We had 22mm in 30 minutes today, didn't think we'd get much done. The rain did clear and with the help of my daughter and her partner we got the chook shed finished. Tomorrow if the weather is kind I hope to build the perches, install the feeders and waterers and move the chooks in.
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It’s hard to believe it’s the middle of March, the ground is sodden. We’ve had 64mm of rain this week so far and I wouldn’t have been able to rotary hoe if we had one drop more. It has been wonderful to have a green summer, the livestock has benefitted so much, but it does have its down side. Our vegetable garden is large and I knew it would be difficult to keep up with the weeds over spring but that didn’t worry me as I knew I could catch up when everything dried out over the summer months........... I don’t think we had more than a week and a half without substantial rain. The clover near the compost area is well over knee high and areas that were cleaned up less than two weeks ago have a thick cover of grasses and marshmellow seedlings (all dug in this afternoon). The new berry plot has performed beyond expectations, our little 15cm high sticks are now monsters spreading 3 or more metres. My dream of looking out of the front windows at a perfect, tidy,productive garden will have to wait till the cool of winter, although I’m half expecting a warm winter that will keep the blasted weeds growing madly.
March is such an exciting time of the year, there are so many wonderful vegetables that can be planted now. With a little bit of variety research to find what will do well in your locale, the list below is suitable for all of temperate Australia. My March/April Planting List: Direct Sown. Parsnip Broad Beans Carrots Parsley Dill Fennel Peas Spinach Rocket Coriander Kohl rabi Beetroot Swede / Turnip Celery Celeriac Garlic Shallots Bok Choy In seedling trays for transplanting Onions Cabbage Cauliflower Brussels sprouts Lettuce Silverbeet Sprouting Broccoli Other things to try Mushrooms. Some things will be ready for picking before the really cool weather, others will establish themselves well before the cool and be ready for picking as soon as the first warm days in spring. Enjoy, PZ. The terrible few weeks I've had with various illnesses has put me so far behind. I've been freezing all our produce as I haven't been up to all that cooking, should have enough tomatoes in the freezer for a years supply of sauce (see below), along with lots of pickles and chutneys. Started on the corn crop yesterday, 8kg of kernals and 2 huge bags of cobs in the freezer so far, think I've worked my way through a fifth of whats there.
Today, after a quick trip to town for building supplies, we finished the frame of the new chook shed and clad one and a half walls. We really need to get this finished, the chooks need to be back on pasture, pasture a long way from my vegetable garden. Checked Lilly the Pig's farrowing date, she's due on the 1st of April, so sometime in the next 6 weeks we'd like to get the new farrowing yard built. Weaning will be much easier, both on us and the sows if we have a dedicated yard. PZ's Tomatoe Sauce Recipe. 6 lb Tomatoes 1 lb Onions 1 lb Apples 1 1/2 lb Sugar 2 oz. Salt 1 pint Vinegar 4 teaspoons Ginger 6 teaspoons Black Pepper 2 teaspoons Cinnamon 1 teaspoon Nutmeg 1 teaspoon Mace few Cloves Grind all spices till fine. Mix all together. Boil 1 1/2 hours. Push through a sieve or process using a food mill to remove skins and seeds. Put back on heat and boil till thick. Bottle and label. To double the quantity you're cooking......boil longer, 2 1/2 hours before straining. Boil till thick. NOTE 1: I would recommend using a 1/4 the amount of spices above if you want a more commercial tasting sauce. NOTE 2: Quantities are British Imperial Measurements. My kitchen scales are a family heirloom. Enjoy, PZ. |
AuthorPatricia... tinkerer, tailor, survivalist. Archives
February 2014
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