In the edible garden- July

The veges have grown so much since the photos I took for this post back in mid-May!  I've had some success and some not so great results, but I am learning more and more all the time about growing edibles well.  I'm really stepping up vege production, aiming to supply most of our veges.  I need to learn how to get a good succession of crops happening, rather than having a glut and then a famine.

This long bed was supposed to be for a hedge of blueberries (to help keep the dogs out of the garden) but I ran out of room and took it over for leafy greens. It has Pak Choy, Silverbeet, English Spinach and Raddichio.  Something is eating the Pak Choy, but I'm not sure what as I haven't found them.  I suspect snails or slugs as I haven't found any caterpillars.

 

 

The garlic seems to be growing well.  I haven't grown it before so I don't really have any idea what I'm doing with it.

Rain drops on snow peas are one of my favourite sights in the vege patch!  The snow peas are growing like weeds, and I can see that I need to improve the support structure as it's not tall enough and the tall, unsupported tops fell over on a windy day. I also think they are planted too close together as there are lots of flowers but not many peas, possibly because they are so jumbled together.  They were crowding out the garlic at the bottom so I ended up trimming them back. 

I've planted some sugar snap pea seeds in the long bed and you can see the reo wire support  in the background of the photo below. Hopefully they will do better with the better support.

The rocket has started to flower but I still like to eat it even with it's fairly strong flavour.  The lettuce in this bed is probably past it's prime and will go to the animals.  I'm trying to get some carrots to germinate under the hessian - they suffered a setback when the dogs ran through the bed just after I planted the seeds!

 Beetroot coming along well...

Under the netting I have Wongbok cabbages, Kale and Brocolli. Slugs are eating the cabbages, possibly because I planted them too close together...

 New crop of Cos Lettuce...

 My onions are growing so slowly. This bed may be a little too shady this time of year.

We've been clearing up some old wood piles and found this snake skin in one of them.  It's most likely a brown snake as that's what we seem to get here. I want to clear up as many snake friendly spots as I can before summer comes again and I'm trying not to freak out about them!

The main thing I've learned this season is to plant less and give each plant more space.  I need to sow less seeds so I have less seedlings at a time and therefore am less tempted just to cram them all in.

I think it's time to get some more seedlings under way. Are you sowing seeds at the moment?  What kind?

Things I sewed when I was supposed to be sewing something else...

I'm a bit of a fair-weather seamstress really- I've got to feel like sewing, and if something goes wrong I tend to abandon the project (is it just me?).  Thus I arrived at the point of having completely taken over the table in our study/kids space with sewing machine, overlocker and two different half-made items.  The clutter was getting to me so, newly motivated, I set about sewing the half-done projects something else. 

I saw this on Pintrest a few days ago, and then later noticed how really awful my potholders looked.  So I set about sewing some new ones.  I made a pattern from the old ones and used leftover fabric from this project.  I had some polyester wadding but was concerned it might melt when holding a realy hot pot, so instead I used layers of calico.  The calico was left-over from a cover on a mattress we bought, so I had oodles of it available.  Each potholder has 8 layers of calico on the inside which seems to work sufficiently. I made two flat ones and one glove style.

What do you think? I love the fact that they were made from materials I already had.  I also really enjoyed the freestyle, make-it-up-as-you-go nature of the project.

I've sometimes toyed with the idea of doing a market stall with some of the things I make, but there is such a difference between what it really costs to sew something and what consumers are used to paying for a cheap import.  What would you pay for a hand-made potholder?

Frugal, sustainable and earth friendly - every month...

Thanks to all who have visited my blog coming over from Down to Earth. It's been lovely having you stop by, and thanks to all who have taken the time to leave a comment.  
                       
I will get back to the gluten-free issue but I did a little sewing that I thought some of you may be interested in as it is frugal, sustainable and earth friendly.  It's also in an area that's usually a bit taboo to discuss, so I hope you can approach this post with an open mind :)

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When I started looking at ways to save money and also reduce waste, packaging and resources it wasn't long before I could see the need to find a more sustainable solution than using disposable menstrual hygiene products.  I found loads of websites about re-usable cloth menstrual pads and was convinced to give it a go.  I first bought one to try out, then unpicked it to see how it was sewn together and set about sewing my own. 

