Lemon rain…

The chooks that live under our lemon tree have it all figured out – as soon as they hear the rustling in the leaves overhead that signals another lemon bomb about to land in their midst, they scatter to the winds…

I wish I could scatter to the winds! Every day I go outside, another bucket load of lemons has fallen to the ground, awaiting our attention.

We use about one lemon per day in salads, but we get two crops per year with around 50 kg of lemons just off this one tree.

So, lemon recipes anyone? Ones without sugar? And yes, we do freeze the juice for the lean months, but it never tastes quite the same…

We met a nice Chinese couple recently who’d never seen a lemon tree before. Lucky them!

 

 

 

 

So here’s a typical scene in the kitchen; lemon tyranny!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the plus side, Spring sunsets over the lemon tree are rather picturesque…

Kitchen Gardeners International Challenge ends 6th November.

CRUSH HUNGER Challenge

Please read about this challenge, support it and post it on your blog or share it with friends.

If KGI won this challenge it would be able to help many gardening projects around the world.

Last year KGI  managed to get a veggie garden at the White House, help them win this challenge.

 

27 October 2009

Dear Kitchen Gardener,

KGI is a 501c3 nonprofit community of over 18,000 people from 100 countries who are growing some of their own food and helping others to do the same.  We have a rare opportunity to expand the number of people we are reaching and the number of gardening groups we are helping by winning America's Giving Challenge, a fundraising competition whose grand prize is $50,000.  The prize winners are those nonprofits that generate the highest number of donations (not total dollar value) between now and November 6th, so even $10 is a big help.

We are currently in 30th place out of over 1800 nonprofits (not bad for a little nonprofit with one staff member!), but here's the really exciting news: all we need is for for 10% of our community to make a donation of $10 and we can zoom into second place!  As I mentioned before, this is the one and only fundraising drive we're making this year so I hope you'll choose to get off the garden fence and make a secure online donation here and now.

To rouse you into action,  I've just posted a fun, 2-minute video to YouTube called "Gardeners have the Power."  The message of the video is the same as the message of this exceptional funding opportunity: we can do anything we set our mind to...when we work together.  So, let's do just that and win this contest for the global gardening cause.

With over 1 billion people hungry in the world and global climate change screaming out for action, there's no time for us gardeners to waste. 

Many thanks for being the change you want to see in the world,

Roger Doiron

Founding Director, KGI

PS: If you really want to help KGI, but do not wish to donate online you may fill out this form and send us a check.  The donation will not be counted in the contest totals (because it doesn't pass through the contest counter), but will help support our work. Thanks.

PPS: We'll soon go back to our regularly scheduled kitchen gardening programming, so hang in there!

---

Here's a link and a logo for new dedicated website I set up for our contest entry.  Feel free to poke around there and see some of the types of projects KGI has helped in the past to get a feel for the work we're trying to do more of in the future.

(All the donation links and buttons at CrushHunger.org take you to our contest donations page)

FOOD CONNECT ADELAIDE --- RSVP by 28/10/09

WANT TO BE PART OF A

SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM ?

Come and learn about

Food Connect Adelaide –

a new more sustainable food system which aims to support local growers.

Where : Main Hall, Clarence Park Community Centre,

72-74 East Ave, Black Forest, Adelaide

When : Sunday November 1,

1.30pm for 1.45pm start. Finish 5.45pm
Afternoon tea will be provided.

Robert Pekin, founder of Food Connect (Brisbane) will be facilitating a workshop with growers and customers.
Come and find out more about this innovative food system, how it works and help to establish it here in Adelaide.

RSVP and more info :
Sally Fisher info@foodconnectadelaide.com.au by 28/10/09

www.foodconnectadelaide.com.au

A Seedsaver’s Garden

For all us new & experienced gardeners it was a wonderful afternoon visit to Claudia & Andrew’s amazing backyard “farm”. Where once the garden was surrounded by Italian & Greek backyard vegetable gardens, today this garden is surrounded by paved “Tuscan’ villas. It is so refreshing & encouraging to see what healthy herbs, fruits & vegetables can be grown for you family in a suburban backyard.

As Seedsavers it is important, as Andrew said today, to save the seeds from you favourite plants and vegetables so you are able to provide this healthy food for your family & friends.

Backyard gardening, although enjoyable does take time & effort & patience. Plants are grown, the seeds saved & then each season the seeds are returned to the soil, the plant grows & the cycle continues.

Claudia & Andrew have worked hard to save all the water coming onto their property so that through the long dry Adelaide summer their garden is watered with pure rainwater, which creates a healthy environment for their plants, their chickens & themselves.

For more photographs use this link: A Seedsavers Garden

A great big thank you to Claudia & Andrew for their great hospitality & for sharing their wonderful backyard farm with us today.

We have some more plans to visit other seedsavers vegetable gardens soon.

The Seed Savers Network

The Hills and Plains Seedsavers group is part of the Seed Savers Network started many years ago by Michel and Jude Fanton.

Seed Savers Handbook Online

This is a complete reference for growing, preparing and conserving 117 traditional varieties of food plants. Written especially for Australian and New Zealand conditions in 1993 by Michel and Jude Fanton, founders of The Seed Savers' Network.

Browse the Seed Savers Handbook online

“This is the online version of our enduring classic work. Please feel free to browse here, and remember that there are translations for the work, and you can always purchase a print version for your bookshelf or as a gift to a dear friend.” 
Check out the Seed Savers web site for other resources for starting a seed saving group or starting school gardens for children.

FRESH the movie

Transition Adelaide West

presents…

A movie celebrating farmers, thinkers and business people who are re-inventing our food system.

www.freshthemovie.com

12^Th November 2009

6pm for 6.30 screening

Odeon Theatre,

Semaphore Road

Join us at this significant community event, embracing sustainable lifestyle through the screening of ‘Fresh’ and the launch of a local initiative relocalising our community and supporting it in reducing energy usage;

Guest speakers include:

Graham Brookman – The Food Forest

Jason Fulston – Cloverland Organics

Stuart Gifford – Sarah’s Sisters Café

As well as post movie Exhibitors & Tastings

Tickets are $10 per person

Book through transitionadelaidewest@yahoo.com

or contact Kate – 0404 515 685

HAPPY DIWALI 2009

Many people around the world will celebrate the Festival of Lights today, check out this link to learn more of this celebration of life , Diwali