Wet dreams

Yesterday was a momentout occasion. We planted our 100th Longan tree which takes the tree count on our 5 acre block to 150.

And the weather gods celebrated by passing down barel-loads of rain. Good one nature, thank you!

Waking up to the sounds of rain when you are on water tank is pure joy. Thoughts of long warm showers, maybe even a bath soak bathe like a wet dream. Smiles all around my soul as the soothing rains do all the work for me in the orchard.

It's going to be a great day! Hope everybody is enjoying their Saturday morning and may wet dreams haunt us all every night!

Update on the Chia Plants

I am a happy gal! They flowered and it is a beautiful sight. These dainty little blue flowers poking out from the greens. So far I have scattered Chia plants everywhere in the garden and they truly are worthy of the precious real estate; even if I haven't eaten them yet.

I planted a row of seeds in early spring and it has taken them 3 months to flower. The big surprise was the plants that was in shade grew bigger and greener and stronger. However the plant in full sunlight were the first to flower. Not sure what the difference in seed will be like but if we were planting it just for the seed, I would go straight for direct sunlight.

Do not overwater them. We had a few that had poor drainage and it died. Infact the once we left alone, ie poor soil, hardly watered are looking very strong. It's a shame that it's leaves are not used as a vegetable because they truly are quick growing and easy to grow.

Chia Seeds

The seeds of this wonderful plant is so IN right now. And it deserves to be such a star.

Chia seeds contain 5 times more calcium than milk, one of the highest known source of Essential Fatty Acid. It is high in protein, high in magnesium  potassium, amino acid, vitamin C. Basically anything really good for you, it has it.

What I like most about the seed is it actually taste good. The seed has a nutty flavour with no unpleasant aroma like many healthy things. A few teaspoons snuck into cereals, bread, soup, eggs, drinks... basically anything and for the fussiest eaters it would go down unnoticed.

My little one actually loves this dissolved in water. The seed has a mucilaginous property, making the outside shell of the seed swell  like jelly when it comes into contact with water. The same gel-like property causes a slow conversion of carbohydrates, making a great diet food. In fact one tablespoon of this super seed can sustain a person with enough energy for 24 hours of hard labour. How's that for super food!

This year I am trying to grow this all over the garden. It has to be one of the easiest seeds to germinate. Soak them in water and chuck them in sun (I did this in early spring) and it just grows -  so effortless it is hard to imagine a plant so good for you can be this easy to grow.

This year I have them everywhere and I mean everywhere. I planted some under the deck which gets alot of sun, scattered all around the garden, some kept in pots, others in full sunlight, some in shade. So far I've noticed the ones that grow in partial shade grew alot quicker. It doesn't like to be overwatered or it will rot. And it doesn't really care what kind of soil you grow it on, it will grow in very bad clay soil, rocky soil or good compost. The biggest plant in my garden gets some filtered light. It also grew from a clump of plants. The weak ones just died on it's own while the giant took over and sucked up all the nutrients. Survival of the fittest!

I can't wait to see it flower, it will be a happy day when the rows of chia under my deck start flowering!

Dux Heat Pump Hot Water System

Our new heat pump hot water system to replace our 1968 electric hot water system. It works by extracting heat energy from the air around it, passing on this heat into the stored water.

System and Plumber's Installation costs - $4683
Fed Gov Rebate (no longer means tested) - $1600
State Rebate - $1200
Reusable Energy Credits (28 credits, current REC point is worth $40) - $1120
total rebates - $3920

So if I've calculated rebates back correctly actual costs for this hot water system including plumber's installation is $763 (plus cost for electrician to rewire system from off peak - lucky for us my dad's a sparky). Pretty cool considering how energy efficient this hot water system is. There is a low humming noise like an air conditioner. Something to keep in mind if installing near a bedroom because it does come on at night.

Juicy Harvest

So after months of watering and tender love and care. The plants are doing well and looking so delicious. Can't wait to taste it.

