discovering a simpiler life

discovering a simpiler life

Tuesday 25 August 2015

Spring is in the air

It's 5 days til the start of Spring and I can't wait.  Already the mornings are crisp but the days are filling with some sunshine.  I thought I'd keep it short and sweet and let the photos do the talking.  Here's a look at what is happening here in my garden.
baby turnips keeping warm in the winter
a new navel orange tree which will grow espalier across this awful fence and narrow area 
my pride and joy is my lemon tree
brassica's during winter above and today ready for spring below....need some weeding done! 

another new addition to the garden, this lavender.  On the recommendation from the lovely Jem this beauty will hopefully encourage bees with it's tempting purple flowers.
The girls were treated to some straw - it was a quagmire of mud but this definately did the trick
homegrown with love and curiousity


always giving kale
we grow kohlrahbi and swedes for their delicious leafy greens...I pick handfuls of all of our leafy plants - beetroots, rocket and spinach too,  and gently simmer for a minute in water, drain well and toss through coconut oil, a smidge of chilli, a squeeze of lemon & S&P - who needs vitamin tablets!
garlic slowly on the rise
celery thriving
mint, spinach and walnut pesto has been heavenly on our roast lamb and slow braises
the heart warming sign that spring really is coming, my apricot tree
And finally a peak at the mural I'm having drawn on our courtyard/garage wall by a very dear friend who is a local artist....to be continued....

Before I go, I just wanted to share a wonderful book for any of you interested in reading a true story about a New York woman who falls in love with a farmer, and the memoir of their start up year.  You should be able to get if from your local library - beautiful read - I found myself waking early dying to know what was happening.  It's called "The dirty life by Kristin Kimball.  It almost made me wish I was there with them.

Ciao, Jan x

27 comments :

  1. Your veggie garden is looking amazing...............I have finally bought some poles and netting to keep out the possums who would happily eat the new seedings overnight. I've heard of that book and it's on my "list" of things from the library...I'm pretty sure you ended up getting the A Story of Seven Summers
    by Hilary Burden out of the library before but I can't remember.....if you haven't it's along similar lines of a high flyers Aussie in NY (I think) and moved back to Tassie into a house which nuns used to live in..OMG it was wonderful...if you haven't read it you will enjoy it. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane

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    1. Kathy thanks so much for the reminder of that book the seven summers, I'd been trying to think of it for ages!!!! I was asking my husband about the possums and he said heavy black cotton strung across your poles will annoy them, I was thinking of the solar lights you can get from bunnings that are motion sensorred could help or look up "zoo-do" it's apparently lion poop sold that you place around the garden....good luck though as it's so lovely to have and your kids, especially Sienna, are naturals :) Jan x

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  2. Your garden looks amazing! I especially like the sunshine radiating through your lemon tree :)

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    1. That was a fluke Tandy, I loved it too - almost like the heavens telling me they love it too!! ;) Jan x

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  3. I love that photo of the sun streaming through your lemon tree! It's wonderful! I just tried your chilli sauce (sorry had to finish another jar) and it was delicious and nice and hot :D

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    1. So pleased you liked it Lorraine - I'm so addicted to it, I've got myself some dumpling wrappers and am making some tomorrow - can't wait!!!!!

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  4. LOVE LOVE LOVE! And the mural is looking fantabulous! That local artist is really something special!!! xxxx

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    1. Thanks lovely Carol, we love her dearly don't we!!! :)

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    2. Beautiful spirit lifting blog! And kind people xxx

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    3. Thanks lovely Liz xxx can't wait for you to finish my wino lady :)

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  5. Your garden looks amazing! We are on Season 3 of River Cottage Australia and dreaming of getting a small holding when we return one day. He doesn't seem to get weeds though in his veg patch - funny that!!!!

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    1. I really enjoyed this season of RCA Nancy, he seemed forced and unnatural in Season 1 - nerves no doubt! I'm sure there are many on hand to help him but his garden and surroundings are just stunning aren't they.

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  6. Love that mural what a great thing to have on your garage!. Your garden is looking very productive as are those lovely chickens. Look out spring is coming!

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    1. I love it Tania, really brightens up a dull big wall!! I'm very lucky to have such clever friends :)

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  7. I do love the sound of the pesto on your lamb. Your chickens look very content and they must have been very grateful for the straw. You certainly have a lot of green growing so yes, I can see you wouldn't need any vitamin supplements xx

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    1. I find the mock pesto really lifts a braised dish Charlie. My ladies are very spoilt! But they are one of my greatest achievements I must confess :)x

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  8. Yes we too can feel the pulse of Spring beginning. I must rake out all the old straw from our girls and compost the lot. Stinky but beautiful! That pesto sounds lovely and I want a mural like that! So bright and lively and telling a story of enjoyable harvests. Cheers to the Spring coming.

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    1. Thanks Maree - I just love Spring and I'll cheers you back ;)

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  9. Dear Jan I have just spent a lovely hour reading your blog...its beautiful!! Tomorrow I start to make your citrus cleaner, I love your breakfast in a jar, the tomato and onion pie I could go on :)

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    1. Thank you so much, you are so welcome. I love that citrus cleaner - lasts for ages...I'll pop over and check out your blog :)x

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  10. How exciting to be featured on Rhonda's blog.... You should get a lot of new visitors. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane

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  11. Your blog is lovely! I was other feature on today's d2e post and it was nice to have your lovely chook home on the same post. I also think I need to make some of your citrus cleaner!

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    1. Hi Caroline, thanks so much for visiting :) I just loved your feature too, living off the grid would be something I'd love to try, it sounds like you just love it. I'll pop over and check out your blog x

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  12. I'm SO delighted with your addition of lavender Jan! So awesome. And thanks for the mention. Your garden is looking terrific and very organised. Putting mine to shame at the moment and has been a bit neglected. There is nothing better than growing lemons though. My tree is still young and doesn't produce a huge amount.

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    1. Your welcome Jem :) I must give Mr.GW the credit for the garden, I pick and cook, he plants and grows - match made in heaven!! Our lemon took 8 years to bear fruit, hang in there!! x

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  13. So absolutely jealous of your garden!!!

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  14. Your garden looks so amazing, Jan! I'm sure it will be more beautiful when the spring comes again. Everything here sure looks very lovely!

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