In the garden we've been planting broadbeans, garlic, carrots, cabbages, 5 colour silverbeet, beetroot and shallots. Yesterday we also planted some Dragon's Tongue beans (very groovey purple and white stripes) as well.
One of our potentially more exciting ventures that continues to be an issue of debate between us is aquaponics (growing fish combined with hydroponics), there are a few aesthetic and safety concerns that need ironing out before we proceed. We are also preparing to launch a community orchard in the laneway besdie our house, which is exciting, now we just have to confirm what trees will be most possum proof.
Maggie we have been totally slack on the pickiling side of things, we have dabbled in it...and jam making too, but 2011 is our year for this...we have been collecting recipes and jars...and we would love any recipes and advice.
Hope everyone has warm toes,
cheers, Joe and Jo
 |
| our Macadamia nuts have just started to fall this month |
ok ... see now you are getting me excited. you're doing beans? now? up here? way cool. my excuse to pop some in the ground (i always thot broad beans were the only ones you do in winter)! what nut tree's are you guys doing besides the macadamia and how hard were they to make work?
ReplyDeletewe are currently in the frays of a complete backyard / frontyard permaculture make over ... a bit daunting .... but bit by bit and day by day. the mini food forests will happen at the front and side of our house. and yes, we will be doing aquaponics! check out these guys http://www.ecolicious.com.au/ .... as well as the mob at www.milkwoodpermaculture.com.au. i am dreaming of a smoker in the backyard and having our own smoked trout! oh yum!
in the meantime, the garlic is finally in ... i have parsnips and 3 kinds of pea's in as well as more broad beans, and just about to plant the seedling cauliflower and celeriac. also watching the strawberries get out of control and eating the last of the season zuchinni.
Hi guys, great that you are thinking about bottling/pickling etc. It is really good to save jars from friends etc, but if you are doing a huge amount there are places that specialize in jars and bottles specifically for this. There is a company called Plasdene glass-pak pty ltd, which has an office in Newcastle and one in Milperra. They manufacture bottles and jars for restaurants, people who sell olives etc...
ReplyDeleteBefore I found this company , if I couldn't get enough jars it would cost me a fortune in a supermarket to buy what I needed. You buy a tray of them in bulk , and they work out about 10 cents a bottle or jar.Great especially at Christmas time if you are making batches to give to family and friends and want it to look really professional.
Check them out on the net . Best to go to the shop if you can , because it is so lovely looking at all the different shaped jars and bottles and dreaming of what you can put in them.After you find out what you like you can order online too.
best wishes,
kim
Hi again - good to see things are going well for you! My garden is looking pretty good right now - I've got beetroot, masses of snow peas, lettuce, coriander and have put in broad beans, turnip, cabbage, brussel sprouts, garlic and leek! We've been eating the beetroot and lettuce and our 10 year old grabs some snowpeas every time he goes by the patch. I made some microwave jam the other day - I used some figs, grapes and strawberries (this is what I do when I have small amounts of fruit left.) Just wash and cut them up, then mash them a little with a potato masher. Into the microwave for some three minute bursts (medium high) and when they are all nice and mushy, measure the fruit. For each cup of fruit add 3/4 cup of sugar, mix it all through and then back in the microwave for two minute bursts, stirring each time. After about four or five bursts, put a little on a plate into the freezer to see if the jam is ready. While the plate is in the freezer for the minute, leave the jam waiting to see if it needs more cooking. When the jam is done, ladle it into a sterilised jar and shut down the lid. After a while the lid will pop in and there you have it - some yummy home made jam! Our jam is always slightly different because it is a different combination each time!
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie,
ReplyDeleteyou sound as nutty about garden food as we do. The macadamia nut is a definate for the garden and seems to grow well in a variety of climates. On the permaculture weekend we visited a garden in Hazelbrook. They had several macadamia nut trees... and many many others. I have also heard of a map in the bookshop opposite katoomba station which identifies many fruit and nut trees throughout the bluemountains. it included, by memory, a chesnut tree. Just goes to sow there are mostly many nuts thhat can grow in this climate. Our macadamia is very hardy. Grafted trees will fruit in 3-4 years. they like mulch, pot ash, blood and bone. go easy on the pruning as the nuts form on 2-4 year old wood. they grow to about 10m tall.
would love to hear how your aquaponics goes.