance of Vitamin G.

Have a great weekend. 🙂

Gluten and Dairy Free, Bean Vegetable Patties that Toddlers Will Eat

Here is a recipe for those bread crumbs you have been making, from bread crusts children won’t eat.  Of course you can use store purchased bread crumbs too.

This recipe is gluten and dairy free,  vegetarian, vegan, good for diabetics (portion controlled), and toddlers (our little one loves them.  The family male carnivore thought they were okay too.

Bean and Vegetable Patties
I don’t have quantities listed as you have freedom to add more or less of anything,  to suit your taste.

*  Garlic
*  Butter beans (or cannellini beans or chickpeas)
*  Vegetables (I use up what’s in the fridge or what is seasonal in the garden – this time I used mushrooms,  zucchini,  tomatoes and carrots)
*  Herbs (again what is fresh and currently growing in my garden: parsley flat and curly leaf and coriander confetti)
*  A tiny bit of sweet chilly sauce  (optonial but leave out if diabetic)
* Bread crumbs (gluten free)
* Bread crumbs for dusting

* Add everything into a food processor except the bread crumbs for dusting.

* Mix away till everything turns into a coarse paste.  If the mixture is too moist add more bread crumbs.
* Spread the bread crumbs for dusting onto a flat surface.
* Make hand full balls from the mixture and roll over the bread crumbs, ensuring a good coating.
* Fry balls over a medium heat in oil (I prefer rice bran oil). You can flatten the balls a little at this stage with a spatula.

* Fry till golden brown on each side.

They are nice with a little dairy free mayonnaise or sweet chilly sauce for vegans (avoid sweet chilly sauce if diabetic).

Enjoy 🙂