Child of the Planet

I was given a huge bag of lemons from a mate who was pruning a tree. An aunt has been regularly supplying me with homemade lemon cordial so I thought I’d give it a go. Looked up several recipes and they are all pretty similar. Dissolve sugar in water, add lemon juice, then cook down. Most recipes add ascorbic acid, I guess to replace the vitamin C that's lost during the cooking. I’d like to retain as much of the natural vitamin as possible. After a bit of research, I’ve discovered that it’s exposure to the air that destroys Vitamin C. Heat accelerates the process. After a few practice runs, I’ve settled on this process... I’m using raw sugar rather then the white processed stuff as it adds a nice malty taste. Heat the sugar and water mixture and cook for a bit to reduce and get a bit of toffee vibe happening with the sugar. Once cool, pour in the lemon juice. Straight into a container with a sealing lid.

I've been boiling up water on the wood range and using it to kill off weeds. I'm getting some great results on  grass and drive way  as  it kills roots.  Doesn't work in the raised gardens cause it kills off worms.

Update to original post click here... Looks like all the bulbs have now sprouted Not impressed with the garlic I purchased from awapuni nursery

During the summer, I cook down zucchini, tomato, and onion from the garden. Then freeze individual portions. When I heat it up for a meal, a splash of lemon and some chorizo meatballs are added. Nice taste of summer during the cold months. Normally I buy some sausages and squeeze out the meat. Woody’s free range pig products now sell sausage meat in bulk tubes. While I’m up to my wrists in minced piggy, I take the chance to rev the meat up a bit by adding garlic, red wine, and extra smoked paprika. I freeze the balls separately, and then bag them up to save room in the freezer.

The compost bag behind the garage is almost full. It seems to pulse with life. When I open it up, worms and other bugs churn through the dark moist mass in side. ( Click for previous post on bag… ) I’ve covered the bag with carpet underlay to protect the fabric Exposure to the sun causes the plastic weave to disintegrate. Dug a couple of big holes during the summer and they are filled to overflowing with green waste supplied by friends and neighbours. My property doesn't generate a lot of waste yet, so folk drop it off at my place which saves them the dump fees. The aim is to get at least a half meter of decent soil surrounding the fruit trees. ( Click for previous post here .  And more background here )

 I'm hoping a ring of stones will slow them down.

I live on a sand dune, so applying plant food is a continuous chore. Now that winter has hunkered down, and there are less plant related activities, I’m expending energy on infrastructure projects. There is a local stables here in Otaki that is desperate to get rid of horse manure. I Pop over and fill the trailer. All the garden beds get an application. Dumping the manure around the plants flattens down the surrounding grass like a mulch . This row of manuka now has less competition and a blanket of fertilizer    Black birds regularly bury the young lavender plants as they fossick so I’ve had to collar some of the plants with cut up milk bottle. The fire is lit most nights so there is plenty of ash that needs to  be disposed of. A couple of days ago, this bed was covered with a matt grey blanket.  The Black birds have now turned most of it over.