So Long Between Posts

Since last summer I have been so dejected with my garden. The extreme heat killed everything last year. I haven't even been game to weed. With winter, has come enough cool weather and moisture for stuff to start growing again. Any greenery is good as far as I'm concerned.

So what has actually been happening in my garden? Besides the weeds, there has been plenty that has self-seeded. Open pollinated seeds are wonderful things. With absolute neglect and chicken invasion (we moved the coop, and it is STILL not secure), we have plenty of silver beet, mustard, carrots, onions, dill, leeks, lettuces, wheat, oats, marigolds and parsnips growing. And that is just what I can see at a glance. I'm not really game to get out there and hunt around too much, otherwise the chickens will follow behind and dig up all the goodies.

We also have masses of stinging nettles. These are great to dig back into the garden as a green manure, but I prefer to eat them. Most people look at me like I'm a martian when I mention that stinging nettles are one of my favourite vegetables. The first obvious question is: "Doesn't it sting when you eat it?"

No, stinging nettles don't sting when you eat them, but that is only after it has been plunged into boiling water. Both this and vinegar neutralise the sting. Of course, picking it and preparing it is quite a treacherous path. I once picked nettles while wearing those thin latex gloves - even through two pairs, you will get stung! I had to soak my hands in vinegar, rather than the usual quick wipe over. To pick nettles you need thick rubber gloves. The ones you buy to wash dishes with are perfect.

So what do you do with the nettles, once they are picked? Besides washing them thoroughly, they can be cooked and used in place of spinach or silver beet. The flavour is far superior to either of these greens. My favourite recipe is a greek one that involves homemade filo, fetta, onions, dill and nettles. You mix up everything and roll it up in the filo. It is then baked in the oven and eaten warm - YUMMO!

Summer Heat

Today is the third day in a row that Melbourne has recorded temperatures in the 40s. It's a new record apparently. Some people seem to get excited over things like that.

For me, though, I just peek out of the window every so often and watch another plant dry to a crisp. Occasionally I venture outside in the heat that is so hot and dry that you don't even sweat. So far we haven't lost any chickens, but I watch and I worry as they hang their wings and pant until they cough. There are no fire threats near us, but we are buffered in suburbia. Still I worry.

Two years ago we breathed the smoke and haze for days as the closest national park burned. It was terrifying even though we live half and hours drive away. I feared for the people who lived through it, who fought for their properties, who rescued injured animals, who saved lives. How they managed through all the smoke, I do not know. It was hard for us to breathe and we were no where near the danger zone.

Today I smell the air as I feed the chooks and while there is no smoke on it, it smells very much like it would the second before a flame erupts. Everywhere I look, I see parched and barren ground, the very skeleton of the earth baring its soul. I fear I will lose at least one of our orange trees, many of my vines are dead and gone already. Beans hang on a vine that has dehydrated beyond redemption. I suspect all I may be left with are the corn and tomatoes and the dill that scents the air as I hang out clothes that are dry before they are pegged.

When will winter come?

And So Cometh The Rains...

...40-50mms of the glorious stuff! It was music to my ears even if I did have to be in the city this weekend wearing nothing but a party frock. Two days on and there is STILL puddles and mud. Over the past year, even when we do get a good rain, the ground is so parched that it sucks away the moisture and within 24 hours everything is barren and dry and the ground cracks open again. I really don't believe this is the end of the drought (no matter how much those city folk complain about the amount of rain and how even 40mms won't shut up the whinging farmers), but it's a nice little topper to our dams and a short reprieve from the nasty fire season we are all expecting this year.