That first lot that I sewed have lasted an impressive 3 and a half years but I thought it was time to make some new ones.  I still had all the materials I bought originally so this lot will cost me nothing but my time.  It's a fairly simple sewing project, so it's achievable even for beginner sewers.

First, get a disposable pad that you like using and trace around it to make a pattern.  It will need to have "wings" that are wide enough to wrap around the underside of your underwear and clip together.  Add an even amount all around the pattern for seam allowance- say 1 or 1.5cm.

Fold the pattern in half lengthways and then cut it on the fold of the fabric to make sure both sides are symmetrical.  If that's too tricky, just cut it out sitting flat on the fabric.

You will need to cut one from the top fabric, one from the bottom fabric and one of a waterproof layer (optional).

Lots of women make pads from scraps of fabric and op-shop sourced fabric, but I decided to go for new, mostly organic fabric.  For the top fabric, you'll need something soft and absorbant.  I used organic bamboo velour which I bought here.

The bottom fabric is just a woven, cotton fabric which I bought from Spotlight.

The waterproof layer (PUL fabric) is optional, if you have very light flow you may not need it.  I use it in all my pads and you can find it from suppliers of fabric for cloth baby nappies like this one.  PUL has a shiny side which is the waterproof side and it must face inwards (towards you).

Next, draw a long oval shape that fits inside finished size (ie without seam allowance) of the winged outer pattern. This will be the pattern for the middle, absorbant layers.  You do not need to add seam allowance to this part.  Cut 3 of these (this can vary-more or less depending on your needs).  The fabric for these layers needs to be very absorbant- so something like towelling, jersey or fleece.  I used a hemp and cotton blend like this one as hemp adds absorbancy without bulk. 

Place the velour top fabric right side down and stack the middle layers on top. Pin in place.  Sew around the edge of the oval middle layers through all middle layers and the top layer using a zig-zag stitch.  Also sew a straight line in a straight stitch up the centre of the middle layers but not all the way to the edge (this will act like a channel to direct flow).

Place the PUL shiny side down and then place the bottom fabric on top, right side up. Place the top/middle layer piece on with its right side facing down.  Pin together and stitch using a straight stitch. Be careful not to go through the middle absorbant layers with this stitching.  Leave a section unstitched so you can turn it through the right way.  Trim the edges.

Turn it right side out and topstitch all around, stitching the opening closed.

Add a press snap to the wings.  You can buy some like these, but I used some cheaper ones from Spotlight that use a hammer to attach and they have been fine.

You can fold the pads around themselves and snap them shut to keep them compact for storing.

After use, soak the pad in water. I have an enameled laundry tin that I use to soak them.  It's best to change the water daily until you wash them, and I prefer to wash them within 24 hours of use (not a problem in a family of five, I'm washing all the time).  Just rinse them until the water runs clear, then put them in with a normal wash in the machine.  Line drying is preferable but they can also be tumble dried if necessary.  The water from the soaking bucket can be put on the garden, although I don't use it on edible plants just ornamentals.

By the way, cloth pads are far more comfortable and pleasant than the disposable variety. In fact, I put off trying cloth because I disliked using disposable ones, but cloth ones are much better.  Personally, I'm willing to take the extra time to wash cloth pads knowing I'm adding a little less to landfill each month, as well as keeping some more chemicals away from my body.

I'm quite interested in your feedback about this post.  Are cloth pads something you use or would consider using? Are you horrified at the thought of it?

Gluten-free is good for you: fad or fact?

For the past few years I have been gradually changing our family diet. We now eat food made from scratch, lots of home-grown veges, organic milk, mostly organic meat. I avoid additives and preservatives in food.  I run a food co-op, through which we buy organic flours, rice etc. We make our own bread, based on Cydi O'Meara's Super Mix recipe, fresh everyday from organic ingredients.  We now use home-made soap, green cleaners, less chemicals.

So, I should be feeling healthier than ever, right? Wrong.

For the last 18 months at least I have just "felt unwell".  I think I haven't looked very well either.  I have felt tired, lethargic, occasionally nauseus for no reason, and bloated.  Last Christmas I started having cramping and other bowel issues as well, so I went to the doctor and was checked for various problems including bowel cancer.  Apparently there was nothing wrong with me, except borderline anaemia (for which there was no apparent cause either).  With such vague symptoms it was hard to convince the doctor there was any illness to be checked out.  Despite seeing two different doctors, neither suggested that diet could be a cause or tested me for gluten intolerance.

Meanwhile, I kept reading about gluten-free diets, paleo diets, dairy-free diets. Some of my friends follow various diets like these too.  Now, I am quite skeptical when it comes to diets and usually just dismiss them. I prefer to stick to eveything in moderation, a balanced diet and exercise.  But one day I realised that I felt much worse in the afternoons, after lunch.  I had an "aha" moment - it must be the bread.  Such healthy bread though, it was hard to believe that it was causing health troubles.

I figured I had nothing to lose, so I embarked on a more or less gluten free diet for a week.  The effect was almost instantaneous.  Suddenly, I just "felt well". No bloating, heaps of energy, no nausea.  When my husband got home from work each day he said he could tell if I had eaten bread or pasta or other gluten filled food, just by looking at me.  I went from falling asleep on the lounge at 8pm to knitting by the fire at midnight.

Obviously, the whole gluten-free diet deserved more attention!  My 11 year old son has always had vague bouts of nausea and diahorrea- nothing serious enough or specific enough to warrant medical intervention, but niggling away in the background.  I switched him to gluten-free too. Among other results, he became more cheerful!

Thus began my research into gluten and it's effects on the body (and mind).  Switching to a gluten-free diet is not simple, and packaged products that are "gluten-free" are not therefore additive-free, preservative-free or healthy.  They are also heavy on packaging and heavy on the wallet.  The last thing I wanted to do was go back to expensive, packaged food. 

Next: learning more about the effect of grains and gluten, and can I still eat pizza?

Hola Mexico!

This term I suggested we spend time learning about a country, it's culture, history, geography, language etc.  And, of course, it's food.  Food was the top priority for Nathan, who convinced the girls that Mexico or France would be a good option because of the potentially yummy food we could cook and eat :).  They settled on Mexico.

We use an ecclectic, Unit-style, Charlotte Mason-ish (story based) approach, with lots of scope for the children to pursue areas they become interested in.  For our family, both the children and myself appreciate a framework for our learning.  Rather than finding this framework restrictive, the children enjoy having a structure to guide them along.  I think the key is to make sure the structure is flexible and serves them, not the other way around.

We will use Galloping the Globe (G the G) as a spine, particularly the Literature suggestions, activites, and map-work.  We will use The Story of the World, Vol.2 (Chapter 32 & 33) as the spine for the History section as well as The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia.

Some activities (like colouring) will suit Amy (Kindergarten) and Lili (Year 2) more than Nathan (Yr 6).  Some of the reading and research suits Nathans level better.

The children will use this blog post to choose what they will learn about, in whatever order they like. They will most likely use a notebook to record what they are doing, and I will also take photos and record all of our activites on another blog post.

Most of the books we are using were purchased from https://www.bookdepository.com/

Here's the outline we will use:

General

Research the colours and coat of arms of the Mexican flag. 

Colour the flag (G the G). 

Do the mexican flag puzzle at http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/1712004174C?z=6&m=A9C9000F  

Locate Mexico on the globe, in the atlas and on the North American map (G the G).  


Learn about the capital city, population, type of government, currency, religion etc.  Fill in the info chart on the Mexican map (G the G).

Learn about the landscapes, geography and native plants of Mexico. Using a map of Mexico, draw in where volcanoes, mountains, rivers etc are. Add animals and plants for each area eg desert, forest etc.

