RSVP Blog

Posted by: missrule at December 31, 2008 6:59 PM
"some plants taste good to dogs. So maybe some don't? Anyone know?"

I know my dog - golden retriever X laborador (and possibly rottweiler) - likes apples and will pick any he can reach. He also likes asparagus. I wondered why one year I wasn't seeing many. I then caught him standing over one, and nibbling his way down the stalk. (Which was a shame for me, because in my universe there is no such thing as too much asparagus.) He also likes wasabe peas. He doesn't like grapes.

Fencing keeps Dante out of plants. I discovered that it doesn't have to be particularly strong or tall. He gets the message. I can keep him out of a room with one of those little wooden 'gates' you use for toddlers, and even though I've seen him jump higher than it, he will just sit outside the room and sigh (he can be very theatrical).

Posted by: lafileuse at January 4, 2009 7:22 PM

That's a great idea, although she hates water. I might fill it up with sand and then i could dampen it. That's a great idea. She seems to take so much time to cool down, its a worry at times. She is not overweight, just feels the heat.

Posted by: iaminperth at January 4, 2009 4:34 PM

Posted by: iaminperth at December 31, 2008 6:15 PM

Perth, go to big W & check out the cheap kids sand pits, they will shaped like shell with a lid or like a tiny wading pool, thats what l use for my dogs on hot days here, just put it under a shady tree & fill it with water :)))

Posted by: outbackdrifter at January 4, 2009 12:26 PM

Posted by missrule at December 31, 2008 6:59 PM ~ Your post reflects you are doing absolutely everything possible to get them away from your plants.

From my own experince with two Red Setters then a litter of 8 puppies, & for months doing all the suggested things, I gave up & started planting star pickets & heavy duty mesh around my garden beds & shrubs!

I tried the trick of moving my most precious plants away from them into the front yard . I should have realised this was futile as the adults would jump the 8 foot cyclone fence & rip off the front screen door when they wanted in :))) Those poor plants got the bite as again.......

The darlings dug up the entire septic & water lines on the place, ate everything from outdoor furniture to screen doors. They were beautiful dogs but gee what a handfull..... FOC (father of child) thought it would be a good idea for the new baby to have a dog....hmmmm :)

Yep if all else fails star pickets & heavy duty mesh or a dog whisperer..... :))))

Good Luck..... hopefully someone might know of a plant that repels dogs. :))))

Posted by: softfeather at January 2, 2009 4:49 PM

Posted by missrule at December 31, 2008 11:53 AM ~ hi missrule. Happy New Year :)

How blessed your young puppies are to have such a wonderful place to live & play.

Focus your energy on them for a while & let the garden go. Try to make time for both you & them. Do you walk them each morning before you set off for work? Double return as all of you stay fit & bond.

Sit outside while you have breakfast & interact with them... they are the same as toddlers they need your attention to guide them to positive behaviour patterns.

I'm sure Drifter & others will have lovey feedback & ideas for puppy play & how to guide them so a happy outcome is the end result for all of you. hmmmm :))))

Take care. SF. X X X

Posted by: softfeather at January 1, 2009 4:16 PM

Hi Minihaha and thanks, I know the dogs get bored - it is after all a long day for them while I'm out, but sadly I have to work. (Only four days a week, shortly reducing to three, but still it is nine hours minimum while I'm out.)

I do provide them with chew toys, balls, treats etc. and they have each other to play with, but nothing is going to keep them occupied for 27 hours a week. They also have the whole plot to roam, including steps to run up and down, and the neighbours' dogs to "talk" to. (Those dogs are not as lucky as mine because they are never walked - mine get two walks a day plus the beach when I'm not working.)

My two only seem to attack certain plants, though, and I've seen the bigger dog start chewing while I've been a few feet away and giving her my full attention, which is what made me think some plants taste good to dogs. So maybe some don't? Anyone know?

Posted by: missrule at December 31, 2008 6:59 PM

We have 39 deg. here tomorrow and my plants are looking a little worse for wear, or at least some of them are. It is so hot and it's also windy at the same time so very burny type weather. My dog is so hot and doesn't really want to do anything at all. She has quite a few cool places to lay down and plenty of fresh water but she still feels the heat terribly. Anybody any ideas for cooling a large dog down without hosing her.

Posted by: iaminperth at December 31, 2008 6:15 PM

missrule your dogs are NOT in love with your plants, they are BORED. Get them something they can play with while you are at work.

Posted by: minihaha64 at December 31, 2008 2:06 PM

Hey, you clever people who know all about plants and suchlike... could I "pick" your brains? I have a 1/4 acre plot which is shared with two young dogs who love digging, especially while I'm at work. So far their victims have included several bromeliads and two kangaroo paws. The little dears have now moved on to the bamboo.

I have tried planting replacements but they have met a similar fate and it's costing me too much to persist. Does anyone know of any plant (other than cacti, to which I have a particular aversion) that dogs hate? TIA as the texters might write ... Claire

Posted by: missrule at December 31, 2008 11:53 AM

Posted by: artizanne at December 31, 2008 8:46 AM ~ Most vegie gardens need lifting & space to let the air circulate to produce a healthy crop. When I lived in the east the humidity was the devil of my crop failures. Is there air good air flow? When I grew vegies I never sprayed anything except worm juice on my crops... My theory was if I can't grow it naturally then I won't grow it.... :))))

Re the tomatoes near apricots...if I had problems with disease in my garden I would be growing something healthy near my long term fruit bearing shrubs & trees.

Vegies are seasonal short term plants. Your trees are long term. One hopes trees will be still be there way down the track.

I hope your garden brings many blessings to enrich your home & your spirit. All the very best for 2009. :))))

Posted by: softfeather at December 31, 2008 10:25 AM

Bugger.... OK which key is it on this keyboard that does that talking tongues sign?

I know it's silly to believe in the technical fairy but I wish she would stop doing it when I post :))))

H2H & Drifter sincere wishes for 2009. Thanks for being you & passionate about it :))))

SF is sooo late for the last day of work for 2008 & she really couldn't give a continental..... bring it on ah ah ah...X X X

Posted by: softfeather at December 31, 2008 10:04 AM

ps.I'm wondering just how true it is that apricots and tomatoes are bad neighbours....?

Posted by: artizanne at December 31, 2008 9:17 AM

Does anyone have the answer to a widespread bacterial blight amongst veggies....and is there an alternative to copper spray?

Posted by: artizanne at December 31, 2008 8:46 AM

Posted by: iaminperth at December 30, 2008 9:30 PM

Is there a problem with that ?

Posted by: outbackdrifter at December 31, 2008 6:52 AM

Posted by: iaminperth at December 30, 2008 9:30 PM - Obviously a "non-believer"...

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 30, 2008 11:57 PM

Posted by: iaminperth at December 30, 2008 9:30 PM ~

Plants are amazing...... If I was to get really serious the day someone posts about their passion & awe with spotting a Thelymitra variegata or a Paracaleana in the wild I will be in like Flynn...

The day I found an old disused pit full of Paracaleana in the south west I was over the moon..... :))))

Gee that would be heaven on a stick for me.... a man who hunts orchids..... :))))

Posted by: softfeather at December 30, 2008 11:42 PM

Well Drifter it gets bettera... one of the frangipani's flowered yesterday & the others are coming into bud..... then in the same pot that the kaktarse is in I ripped out some Hymenocallis litoralis'sssss (meaning more than one) from the old house... they are doing their thing as well. For those scratching their heads they are spider lillies :))

The chillies have come into flower.... subtle to blow ya hat off varieties!...... the lemon basil is looking a bit limp but my fault as I left it a tad late to pop them in....

One thing I've learnt I was too heavy handed with the cow poo on the magnolia grandiflora (Little Gem) & I have sacrificed flowers for growth. It was a scraggy thing 12 months ago so I gave it a good dressing down & it's doubled it's height..... but as I said the energy has been used for growth not flowering..... shame but lesson learnt.......

