24.5.08

Keeping it real

If I truly had to be self sufficient this year I think we'd starve or get scurvy. I could barter lemons and grapefruit, but I have planted nowhere near enough winter veges! I might have saved enough pumpkins to see us through but the canelenni and berlotti beans only yielded enough for seed for next season. I'm giving broad beans ( fava) another chance after being totally put off them as a kid. About about a months worth of corn is frozen with about the same of tomatoes, a row of salad veges are in and drying apples is on the agenda but I only see them lasting a month as well. The frozen berries should see me through for jam and smoothies and there are a good crop of cabbages, spring onions and celery but I forgot to plant more beetroot for winter. The brassicas are getting eaten, we'll be all right, we'll just dim the lights for dinner! ( so the kids don't spot the caterpillars) and there is rhubarb for puddings after all. When the situation dawned on me I got motivated to clean out the glasshouse. I gave it a good scrub ( to improve light) and pulled all the old tomatoes out. I will put some pea seed in when the moon is right and hope they are ready for spring. We'd survive on calaendula and chickweed if worst camre to worst, from under the roses. I looked for my garden diary to compare the seasons and couldn't find it so I'm keeping my garden notes here on my blog from now on. ( see below)


In other news..... a great garage sale day! Got curtains for the sun room we turned into a bedroom for the "teen". Also I've been a fan of retro tablecloths for years, long before they were trendy in fact. Four today, couldn't believe my luck. One large sale was to fund Herceptin treatment for a local, defiantly no haggling on my behalf, I hope they made heaps. NZ Health system sucks!!!!! Fancy having to have a garage sale to fund cancer treatment.


In other news, the "teen" is at his first party with girls tonight! Oh to be a teenager again!!!!!!!!!! Very exciting.

8 comments:

Lilbitbrit said...

Your garden is great, mine is nothing in comparison. But I have plans to plant a few more things.

Anonymous said...

The tablecloths are cute. I especially like the dark blue one. I also haven't planted enough in the winter garden this year. We would have to get by on eggs, peas and brassicas.
Your citrus trees are very impressive.

feistyurchin said...

Yes our health system does suck A LOT. I know, I work in it.

You and big and little Krista make me so jealous with your gardening abilities. I'd love to be able to grow what I eat but I just don't have the patience or commitment. It's a very special skill you have.

jasmine t said...

just stopping by to say hello as i havn't been past in ages!!
happy autumn!! its nearly winter!!!!
xx

Leanne said...

Oh my your citrus are packed with fruit! I still have "garden envy" when looking at your pics....

Heart Felt said...

Shame you aren't closer, my father in law is always grumbling about lemons...he likes them for his G&T!

Gill said...

Funnily enough I have a few regulars who get them for their G and T's

Jodi said...

Wow look at all those lemons and grapefruits(blah). He he!
Your gardens looking better than mine. I managed to plant out all my winter veg a month before grandad died and they were going great guns. Then I was so preoccupied with G's death that a plauge of possums came in and dug up the carrots and hoed down my brassica's. So on advice from the council, I trapped them over the last two weeks and relocated them to the forest behind us. They say I can only relocate them 50m. Well I can tell you that the 15km drive between me and them is not far enough! I would love to eat caterpillars if it mean't I at least tasted my damn carrots! I'm loving that dark blue table cloth!