Belgian endive

I found this very interesting info on the KGI site

I have never really liked endive but this sounds like an interesting thing to try. Here are a few pictures but check out the instructions and photos yourself.

http://www.kitchengardeners.org/2006/02/growing_belgian_endive.html

Star Seedlings

What can be better than a group of passionate organic seedsaving gardeners getting together to share the plants and seedlings they have grown for each other. We also shared our stories of what was happening in our gardens, how to cook different vege's and plan our next farm visit. It was so great to see you all and share a little of what is happening in your worlds. Julie's excited about doing Deb's poultry course this weekend, Mary's hatching chicks, Chook excited about butterfly gardening, Kath showed us how to make newspaper seedling containers, Viv showed us her broad beans & we talked about wormwood pest spray. Connecting, sharing and community, yesterday was a great time, see you all soon. Click on Photos in links to see more.

Fennel and Purple Congo Potatoes Help!

Okay I know I am not Italian but what do I do with large fennel bulbs? Last year we sliced them and had them as a salad. This year I left them grow larger and have made an Italian style tomato sauce with them in but it is not fantastic. What do you do with them?

Also today we made sorrel and purple congo potato soup , it was okay but nothing special. We have had them steamed with butter and they are okay but there must be some way to make them delicious!

SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE

Yippee ! she cried as she whizzed down the road in her trusty hatchback with a load of freshly picked greens....

Even after a stinker of a day the day before, the vegie garden looked bright and happy at 7am as she skipped, a little bleary-eyed, out into the world of green, wrestling with 5 boxes of various shapes and sizes in which to place the promised spinachy things for Wilson's. The husband, in his 'jarmies, was summoned to come and take a photo of the full boxes and the smiling gardener. Each box contained a different set of ingredients that would have made even the most fastidious chef rub his hands with glee. There was dark green silver beet, light green spinach, beetroot tops, coloured chard, baby spinach and finally Joy's cos lettuce leaves.

The most interesting part of the whole expedition happened in the street near Wilson's, where she unloaded all the boxes, now full of the glistening greens, and stood wondering how she was going to get them to the shop. Wandering along the footpath were a smartly dressed man and an attractive woman and one might say they looked relaxed and not at all like they were bustling off to work (by now it was 8.30am). The gardener had an idea and cheekily asked the two passers-by if they would like to buy some spinach, expecting a raised eyebrow and a quiet rebuff. The man looked at the boxes bursting with dewy greens and said yes, proceding to ask questions and finger the leaves in an appreciative way. After hearing the vegetables were all organic, the woman said she would be back with some bags. Wondering if her gorgeous greens would be a wilted mess by the end of a long working day, the gardener asked if the couple would be able to refrigerate them ASAP. The friendly man, who had introduced himself as Albert, smiled and pointed out that the gardener had indeed parked her car right outside their apartment and they were heading there now after eating breakfast at a nearby cafe. Not only did they take 2 full boxes of stuff but they said that if ever the gardener had any more things from her garden to please contact them at their abode and they would happily buy it all.

So, 3 boxes of goodies were duly delivered to Wilson's and collected into bunches. There they were, looking very happy when the gardener left with cash in each pocket. An excellent outcome and a fun time. This gardener is, however, glad she doesn't have to do this for a living but, my goodness, she didn't expect to be selling her greens to Albert Bensimon. I am glad he found them 'Simply Irresistible' !!

"From Earth to Plate"

This was the title of a guided walk around the Adelaide Botanic Gardens which we went on last Saturday. It was great, our guide Helena showed us all sorts of parts of edible trees, plants and herbs. We go for walks to the gardens all the time but next time I go I shall be stopping to read the plant and tree labels. Did you know there is a very old pecan nut tree, an old cinnamon tree, an old cassia tree and a whole row of very healthy cardamon plants growing in the gardens? One of the best things to do in Adelaide is go for a stroll around the gardens, check out their link as next week there is a pram stroll for new parents! I think the volunteer guides at the gardens do an amazing job in sharing their knowledge of the "living treasures" in the gardens.

There are guided walks daily, there are may changes in the gardens and of course every plant is also changing daily. Why do anything else but visit a garden.!

A SERIOUS CONTENDER

Oh dear. It is not so clear in my mind now about NZ being

' Nirvana'. I have spent quite some time during this bloody awful day dreaming about this French idea. You have to just read this first page of 'French Gardening' to imagine actually living in a place like this

http://www.frenchgardening.com/postcard.html?pid=11902111352542878

Every page is pulling me there. After all, it would be more fun in France, surely, and Roger could have his boat in the Mediterranean....

Buildings dressed in Leaves

When I checked out the French vertical garden it reminded me of the 'urban forest' that was growing across the road from where I was staying in Nice. Actually the house,part of what you see on the right also had pines growing on balconeys and roof but was not quite as advanced.

When I got my photos out I thought you'd like to see a few others.

Unlike around here, where people always express concerns that plants damage houses,French houses have all manner of vegetation growing on them on . These are some places I stayed. It was early November.

This is a garden at the Goetheanum(main building in background) main HQ for Steiner studies in Dornach, Switzerland.

For Kate. A few cold frames at the Goetheanum

A community bread oven near Brioude. Sylvie is hoping to restore it.

Finally a woven fence- if you want to know how to do this, Then on Nov 11th , 'weaving a bit of magic' at Nirvana Farm see calendar for details.