Gee... from the concrete bare place I moved into 12 months ago this little place is suddenly bursting with all this fertile energy :)))) Just needs a datura & I'll be set for that outdoor bathtub... ;))))

PS.... Thanks for pointing out about the tongues thingo... But you don’t get passion & eloquence at the same time with me…it’s either bubbling over or a dead stop to think about every word to describe how I’m feeling :))))

Posted by: softfeather at December 30, 2008 11:27 PM

You would have to wonder just what kind of plants some people are growing in their gardens after those posts !!

Posted by: iaminperth at December 30, 2008 9:30 PM

Posted by: softfeather at December 30, 2008 2:14 AM

SF, So the Queen is here....... very cool :), Epipyllums ( Orchid cactus ), is one of the Most amazing flowers on the planet & as for the smell...........................it overpower you with a sense of love & beauty ;)

PS Your talking in tongues again :))))

Posted by: outbackdrifter at December 30, 2008 6:59 PM

Whooooaaa...... Drifter she birthed tonight! .... My Cactaceae Epiphyllum oxypetalum ~ Queen of the Night ~ Cereus Night Blooming Cactus. Brag brag brag......

Her baby was a beauty..... She didn't start to dilate till dark & she still hasn't reached full bloom & it's midnight. She about 10 inches from outer sepal to sepal or is it petal to petal?????

Each frame was every 15 minutes & not one clanger in the lot.... Love this new camera.... I pushed & panted with her all the way…..Just amazing, a humdinger…..

I whispered softly to her & we listened to Tracy Chapman through the birth.... I have the biggest grin on my face! It's the first time she has flowered for three years & it’s just the best thing to happen so far on my journey... The perfume has filled my home & if it could be bottled ohhh ahhh what a winner…….

This is bliss..... I'm so proud of her..... SF is doing skips all over the place..... Ah hah, ah huh... must post a song for the occasion.

Bring on 2009..... Kachana Kachana.... :)))) Big smile on the dial for bedtime tonight.... hmmmm :))))

Posted by: softfeather at December 30, 2008 2:14 AM

Posted by: softfeather at December 28, 2008 12:05 PM - Ya goof!... lol

Posted by: istj54 at December 28, 2008 12:00 PM - Oh dear....*aaackkk*.... you mean they were [censored] ?? Nooooooooo....! .....*runs away*.... Noooooo...NOOOOO!!!! They were Santa Hats... OK???

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 28, 2008 10:07 PM

Posted by heart2heart57 at December 25, 2008 2:16 PM ~

SF has tears running down her face & the most silly grin.....

My mind is trying to stay focussed on manifesting what I will be doing & my journey in 2009 & now it's reduced to party hats.....

Hmmmmm.....where's that new CD by the Potbelleez - Don't Hold Back :))))

Cheers...SF

Posted by: softfeather at December 28, 2008 12:05 PM

H2H...that may not have been a Santa hat:))

Posted by: istj54 at December 28, 2008 12:00 PM

My slugs had lil Santa hats on last night...

T:)

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 25, 2008 2:16 PM

L&t have you ever seen videos of two slugs entwined,dangling by a mucous thread,busily,shagging each others craniums out....?.....Thought you might have........

Posted by: artizanne at December 22, 2008 2:01 PM

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 21, 2008 6:52 PM

Puts a totally new slant on the word "slimy" doesnt it hun hehehe oh thats halarious hahaha

I used to control my slugs and bugs here in tassi, when I was growing lettuces brocolli and cabbage with garlic spray and dishwashing detergent spray in a bottle. You had to use it after rain each time but I had a beautiful crop 3 years in a row totally chemically free.

:)) Nel

Posted by: enchantinel at December 21, 2008 10:07 PM

Posted by: laughsandtalks at December 21, 2008 5:23 PM

LMAO your kidding me hehehehe
:))Nel

Posted by: enchantinel at December 21, 2008 7:35 PM

Marcus has got a big slug... *laughs childishly*.... :)

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 21, 2008 6:52 PM

Sexual organs on their head??? *sits and waits for a 'dickhead' comment....* :)))

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 21, 2008 6:42 PM

I had one of the large mottled grey and brown Leopard slugs living under a big paver near the workshop door. I saw it one damp evening eating a few shreds of chicken that had come from my sandwhich. I started giving it a small piece of meat every so often. It didn't take it long to learn to come straight to its feeding station when it emerged
These guys grow up to 8" long. So if either Artizanne or H2H have, or have any recent experience with a slug that big perhaps they could blog on it. And they are 'it's'. Slugs are hermaphrodites and probably have a longer and more involved courtship than most men and a lot of women are happy with. They circle and lick each other for hours then mate by engaging their sex organs that come from the right side of the head. Their babies- both the slugs lay eggs- take about 2 years to reach maturity.
Cheers Marcus

Posted by: laughsandtalks at December 21, 2008 5:23 PM

Posted by: artizanne at December 20, 2008 11:30 AM

Thank you Anne, lm glad your Saffron is doing well, when you get your first lot of home grow saffron l would be looking for a good Paella recipe to try it out on.

You have a great Christmas :)))

Posted by: outbackdrifter at December 20, 2008 1:13 PM

Posted by: artizanne at December 19, 2008 8:24 AM - Umm.... in a word? Cos the dog ain't stoopid... lmao.

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 20, 2008 12:08 PM

Posted by: artizanne at December 19, 2008 12:20 PM - All the time!! It's the snails I hate more though - they make that sweet 'crackle' sound just before you feel the goo on your feet... *aaaaccckkkkkkk!*

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 20, 2008 12:07 PM

Out the Back....belated Birthday greetings,and many thanks for the advice...your expertise is appreciated.Saffron is slumbering nicely.

Posted by: artizanne at December 20, 2008 11:30 AM

H2H...ever stepped on one in the dark in bare feet? ...disgusting! ~

Slip sliding away..... :))))

Posted by: softfeather at December 20, 2008 1:40 AM

Posted by: artizanne at December 19, 2008 8:24 AM - Umm.... in a word? Cos the dog ain't stoopid... lmao.

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 19, 2008 10:03 PM

Posted by: artizanne at December 19, 2008 12:20 PM - All the time. It's the snails I hate more though - they make that sweet 'crackle' sound just before you feel the goo on you feet... *aaaaccckkkkkkk!*

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 19, 2008 10:02 PM

H2H...ever stepped on one in the dark in bare feet? ...disgusting!

Posted by: artizanne at December 19, 2008 12:20 PM

If anyone is having trouble with caterpillar infestations,i have had massive fun with this little concoction.Brew up a mix of chopped rhubarb leaves(toxic) and water for half an hour.Cool.Strain(old stocking).Add shaved soap remnants.Stir.Dilute a bit.Spray over the little critters.Instant.....but do remember to rinse the crops before eating...

Posted by: artizanne at December 19, 2008 8:47 AM

H2H what i don't get is why the dog won't eat 'em...they infest her plate,and she won't even touch her food when they do...horrible critters....

Posted by: artizanne at December 19, 2008 8:24 AM

Posted by: artizanne at December 18, 2008 8:34 PM - Not touchin that one - nuh-uh...

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 18, 2008 9:17 PM

...who cares?At least it keeps the snails etc out....bet my slugs are bigger than yours.....

Posted by: artizanne at December 18, 2008 8:34 PM

Posted by: artizanne at December 16, 2008 3:38 PM - That 'tent' ain't gonna be much good in the rain, hey? LoL :)

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 17, 2008 8:36 PM

Princesspenny....re the scarecrow,how about making a slightly raised tent of fine chicken wire...pegging down the corners so's birds can't creep in...very useful way to protect other seeds and seedlings.......

Posted by: artizanne at December 16, 2008 3:38 PM

Posted by: princesspenny69 at December 15, 2008 10:07 PM

" ...So a scarecrow is in order. ANY GOOD IDEAS FOR A SCARECROW??"

I've had reasonable luck with dead CDs. Put some string through them and hang them from branches, or poles. Any little breeze makes them move and scatter light.

Posted by: lafileuse at December 16, 2008 12:54 PM

I know what you mean, I'm trying to get around with a broken foot in a humungous moon boot at the moment and looking after the garden and trying to weed is disastrous. I tried sitting down to get some weeds out the other day and then it took me ages to get up again. Must have been a funny sight to see but gosh it was hard. I just water now and try to keep the tomatoes tied but it's hard. Never mind, all will be well. My lettuces were ruined as i couldn't pick any but I have some good mangoes growing for early next year and the citrus is doing fine.

