Carrots are actually making it inside

It seems that for a short time at least, we might actually be getting to eat some home grown carrots. My husband and I, that is. With the garden netting in place to stop the free roaming chickens scratching up the vegies, it seems the children have also had their stealthy carrot consumption curbed.

I am in two minds about this, as I love the taste of fresh picked carrots and finally I'm getting some for dinner. But without having free access to the beds, my children aren't eating so many of their own accord. Fortunately they are all together pretty good vegetable eaters so they still get plenty as snacks and at meals.

Biodome dreams

I would LOVE a biodome greenhouse. I like the way they look and what can be created in the space. I would grow plants as well as seedlings, I could extend growing seasons by months and not just a few weeks. It would be a living space as well as a growing space, where we could relax and enjoy meals.

But, in reality I know it is not really an option. The cost and the space as two big issues that prohibit my biodome dreams becoming reality.

So I need to make the best of what I have. This week I rearranged my polycarbonate greenhouse, moving shelving and making decisions about what plants are to be in there. The big change though, is the new little 3 piece table and chair setting. I now have enough room (just) to sit and enjoy the peace and possibility that a greenhouse can offer. I could probably even enjoy afternoon tea, but the real estate is in high demand with only seating for two.

There are some things that we need to compromise on in life. I think this is a good mid way point because I can already tell how much I will enjoy my new space. But I still have my far off biodome dreams...

Slow progress but the turnip swedes are good

The start of winter means slow progress in the garden.  The patch is slowly taking shape, with good winter plants, such as kale, broccoli, mustard spinach, coriander and lettuce growing nicely.  We have also put in some other perennial herbs, garlic, onion and prepared the soil for peas and sweet peas.  The chickens are loving the patch and are back to laying an egg each a day, which is a nice treat for winter!

In my own yard I have more of the same with the addition of carrots and turnip swede that are at picking stage.  My children have even taken to the swede.  We discovered that when not prepared properly they are really not very nice, but with a little knowledge and correct preparation, they are so delicious we all want more!

I was a little worried when I cooked up my first picking and I didn't like them, thinking 'but we have so many still growing... does that mean we have to eat them...'.  I then saw them being prepared on Masterchef, with a lot more of the outside peel being removed than I had.  What a difference it makes. I think of it now as 'double peeling' and I run the peeler over them twice, blanch then bake in butter. Yum. I think I know what's for dinner tonight.

A picture from the patch

Here is a bit of the patch. Mostly we are working on soil improvement, getting it ready for Spring, but a few things have gone in. Under the chicken proof cage is mustard spinach, lettuce, coriander and some seed rows of carrots, spring onions, swede and orange beets. In a few weeks I'll put in another similar planting to ensure continual supply for the three households.

Kids planning their gardens

We had brunch at one of the local nursery cafes this morning, and as usual we had the wander around, dreaming of plants afterwards. In order to do this (and to encourage my littlies' green thumbs) my children have their 'job' of finding two things for the garden each - an ornamental and an edible.

My boy, who has just turned 3, picked up two plants almost straight away, a pansy and a strawberry. We have lots if pansies and strawberries already, but he could not be persuaded otherwise. I gave myself a little pat on the back that he could correctly identify the plants without tags on them.

My girl, well! She is older at four and a half and is developing a sense of value and compromise. She picked up different pots and put them back, she considered what she liked and changed her mind. Eventually she settled on a punnet of stock seedlings and a packet of pea seeds.

So here I sit, still in the garden after two happy children planted their purchases. What a good day!

The patch

Our community garden, lovingly referred to as "The Patch" is now up and running. Fence is up, gates are in, the grass has been ripped up, the soil is being improved and a few plants have even gone in. I'm loving it! And my neighbours are too.

The frosts have hit

With frosts the past few nights, the summer veg have reached the end if their time. Here is my zucchini plant, with the last zucchini for the season. Now for the post frost clear out...