Patch to Plate

I found two lovely big sweet potatoes in the garden this morning :-)

I decided to make my version of Thai Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup.

None of my measurements a particularly accurate - it's more a of a 'to taste' kind of recipe.

Equal amounts of sweet potato and pumpkin.

1 onion

enough beef stock to cover the above

chilli flakes (to taste)

grated fresh ginger (to taste)

coriander

can of coconut flavoured light carnation milk

* Put them all in a big saucepan and let it simmer away until the pumpkin and sweet potato is soft.

* Blend it in a food processor or with a hand held stick blender.

* I add the carnation milk at the end while it is still hot.

It's nice with a dollop of sour cream or natural yoghurt and crusty bread of course!

Composting 101

I love my compost! seriously!

It is free to make and such a boost to the garden beds. We use mainly the grass clippings from the lawn, fallen leaves, spent vege plants and shredded newspaper. Our kitchen scraps go to the chooks. Because they are in a mobile pen, every time it gets moved I rake the area into the compost heap (conveniently all located on the same stretch of yard)

This is the first really successful compost heap I have had (or maybe just the one I have had the most interest in). It is hard to believe that all that left over stuff breaks down to the rich crumbly soil I am pulling out from the bottom. Oh - and it's a good work out turning it every week or so!

I had every intention of taking a photo, but time got away this afternoon. I will try and add it tomorrow.

Back with a different twist

I have been having so much fun in the garden, I decided to re-hash my blog and turn it into one with a gardening twist. Vege gardening to be exact, and if all goes to plan I should be able to add some recipes as well.

We are on half an acre, but the whole lot is not vege garden (although the way I am going it could happen!) I have managed to get quite a variety growing... ready?

Strawberries, beans, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, button squash, snow peas, shallots, garlic, capsicum, tomatoes, pumpkin, sweet potato, 3 x potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, spinach, rocket, beetroot, brown onions, purple onions, chives, rosemary, thyme, parsley, basil, did I mention tomatoes?? oh the chooks give us four fat brown eggs every day.

While all of this is growing at the same time, a lot are still seedlings, we have been enjoying continuous beans and tomatoes, and of course the eggs. Also the sweet potato gives a nice suprise every few weeks and there is still pumpkins from the old vine (now composted).

I don't know that I will post every day but I will surely try. I hope someone will enjoy this journey with me :-)