I germinate everything in the shadehouse this time of year. Big seeds like beans and zucchini, I plant straight into individual pots. But small seeds like the leafy greens are all planted in a mixture of sand and mowed cow pats then transplanted at the two leaf stage into individual pots.
Banana season peaks in February in this part of the world (northern NSW).
I’m planting carrots, parsnips, spring onions, and beetroot, all by my standard method. The floods really knocked all my root crops around so I’m keen to get a new round in. However my main job this week is to refresh the strawberry patch.
I’m picking sweet corn in my garden at the moment, and even if you aren’t growing it, you should be able to find it in season at your local Farmers’ Market. This is my favourite breakfast at the moment.
We celebrated New Year’s Eve at a barbeque with neighbours. It’s one of the things I love about living in a functioning community – socialising within walking distance. I could go on about greenhouse footprints but really it’s enough that I can drink half a bottle of red wine and wander home in the starlight wishing happy New Year to the owlet nightjar that lives on the way!
The longest day, the shortest night, the night of midsummer dreaming. In these longest days it is easy to get wrapped up, carried away, with projects and plans. It is easy to get to runaway speed especially in Australia where the Christmas holidays fall on the midsummer solstice (and not the traditional midwinter one). It is good to take a moment to remember to relax and enjoy life. It is…
Beans are like octopus – they need to be cooked either very fast or very slow.