organic gardening
Blogging again?…
Blogging again…
It has been a long while since I last wrote. Many things have happened in the silent time, a knee replacement and tooth extraction being the most recent disruptions in my normally peaceful farm life.
The need to share information and thoughts is probably the strongest desire that has prompted my return to writing. So, what do I want to share? Well, let me see…
I’m a research junkie and the World Wide Web is my library and sometimes my university. I particularly love watching tutorials on painting and can while away many an hour in an “art class”. On the very rare occasion that I watch television, it will either be RT for news and documentaries, and the ubiquitous food channels. And Graham Norton. I love a good laugh.
My sphere of interest includes organic vegetable and companion gardening, herbs, healthy cooking, raw food (particularly in smoothies) and a slow carb, real food lifestyle which encompasses a fair amount of low carb vegetarian food. No, I am not a vegetarian and neither am I on diet. I’m an omnivore who chooses to eat free range and grass-pastured meat, and grass-pastured beef is not always easy to find. For that reason I choose to eat more vegetarian meals than meat meals. Free range chicken is happily available as are free range eggs, and I do love salmon and dorado (mahi-mahi) and I try to eat fish twice a week. Good old hake is still on the menu and I love stir-frying it with some quinoa, onions, garlic, broccoli and some wilted kale or chard. These days I am somewhat choosy about the fish I eat because of the mercury content and the dangers of radiation as a result of the nuclear fallout riding on the sea currents from Fukushima.
Which brings me to another deep love of mine. Mother Earth. We have been so disrespectful of Gaia and it saddens me big time. On my mountain farm I sit in Mother Nature’s lap and she enfolds me just as a mother holds her child. Her vibration pulses all around and through me. I cannot ignore her. I can only love and respect her and treat her right. Teach your children well people. Teach them to respect the Mother and all her abundance. Teach them the language of kindness. Show them love, and show them how to love our awesome planet.
OK, so those are my thoughts on food and nature today. As I write more I will share recipes, gardening tips, art and more.
Who knows what tomorrow’s musings might bring…
Vegetables, and more vegetables…
Probably the most difficult things for me to make sure I eat are good old green (and other colour) vegetables. When presented with them, I am all too keen to eat their green goodness but somehow the preparation of them for my consumption leaves something to be desired. I love wilted spinach with lemon juice and ground black pepper, and broccoli soup is delicious, while grated courgette pancakes are always welcome. Salads filled with organic foods from the garden are a treat, but the problem is that it all takes a little time and a bread sandwich is so very easy! Even rice cakes with avocado are easier than green pancakes! OK, avo is green but not always available.
So. Green smoothies and juices are in. At least I will know that I am getting in my essential five fruit and vegetables.
BUT!
The buck are eating my organically grown kale, chard and spinach while the monkeys are destroying my young onions and tomatoes, so drastic measures are necessary! I have one lone pak choy plant that has braved all assaults, including some vicious black frost that annihilated my young aubergine plants and the prolific green pepper plants that have been giving me some beauties for a few months now. My baby seedlings survived under cover and are my pride and joy and the hope of my future green juices. I am now going to be growing a variety of greens in big pots on the stoep which will give them enough shelter to grow into gorgeous green super foods.
Growing your own food is like printing your own money, so bug off you bokkies and you meddling monkeys! Take your hands off my bank!
Green Stuff Blog entries…
Heirloom Seeds….
Baby spinach in my salad…
The tomato plants are strong and the leeks are reaching for the sky. Lovely stuff.
Today was spent weeding and putting down compost. The pavement garden is putting on its beautiful mantle and will soon be filled with purple and white flowers. This part of the garden is in the North corner and these are the feng shui colours for this area. Also gold, silver and blue. The wild sage with its purple flowers is a beautiful addition. Their new growth has started and so we will prune the old stems to allow for the lush rebirth.
The new seedlings arrive next week. Red lettuce, friseé, Italian parsley, pansies, violas, violets – all for our beautiful salads. The basil is ready for the pesto and we shall be planting new chili seeds next week for the chili coriander pesto.
Growing your own herbs and vegetables must be one of the most rewarding things to do.
Grow babies grow!
Planted our first for autumn…
Vegetables among the roses…

Saturday, March 19, 2011
Off to the farm…
I shall be taking a few cuttings to the farm so see how they fare with little water and perhaps a lot of mist. There is much to be done there but this weekend it is a true rest time for us. Just one night to visit the mountains and breathe in the fresh cool air.
Full moon was gorgeous in the beginning of the evening but clouds came and covered the Lady and only her golden glow gave her presence away.
Have a good weekend in the light of the moon. I send good energies to all. Especially in Japan.