Posted by: iaminperth at December 15, 2008 11:10 PM

Ugghh, still trying to get used to this blog - and I'm supposed to be savvy at this stuff.

Anyway, had a few more edamame pop up. So will take care of the ones I have. The other beans are doing well - reaching for the sky. But the crows are pulling out the little corn leaves. Apparently they have a lot of sugar in them? So a scarecrow is in order. ANY GOOD IDEAS FOR A SCARECROW??

Thanks

Penny

Posted by: princesspenny69 at December 15, 2008 10:07 PM

Posted by: softfeather at December 14, 2008 5:24 PM - Ta. It will be a couple of months before I'm fully mobile again, but I can still manage to wield a watering can.

It's kinda addictive, huh? Every morning I'm out there to see which lil seeds have taken their first yawn above the ground. The birds here are buggers - especially Maggies with the beans and peas. I guess they think they're little green worms or something when they germinate, coz they yank them out of the ground, realise it's not edible, then move on to the next one. So I end up with a little line of ripped-out dead seedlings. But, I've got their measure this year - a couple of nets from Bunnings, some tent pegs, and now I have happy little beans and peas shooting in safety :)))

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 15, 2008 9:14 PM

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 14, 2008 12:44 PM ~ Sorry to read you came a cropper...

Home grown is rewarding in so many ways. Nurturing the little ones is fun & eating straight from the garden is a joy. Being outside in the evening doing the hand watering with a glass in hand is my one of my ways to de stress.

Sincerely hope your recovery is moving forward at a steady pace. Need all ya energy for the harvest..... :)

Posted by: softfeather at December 14, 2008 5:24 PM

Posted by: iaminperth at December 14, 2008 12:33 AM - *Everything* home grown tastes better than in the shops. Some of it might be psychological, but I think one of the main reasons is that you tend to 'harvest' when things have rippened on the plant, rather than pick them green and ripen with age in storage.

I noticed that everything I grew at home had a much more intense flavour. And the sweetcorn was so good you could eat it raw.

I'm having a bugger of a year with my crop due to personal injury, and my seedlings all carked it when I finally planted them out. So, I've just gone along with seeds and poked them straight into the ground where the seedlings died, and there's already lil green heads poking up all over the place :)

Looks like it'll be another 'late crop' this year - but meh, I put a second 4,500 ltr tank in during the winter, and with all the rain we've been having in Melbourne this last week, both are brim full :))) So at least I've got the water to tide the garden over during the warmer months.

Now all I have to do is be patient (yeh...right!) and wait for me lil darlin's to grow :)

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 14, 2008 12:44 PM

....it's still raining,and the molluscs have been lured out of retirement,only to meet some cunning traps,to be composted for the greater good.....

Posted by: artizanne at December 14, 2008 9:44 AM

I'll try both of those suggestions thanks guys. They are going to look nice in a salsa but they are quite different taste and texture to the reds. I'm looking forward to the black ones ripening up, they are fabulous looking at the moment and growing extremely well. I love home grown tomatoes, totally different taste to the ones in the shops.

Posted by: iaminperth at December 14, 2008 12:33 AM

Posted by: outbackdrifter at December 13, 2008 5:48 PM - Melbourne here OBD - I think the yellow 'maties need a constant source of sunshine and warmth (ain't that the truth in other matters as well :)) ). Mine looked spectalular on the bushes - and they fruited like hell. I also tried letting them 'over ripen' several. But, alas, they didn't turn out all that well to eat at all - mushy, sour lil bugger they were.

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 13, 2008 8:11 PM

Posted by: iaminperth at December 13, 2008 12:33 AM
Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 13, 2008 3:41 PM

I have never found that with the ones I grow, If tomatos a pithy that a sign of uneven watering, try more orgainic in the soil to hold more water

And as for tart, try cutting of trusis of them & leave till they are a darker yellow, I hope this helps

Posted by: outbackdrifter at December 13, 2008 5:48 PM

Posted by: iaminperth at December 13, 2008 12:33 AM - Yep. Did the 'yellow tomatoes' thing last year, and agreed, they are rather pithy and tart. Actually, I'm not into their texture/flavour at all. So I harvested my lot and made pickles and chutneys etc. with them. They do ok for that and perhaps to add a bit of colour to a salad (yellow capsicum does the same trick). But, as for eating, they don't float my boat...

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 13, 2008 3:41 PM

It rained!....In Melbourne...really rained,38 mm o'night...having got used to the Bureau's ..." a chance of showers" translating as watch the clouds,by all means,but don't cancel the picnic...You fortunate folks nth of the Divide,just don't know how desperate things are here.Everything smells fresh...residual possum smells are gone....ahh.!It's the important things which put a smile on the dial.

Posted by: artizanne at December 13, 2008 8:25 AM

Does anyone know about yellow tomatoes? I have grown some and they look lovely but they are quite pithy inside and very tart. Are we picking them too soon or are supposed to be very tart. I mean screw your face up a little tart. I have never grown them before but this year I planted, red yellow and black as I thought they would be nice in salads and for salsa etc., but not too sure with these ones and there are hundreds of them growing, like weeds.

Posted by: iaminperth at December 13, 2008 12:33 AM

:-D

Should have said "warp in the time-space continuum"?

"Time meant nothing, never would again"

Posted by: lafileuse at December 12, 2008 10:00 PM

Posted by: lafileuse at December 12, 2008 4:16 PM - Um... you might want to re-think that 'timewarp' wish - he might be here quicker than you think..lmao

*keeps one eye on the door, to see if the handle moves*... lol

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 12, 2008 7:13 PM

At the moment, I've wishing I hadn't been so busy the last few months. My backyard food production is limited to 3 chickens (for eggs), some fruit trees and herbs.
Need to get inspired (and possibly need my own personal time warp to squeeze in an extra day during the week).

Posted by: lafileuse at December 12, 2008 4:16 PM

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 12, 2008 12:14 AM

Many thanks for the info about smoking. The hot smoking sounds easier ... less plumbing to think about! :-D

... and your block party sounded great!

Posted by: lafileuse at December 12, 2008 4:13 PM

Posted by: artizanne at December 12, 2008 8:25 AM

"...ok.La Fileuse,shall we hijack this into a weavers forum? I used to do a bit of double weave.....,and then some.What stuff are you doing?"

:-D

I suppose no harm in also talking a bit about weaving ... like French fries on the side.

I only just started weaving this year (OK, I did a workshop several years ago, but it didn't 'take'). I've done some samplers (very interested in the possiblilties of double weave ... we could take this offblog), and last month finished a table runner for my hall stand - plain weave with stripes of lacework in cottolin - 3 colours. Thinking of doing the same pattern in one colour only for curtains for the future loom room. I'd also like to try something with my handspun ... still mulling that over.

Posted by: lafileuse at December 12, 2008 4:12 PM

...ok.La Fileuse,shall we hijack this into a weavers forum? I used to do a bit of double weave.....,and then some.What stuff are you doing?

Posted by: artizanne at December 12, 2008 8:25 AM

Posted by: lafileuse at December 11, 2008 9:22 PM - "Hot" smoking means you both smoke and cook the meat using the smoke and heat-source for the smoke together.

"Cold" smoking (or 'remote smoking') on the other hand means you impart a smoke flavour (and natural preservatives) after or while the meat is being 'cooked' (cured) by other means - often 'chemical' e.g. salting, pickling - salts and acids such as vinegar and citrus juices 'cook' meat too. Or it can be air-dried. With cold smoking, the firebox and source of smoke are usually some distance away (a metre or so), and the smoke channelled via a pipe to the smoking chamber - the meat is smoked via cool smoke without the residual heat of the fire.

A classic example of 'cold smoking' is Prosciutto Crudo (It) or 'Jamon' (Sp) meaning 'raw ham' which is basically air-dried and can be 'cold smoked' during the process to add flavour and longevity, but not actually cook the meat using heat. German Speck is done along those lines too.

There's a fair bit of overlap between hot and cold smoking but basically if the heat of the smoke cooks the meat, then you can probably say it's "hot" smoked...

OBD - in the other foodie blog - the 'Block Party' was a bit of a fizzer this year. We moved it from Friday night to Saturday night so more people could attend and have time to prepare things - but so many ppl were doing other things 'Christmas' like. I shopped all morning, and baked all arvo (breads) and made Dukkah etc., chucked a few prawns in Hoi Sin sauce an on to skewers, and did a nice little 'Pinky' in Thai spices wrapped alfoil on the barbie. Though the numbers were down, those that turned up had a good time.

Kick-off was supposed to be 6pm, and as luck would have it, it was windy all day and it hosed down at 20 to 6 in a nice late afternoon Melb thunderstorm, and I thought *bugger*... there goes the party. But, as is typical in Melbourne, after the downpour passed, it was as still as a church-mouse and the rain abated. It tried to spit a couple of times, but the front had moved through.

So, for those of us that could make it, we had a good time. Plenty of tucker, some late-night open air acoustic guitar work, good friends and the odd ale. Ok, twenty ales then :) (I told you I put a coupla six-packs down for you - but you didn't turn up, so I didn't want them to go off - LoL). A couple of late stragglers coming home from other commitments helped to add to the atmosphere. All in all, a good night - minus a roaring fire. That would have just set it off, but probably put a dirty big scorch mark on the bitumen in front of my joint and had the men in the reflective yellow uniforms spray foam and stuff all over us LoL.

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 12, 2008 12:14 AM

Posted by: lafileuse at December 9, 2008 8:14 AM

this is off the cuff but maybe smokin JD had something to do with it. :)
must try that with my rollie papers. :))a

Posted by: angela11 at December 11, 2008 10:14 PM

Posted by: outbackdrifter at December 9, 2008 4:41 PM

"Do you want to cold or hot smoke in your weber ?"

Uhhhhh ...

I think hot smoking. As I understand it, the meat is then cooked and safe to eat. Cold smoking means you need to cook the meat further by some other means, right? (Though if there are advantages to this, I'll try it too.)

Posted by: lafileuse at December 11, 2008 9:22 PM

Posted by: artizanne at December 9, 2008 3:47 PM

" ... La fileuse....smoking in a table loom?well that's about the only thing I didn't do with my loom...floor,4 shaft....since sold....."

:-D

After I reread my post, I thought I'd get a comment about lighting up a cigarette while curled inside the Weber ... didn't think of that one!

I have also just acquired an 8-shaft, countermarch floor loom (have to admit it was one of those what was I thinking moments ... I have to clean out one of the spare rooms so it will fit) ... still looking like a pile of lumber while it waits until I have the courage to try to reassemble it.

Posted by: lafileuse at December 11, 2008 9:15 PM

I have some wonderful tomatoes growing in the backyard. They are growing in clusters like grapes. This year I planted red one, yellow and black ones, also Basil but again the coriander is hit the dust.

Posted by: iaminperth at December 10, 2008 9:46 PM

Posted by: lafileuse at December 9, 2008 8:14 AM

Do you want to cold or hot smoke in your weber ?

Posted by: outbackdrifter at December 9, 2008 4:41 PM

La fileuse....smoking in a table loom?well that's about the only thing I didn't do with my loom...floor,4 shaft....since sold.....ps have had limited experience with a smoking box.

Posted by: artizanne at December 9, 2008 3:47 PM

I just bought a Weber kettle BBQ just in time for the warmer weather (had to save up again, having spent my BBQ money on a table loom earlier in the year!). Has anyone had experience smoking in one?

I just read the cookbook that came with it, and it talks about smoking. A few years back, I babysat a friend's smoker, and the results were marvelous! I used some woodchips from old Jack Daniels whisky barrels ... can't remember where I bought them from. If the Weber can do as good, I'll be very happy indeed.

Posted by: lafileuse at December 9, 2008 8:14 AM

Posted by: forevernow1 at December 6, 2008 3:46 PM - Austria is a bit of a ways to go to get one though, don't you think? And I'm not sure that trying to knick one and get it out of there is going to work. Would make a great conversation-piece though..LoL... :)

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 7, 2008 6:06 PM

Thanks for all the tips guys. Appreciated. Will check out some of those shops.

Ummm Kenny, not sure about a trip to Brisbane. But a good idea just the same. Thanks. lol.

Lilydale - a hop and skip for me. Well almost. Old - Don't think so!

Jen

Posted by: jenniferhi at December 6, 2008 6:16 PM

Posted by: princesspenny69 at December 5, 2008 9:20 PM

Treat them like you would treat tomatos in your area, start them early in peat pots & set them up in a cold frame or hot house, that give them the earlest start you can.

Plant them out in mounds, well drained soil is important, you need a good rich soil so build it up well with bleed & bone, dynamic lifter, compost and finally when you water in your seeds use some good quality seaweed emulsion get things really cooking, one last thing if you get it dust them with a Bacterial inoculant, the same that is used for soybeans

Posted by: outbackdrifter at December 6, 2008 4:00 PM

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 6, 2008 10:45 AM

I've been watching a few 'Marie Therese' 5-globe jobbies on eBay lately - they look pretty schmink and aren't all that expensive by the sound of it.

I noted on my last visit that Schönbrunn Palace had more then enough : )

Posted by: forevernow1 at December 6, 2008 3:46 PM

Posted by: tallerthantom at December 6, 2008 11:58 AM - Yeh... but aren't the chooks in BrisVegas ??

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 6, 2008 1:51 PM

Jen..there's a shop on the corner of Church st.and Bridge rd in Richmond,which sells only antiquish chandeliers...parking's a bugger though..........

Posted by: artizanne at December 6, 2008 12:22 PM

Posted by: jenniferhi at December 5, 2008 9:21 PM
What are you waiting for Jen ....it will only cost you $29 each way for tiger airways tickets and a half priced chook.
Cheers kenny
PS love the yarra valley...OLD lilydale boy

Posted by: tallerthantom at December 6, 2008 11:58 AM

Posted by: jenniferhi at December 6, 2008 8:04 AM

Jen, check out Vintage glamour
Enmore NSW & chandeliers to die for Edgecliff NSW, we deal with them when we are doing restoration work on homestead and historic buildings.

Posted by: outbackdrifter at December 6, 2008 10:57 AM

Yes...definately gotta have those 'dangly bits' on a chandelier (but a bit of a bugger to clean, I bet).

I'd love one those really big, ornate things, but you need a decent room to hang one in (not to mention a bloody strong roof so it don't end up pulling your house down LoL).

I've been watching a few 'Marie Therese' 5-globe jobbies on eBay lately - they look pretty schmink and aren't all that expensive by the sound of it.

A ridgey-didge antique one would be nice, but probably not all that easy to find, and I bet they cost a bomb.

Ah well.... back to the search :)

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 6, 2008 10:45 AM

Hi Jeniferhi
saw your blog about chandeliers. Jen excellent chandelier maker in Sebastapol Baallarat where I lived for six months

Simon

Posted by: dragonlove at December 6, 2008 10:22 AM

OBD

Atlantic Bakery in Victoria make a nice rye bread called Hausbrot.
The local Safeway & Coles stock it and it may be available Nationally. It's a dense texture and very palatable.
Also, local Aroma Bakery make a yummy rye swirl bread which is a combination of light and dark rye which has been 'marbled' together.
Its my favourite.
Bon apetit

Posted by: egernia at December 6, 2008 8:58 AM

Thankyou softfeather. I do love my home, very much. Waited a long time to find just the right house. Is 100 years old.

Re the candles. Is very funny. Something has happened to the power in my loungeroom so have been living by candlelight at night for a little while. Haven't wanted to get electrician out until I find the right chandelier and get it all fixed and fitted at the same time. It is lovely with the candles though and I enjoy the whole concept of feeling what it was like to live without electric light.

Another thing is living without central heating and an ensuite, things like that that ourt previous homes have had, but to me it is so worth it for this home and the character of old.

Central heating will come (one day) as money permits but you can only do things as you can do them. As most would know after a marriage split, finances can be so much the tighter.

