It’s another grotty autumn day which pins me at home……but that’s Ok…I have plenty to do. I have washed linens for the shop which need ironing and as I do so we can have a chat……starting with autumn/winter TV and feel-good family viewing……then my mind and chat wanders to the last stages of sorting out my Great Aunt’s affairs…….what to keep, what to let go of…..it’s all about ‘stuff’ and what ‘stuff’ is important………and makes me think about my own ‘stuff’. Garb a mug of hot chocolate….it’s a long one.
In the Kitchen: Plant based protein.
Today’s video is all about plant based protein……I’ll be chatting about various veggies and their protein content and later on talking about growing them (which ones are worth it, which give the best protein for the yield etc). I’m also showing an example of a full day’s plant based eating plan to give an example of how protein requirements can be met with simple meals for anyone who is thinking of having a plant based day from time-to-time. I also talk about how many plants I need to grow each year. It’s a long video as it’s chock full of info….you may want to grab a notebook and pencil. Please note: I am not a nutritionist……but I am a life-long vegetarian so this is me sharing what I have learned over the years. If you have specific medical needs you should consult a qualified practitioner.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: Crop ‘n’ Drop. Winter bed prep.
It’s the time of year when beds become empty and need tucking up for winter……and a few beds are emptied of one crop and prepped for another. It’s winter bed prep time. Here I talk about how I prep my beds for a follow on crop and how I prepare them for the winter if they are going to be fallow by using my crop ‘n’ drop technique.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: The Squash Harvest 2021!
Hurray for my favourite day of the year! I know it’s a favourite for some of you too…..the squash harvest! It doesn’t matter how many times I do it…I love it. All the colours and shapes and sizes and textures……these truly are a beautiful harvest to gather. They are a real staple for me too, as a self-reliant person……they will store for ages with no fuss, they’re versatile…..and they’re yumlicious to scoff.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: Potato harvest & tools.
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Yippee! It’s time to make like a pirate and dig up buried treasure! It’s one of my favourite harvests each year….I never know what I’ll get…..but I blooming love going down there to get it! I also have a wee chat about tools and general garden kit…….prompted by a bit of a fail in the garden recently…….which landed me on my back!
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: October Garden Tour (’21).
It’s hard to believe the summer is over and I’m taking stock of things with the October garden tour. So much changes so quickly at this time of year! There is still plenty of food in the garden and lots of lovely jobs to get on with this autumn…….but it definitely feels like the beginning of the big wind down.
Thoughts on…..Month 53: Advice – eek, a whole can of worms!
Oops, my ‘thoughts on’ for the end of September seem to be following a pattern…..I’m late! Today I’ll be reflecting on how my life is going without a wage and with trying to grow most of my own food…but…also….before that, I’m musing on the subject of advice…..it has come up quite a few times this month so I thought I’d reflect on it here. Advice, whether receiving or giving can be a whole can of worms! I am sure it is a subject that most folk will have feelings about…..and we can share them here.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: Chickpeas & Beans – harvesting, storing, protein etc.
Dashing between more rain showers……today is all abut harvesting the chickpeas and saving some of the dried beans. The weather doesn’t play ball so there’s some shed chat time all about chickpeas and why they are such a great addition to the kitchen garden. I’m chatting all things, sowing, growing, harvesting, processing and storing them (both dry and demi sec)…..all the principals apply to beans too….plus a bit of chat about vegetable protein sources.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: Autumn arrived!
I haven’t been able to get to the garden for the last ten days….the last time I was here the sun was blazing, the sky was blue, the temperature was nudging 30 degrees c….. Today is a different story; after two days of heavy lashing rain it definitely feels like autumn has arrived and time is fast running out for the garden. I need to have a good look around and decide on the priority jobs to hurry up with.
Vivi’s Kitchen Garden: Harvesting & a bonus crop.
It’s the time of year when harvesting needs to happen almost everyday…….in order to keep on top of the kitchen time needed to store all this lovely food. It’s also the time when the garden is fading quickly and foliage is dying back……it feels a little sad but the dying foliage can reveal hidden treasures….as it did for me today…and a lovely little bonus crop it is too. The garden fades but the colour of the harvest glows!
