It’s all rather quiet in the garden at this time of year……but a quick walkabout lets me see where little jobs need doing before the madness of Spring hits…….and there’s still plenty to harvest and enjoy eating.
Year: 2019
Thoughts on……Month 21: Sometimes it is all about the money.
It hasn’t been the easiest month because of a few financial hiccups along the way……but I’m coming out the other end smiling. I wish money didn’t have to matter but, of course, it does so we just have to make the best of the situation and do what we can with what we’ve got. January is nearly behind us now…..and spring is just around the corner.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden 149: Creating a vegetable garden on a tiny budget (£2 per week).
Today I’m chatting about ideas for creating a vegetable garden for very little money for those of us, like me, on a very limited budget. I reckon I do my garden each year for the equivalent of £2 per week.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden 148: Potato chitting, onions and being organic.
My seed potatoes have arrived so it’s time to start chitting….some of my onions have also turned up so they need a bit of a sort too before I settle down to watch the birds for the RSPB Big Garden Bird-watch…….during which my mind wanders to the subject of organic seeds…..
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden 147: Every seed I’m sowing in 2019 (Part Two).
……carrying on from where I left off yesterday here are the remaining seeds I’m planning to sow this year. Now all I have to do is be patient and wait for Spring!
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden 146: Every seed I’m growing in 2019 (Part One).
Now that I have all my seeds together it’s time to go through them for a final check that I have what I need/want…..and I chat a little about my choices. There are so many that I’ve split this video into two parts with part two to follow tomorrow.
In the Kitchen: Kale, rice & nuts pie (or Wellington).
A gorgeous, hearty pie for a chilly winter’s day. You will need (all measures approximate – jiggle them to your liking): rice – 2 cups, mushrooms – 2 cups, nuts – 2 cups, stock – 1 litre, onions x 2, peppers x 2, garlic cloves x 2, kale – a big handful (about 200 grams)…….seasonings of choice – I used juice of half a lemon, dill, nutmeg and thyme. Enough pastry for your pie dish. Makes enough for two pies…..one for now and one for the freezer.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden 145: Clearing the last bed, more sweet peas & shed problems next door.
Even on a chilly day it feels so good to get out there and get a few more jobs done. Clearing the last bed from last year was my priority but being there was also the perfect opportunity to see if I could help one of my lovely neighbours with her shed problem….we couldn’t do much about it there and then but we have a plan…..and I may just be making a call to our lovely friend Graham for a helping hand….
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden 144: Jobs for January, shed tidy and Sweet Peas.
It’s the perfect time of year to get on with some maintenance jobs: cleaning tools, pots, greenhouses, fixing fences and leaking shed roofs etc…..and sowing just a few seeds to get things kicked off. I’ve never had any luck with sweet peas but that doesn’t mean I won’t keep trying.
TIY: Reduced plastic living – simple swaps in the bathroom.
A few simple swaps in the bathroom can easily reduce our consumption of plastic and considerably reduce the amount of waste we produce. More and more companies are offering these sorts of products so its easier now than ever. Happy swapping.
