June 2011 Blog Posts (14)

There’s not much to report on my garden.. I think there’s not enough sun in my new backyard and the soil is not good enough yet that my seedlings are growing excruciatingly slow.  I just visited my mum yesterday, and the seeds she’ve sown after me are like 4 times the size of mine now >__<”  It’s nice to know the work I put in over the last 3 years are paying off and I know she gets more sun than me, but it still makes me jealous!  I think I’ll go and help her thin out overcrowded…

Made this for dinner - waiting for my own onions (still a long time away!)

Chop a handful of big onions up and whack into a pot with a bit of oil

Add a couple of big pinches of salt and pepper

Add a few big handfuls of chopped mushrooms

Add sage to taste

Smoosh some garlic cloves with the side of your knife and add to the pot

Cook on medium with lid on for about 30 mins until onions are deep brown

Add chicken stock (I couldn't make my…

It feels like I've made a lot of progress now. I am now currently growing:

• Garlic chives
• Spinach
• Onions
• Garlic (white and purple)
• Midyims
• Sweet basil
• Mint
• Rosemary
• Mixed flowers (still searching for a pre-mixed bee & insect attracting set of flowers)

and planted today:

• Red russian kale
• Stevia
• Beefsteak…

I've just been to Bunnings and added some seeds to my stash... Now I have:

• Garlic chives
• Russian red kale
• Sugar baby water melon
• Black Russian tomato
• Tommy Toe tomato
• Roma VF tomato (don't know what VF means)
• Beauty heart radish
• All year lettuce
• Hector spinach F1
• Mustard sprouts
• Alfalfa, radish and broccoli sprouts
• Coles early dwarf broad beans
• Mixed…

Some of the responses I've had to the rat/mice problem. Looking forward to trying some out if/when they come back with the warmer weather.

An interesting comment in one of the sites:

"Best to wear gloves when setting up the trap to avoid transferring human odours onto the trap."

gus says...

I have heard that rats hate the smell of burnt rosemary. Dunno if it…

My goodness, time just flies!  I have been having trouble finding time to garden, what with David who is now 5 and at 'big school' and Brendan who is coming up to 2 - my boys are growing up so fast!  With working full time as well I always struggle to find time to garden, but hopefully when it is all nice again I'll find the time to maintain it...

Every time I looked at the gardens recently I shuddered and it got to the point that I was too scared to even try to do anything…

I've finally got a little bit of time off work so I'm trying to convert that time into future food as efficiently as I can. I've spent today driving around for other people, so two hours ago I seized the last of the day for myself and planted onions and spinach in pots. I also managed to get some other pots full of potting mix ready for tomorrow, and I hope to go find some chicken wire somewhere (anyone know any good places?) to fence off my "garden" from the dogs.

Once…

Equipment:

(note you don't have to have the Easiyo containers, see recipe below).

NB in Brisbane I recommend Barambah Organic Full Cream Milk, or Food Connect Herd Share milk. Because I'm in Victoria now I'm buying beautiful grass fed milk produced locally in the Western District where we live. You will also need a kettle. One this size (about 1.7…

Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd say hello as its been quite a while since I've posted anything.  I have been looking at all your posts though  and it has kept me motivated throughout the busy times and of course, looking at Lissa's beautiful garden blog inspires me. 

 …

Today we went to the CREEC Sustainable Living Fair - Caboolture Regional Environmental Education Centre - at Burpengary. Apart from the perfect winter weather there was a good turnout and a most interesting and challenging talk by Bob Irwin. Still as passionate as ever for not only environmental issues but for humane animal treatment and attitudes towards the natural world as well. He pointed out that the Coal Seam Gas industry was probably the biggest challenge we face for future food…

The Yacón is a perennial plant grown in the Andes of Perú for its crisp, sweet-tasting…

Thanks to Elaine :)

Weeds Australia - national weed website - weed identification section for Brisbane region: