Friday, February 27, 2009

This little piggy went to market.





























Guess how much is in the piggy and I'll send you your very own piggy. I will post to anywhere on the planet so anyone can have a go.

Nearest correct answer wins. Just leave your guess in the comments and I'll pick them up from there.

You've got two weeks, that's Friday afternoon 13th of March 2009 (Black Friday).

OK this little piggy is stuffed. He can't take no more.

He's full of only 1 and 2 dollar coins.

My guess is $500.00 but I've got a big GST bill to pay and I might just be, being hopeful.




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Thursday, February 26, 2009

A little light relief #2



I'm feeling a little down and unmotivated today.

So I need a giggle and after baked beans on toast for breakfast this popped into my head.

Hope you like it.

The 70's were fun, everything seems so serious nowadays (maybe that's just a reflection of how I'm feeling).

Wikipedia even have a bio of the band here

















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The life and times of Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'. Week Three

So far in:-

The life and times of Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'.

The life and times of Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'. Week Two

Not much happening here as you can see.

I suspect that after the seed has spent it's energy getting everything in place, that the next thing for it to do is to develop a root system that will support further growth.

Ones I planted a week earlier have developed a good set of first true leaves so by next week I'm hopeful to show more signs of progress.

Clicking on the photo opens up a larger photo which shows more detail.

'Sow', until next week it's good night from me and it's goodnight from him.




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The Queensland Gardening Pages

Here's a cool web site (The Queensland Gardening Pages ) with a cool link to a veggie garden in Toowoomba.





Below is a bit of blurb from their Vegetable page where you'll find that really cool link.

Vegetables

You'll find plenty of general information about growing veggies on the internet and in books and gardening magazines. There can be problems, however, applying it to Qld conditions. Many beginners have surely been discouraged after relying on such information. This page will concentrate on issues likely to be particular interest to Qld gardeners, particularly those in the tropical and subtropical areas. Techniques for growing veggies in small spaces, pots and containers will also be of interest to many gardeners in this state.

Some of the big problems most Queenslanders to face when trying to grow fruit and vegetables:
- Extreme heat and sunlight intensity throughout warmer months
- Lack of well-defined seasons and lack of intense chilling in winter
- Drought and watering restrictions. Reliance by some on bore water.
- Poor native soils

There are two main approaches for Qld vegetable gardeners working towards a productive garden:
- Cultural techniques (e.g. winter cultivation instead of summer, provision of shade etc)
- Selection of suitable varieties, including species originating from tropical regions

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Here, Chook, chook, chook, chook.





Remember these guys I bought on the Monday, January 19, 2009














I went out to get 5 chooks and came back with 1 rooster 4 chooks and a bantam.















The bantam came about because the lady I bought them from didn't want to charge $10.00 for this girl.

She didn't like the markings on her so offered her to me for $5.00 which was OK with me, but I only had a $50.00 note and she had no change so she offered me the bantam for the remaining $5.00, which, again, was OK with me.









Two cute.

















You talking to me? So far no noise from the Rooster, but he is giving the Bantam a hard time.

Naughty Rooster and bloody ugly too.

Maybe it's an inferior complex because the Bantam is a pretty looking chook.








Beautiful plumage the Norweigen Blue er I mean the Light Sussex.



















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Monday, February 23, 2009

Yum-o, lets go.




This looks too pretty to eat.....

But I'll give it a good go.









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Thursday, February 19, 2009

The life and times of Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'. Week Two


The end of week one or the beginning of week two, take your pick.

As you can see the Broccoli, 'Romanesco' and Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' have well and truly sprouted (fifth day after planting).

I have since pinched out the smaller or weaker seedlings where more than one seed sprouted and have given them there weekly dose of Fish emulsion.

All is looking good and I'll report again next week on their progress.

In the meantime here is what Green Harvest has to say about Broccoli, 'Romanesco' and Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian'.






Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian'
Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group

Syn. Cavolfiore di Sicilia Violetto; this Italian cauliflower is a vigorous plant with broad, green - grey leaves and a beautiful violet, compact 1-1.3 kg head. The head turns green when cooked and has a sweet mild taste both raw and cooked.
A higher mineral content is responsible for the colour.


Broccoli, 'Romanesco'
Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group

Romanesco broccoli is an Italian heirloom regarded as one of the world's most visually attractive vegetables. The lime green head illustrates a fractal pattern, with spiral conical florets within a larger spiral.
It can be eaten raw or lightly cooked, and has a nutty, slightly spicy broccoli flavour.




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Saturday, February 14, 2009

The life and times of Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'.

Here I'll be presenting weekly updates about the growing, from their very beginning (seed), to their delicious end, of my two (hopefully) 'STAR', performers.

Presenting to you for the first time, from the mild temperate climes of suburban Toowoomba, Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian', and Broccoli ,'Romanesco'.









I've grown Caulies and Brocs before but not these varieties, but I've had Cosmic Garden give them the big thumbs up

As you can see in the photo it all started on the 8th of Feb 2009.

I planted them in 50mm tubestock pots using a local organic potting mix.

I find this (local organic potting mix)
a little low in nutrients therefore I'll also be watering them weekly with a half strength fish emulsion solution.




Soil preparation has already begun with lime, copious amounts of compost and fresh stable horse manure being added and turned into the soil. We've just had 25mm of rain on this so it should turn up really nice come planting time in 3 or 4 weeks time.

