July 2020

[Sophie]

Hi everyone, thought I'd share some recent homesteading wins. Below left is the biggest harvest I've ever had, so gratifying - 2.5kg passionfruit, 1.5kg tumeric, the runt of the pumpkin patch, 2kg clementines, lebanese eggplant, mini capsicums, cherry tomatoes, four types of lettuce, rocket, blood-veined sorrel, kale and some mac nuts + flowers. 

There a bit more in the garden at the moment (different asian greens, brassicas), peas are starting to flower, as are the broadbeans, garlic shooting, pawpaw greening, moringa flowering, plus herbs and curry leaf, hopefully my berries start taking off this year. I really need to remember to feed the citrus though. Been making soap, very enjoyable - this one is orange zest and tumeric (75% olive oil, 25% copha). Sourdough also going well.  It's been such a lovely sunny winter :)

  

[Sophie]

Hi Doug, no I haven't cut the moringa but I could and maybe should so I can reach the leaves haha. Have been growing out to screen the neighbours. Thinking of propagating more to keep as shrub-sized chicken fodder

[Susan]

Looks wonderfull!

[Doug Hanning]

Nice Sophie - do you cut your moringa back each winter?

I have 4 large trees that I cut back to chest high each year, gives a strong base as the truncks are very weak.

[Andrew Cumberland]

Great stuff. 

[Sophie]

This lady haha

[Sophie]

You wouldn't believe though what I found this morning, serendipidous!!

From my golden-lace wyandotte, Mylene 

[Sophie]

Thanks everyone :)

Valerie - these are all in the ground. I found much more benefit in improving the soil (compost, poo and mulch) as it holds water better and probably gets more nutrients (clay soil). I am a lazy gardener - little watering and little feeding throughout the season. Most things in pots die here. Except for seedling babies, which I monitor everyday.

Roger, I completely agree - it is a glorious time of year to be gardening in this corner of the world. As you say, we can play in the garden all day long if our schedule allows for it!

Christa, yes indeed - I cut the summer shading cassavas down to the ground which let in a lot of sunlight. The brassicas are mostly shaded though after the morning blast of sunshine (unintentional but working well). 

I'll might bring some soap to the next GV for the raffle :)

[Christa]

Your harvest pictures are good enough to frame, especially the floral touch.  As Roger said, it is lovely this time of the year to wander through the garden.  

If I remember Sophie, you have more sunlit garden now.  That soap you made looks good, it would be great for the skin.  

[Roger Clark]

Sophie, Well done, a really good harvest!

Isn't it a great time of year for the garden. Very few insects to worry about, and the things we can grow now, are some of my favourites. I have just about given up on baking sourdough, my results were too patchy, Yours put my efforts to shame.

The other thing I like about this time of year is that I can be out all day if I want to, the weather is enjoyable, cool by comparison to our recent summers and watering the garden is relaxing. The moisture also stays in the soil much longer. I'd love it to be like this all year!

[Valerie]

That looks fabulous. Are you growing in the ground or in pots now?