We have always had a veggie garden and our children have all been unhappy helpers at various stages of their growing up years. I do get it, I really do - which child wants to give up playtime to labour for their food? However I needed some one to collect cabbage moth grubs or snails; to weed seedling beds and dig out thistles; to turn soil, rake soil and spread mulch. We wanted them to know how to look after themselves, to feed themselves and to be appreciative of where their food came from. Whats the good of knowing all the algebraic formulas, for example, if you didn't know how to cook or sew or change a tyre or grow some food? Our aim in homeschooling was to teach them life skills and a life long love of learning. I'm chuffed to report that the oldest five have all had or have decent veg plots in their backyards - and with a little more maturing and a permanent abode, theres still hope for the two youngest ;)
This one is offspring #5 - Bee - in her little patch. Not much space for a garden but she and her partner have made it as big as they could and we've all been enjoying the fruits of their labours! I think even just the thought that we have a garden and/or have the capability to grow food, makes this stay at home time a little easier. And of course the fact that we can spend as many hours of the day as we like pooltling about in it regardless of social distancing measures. I can only imagine what it would be like to live in a tiny apartment without access to anything green and outdoorsy - we really do all need a good soak in the natural world from time to time, don't you think?
The harvest wasn't huge but there were certainly enough tomatoes for many salads, loads of delicious parsley to add to everything, cucumbers, beans and a rather productive basil crop which was processed into pesto and popped in the freezer for winter. I have shared our basil pesto recipe before but I'm going to add a vegan one which is equally delicious.
We picked a lot of calendula flowers and dried the petals for......something! Not sure what but the last ones I dried were used to decorate raw slices and cakes. Will let you know ;)
The last few clematis flowers are still clinging to the vine. The vine needs removing as its climbing onto the espaliered plums so that will be a job later in winter.
And the last of the roses adding some colour over the fence. I love roses but oh the thorns are truly terrifying - this one in particular!
Lastly, theres the one and only surviving sunflower! They are such a satisfying flower to grow aren't they? Not only do they have such a shiny, happy face that daily follows the sun but when the display is over, they provide lots of plump little seeds! True, its a pain to crack them all however now would be the perfect time to spend an afternoon doing just that!
I think I'll delegate that job though haha!!!
I'm actually missing having a garden of my own so it's lovely to potter about in my girls little plot - although it won't be long and there'll be very little garden time. Winter is on his way and then it will just be a quick visit outside for some greens and back to the warmth of the fire.
And that has it's merits too!
I bought some seedlings today for my garden as it is the time of the year (and garden centres have been open since last Monday).
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy that the days are getting longer. I live better during the warm season. I always fear I wouldn't survive winter although I know it's completey unrational and I can't explain it.
Harbesting is a wonderful time (if it wasn't a reminder that winter is just around the corner).
Regula
Oh I hear you on the winter survival! Buying our bus and heading to northern Australia during the winter months was something I'd wanted to do for years. Tasmania has dreary long winters and I struggle every year with the lack of sunshine. Really struggle with the glooms. I always try to celebrate Winter Solstice because its a marker of the days getting longer and the sun returning!
DeleteYour irrational thoughts re not surviving reminds me of my own - I always feel totally unsafe in a forest, hemmed in and cornered. As if theres someone lurking and will pounce at any moment. I know its irrational and the only explanation that I can think of is maybe it's a past life experience? I've had no bad things happen there but the feeling is often overpowering so I try to stay out in the open!
I'm with you in the fact that I'd struggle without a garden, however tiny it may be. Summer just gone we didn't plant much, but still had a good feed of tomatoes (probably same 2 varieties as in your basket) & am still picking silver beet. We had frost here until into October last year & I expect you are going to have the same cold snap this week as here. Snow down to 800mts on Friday, so just might get Mt. Baw Baw. We are going to reconfigure our garden over winter to make it easier as we age and for my back. Keep warm, take care, stay safe & huggles.
ReplyDeleteYou must be quite high in the mountains then Susan? Its the same here in Sheffield - frosts can occur until December and theres even been snowflakes at Christmas! The sun is shining this morning but yes I'm sure we will get that cold snap too - we are stocking the verandah with firewood so its only a short walk to get it!
DeleteEnjoy your garden designing!
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving such a lovely comment. Your daughter's garden looks good, and some lovely produce by the sounds of it. I will enjoy reading through your blog. :)
ReplyDeleteHello there! Thanks for popping in...I hope you find something here that interests you!
DeleteHi via Serenata's blog!
ReplyDeleteIt is a relief when one's offspring inherits a love of gardening!
I see you are in Tassie..we have friends there near Georgetown and another more rural. We would love to visit as we have been going to Aotearoa NZ many times...but it has been too much of a financial stretch unfortunately.
Hi Gwynneth! Fancy knowing someone here in little old Tassie! Its a small world indeed. I'm wondering if you are originally from NZ and visiting family there? We spent a glorious 10 days on the South Island two years back and are keen to go again. For longer. Maybe even travel in a camper van for 6 months or so. Like for you though, it comes back to finances ;)
ReplyDeleteNo, not from NZ..my husband has visited 16 times in the past 20 years..and since 2012 I have visited 4 times...the first time for 6 months..and I was hooked!! On the third visit I learned of cousins ..second or third cousins I think..and last visit we managed a visit to them in Northland. Fun to add Karaitiana as one of the family surnames!!
DeleteOh gosh that's a lot of visits! It certainly is a beautiful part of the world and having family there is a bonus!
DeleteGardening is definitely part of our home education even down to the unhappy helpers! It is amazing how much you can produce in small space isn't it? My garden is not particularly big and I have slowly, over the years, worked on making in produce as much as possible for us. It is very rewarding.
ReplyDeleteYou could try making a salve or hand cream with your calendula petals. It you soak them oil for several weeks, I would use a good quality olive oil but I think others are possible. Then you drain the oil through a sieve to get rid of the petals and melt some beeswax and stir it into the oil (heat the oil a little as otherwise the beeswax solidifies too quickly in the oil and doesn't mix). If you want to make hand cream you might need extra ingredients like shea butter. There are loads of recipes for this online if you search for them.
It is very rewarding indeed. I always found it funny that helping in the garden was fun until they HAD to help!
DeleteThanks for the recommendation re hand cream - I hadn't thought of that. I have made salve with chickweed before, and plantain leaves another time using a similar method but now that I think about it the addition of shea butter might have made it a bit more 'creamy'. They did/do make a good salve for nappy rash though!