See http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/places/find/mexico/
and http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0212302/mexico.html
and http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/mexico.html 
Info about plants and animals http://www.vivanatura.org/index.html 

Do a cactus art work (look at our story books for inspiration on Mexican style and colours).

Volcanoes

Learn about why volcanoes happen. 

Watch http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/231-how-volcanoes-work-video.htm

Read more info here http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-volcano.htm  

Short news clip about a recent eruption of Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/may/15/mexico-popocatepetl-volcano-erupts-video

Watch http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/forces-of-nature-kids/volcanoes-101-kids/ 

Video of an underwater volcano erupting http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/environment/environment-natural-disasters/volcanoes/west-mata-submarine-volcano-vin/

Look at the atlas to see where volcanoes exist worldwide.

Read Hill of Fire by Thomas P. Lewis, based on the eruption of Paricutin volcano in 1943.  

Learn about the Paricutin volcano- one of the few times people have witnessed the "birth" of a volcano. See http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/Paricutin.html - this website more for Nathan to read on his own. Includes an eyewitness account.
See photos of Paricutin here http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/img_paricutin.html

Map showing Mexico's volcanoes http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Mexico/Maps/map_mexico_volcanoes.html
 
Try the volcano quiz here http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/games/puzzlesquizzes/quizyournoodle-volcanoes/

History

The Mayans
Listen to The Story of the World Chapter 32
Read Kingfisher History Encylopedia pages 86 & 87
Do the Mayan activity pages from The Story of the World

The Aztecs
Listen again to Chapter 32 if you want to.
Read Kingfisher History Encylopedia pages 196 & 197

Spanish Conquistadors and Hernando Cortes
Listen to The Story of the World Chapter 33
Read Kingfisher History Encylopedia page 220
Do some of the activity pages from SOTW

Mexican Independence from Spain

See http://www.inside-mexico.com/featureindep.htm

Read Cactus Soup by Eric A. Kimmel

Language, Art, Music, Sport and Culture

Learn to count to ten in Spanish (G the G).  

Do the "Counting in Spanish" crossword (G the G).

Try adding and subtracting in Spanish.

Learn the other Spanish phrases at the back of The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote by Tony Johnston.

ReadThe Tale of Rabbit and Coyote by Tony Johnston- a Mexican folkstory.
Read Borreguita and the Coyote by Verna Aardema.

Write your own Mexican style folktale, perhaps with Coyote or Rabbit as characters. These types of stories usually try to explain something (like why Coyote howls at the moon) and/or have a moral.  What will your story try to explain?

Read Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story by Tomie dePaola. 

Look at/read Mexican Art and Architecture by Anna Carew-Miller

Bullfighting

Watch the video about bullfighting here  (Note: has some graphic bullfighting scenes)   

Read The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

Do you think bullfighting is OK? Why or why not?

Mariachi Music 

Watch some Mariachi Music here and  here
Make some Castanets
or Marracas
Make a Mariachi puppet

Holidays and Celebrations

Find out about the following Mexican special days and celebrations.

What do they celebrate?
Why is that day important? What is the origin of the celebration?
When do they happen?
How do they celebrate? What special foods, activities and decorations are part of the celebration? Are there any special symbols?


- El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

See http://www.celebrate-day-of-the-dead.com/day-of-the-dead-facts.html

Draw and decorate a Day of the Dead skull - see here  and here and here

Make Papel Picado paper art http://www.teachkidsart.net/mexican-papel-picado/
more instructions and templates here

Turn a photo of yourself into a Day of the Dead sugar skull at http://www.picmonkey.com/# like this

Do a print artwork like this
 

 - Mexican Independence Day

See http://www.inside-mexico.com/featureindep.htm
 
What is a "fiesta"?

Make "Fiesta Friends" paper dolls from here

Make a newspaper sombrero
 

- Navidad (Christmas)

Watch the story about The Legend of the Poinsettia here

Read about Las Posadas http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/christmas/posadas.htm

Hola, cena! (Hello, dinner!)

Read Huevos Rancheros, A Mexican Tale by Stefan Czernecki and then cook Huevos Rancheros.
Choose recipes from the cookbooks to make and eat.