These words come from an article in the Saturday Press 5th March 2011... by gardener... I have adopted them as my Gardener's Prayer.
May our new inner-city have many, many trees
Parks on every block
Wide river banks
Allotments for the inhabitants (of low wooden buildings)
to grow their own fruit, flowers and vegetables
May it not only become the finest eco-city in the world
But may Christchurch's title of "Garden City"
be truly warranted
Amen
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Our part in the Christchurch Earthquake
It is so difficult to be a 40 min drive from Christchurch when there are so many people in need there. We have been feeling a bit helpless and frustrated.
But, we discovered "The Rangiora Earthquake Express", an awesome group of people, with helicopter, who are flying goods and food into the worst hit suburbs, from dawn till dusk. A round trip including loading and unloading is 1/2hr. We made two dinners, a big salad, picked some grapefruit off our tree, and then headed to the Rangiora Welfare Centre. There they gave us a list of items that were needed. So we went to the good old Warehouse and bought batteries, nappies, and baby food and took them to the helicopter.
What an inspirational sight! As we were there the helicopter arrived, was filled and flew away. Plus I think they were trucking trailerloads of gear into town also.
Here's some links, including to some bad footage I took on my cellphone, with the sound of the chopper in the background.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJBlLcNqaUI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWwrUIqw-lo
and the facebook page for the Express http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rangiora-Earthquake-Express/153841938005848
Go forth and do your work!
But, we discovered "The Rangiora Earthquake Express", an awesome group of people, with helicopter, who are flying goods and food into the worst hit suburbs, from dawn till dusk. A round trip including loading and unloading is 1/2hr. We made two dinners, a big salad, picked some grapefruit off our tree, and then headed to the Rangiora Welfare Centre. There they gave us a list of items that were needed. So we went to the good old Warehouse and bought batteries, nappies, and baby food and took them to the helicopter.
What an inspirational sight! As we were there the helicopter arrived, was filled and flew away. Plus I think they were trucking trailerloads of gear into town also.
Here's some links, including to some bad footage I took on my cellphone, with the sound of the chopper in the background.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJBlLcNqaUI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWwrUIqw-lo
and the facebook page for the Express http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rangiora-Earthquake-Express/153841938005848
Go forth and do your work!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Green Beans - freezing freeflow
Picked the first amount of green beans today, here's how to freeze them.
Cut off the heads and tails, and either slice or cut into 2inch lengths. Bring a pot of water to the boil, and dunk the beans in, boiling about one minute. Drain in a colander and run with cold water to stop the steam when freezing.
Cover an oven tray with tinfoil, and lay the beans in a single layer on the foil. Put into the freezer overnight, and the next day pop into a bag and back into the freezer.
You can then use them as and when you need, without defrosting, just pop straight into boiling water for a few minutes.
Cut off the heads and tails, and either slice or cut into 2inch lengths. Bring a pot of water to the boil, and dunk the beans in, boiling about one minute. Drain in a colander and run with cold water to stop the steam when freezing.
Cover an oven tray with tinfoil, and lay the beans in a single layer on the foil. Put into the freezer overnight, and the next day pop into a bag and back into the freezer.
You can then use them as and when you need, without defrosting, just pop straight into boiling water for a few minutes.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Red Chilli and Pepper Relish
I first tasted this fiery relish at my friend Jan de Voer's house, she had these marvelous jars of red, jammy, sticky, hot relish which we ate with cheese on crackers, with a devine result. The original recipe comes from the books "Beach Bach Barbeque" or something similar, however I put more chillis in just because I like hot food.
Today, I put my hand to it:
RED CHILLI AND PEPPER RELISH
4 Large Red Capsicums
2 Onions, peeled and chopped roughly
1 large fresh red chilli, deseeded (I used 3!)
3 cloves Garlic
2c White Vinegar
800g sugar
salt to tast
2 kaffir lime leaves (or a lemon leaf from your lemon tree will do nicely)
1 bay leaf
Put the capsicums, onions, chillis and garlic in a food processor and whizz till the whole lot is a pulp. Put pulp into a saucepan and add vinegar. Cook about 20mins, then add the sugar, about 1t salt and the leaves. Cook about 30 mins till thick. Spoon into steralised jars. Makes about 5 cups.
Will keep for 1 year while in the jar, and about 6 weeks in the fridge after opening.
Today, I put my hand to it:
RED CHILLI AND PEPPER RELISH
4 Large Red Capsicums
2 Onions, peeled and chopped roughly
1 large fresh red chilli, deseeded (I used 3!)