Jen

Posted by: jenniferhi at December 6, 2008 8:17 AM

Yes I'm still searching ebay and other haunts for my chandeliers. Have a couple ready to be fitted but not the right one yet for the loungeroom or bedroom. The prices have gone through the roof (so to speak) on chandeliers. But they will come to me eventually. (The secret - nudge, nudge, wink, wink,) lol.

And yes I will be doing the entertaining thing. Always use vintage pieces in day to day living anyway. Couldn't live any other way. Modern, minamalist is urk to me. Not that I don't appreciate it for others and the simplicity of clean lines and little clutter, but is just not homely enough or full of character for me.

Jen

Posted by: jenniferhi at December 6, 2008 8:04 AM

I love silver cutlery. I have 2 quite old services that my mother has given me, they are quite plain but I think they look lovely, complete with bone handled knives and have added to the set from some of the antique stores so that I have fish knives and forks as well. I have white damask table linen and for christmas a simple red and green patterned runner for the centre of the table. My mother is also giving me a gorgeous wedgewood table setting ,cream with a narrow dark green and gold patterned border.....hmmm I should organise some dinner parties :)

Posted by: aquamanda56 at December 5, 2008 11:38 PM

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 5, 2008 10:26 PM ~ Any particular style in mind.... lovely dangly bits or the traditional model with super reinforced mountings! ...

Posted by: softfeather at December 5, 2008 11:27 PM

Posted by: jenniferhi at December 5, 2008 9:21 PM - Sounds like you might just need to break out the white linen, polish the silverware, trump up a parfait... and have a few people around to soak all the atmosphere up :)

.... still searching eBay for a fitting chandelier....

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 5, 2008 10:26 PM

Posted by jenniferhi at December 5, 2008 9:21 PM ~ Does the drool factor count when you decide candle or soft electric light. Wouldn't want the candles getting soggy...... :))))

Your home sounds beautiful.... I'm sure the feastive season at your place will be wonderful & brimming with lotsa love.

X X X

Posted by: softfeather at December 5, 2008 10:10 PM

Yes, I'm still waiting to have my chandeliers installed too. lol. High on my priority list.

They are so gorgeous, glamourous, romantic, sparkly and just divine. Quite simple really. lol. (she sighs)

Until then the candlelight has to suffice. But then again candles are gorgeous and romantic too!

Jen

Posted by: jenniferhi at December 5, 2008 9:21 PM

Hi,

Am new to this blog. Have found it very interesting and educational. Thanks.
I'd like to know if anyone has successfully grown edamame (soy beans for table consumption) in Brisbane. I recently planted about 10 seeds, but only 4 have come up after 2 weeks. I bought the seeds on Ebay from a place in Tenterfield.

I love edamame as a summer snack accompanied by a crisp beer. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Posted by: princesspenny69 at December 5, 2008 9:20 PM

Hmmm....must get Bill to install a chandelier for me...

Posted by: heart2heart57 at December 5, 2008 8:30 PM

My other tip. Silver is the new gold.

So go the white tablecloths, with lovely silver accessories. White candles, Sparkling Crystal or cut glass. White tableware, silver cutlery. Add some beautiful silver baubles or similar for your centrepiece. Or touches of turquoise add just that little 'extra.'

Fresh flowers (White christmas lillies just perfect) and your table will be a delicious success before you have even got to the food.

And if you have a beautiful chandelier over the dining table even better.

The vintage gatherer that I am, my other tip is to haunt the op shops and trash and treasure markets to pick up your treasures to put it all together.

Enjoy this magical season everyone. I just love it!

Jen

Posted by: jenniferhi at December 5, 2008 5:35 PM

My little Christmas tip for you all. Being a lover of all things vintage, the latest 'in' is Parfaits!

Forget the plum pudding this year and go the parfait. mmmmmm. Custard, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, thick cream, or beautiful ice-cream, maybe some nuts. And some slivers of chocolate on the side.

The sixties are back! Do the rounds of the op shops for your parfait glasses and away you go.

Jen

Posted by: jenniferhi at December 5, 2008 5:07 PM

Posted by: artizanne at November 30, 2008 8:52 AM - Hmmm.... beetroot chips? They'd have a rather 'earthy' flavour, non?

I guess you'd just have to cut thin slices and air-dry them, being careful not to attract mould during the process.

I saw a neat trick for speeding up making your own 'sundried' tomatoes - they put small halves on a shallow baking tray and into a fan-forced oven on the lowest it would go for an hour or so. Shrivelled them up in no time...

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 30, 2008 12:39 PM

Has anyone ever dried beetroot,or made beetroot chips?(Starting the annual Xmas panic m'self ,H2h)

Posted by: artizanne at November 30, 2008 8:52 AM

Garden Petal Salad.. dress with Lavender honey syrup, and mandarine juice.
I'm sure it will go well with something yet to be discovered.

Posted by: angela11 at November 28, 2008 11:28 PM

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 27, 2008 11:54 AM - You can always opt to bake some 'pumpernickel' yourself yanno.

I've tried various forms of 'seeded' rye-based breads, and each has it's own character. I still use the old fashioned hand-kneaded 'double prove' method for my breads and they all come up trumps.

Pumpernickel (sometimes referred to as 'Volkornbrot') might be a bit trickier, but I'm sure you'd get the knack after one or two goes. If you really want to get that extra zing the 'authentic' stuff has, you'll need to fire up a sourdough starter (and there's more secrets to doing that than the CIA LoL).

Which reminds me, we have our 'block party' in a couple of weeks, so I best stock up on some good quality bread flours :)))

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 28, 2008 12:42 AM

Posted by angela11 at November 27, 2008 8:38 PM ~ Hi Angela :))))

The Chef said the same thing re the bean.... ie the pod once dried.... but I was asking him about the petals as your post asked Drifter -
"can we cook with it? put it in salads as Nasturtiums, roses etc.
I love the idae of eating petals."

I was intrigued with the thought as it sounds more inviting than a lot of things I've seen presented as an inviting salad in some places... :))))

The garden salad that consists of three day old harvested greens & a few flaccid raw vegies that my worms would adore..... Yum Yum... hmmmmmm :))))

Posted by: softfeather at November 27, 2008 9:06 PM

Posted by: artizanne at November 27, 2008 1:19 PM

Yes pumpernickel is great, its one of many different types of german rye bread :)))

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 27, 2008 8:53 PM

Posted by: artizanne at November 27, 2008 1:19 PM

Yes pumpernickel is great, its one of many d

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 27, 2008 8:52 PM

Posted by: softfeather at November 27, 2008 12:24 AM

Hello to you lovely earth mother..
Interesting that your chef friend had no idea about Vanilla Orchid.
It made me think about my dad. .. who grew many orchids and a very capable vegatable and fruit grower, in our suburban back yard mind you. and I don't even think he would have known about Vanilla Orchid. (can't ask him now unfortunely)
I worked in an up market Deli for a while , when Dukkah & Chamoula and many Eastern and Europen spices were beginning to be introduced into australia.
We sold vanilla beans, thats what we called them and thats exactly where i thought they came from , a bean, if you look at it , it's very similar. This info has blown me away. If only I knew . Our Chefs didn't or neglected to tell us.
Many blessings. angie

Posted by: angela11 at November 27, 2008 8:38 PM

Outback...pumpernickel wouldn't do....?Just a thought....

Posted by: artizanne at November 27, 2008 1:19 PM

Posted by: artizanne at November 27, 2008 10:39 AM

Anne l have tried Lauckes mix & its abit light for my liking but Thank You anyway :)).

Im a little spoilt in this respect, I have had care packages coming in from Germany for about the last five years, believe it or not bread in a tin, great stuff :)).

The heavy rye bread I like should be the consistency and weight of good dark fruitcake and sliced very thin.

I'm hoping that there must be somewhere in Australia that either bakes or imports.

And if any of you get to try it pleased do, I love it with cheese, good European sausage or my little tins of spicy tuna :))))

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 27, 2008 11:54 AM

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 27, 2008 9:37 AM
"I see you are in the Burke area..."

No, on Northern Tablelands (where it is cold and wet today). I was most puzzled by that description when I set up the profile with my postal code. And thanks for the info about the timing of the traps ... I was way off base! :-D

(But come next year ... I'll be ready for them!)

Posted by: lafileuse at November 27, 2008 11:40 AM

....OBD spelling ....Laucke.....in Strathalbyn

Posted by: artizanne at November 27, 2008 10:42 AM

Outtheback....Lauke flour mills in SA have premix for German Rye bread,plus other products.......

Posted by: artizanne at November 27, 2008 10:39 AM

G'day All, I'm hoping for help, I'm looking for a good supply of heavy German rye bread, preferably thin sliced and long life packed.

If anyone can help me out with this that would be great :)))

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 27, 2008 9:50 AM

Posted by: lafileuse at November 26, 2008 5:31 PM,

I see you are in the Burke area, I was figuring you should have had bud burst about three weeks back but if I'm wrong about that I'm sorry,lm about 390 kms west of you, so l was figuring that that you were the same as us.

What I was getting at about leaving it a bit late was your traps should have been up about six weeks before bud burst to catch the adult moths before they lay eggs.

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 27, 2008 9:37 AM

Posted by: softfeather at November 27, 2008 12:09 AM

SF, well lm now lost words, all I can say is thank you :), Remember love & passion for life and everything in it is one of our greatest gifts, don't ever lose it, if you lose it you lose life and then it only becomes an existence :)))))

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 27, 2008 8:54 AM

Amendment to softfeather's post at some insensible hour ~ You dag girlie.... it's a red bellied black not a black bellied red.... softfeather now needs to go find her bonnet that she threw somewhere when she realised her slip of the tongue...... Dang ..... X X X

Posted by: softfeather at November 27, 2008 1:48 AM

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 26, 2008 12:55 PM ~ Drifter.... contrary to your advice I will still refrain from using *my brew* when I feel necessary for my best interests....... but I thank you most kindly for your viewpoint & clarification on the matter.

I also wish to clarify it is not of my belief that you only like food that *blows the top off your head*. I was merely remarking my recipe did have a bite to the palate but not of the tear rendering capabilities that some of your recipes may inflict.... Now that I have that out from under my bonnet I’ll catch ya in the great garden of this fantastic planet..... :))))

Blessings Drifter Honey X X X

softfeather skips off into the sunset

Posted by: softfeather at November 27, 2008 1:29 AM

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 26, 2008 12:55 PM ~

Drifter I'm blessed by your seal of approval :)))) But I was already in the garden, especially the vegie patch, before your Mama had birthed you :)))) By the age of four I had killed my first snake with a spade! My Granddad would run over the black bellied or brown snakes with the old Victor mower..... then hang them off the fence for the crows.... Ohhhh the peace of the country side.... No wonder I'm such a sensitive soul :))))

I'm NSW sth coast rural upbringing not outback & I had to relearn when I moved to coastal WA. To start a garden from scratch with a PH level of plus 13 & limestone in every spade full was a back breaking challenge but I loved every moment & I will always carry my dream of another garden where I can be at peace with Mama Nature to grow & tend to her bounty..... :))))

I promise I won't step on ya pods.... but be wary wary careful if ya start giving out growing advice for WA native orchids because I will be watching wary carefully. They are MY babies & I get wary mother hen when people touch them or hunt them for anything but to photograph....

But so far ya not doing too bad for a bloke!!!! ..... Just be subtle with the hand full sizes 'cause some of us delicate ones have tiny hands..... Good nite, big smiles & gentle blessings ~ softfeather

Posted by: softfeather at November 27, 2008 1:11 AM

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 26, 2008 2:45 AM ~ All those lovely aromas of our great country side, rain on hot baked earth, the waft of sea weed at low tide.. but what about a compost heap that's really working? That dank earthy smell.... pure bliss for this Earth Mama... By the way how are the bum lettuces going????? I suppose your garden is an arse about thingo :))))

Yes I saw your dukkah post & it sent me off to look for ingredients for yet another homemade Christmas gift. I think I'll do some easy recipes to put with the gifts. My label for your recipe is called the *The Romantic Mans Dukkah* I also put the cook from the Muppets on the label as most of the young ones I work with all grew up with the Muppets! I know all the girls will love it as they try to be as tough as nails & so corporate but go weak at the knees when romance is in the air... It's so good to see romance still wins the day.... it makes my heart soar :))))

Over here we have a bakery run with the blessings of the Benedictine Community at New Norcia. The shop is one of my favourite places to get my Sunday blessings of real bread :)))) As for one of the best lunches I've ever eaten was a lunch put on by Kate Lamont. All 7 maybe 8 courses were accompanied by one of their wines.. it was (orgasmic) shhhh can't say that word out loud! By the end I was so full in more than one way! I don't remember the drive home. I don't remember the next day but I remember ever morsel. Kate explained each recipe, each ingredient, the entire gamut from start to finish & the history of the accompanying wines.. now that was bliss..... If you ever visit here I'll take you there :)))) but you drive dear.....

Posted by: softfeather at November 27, 2008 12:43 AM

Posted by: angela11 at November 25, 2008 7:45 PM - Hi Angela11.

I was visiting a customer today & asked the Chef if he would use the flowers from the vanilla orchid in a salad or to cook. He was dumb struck then he said "God I never thought of that, I will have to ask my Grandmother." I smiled & said no I'm not God but I am a Grandma, but I can't remember my Grandmother using the flowers from orchids in her salads or cooking.

I have been doing a travel back in time the last couple of days, walking with my Grandma as a little one around her vegie garden while she tended & gathered & for the life of me I can't remember her using orchids for this. I can see every room filled with her little posies, the jars in her pantry, the fire stove, the preparation & her cooking & baking!!! Me doing my chores of prep & laying the table with all the trimmings & the delights we were blessed with but for the heck of me I can't see orchids in her food???? Thank you for sparking the memories :))))

Personally I would be tentative to use them. I've done the usual internet searches as I get a bee in my bonnet when things like this arise but I can't find anything. When I'm puzzled by these things I go back to the old recipe of what was it initially grown/used for, how much has it been modified & do we really need it. Maybe Drifter can track this one down.....

Posted by: softfeather at November 27, 2008 12:24 AM

Hi to all..... I hope my posts have not been out of place. I've been watching the cooking & gardening blogs. The memories at first were a little overwhelming due to the loss of my garden. But with reading the posts I've realised it's been cathartic & I thank everyone for helping me to move on :))))

I have been blessed with meeting a few men that are in the same league as Drifter. Men with passion for growing, tending, cooking & using Mother Natures bounty. All these men have touched my heart....

I've started to reclaim another one of my life loves & passions. A big thank you Drifter! Like I say... you are a *Honey* (with great taste in music) X X X

Posted by: softfeather at November 27, 2008 12:09 AM

Posted by: artizanne at November 26, 2008 11:04 AM

Im hope your saffron works out for you this time, By the way l have not forgotten about growing Vannilla Orchid, I will post it tomorrow

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 26, 2008 9:08 PM

Posted by: softfeather at November 26, 2008 8:16 AM

SF, contrary your beliefs that l only like food blows off the top of my head, I can appreciate the subtle use of Chilli, now where's my dictionarie so I can look up subtle :)))))

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 26, 2008 8:59 PM

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 26, 2008 12:18 PM
"You have really left your run abit late on this but try some of these control ideas"

:-D

Many thanks! (Maybe next year if I'm too late now. Good excuse to buy sherry ... hope they like creme sherry ...)

I thought that the action started after bud burst. It is still very cool here until well after the flowers open. I found little critters still overwintering under flaky bark when I started ... or am I really off-base about their life cycle?

Hope something works ... I'm planning on apple wine next winter.

