copyright reserved 2011

copyright reserved 2011

Tuesday 4 October 2011

The Russians are coming!

I know it has been said a trillion, million times, but gardening really is a wonderful tonic. I was feeling a little down today, and so finally I took myself outside and started to water part of the garden. This led to watering the vegetable patch, which led to cleaning out some bok choy that had raced away to seed.

In its place I planted at tomato plant that had volunteered in one of my pots. I am not sure what species it is at this early stage, but I suspect that it may be a cherry tomato. It was growing very strongly, so it would have been cruel not to give it more soil and a chance to grow.

To make room for the seedling, I also cut some lettuce. As I pulled one head from the garden a wriggly worm fell back into the soil and raced back into the moist dirt and out of sight. It was a thrill to see that our new garden already has a nice healthy population of worms. Go worms, go!

Before going inside I harvested a couple of the black Russian tomatoes as well. Well, at least I have the salad for dinner - tomatoes and lettuce!

Black tomatoes are known for their strong, earthy tomato flavor, which often has a slight saltiness. Black tomatoes have a very dark skin that starts as dark red or dark green, but becomes almost black as the tomato matures and ripens.

Nearly 50 varieties of black tomato are now found in Russia. The best-known black Russian tomatoes are the black Krim, a sweet and salty dark greenish tomato named for the Crimea; and the black Russian, a large purple tomato with greenish-black flesh.

Thursday 22 September 2011

tomato wars

We have been suffering tomato wars this week. Something is coming over the fence under the cover of darkness and feasting on our crop of Black Russian tomatoes  I suspect it is a possum.

It is choosing a tomato, eating half of it and then throwing it with disdain onto the lawn, to select another one. Arrogant possums!

We have a couple of pink flamingo lawn ornaments that I have moved into place to "protect" the vegetable garden, and for the last night or two we have had peace in the garden.

So, when I came across the following Judy Horacek cartoon, her work struck a chord.

Tuesday 13 September 2011

French Bread



French Bread Recipe.

2 TBL. Dry Active Yeast
2 TBL. of Sugar
3 Cups of warm water.
1 TBL Sea Salt
4 Cups of Unbleached White Bread Flour
2 Cups of Unbleached Whole Wheat Bread Flour

Mix sugar and yeast in a small mixing bowl.
Add warm water and let yeast mixture dissolve for five minutes.
Your yeast mixture should be frothy.

While yeast is dissolving, in a separate small mixing bowl mix white flour and sea salt.
Once yeast has dissolved pour into kitchen aid mixing bowl.
Add white flour mixture to yeast mixture one cup at a time, hand whisking mixture until 
smooth, after every cup.


Add wheat flour one cup at a time mixing well
Knead the finished dough  for five to seven minutes.
Your dough should be slightly sticky.

Cover with damp cloth and let the dough rise for a total of one hour.

During that hour punch down the dough and slightly stir every 10 minutes,
this gives your dough the unique french bread texture you are looking for.

On a floured surface divide dough into two sections.
Roll each section into a long rectangular form.
Fold over rectangle length wise then fold into french bread form.
Pinch all edges.

Place both rolls on a greased tray.
Make 1/4 inch deep slashes across loaves.
Let loaves rise for 20 minutes.

Bake at 400F for approximately 18 to 24 minutes,
or until the bottom of the loaves are golden brown.


Sunday 4 September 2011

Father's Day special - coloured spinach

Father's Day breakfast was free range eggs and home grown organic coloured spinach from our very own raised bed.


September planting – Australian zones


September planting – Australian zones

Subtropical and warm temperate climates planning guide

Amaranth spinach
Arrowroot
Asian cabbages
Asian salad greens
Asparagus
Beetroot
Capsicum
Carrots
Cassava
Celery-stem taro
Ceylon spinach
Chicory
Chilli
Choko
Chrysanthemum greens
Coffee
Cucumber
Eggplant
Egyptian Spinach
Garden Sorrel
Hibiscus Spinach
Horseradish
Jicama
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mangel wurzel
Moringa
Okra
Perilla
Pineapple
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Radish
Rocket
Rockmelon
Rosela
Silver beet
Squash
Surinam spinach
Sweet leaf
Sweet potato
Taro
Tea
Tomatoes
Vietnamese mint
Warrigal greens
Water chesnut
Water spinach
Watercress
Watermelon
Yacon
Zucchini

Tropical climate planting guide
Amaranth spinach
Arrowhead
Arrowroot
Asian cabbages
Asian salad greens
Asparagus
Beans
Beetroot
Capsicum
Carrots
Cassava
Cauliflower
Celery-stem taro
Chicory
Chilli
Choko
Chrysanthemum greens
Coffee
cucumber
Eggplant
English spinach
Garden Sorrel
Hibiscus spinach
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Okra
Pineapple
Pumpkin
Radish
Rockmelon
Rosella
Strawberry
Surinam spinach
Sweet corn
Sweet leaf
Sweet potato
Taro
Tea
Tomatoes
Vietnamese mint
Water spinach
Watermelon
Yams

Temperate and cool climates planting guide

Amaranth spinach
Arrowhead
Artichoke (Globe and Jerusalem)
Asian cabbages
Asian salad greens
Asparagus
Beans
Broad beans
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Capsicum
Cauliflower
Celeriac
Celery
Chicory
Chilli
Chrysanthemum greens
Cucumber
Endive
Florence fennel
French sorrel
Garden sorrel
Garlic
Horseradish
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mangel wurzel
Nasturtium
New Zealand yam
Onions
Parsnip
Peas
Perilla
Peruvian parsnip
Potatoes
Radish
Rhubarb
Rocket
Silver beet
Spinach
Squash
Strawberry
Surinam spinach
Swede
Tomatoes
Turnip
Water chesnut
Watercress

Dry Temperate (Mediterranean) climate planting guide

Amaranth spinach
Arrowroot
Artichoke (globe)
Artichoke (Jerusalem)
Asian cabbage
Asian salad greens
Asparagus
Beans
Beetroot
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Capsicum
Carrots
Cassava
Cauliflower
Celery
Celery-stem taro
Ceylon spinach
Chicory
Chrysanthemum greens
Cucumber
Eggplant
Endive
Florence Fennel
French sorrel
Garlic
Horseradish
Jicama
Kale
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce
Mangel wurzel
Moringa
Nasturtium
New Zealand yam
Onions
Peas
Perilla
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Radish
Rhubarb
Rocket
Rockmelon
Rosella
Silverbeet
Spinach
Squash
Strawberry
Surinam spinach
Swede
Tea
Tomatoes
Turnip
Vietnamese mint
Warrigal greens
Water chesnut
Water spinach
Watercress
Watermelon

Semi-arid and arid climates planting guide

Amaranth spinach
Arrowhead
Arrowroot
Artichoke (globe)
Artichoke (Jerusalem)
Asian cabbages
Asian salad greens
Asparagus
Beans
Beetroot
Cabbage
Capsicum
Carrots
Cassava
Cauliflower
Celery
Celery-stem taro
Ceylon spinach
Chicory
Chilli
Chrysanthemum greens
Cucumber
Eggplant
Egyptian Spinach
Florence fennel
Garden Sorrel
Garlic
jicama
Kale
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce
Mangel Wurzel
Moringa
Nasturtium
Okra
Onions
Peas
Perilla
Peruvian parsnip
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Radish
Rocket
Rockmelon
Rosella
Silver beet
Squash
Strawberry
Surinam spinach
Swede
Sweet corn
Sweet leaf
Sweet potato
Tomatoes
Vietnamese mint
Warrigal greens
Water chestnut
Watercress
Watermelon
Yacon
Zucchini