Become NEARLY self sufficient

I made passionfruit melting moments!

.. I have had a lovely morning baking ~

• Monte Carlos (gluten, egg and dairy free so that Ume can eat them)
• Sourdough bread
• Fritelli di cavolfiore (cauliflower fritters)

Start filling it tomorrow!

prepared an area to start a compost heap. I read in an organic gardening book that you can make decent compost in as little as six weeks so by the new year we should have some decent compost and will be able to start planting. We already have lots of fruit trees including mangoes, lychees, oranges, lemons, starfruit, guava, coconut, tangelo, grapefruit, mandarine, mulberry, limes. I just need to care for them a bit better as I don’t know much about growing fruit and we have lost a couple of trees since we moved here. I plan to plant a new fruit or vegetable each week or two when we start planting. Any suggestions for what I should start with?

if I join you!

.... rhubarb stalks and field mushrooms..

I guess I know what is on the menu tonight ;-)

.... more plantings :

• different varieties of tomatoes
• capsicums, plus a mini chocolate one
• spinach seeds
• basil
• aubergine
• artichoke
• kale
• sprouts
• earth chestnut
• wild strawberry

.... still to plant :

• corn seeds
• lettuce seeds
• salad mixes
• silverbeet
• leeks
• peas
• beans

A very exciting week, as I purchased a Tamarillo tree. I didn’t think I would be able to grow this so far south, but I have been assured that as long as I can keep the frost off it during the winter months, it should be very happy – yay..!

... very, very, challenging weather, I have managed to plant up my spring/summer crops.

All my potatoes, raspberries and strawberries have been placed into apple crates above very water logged ground.

• tomatoes
• basil
• capsicums
• varieties of beans
• parsnips
• beetroot
• zucchini
• pumpkin
• broccoli

for now that will do until I get some more bins into place. Fingers crossed that these all survive this crazy weather!

... I decided to stay in today and catch up with some baking and use up a basketful of limes that a lovely friend provided -

• 10 pots of lime marmalade
• cape gooseberry and apple jam
• muesli
• choc-citrus cookies
• huge pot of vegetable soup
• pasta sauce
• potato gnocchi

_{I’ve been busy..!}

... and I can’t get enough of it.

I have dug up vegetable plots, moved compost, cleaned up the herb wheel and made way for more produce space.

We have had amazing rains this winter and apparently still more to come. I am so tempted to plant seeds, but I know I have to be patient ~ the ground is so sodden and it would just be futile.

So meanwhile, I am preparing more beds and clearing up. We also are making raised beds in old apple bins that a kindly neighbour donated to counteract a really poorly drained area of the property.

The sunny days have made me feel so good :)