I may have very little money but my life is richer now than ever. I’m still working things out……every day is a learning day…..and every day offers the opportunity for simplicity and beauty. I am happier and more fulfilled now than I ever have been. It’s hard work and takes a bit of planning but the rewards are worth it.
After a busy few days and plenty of rain it feels great to get back out to the garden. There are lots of little jobs to be done but no desperate hurry…….and the harvests are coming in so kitchen time needs to be factored into the day…….the garden feels buzzing with life and vitality after the rain.
I have been asked on a number of occasions to make a video like this….so here it is……a typical day of what I eat using my garden produce. Of course this is summer…….this day of food would look totally different if it was the middle of winter……..
Despite the heat and drought the garden is showing signs of abundance….I was worried earlier in the year that the garden simply wasn’t going to produce this year but persistence (and multiple sowings of some seeds!) has paid off…….there’s food!
With courgettes being harvested quicker than they can be eaten it’s time to turn them into something to store for later. This soup is so quick and easy to make (without the cheese for a budget version or for vegans), it tastes gorgeous; rich and creamy and it freezes really well to make a lovely lunch time meal in the depths of winter.
Our heatwave/zero rain weather continues – making daytime gardening not just uncomfortable but even possibly dangerous. I tried to get a step ahead of the heat by getting to the garden early to tackle some of the little jobs that have fallen by the wayside…..in particular I wanted to get more of the brassicas into the ground. I was shocked to read the thermometer at 8.30 am…….and had to beat a retreat by mid-morning. Most nights I am dreaming of rain……….
I get asked these questions a lot……so I thought I’d take a little time out to answer them by video and give you a bit of a look around parts of the site I’m on…..and show you why I love this place so much.
If at first you don’t succeed try, try, try again……….I have carrots!….after the millionth sowing!! The daily harvests are getting bigger and bigger so that I’m getting to the stage where things need preserving because I can’t eat it all in one go. Lots of little jobs during a balmy afternoon mean time to sit at the end of the session to take stock and enjoy some quiet time simply watching the bees…….I hope you will enjoy watching them at the end of this video as much as I do.
Finally we have a day with slightly cooler temperatures (still hot!) so I can attend to the garden……so many little jobs are outstanding because all I have done for weeks is water… My priorities today were the tomatoes…….the beans and squash got a bit of attention too. And I discovered the joy of spritzing myself with cold water……
It’s wonderful to spend some quiet time in the garden amongst the flowers with the bees for company. It’s time to start harvesting and drying them for use later in the year……and it’s time to gather the first vegetable seeds for next year’s harvest. Our heat wave and total absence of rain continues so my ‘adopted’ tree in the local park needs my help with regular watering – it seems to be doing OK.
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