The beautiful weather has continued this week. It has been very cold at night and we have had to put the fire back on for a few nights.
Last Sunday we went for a day trip to the Farmers Markets at Wirrabara in the Flinder's Ranges. It was such a lovely drive with all the crops looking exceptionally good. It has been an excellent season for the farmers.
I snapped this on the way home.
I only had my phone, as I had left my camera at home...
The last time I took a photo of this little building in the paddock was after a huge bushfire had passed through. It was lovely to see the pretty canola crop looking so healthy.
This is how the native peach (quandong) leather turned out.
Totally successful!
And totally tasty.
I am definitely going to make some more!
I tried something new.
Today I made a thick shake using quandongs for flavour.
This is really delicious!
A big amount of vanilla icecream, couple scoops of stewed quandongs and a little milk. Whiz until thick and well mixed.
This is my healthier milkshake using milk, yoghurt and quandongs.
Out in the garden I have been removing the dirt from the garden beds. This is a hard slog and feels like it is taking forever. My back is not what it used to be.
You can see the tree roots that are causing all the trouble in this bed.
This is why we are switching to barrels.
We went to Adelaide Thursday to pick up some more.
While we were in Adelaide we popped into Bunnings to look for a raspberry tree, but they didn't have any, so I came away with this one. Hope I have made the right choice and that it grows okay.
This is a cross between a blackberry and raspberry and called a Tayberry.
Anyone grow these?
The silver beet is looking brighter...
More yummy strawberries!!
The seeds I planted are mostly all up.
The bigger ones are special Greek cucumbers that my Greek friend gave to me. I cant wait for these to grow so I can show you what they look like.
Tiny basil.
And zucchini.
This is how the lettuce and baby spinach is growing. I picked some of the spinach to add to a meal the other night.
Tomorrow we will be going to see my parents. The local agricultural show is on and our grandson is competing on his pony. A chance for the great grandparents to see him ride.
This week has really flown by and I haven't had a chance to post more photos of the fruit dryer. Hopefully I will get to it on Monday.
How was your week?
Tania, hubby has four barrels 'down the back' and said I could have them for wicking beds! As I have mentioned before probably our watersaver garden must have sprung a leak so all the soil has to come out of it just like with yours and I am not quite sure if my sore neck and shoulder will cope with that. Will see how we go. Then we have another large wicking bed to make up as well so hopefully one of us will have some energy and not be too sore to start that job ;-) Lots of fun being in one's late sixties! That leather turned out really well I must say.
ReplyDeleteGet the barrels up and going Nanna Chel!
DeleteGardening can be hard work but that is a good thing, we get fit at the same time. My back plays up, but it is getting stronger with each shovelful (I hope).
Yes the leather did turn out well. I was surprised at how well!
xTania
It sounds like a nice weekend planned Tania. Enjoy! The seedlings and strawberries look great. My week flew by too. Today was another day of lovely spring weather. I have washed and dried a lot of things this week!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you will come home with any finds from the show?
It is great to see the progress you were wanting to make with the barrels in the garden. I have some things in pots and they are doing well.
Have a good weekend! With love, Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
DeleteWe had a lovely day at the show. I got sunburned on my neck and feet, so that will be sore tomorrow. The day was perfect, 25C and no wind.
The only thing I purchased were some home collected seeds that a man sells to raise money for the flying doctors. This is a small country show so not a lot to buy.
I cant wait until the barrels are all set up and my veggies are all growing :)
xTania
I have never heard of a tayberry, but it sure sounds interesting...I love black raspberries, but they are hard to find.
ReplyDeleteDear Lori Leigh,
DeleteI hadn't heard of a Tayberry either until the other day. It will be interesting to see if it grows in our area.
xTania
Looking at all the produce growing is so exciting - growing your own food has its own special type of happiness I reckon.
ReplyDeleteYes it does Phil. I love growing our own food :)
DeletexTania
I've had to empty my raised bed before and because its just a frame with no bottom i've allowed them to dry out, then with one person on each side we just jiggle and wriggle the frame and lift it off. Whats left behind is just a big box of soil, Water it a bit and shovel it away. I've never had a quandong but your shake sounds divine, the unhealthy one. LOL
ReplyDeleteYou are a genius Lynda! I cant believe I didn't think of that lol! I will try that method on the other beds that are left. Thank you.
DeleteThe shake is very, very yummy.
xTania
Will be working in my garden today. The shakes look yummy I will be very interested in how the fruit tastes so hopefully you get a crop and you can let us know xxxx
ReplyDeleteHope you are having lovely gardening weather Angela. I cant wait until I taste the fruit of the Tayberry too.
DeletexTania
You always seem to be able to find interesting things to do!
ReplyDeleteOh yes Harry, we are always busy, this is probably why I have so much trouble keeping up with this blog :)
DeletexTania
What a productive week and fun weekend you've planned!
ReplyDelete*hugs*
Kelley~
Letters Unfolded
Yes Kelley we had a great day today. Plenty of fresh air and sunshine...just lovely :)
DeletexTania
Hi Tania,
ReplyDeleteMy oh My! the canola field is beautiful. I love when the canola fields bloom up here in Montana, they smell so wonderful and the prairie winds carry the sweet scent for miles. One of the reasons I love living on the prairie.
Your garden starts are looking great. I pray you have a very productive gardening season.
Blessings,
Mrs.B
Thank you Mrs B.
DeleteI would love to see fields on the prairie, it sounds so pretty.
xTania
Your garden is going to look wonderful as it always does. Lucky you being able to find quondongs growing. My brother found some recently in W.A. and made jam. Looking forward to a taste when I visit Mum in a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteAnne xx
Hello Anne,
DeleteI was thinking that this year there wasn't going to be many quandongs, so have been pleasantly surprised with what I have picked from our trees. They usually only fruit well every second year so the conditions must be suiting them at the moment.
xTania
A busy week Tania. Your plants are looking great, especially those bright red strawberries :) I'm down to just 2 zucchini - something is eating them right down to the dirt and overnight too - I'm thinking possums, I've heard them around the last few nights. Wish they'd eat the weeds!
ReplyDeleteHope the day at the show went well and was fun and successful for your grandson.
Have a lovely week.
Yes Cath we had a great day at the show. I did get sunburned which wasn't pleasant, but also my own fault.
ReplyDeleteI had sleepy lizards (shingleback) eating my young zucchini plants last year. I had to put chicken wire over them. Maybe if you cover them with something similar to keep the critters away.
xTania
Great week Tania! Those berries look yumbo! I'm ever in awe of what you achieve in your garden. We're starting a joint venture .... or is that ad-venture with out adult offspring, where we're all going to grow something different and exchange. I'll let you know how it goes...or if it goes at all....lol! Great job. Love, Mimi xxx
ReplyDelete