Posted by: lafileuse at November 26, 2008 5:31 PM

Posted by: softfeather at November 26, 2008 8:16 AM - I posted a great Dukkah recipe in a previous blog. Real easy to make, and a great alternative 'dip' served with fresh home-made bread and olive oil & balsamic vinegar. *yummy* :)

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 26, 2008 4:50 PM

Posted by: softfeather at November 26, 2008 7:33 AM

SF, I agree with everything you have said here about cooking and edible flowers in salads, the only thing I would point out is that you only pull up organic and inorganic fertilisers 10 days before harvesting when it is a foliar spray, when it is an organic ground-based fertiliser it's really not a big problem

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 26, 2008 12:55 PM

Posted by: lafileuse at November 26, 2008 6:57 AM

You have really left your run abit late on this but try some of these control ideas

1/ sherry traps, hang 2 lt milk containers in your trees, put about 2 to 3 inchs of cheap sherry in the bottom, this will attract coddling moth blokes ( yes they are all a pack of pissheads but they will die with a smile on there faces), this you use very early in the season.

2/ soap water mixs with chilli or try eco-oil, natrasoap or Beat a Bug, you can get them at most garden shops .

3/ coddling moth traps, l see you already using them, get more but remember they are only really good very early in the season

I hope this helps :)

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 26, 2008 12:18 PM

SF...yep,screaming seed's Dukkah is fab.
Drifter...thanks for the planting instructions for Saffron...just finished following them to the letter...think the problem with the last lot,was too moist over dormancy and too shaded.Fingers crossed.

Posted by: artizanne at November 26, 2008 11:04 AM

Most of the gardeners here appear to cook & I'm sure everyone has chillies growing so I feel/hope it's OK to share my cooking bounty from the garden :))))

With Christmas nearly here this is the time of the year I start to make my homemade presents. One repeated request I have is for *Hot Sherry Vinegar*. Sprinkled on fish or as a dipping sauce for seafood it's refreshing & enhances the taste. 10 red chillies 10 black peppercorns 1 cup sherry vinegar Wash & dry chillies & put into a sterlised bottle with the peppercorns. Pour the vinegar over, seal & label. Takes a week to mature. No need to strain.

A good place to buy seeds, herbs etc for cooking is *Screaming Seeds* in Vic. They are on the net & their dukkah is yummy..... :))))

PS. Drifter if you make this strength it won't even water your eyes. It's not a strength 10 on the hot scale!!!! It's delicate like a soft gentle breeze that whispers round ya ears..... :))))

Posted by: softfeather at November 26, 2008 8:16 AM

The use of flowers in cooking or salads has been around for centuries. With the old being the new, these days we may overlook how things were grown in the past.

Always ensure the flowers have been grown pesticide free and are washed just like any other ingredient you would put in a salad.

Edible flowers not only enhance flavours but can brighten a salad or liven up an ice cream...yum lavender ice cream. Petals from pansies, calendulas, nasturtiums & the cheeky dainty viola are great. Basil flowers are milder than the leaves so give them a try in a salad.

Rose petals can be used but please not roses grown commercially..... NOT good for the tummy.... :( danger to internal health but very good for the romance :))))

If you use flowers for decoration especially ones you dip in egg white & roll in sugar please don't eat as the raw egg can harbor salmonella bacteria.

When I grew flowers for consumption my garden was totally organic but I did stop using my home made liquid fertilizer about 10 days before harvest.
X X X

Posted by: softfeather at November 26, 2008 7:33 AM

Anyone have any tips on coming out ahead against the coddling moth? This season is my official war on the coddling moth. I'm determined to win this time without resorting to spraying poisons. So far I have (starting from the time the flower buds formed):

- Put out Magnet Coddling moth traps
- Brushed away loose bark and sprayed with a wound sealer
- Wrapped the trunk and bases of branches with corrugated cardboard (to trap the critters as they move upwards)
- kept the chickens around the base of the tree

The little apples are about 2cm across now and I'm thinking I should examine those I can get to and remove any that look like they might be affected - more to improve next years crop than this one. Any other ideas? Has anyone tried the above? The apples can still be used if they are affected after removing the little frass filled tunnels ... chopping the good apple bits up for cooking or making country wine, but it would be so nice not to have to do that.

Posted by: lafileuse at November 26, 2008 6:57 AM

Posted by: artizanne at November 25, 2008 8:02 PM

"...cooked 'em and ate them...and lived."

:-D I Think I will leave them to the girls ... they seem to appreciate them. Once I 'recycled' the snail shells from one of those deli kits (shells and a tin of snails) by stuffing them with sauteed mushrooms and garlic/parsley butter. Very nice. Disturbingly similar to the snails.

Posted by: lafileuse at November 26, 2008 6:42 AM

Ahhh... "perfume"... the leaching of Ti-Tree oil in a hot afternoons sun. The soft sweet smell of salt-spray tingling down the arms rounding a bend where the surf pounds the rocks. The cool effervescence of the Eucalypts as the sun descends in a deep ravine after a scorcher in the high country. Or the deserts own fragrance as a fine mist of rare raindrops fall upon the open vastness of red earth and Spinifex.

That exotic pungency of the bean we know as 'vanilla' in its homeland Mexico. The mystique and power of this humble 'spice' - only ever rivalled by the Cacao and Cinnamon plants in time eternal. Foods of the "Gods"...

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 26, 2008 2:45 AM

Angela, it is also used to produce perfumes

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 25, 2008 10:01 PM

Posted by: angela11 at November 25, 2008 7:45 PM

Angela, Yes The vanilla orchid or flat leaved vanilla ( vanilla planifolia), is the plant that produces the vanilla pod, its is also used to make pure vanilla essence

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 25, 2008 9:37 PM

lafileuse....well,many moons ago,my ex did exactly that...fed up the ordinary garden snails..(.only the best lettuce),purged them,cooked 'em and ate them...and lived.

Posted by: artizanne at November 25, 2008 8:02 PM

OB, Is the Vanilla orchid named so because it actually grows a pod or, is it named becasue of colour, perfume etc and if it's the latter can we cook with it? put it in salads as Nasturtiums, roses etc.
I love the idae of eating petals.
A:))

Posted by: angela11 at November 25, 2008 7:45 PM

Drifter....Ok ,where d'you get the vanilla orchid?This I have to try....same conditions as a hoya,I'm guessing.....

Posted by: artizanne at November 25, 2008 5:07 PM

Here is a variant of my risen no dig garden which some of you might be interested in, this seems to be starting to take off in the US and Europe particularly town dwellers and people were small backyards, this from a US site.

Hay or straw bale gardens

Hay or Straw Bale Gardening is a method of gardening in which plants are grown in straw bales, usually wheat or oat straw, rather than in soil. Because it is a mostly soil-less method, it is sometimes considered a form of hydroponic gardening. It is suitable for many types of annuals, and is especially used for vegetable gardening.

Advantages of Straw Bale Gardening

There are many reasons why gardeners turn to hay bale gardens. Probably the most common is poor or difficult soil. A straw bale requires no tilling or mixing of soils to allow for drainage. In this part of South Carolina the soil is mostly very dense red clay that is exceptionally difficult to work and can cause serious drainage issues. Simply growing vegetables in hay bales eliminates these problems. Because the plants are a couple of feet off of the ground, it also makes gardening much easier for the disabled, older gardeners, or just for those who want to avoid back pain. Hay bales are far, far less prone to weeds, and Bale Gardening devotees report fewer pest problems. This means that straw bale gardening makes organic or low-chemical gardening all the easier. A bale garden can be a great solution for that enemy of the gardener, the parking strip (or "hell strip," as many call it). It is also becoming popular in some cityscapes for rooftop and lot gardening.

How to Garden in Straw Bales:

1. Choose your Bales

Most straw bale gardeners recommend wheat straw, but I've heard of success with oat straw as well as mixed grass or alfalfa bales. Do not use pine straw. When choosing your bales you'll want them bound with synthetic twine, which won't rot and allow your planting bed to collapse (if you cannot find synthetic twine, you'll need to use some sort of stakes as support). Try to find older bales that have already begun rotting when you can, though not those that are so far gone as to have lost some of their structure.

(Two straw bales and sugarcane refuge bales should also work just as well ) and

Before you start the curing process, place your bales. They will be constantly wet once you start curing, and will be very heavy and difficult to move. Most bale gardeners prefer to have the bales oriented with the straw vertical for better root penetration, but this is a matter of preference

2. Cure your Bales
The curing process will take about ten days, or longer if you are not using chemicals. First, soak the bales and keep them wet for three days. On the fourth day sprinkle the bales lightly with about five ounces of ammonium nitrate. Continue soaking, and on the seventh day add another two and a half ounces of ammonium nitrate. Continue soaking, and on the tenth day add one cup of 13-13-13 or 10-10-10 fertilizer and water in.

