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The Big Zucchini

by on March 27, 2012 in Daily Life, Food, Gardening

I grew a couple of zucchini plants over summer and we have had quite a few to eat lately. Most of the zucchinis have been picked and eaten while they were fairly small, when they are at their tastiest, but there is a limit to how many zucchinis two people can eat! One of the little green guys wasn’t picked and was instead left to grow and grow. As you can see he got to be quite a size!

I know it probably sounds weird but I’m really quite attached to this zucchini. I’m such a rookie when it comes to gardening and I’ve had a few disappointments, so it feels really good when something goes right! Rohan from Whole Larder Love recently wrote that it’s the holding of home grown produce that gives the most joy, and I totally agree.

Because this zucchini is so big, it would probably be rather tough and tasetless to eat, so instead of becoming dinner this one is destined to be part of a zucchini and chocolate cake (or three!) I can’t pretend I won’t be a little sad when we cut it up, but I’m really proud to be nourishing our little family with food grown with my own two hands.

Am I strange for becoming a bit sentimentally attached to our homegrown veggies? Has anyone else out there had any little achievements they are really proud of lately?

Reuben :)

Comments { 24 }

Sowing Seeds for Winter

by on March 22, 2012 in Daily Life, Food, Gardening

Now that it is getting cooler it is time to start planting our winter veggies! Our little garden has been pretty much left to its own devices ever since I planted our first lot of vegetables in spring, but I’m determined to get more on top of things and grow more of our own food. Our garden isn’t ready for direct planting yet, so today Katie and I planted some seeds in little pots that we made out of toilet rolls.

Even though Katie and I see each other every day, sometimes we get so caught up in the busyness of every day life that we forget to really see each other. Making these little pots and planting seeds was a lovely way to quietly spend half an hour together, without distraction. It was also a nice way for me to show Miss Black Thumb how just fun and easy gardening can be! If you would like to make some of these little pots yourself, there’s a really easy tutorial here. It’s such a simple way to reclaim something that would otherwise just get thrown away.

In a week or so, we should have little seedlings of climbing beans, snow peas, broccoli and cauliflower to admire. Broccoli was always my favourite vegetable while I was growing up, so I can’t wait to eat our own, homegrown version!

Reuben :)

Comments { 16 }

Summer Fades

by on February 10, 2012 in Daily Life, Food, Gardening

(Pictures from my mum’s garden. Those itty bitty strawberries are the yummiest things you will ever taste!)

To be very honest, I’m not really a summer girl. I don’t like being hot, I’m happiest wearing cardigans and tights, and I prefer the beach when it’s cool and quiet so you can take a long, peaceful walk alongside the crashing waves (without frying!) I spend most of summer hibernating inside and looking forward to autumn, but the last few days I’ve felt a very gentle shift in the weather, and it has reminded me that summer won’t be here for long. The days are a now a fraction shorter and the evenings ever-so-slightly cooler, the peaches and nectarines have all finished on the fruit trees and there have been a few nights this week where we haven’t needed to switch the fan on.

Before we know it the mornings will be frosty, the days will be short and dark, the nights will be bitter cold, and wrapped up in a cocoon of crochet blankets and cups of tea, I’ll be craving just a little warmth and sunshine. So rather than count down the days until the end of the season, I’m going to do my best to soak up and enjoy the end half of this summer, with walks in the sunshine, strawberries fresh out of the garden and bowls of melty icecream. After all, nothing lasts forever. Summer fades. Autumn will be here soon enough.

Katie x

Comments { 18 }

Scenes from our Veggie Patch

by on December 5, 2011 in Daily Life, Food, Gardening

Sadly we haven’t had a lot of time to spend in our tiny veggie patch lately. We planned to get out there often, weeding and planting and watching things grow, but aside from regular waterings, it pretty much been left to it’s own devices. We haven’t planted much since the first batch of seedlings went in, but those tiny seedlings? Well, they are now gigantic! The pumpkins have gone crazy and begun flowering, the beetroots are getting big and will soon be ready to pick, and tiny green tomatoes are starting to pop up all over the place. It’s so exciting to watch, we only wish we’d had more time to do things properly…

Our harvest certainly won’t be much this summer, but it’s nice to have made a start. There is always next year. And with each season we will learn, our gardening knowledge and skills will improve and our harvest will get bigger. That’s the beautiful thing about gardening… There is always room to grow.

Katie and Reuben x

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In the Garden

by on October 12, 2011 in Daily Life, Gardening, Home

Lately, I’ve spent all my free moments pottering around in the garden. I’ve been busy with our first vegetables, weeding and planting, then excitedly watching their progress and warily keeping an eye out for pests.

The tomatoes and beetroots settled into their new homes quite nicely but our cabbages got over excited (I think they were in their planter pots for too long) and bolted to flower. I was lucky enough to cut them back just in time and they are now forming three heads of cabbage on each plant!

I’ve also cleared more beds for planting vegetables in. I have put lettuce and herbs in one and another is reserved for cucumbers, zucchini, and pumpkins.

(Before)

(After)

I was a bit scared while clearing this section as the lavender was buzzing with bee activity all day, but I didn’t get stung. The bees seemed to like my brightly coloured shirt but weren’t interested in the rest of me. When I was done, I transplanted some Japanese climbing cucumbers I picked up at the Farmer’s Market.

My most exciting news though, is that after a week or so of watching and waiting… Our Snow Peas have finally sprouted! I grew snow peas while we were in Sydney but with poor results, as our balcony got very little sun. Now I have a whole section put aside for peas and beans and this makes me so happy!

I am so thankful for our little patch of earth. I longed for this while we were in Sydney and our time living in an apartment really made me appreciate all that we have now. There is nothing like the sense of accomplishment you gain from making things grow with your own two hands.

Reuben :)

Comments { 18 }

Scenes from the Humble House

by on October 3, 2011 in Craft, Crochet, Daily Life, Food, Gardening, Home

From top to bottom; Latte (we love our coffee machine!), Poppy in a Box, Snuggly Yarn, Vintage Crochet Book, Fruit and Vegetables for Juicing, Sewing a Pretty Dress, Lavender, Lovely Stone Path in our Garden, Growing Basil and Baby Lettuces, Garden Wall.

We spent the weekend cozily tucked up at home, drinking homemade lattes and fresh juice and getting a little bit crafty (updates on crafty business to come soon!) What did you do on the weekend?

Wishing you all a shiny happy week and sending lots of good thoughts your way!

Katie and Reuben x

Comments { 28 }
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