3 cloves Garlic
2c White Vinegar
800g sugar
salt to tast
2 kaffir lime leaves (or a lemon leaf from your lemon tree will do nicely)
1 bay leaf
Put the capsicums, onions, chillis and garlic in a food processor and whizz till the whole lot is a pulp. Put pulp into a saucepan and add vinegar. Cook about 20mins, then add the sugar, about 1t salt and the leaves. Cook about 30 mins till thick. Spoon into steralised jars. Makes about 5 cups.
Will keep for 1 year while in the jar, and about 6 weeks in the fridge after opening.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Our new home - in Amberley
Finally, I have for you all, some pictures of our house in Amberley. You can see we have a lot of land, lots of wayward grass, and not a lot else going on.
A new chook house and run have been built and we pick our new chook girls up next Friday. I am so happy, I miss our chookies, and their lovely eggs. Having to make do with supermarket eggs has not been the same. Short note here: in the USA apparently they like their yolks white-ish and my brotherinlaw said he couldnt eat fried eggs/poached eggs/boiled eggs/omlettes because they just didnt look like eggs, dammit!
After Christmas we built a couple of rather large vege beds, and Mark's passion for potatoes shows. We have also eaten lettuces, spring onions and spinach from this garden already. The only thing really not doing well, are the beans which have been hit hard by the hot wind, and aren't going to do anything much.
A new chook house and run have been built and we pick our new chook girls up next Friday. I am so happy, I miss our chookies, and their lovely eggs. Having to make do with supermarket eggs has not been the same. Short note here: in the USA apparently they like their yolks white-ish and my brotherinlaw said he couldnt eat fried eggs/poached eggs/boiled eggs/omlettes because they just didnt look like eggs, dammit!
After Christmas we built a couple of rather large vege beds, and Mark's passion for potatoes shows. We have also eaten lettuces, spring onions and spinach from this garden already. The only thing really not doing well, are the beans which have been hit hard by the hot wind, and aren't going to do anything much.
Friday, December 31, 2010
End of Year 2010
The end of this year looms. Tonight the magic happens, and we move into 2011. Looking back through my blog it is exciting to see what adventures I have had in my garden. All the recipes, the good, the bad, and the ho hum.
Artichokes have featured well!
We have not done so much "hard" work as in previous years. Building of garden beds and paths were mostly in place, so it was nice to focus on the growing of plants.
Now we are in Amberley and new gardening adventures await...I'll keep you posted.
May 2011 bring you health, happiness and many happy gardening hours.
Artichokes have featured well!
We have not done so much "hard" work as in previous years. Building of garden beds and paths were mostly in place, so it was nice to focus on the growing of plants.
Now we are in Amberley and new gardening adventures await...I'll keep you posted.
May 2011 bring you health, happiness and many happy gardening hours.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
A Dilemma
So, we have moved to Amberley. All packed, all transported, mostly unpacked, well....almost mostly unpacked. My garden is in the unknown hands of our well meaning tenants. I have left the raspberries to their fate, and the boysenberry. Please let them be kind to the roses, and tend to the compost, and remember to water the veges.
Amberley. What is there here. A large piece of lawn, and overgrown, grassed over flower garden and half a path. I say "half a path" because when we first moved in there was no path, but a few paving stones visible at the back door, the rest was grass. Or appeared to be grass. A few slides of the shovel and more paving stones revealed themselves, then more, and then a whole half a path and a halfround of patio. Like the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a path almost brought back to life. I just need to spend a little more time.
The only other thing of any note is a large Grapefruit tree covered in glorious ripe grapefruits. A small blessing amid such inauspicious beginnings.
First there was a school "fair" at Montana-Rose's school. Tomato plants for $4. I put in 6....Then I bought some of that basil "planted and ready to eat" which has been nurtured under lights and has only put it's roots down into hydroponic waters. I stood fast and divided them up, and planted them into *gasp*, soil! Their tops droop, and their insipid foliage looks very unhappy exposed to the elements. But.....wait....I'll keep you updated.
Amberley. What is there here. A large piece of lawn, and overgrown, grassed over flower garden and half a path. I say "half a path" because when we first moved in there was no path, but a few paving stones visible at the back door, the rest was grass. Or appeared to be grass. A few slides of the shovel and more paving stones revealed themselves, then more, and then a whole half a path and a halfround of patio. Like the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a path almost brought back to life. I just need to spend a little more time.
The only other thing of any note is a large Grapefruit tree covered in glorious ripe grapefruits. A small blessing amid such inauspicious beginnings.
First there was a school "fair" at Montana-Rose's school. Tomato plants for $4. I put in 6....Then I bought some of that basil "planted and ready to eat" which has been nurtured under lights and has only put it's roots down into hydroponic waters. I stood fast and divided them up, and planted them into *gasp*, soil! Their tops droop, and their insipid foliage looks very unhappy exposed to the elements. But.....wait....I'll keep you updated.
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