Sunday, September 15, 2013

Grow. Harvest. Eat.


For the first time I am making an effort to really grow all our own vegetables, rather than just have a few growing to supplement what we buy.  I need to dig more vege beds so I have enough space, and I know I still need to sharpen my skills in seed raising, succesion planting, pest control and so on. That's "Grow".
But what about Harvest and Eat?  It may seem strange to you, but I realised that I was leaving things in the garden longer than I really should instead of picking it.  Perhaps because it's so nice to walk past and see a plant producing successfully and I want to savour the success? We have lovely soil here at our new house, and after struggling to grow veges for years in hard-packed-clay-with-no-top-soil, having veges grow well is still something of a novelty. 
So I have made some conscious harvesting expeditions in the garden.  If I pick it and it's inside ready to go then I will use it. I have also stopped buying most other vegetables, except for a few staples like potato and carrots.  This forces me to use what I have growing in new and creative ways. 


 Just how many different ways can you eat brocolli, kale and spinach?  How many lettuces can we get through in a week?  How many days will little girls refuse half their dinner, because it's green, before they realise there's just more greens coming?
 What are you harvesting at the moment? Got any recipe suggestions for kale?

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Twelve.

 Nerf war with family and friends....
 Pretty in pink...and...armed and dangerous!

 Some thought it best to take cover. Creative shield Nan!

 New art supply gifts means a work in progress (it says "slick" in case you were wondering)...
 A beautiful evening and location for a bonfire...

 
 
 Sparkler "bombs"...

 and sparklers...



We're so proud of you! Happy Birthday, Nathan xxx