The juicy beetroot with it's voluptuous curves teases and it takes alot of mental control to leave it alone and not pull it out too prematurely!

The other leafy goodies are coming along well too albeit some holes thanks to some hungry fat caterpillars. I don't really mind them. As long as they don't demolish the plants completely, there's plenty to go around.
In midst of the summer, we go away for 2 weeks. I reluctantly gave the caretaker responsibility to the neighbors and my mum. Water it and harvest I instructed. But when we came home, the plants exploded. I was kind of sad I wasn't around to watch them grow. They grow up so quickly.

They were delicious. The Amaranth Spinach - the leafy greens with the red middle is my favourite veggy. They make all soups go pink. My daughter loves the pink soup also. Unfortunately, they overgrew along with the chinese brocolli. They really should have the shoots plucked and eaten when young to retain it's juicy crips youth. The rattlesnake beans are the sweetest, juiciest beans ever. Oh and don't get me started on the beetroot and carrots. Forgot to take photos of the purple dragon carrots. Will remember to take photos in next harvest.

So this was Summer's harvest and have harvested most of these juicy morsels. I'm growing the winter plants now and will put the pics in the next post. I also decided to expand the garden to the back courtyard. I might be developing a slight obsession here.

After a conversation with hubby this morning, I think I'm a little too keen on expanding the garden. Was thinking of chickens, setting up a lucern paddock, growing fields of rasberries and asparagus plants in the council land. Was even wishing I had a buffalo or horse to help dig the ground. Ok passion is getting a little out of hand, need to go back to what is realistic and possible!

Our Garden

After the winter of 2008, the weeds took over the patch.

We had some wallabies who found the patch a favorite rendezvous snack points in winter. So I gave up gardening in the cold and fighting with the roos and possums.

We decided it would cost too much to build fences to keep the wildlife out. So we planted some blood oranges, mandarins and blueberries in the patch. And during the cold months, the weeds took over.

I didn't mulch which is the thing to do to keep weeds at bay. It just means I have to get dirty and start over again.

But I changed my mind again and decided fruit and veggies cost way too much so I decided to plant around the little trees. I thought I'll plant mostly leafy veggies, herbs and maybe some squash around it. Hoping a mix of herbs would deter the wallabies and possums from eating the veggies. But during rubish collection, someone threw out some fencing. It wasn't very tall and not very strong neither but I was going to try anyway.

After weeding, the veggie patch now has a mandarin tree, a blood orange tree and a blueberry shrub; some parsley, chives and leek plants. Over the top is a lemon grass shrub. Still lots of space around it for herbs and leafy veggies.

After mulching and putting a very small and possibly useless fence, I decided to expand the patch and make use of such valuable sunny real estate.

Oh this year I also have a little help from a cutie poo. Who also reminds me the fence is terrible.


The expansion of the vegie patch from a little circle to a big ass veggie patch conveyor belt.

I bought myself some heirloom seeds from diggers and very excitedly planted some
rattlesnake beans (stripy purple and green beans)
10 colour tomato mix, striped beetroot, purple carrots, Red Spinach Spent over $50 on seeds. I sure hope they grow.

Simple things in life.

Living in excess is no longer fashion. Simplicity....

Our world is in an global financial turmoil. Our great financial system built on bricks of debt has crumbled. Pieces of our home, our nest eggs, savings, and shattered dreams resemble corpses in a postwar nightmare. We are all grieving. Whether you were a stockbrocker, a homeowner, an entrepeneur, a parent, a child the damage affects us all. Our future. What happens next is anyone's guess. But I am pretty sure what follows is increases in food and all our basic needs for survival. More depreciation in the value of our cash and savings. And distrust in governments. All on a global scale.

This is the time people start focusing on what is important in life. Relationships, Health, Food, Shelter. The basics.

Saving money, growing food, cooking at home and learning how to reconnect with yourself without material goods. It is about simplicity of life. We will all start again like a clean slate.

Being graceful... A simple thought that has taken over my thought space. My attempt to lead a graceful life in the simple things. That’s what it is about.