I'll be back out this coming Monday to record their progress.




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Friday, February 13, 2009

Home grown tomatoes

April from her Digging in the Dirt blog has a great post about her, 'Home grown Tomatoes', as well as putting me onto a song from John Denver. Hope you enjoy it.



There ain't nothin' in the world that I like better
Than bacon 'n lettuce 'n homegrown tomatoes
Up in the mornin', out in the garden
Get you a ripe one, don't pick a hard 'un
All winter without 'em is a culinary bummer
I forgot all about the sweatin' and the diggin'
Every time I go out and pick me a big 'un

Homegrown tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes
What would life be without homegrown tomatoes?
Only two things that money can't buy
That's true love and homegrown tomatoes.

You can go out to eat and that's for sure
But there's nothin' a homegrown tomato won't cure
Put 'em in a salad, put 'em in a stew
You can make your own tomato juice
You can eat 'em with eggs, eat 'em with gravy
You can eat 'em with beans, pinto or navy
Put 'em on the side, put 'em in the middle
Homegrown tomatoes on a hot cake griddle.

Homegrown tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes
What would like be without homegrown tomatoes?
Only two things that money can't buy
That's true love and homegrown tomatoes.

If I's to change this life I lead
You could call me Johnny Tomatoseed
Cause I know what this country needs
Homegrown tomatoes in every yard you see

When I die don't bury me
In a box in a cold dark cemetery
Out in the garden would be much better
'Cause I could be pushin' up a homegrown tomato.

Homegrown tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes
What would like be without homegrown tomatoes?
Only two things that money can't buy
That's true love and homegrown tomatoes.




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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

A little light relief

My wife asked me the other day, 'Can we go to Brisbane on Monday', and me knowing this is always possible and afore mentioned wife never leads with a reason I did ask, 'Why'.
Her response was, 'to visit a cake shop'. Apparently there was a article on TV about Jocelyn's Provisions one of Brisbane's premium patisseries that she was impressed with.

Anyhow I said I'd look it up on the web, which I did and while I was there I found a link to Gourmet Traveller, and while I was there I found this story about British punk legend Johnny Rotten from the Sex Pistols being credited with increasing the sales of British butter brand Country Life by 85% in one quarter. See below for the ad.






Dairy Crest

Btw, looks like we're going to Brisbane on Monday, seems I was impressed to!
More photos

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Victoria's killer fires in photos

Victoria's killer fires

Gallery of 164 photos of the devastation in Victoria.

As much as I'd like to put up a "normal" post, I just can't bring myself to while all this is happening.
It's fairly taken the wind out of my sails atm.

Link for the Australian Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Clean up Australia Day






The next Clean Up Australia Day event will be held on 1st March 2009.














Latest Gross Solar Feed In Tariff Petition For Australia UPDATE


Click on caption for update newsletter.


There up to about 7000 signatures, your signatures and comments will be the massive wake up call our government needs!

State by state tally

ACT - 176
New South Wales - 1592
Northern Territory - 55
Queensland - 1118
South Australia - 390
Tasmania - 177
Victoria - 2592
Western Australia - 710



A gross feed in tariff for Australia

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The Ripening of the Tomato

I saw this done on another site, although differently, so I had a go myself.
It's the same bunch of Tomatoes ripening from 18/1/09 to 3/2/09.
I hope you enjoy.

Big thanks to Crafty Gardener and her Sow then Grow blog for showing me the way on the slide show thingy.



Watch this space #2


The continuing saga of Watch this space #1.

It all started many months ago with the purchase from Diggers Seeds of their Magic Bean Mix.

I've been curious about growing and drying beans for a while and seeing as I want to cook a lot of soups, stews and casseroles, I'm also keen to make my own Baked Beans, in the up coming winter, Diggers Magic Bean Mix looked like the ideal way to start.
The photo on the left is the result of my harvest from the seed that arrived from Diggers.




Not enough for a meal I'm sure you'll agree.

So, what to do? Easy, plant more, this time a whole bed of Borlotti (if you have a spare hour Wikipedia have a lot of bean info) beans. But where?

Easy again, in the old Potato bed. But why the old potato bed? Read on I'll let you know.

Now I planted them in this bed for a few reasons. First being the old Potato bed there would probably be some good fertility left in the soil without it being too rich for beans.
Secondly this will be my Onion bed come winter there by giving me enough time to get the beans in and out before it is time to plant my Onions.



The other advantage will be the added nitrogen that the beans will fix to the soil to help the Onions get started.

So there you have it. No great mystery just a man with a plan and a curiosity about beans.

Fwiw, I was really taken with the Yin Yang bean (see photo below) from the Diggers Magic Bean Mix.
It was easy to grow (as most beans are) and has a semi climbing habit. I don't know what they taste like but I plan to plant as many as I can next spring and see what they are like from there.
I'll keep you posted on their and my progress.

While I'm at it has anyone cooked and eaten these beans and what do they taste like?








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Monday, February 2, 2009

All systems go.


Scotty so far

I've finally managed to get all the bits and tools I required and I'm pleased to announce that Scotty is go.
Still needs a good tune up (not to mention a wash and a polish) and a bit of tweaking here and there. There seems to be a problem with the #1 carby which isn't unexpected, but for now it's all good.




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