To cure without chemicals, you may to keep the bales soaking for around three or four weeks to allow them to start breaking down. When you start to soak them, they will become noticeably warm or even hot. Do not plant until they have cooled down.

( Using seaweed emulsion, fish emulsion or dynamic lifter liquid super feed should get the same results as fertilisers listed above)

3. Plant

Most gardeners will want to use some soil for planting on the bales. A 2 or 3 inch layer of compost or potting soil on top of the bales should be sufficient, or you can cut quart-sized holes in the bales themselves with a keyhole saw and fill those with a mix of cool compost and soil. Many bale gardeners, though, prefer to use very little soil, and plant directly into the bales. To do so, simply split a crack to plant in with a prying instrument of some sort. Keep in mind, though, that without compost on the bales, you will need to use more artificial fertilizers.

Each bale should hold about two plants for most vegetables, such as tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers. More will usually fit well with smaller plants like peppers, greens, or herbs. I don't recommend bale growing with root crops, as the roots will be compressed by the straw and will be difficult to harvest. Very tall crops, such as corn or pole beans, will tip the bale over without some sort of support system. Smaller plants are easier to transplant into bales, so bale growers often transplant somewhat younger than soil gardeners.

4. Grow and Enjoy

Depending on what you're growing and how much fertilizer and compost you use on the bales, you may need to fertilize lightly throughout the growing season. Small amounts of artificial fertilizer should work, though I recommend a compost tea. Keep in mind that, unlike traditional gardening, your plants will be getting next to no nutrients other than what you add to the straw (though overfertilizing is often more dangerous for your plants than underfertilizing is). It is also very important to keep the bales moist throughout the growing season. The bales should retain water surprisingly well, and many gardeners report that they actually use significantly less water with straw bale gardening than they did with traditional methods, but you will certainly need to keep an eye on your plants to make sure that they don't dry out between waterings. One great thing about hay bale gardens is that you will probably not be able to overwater them, as they will allow the excess to drain right out.

You should be able to reuse your wheat straw bales for one year. After that you can compost them, or just break them up where they sit and put new bales over them. This will enrich the soil below and encourage worms to come in and improve it.

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 25, 2008 5:03 PM

Posted by: artizanne at November 24, 2008 8:56 AM Dry them and mix them into fertilizer,breed 'em up into pedigree racers....or would some restaurant want them......they are molluscs?

I usually feed them to my girls (3 chickens in a backyard chicken tractor). They are molluscs, and someone told me they used to collect them and sell them to restaurants. They first had to be 'purged'. If I remember correctly, that meant keeping them for a few weeks and feeding them on cornmeal.

(I love escargot, myself, but can't quite decide if it's the snails that are so good, or if they are just my preferred garlic butter delivery system.)

Posted by: lafileuse at November 25, 2008 4:50 PM

Posted by: angela11 at November 23, 2008 6:11 PM

Angela your welcome, what surprises me that more people don't grow more of the more expensive spices.

Vanilla pods & Cardamom along with Saffron are the three most expensive spice in the world, all of them are relatively easy to grow and should do well in this country with the right conditions.

I grow a Vanilla orchid myself & its probably one of the easiest Orchid species I have grown. Mine is on the front varranda, growing out of a 12 inch hanging pot and would have to be close to 3 m long now.

From what I read about Cardamom they also should be relatively easy to grow too.

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 25, 2008 1:24 PM

Here is a few more ideas for slug & snail control.

1/ Caffeine is highly toxic to snails & slugs. Mix 10 parts water to 1 part espresso coffee & spray on your plants. Re-apply after rain.

2/ You can also use your beer traps as bait stations, cover the bottom of you beer trap with snail bait the place a small cap full of beer in the middle of it then replace the lid & place something heavy on to of the lid.

Remember when you are cutting the holes in the side of your beer trap, make them only big enough to allow big snail in and cut them very high on the container

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 24, 2008 8:32 PM

I agree with OBDs suggestion of the tried and true beer traps for slugs and snails. My landlord has a few bantam chooks so I do a daily round up for slugs and snails (underside of compost lid is best spot) and chuck them to the chooks who make short work of them. I only have a small herb patch so dont have too much problem with them in there. :-)

Posted by: waternymph47 at November 24, 2008 10:55 AM

H2h...I've decided that if Drifters guaranteed slug trap doesn't work,that I'll do a bit of lateral thinking,and breed the lil mongrels....mine are already the size of beached whales.So what to do with 'em? Dry them and mix them into fertilizer,breed 'em up into pedigree racers....or would some restaurant want them......they are molluscs?

Posted by: artizanne at November 24, 2008 8:56 AM

Posted by: artizanne at November 21, 2008 5:22 PM - Yeh... but the little buggers seem to breed in or near the compost heap, then when my lettuce pops up all green and crisp and happy like, they seem to ditch the compost for way sweeter stuff i.e. my darn lettuce! They seem to get in right under the primary leaves and stay there until harvest time - then again, why wouldn't they? Lettuce needs a good supply of water, and they've got all the food they need where they sleep/live. Nothing worse than picking a prize head with guests around the kitchen area, and you crack it in half and those slimy lil blighters all fall out the bottom *ewwww*.

OBD - I'll give the beer-trap a go this year, but I'm still reluctant as all hell to part with that precious amber fluid. Or stout (for the Portagaff's) for that matter. And I'm not all that keen on fishing them back out of the 'brew' once they have done the drowning thing. Gimme a snake any day, but those dog-dribble ooky tentacle things? No way. *aaacckkk* :)

Bleedin obnoxious darn stinkin slugs. And they're so gooey when you step on them too... :(

Might have to stick to the Snail Pellets for a while, but be a bit more clever where I dole them out to...

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 23, 2008 10:32 PM

Drifter..what?I wasn't accusing him of being the major contributor to that bout of fisticuffs...sorry if you two got yer calvins in a knot.There are two other chaps(?) who I have sniped at.Not useful ones....now pull on your carapace like I have.....

Posted by: artizanne at November 23, 2008 6:39 PM

OB, you are a gem. I have pasted your blurb on growing saffron in my folder. another for the dream garden.

Funnily enough , I picked up a magazine today and there was an article about a Sth Aus couple who have been growing saffron a few years now. They lost their entire crop three years in due to rain. They supply top end restaurants and are know to produce high quality saffron.

thanks :) A

Posted by: angela11 at November 23, 2008 6:11 PM

Posted by: artizanne at November 23, 2008 12:13 PM

Anne, Hmmmmm yes they do grow them commercially New Zealand and Tasmania but they are working with genetic hybrids we have no access to & if they published the cultivation methods you would see that they are plant in mound systems too, you seem to forget that we are dealing with one of the most expensive spice on the planet, so what Im talking about is the base species.

As for talking sweetly to your corms that's up to you, Ive given you the information you asked for what you do with it is up to you

Just a footnote, remember your the one with rotting corms not me but to tell you the true atfer the few remarks you have made to H2H I start to wonder if corms are not the only thing rotting in your life

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 23, 2008 1:11 PM

Drifter....many, many ,thanks......they do grow it commercially in NZ and Tassie.....dealing with it now,should I sweet talk the lil corms?Also thanks for the slug trap!

Posted by: artizanne at November 23, 2008 12:13 PM

Posted by: heart2heart57 at November 21, 2008 12:01 PM

H2H, don't knock the beer traps, they work and when the set up their not that messy at all.

This is the website I used when l first set up beer traps in my veggy garden :))))

YOU WILL NEED:
• Large yogurt or marg container with lid – emptied and cleaned
• Inexpensive beer (use dark yeasty beer it works better)
WHAT TO DO:
1. Cut two holes (slug entrances) in the
upper half of a large container.
2. Pour about two inches of beer into the container.
3. Dig a hole near your garden that is as wide as the container. Make the hole deep enough as that the slug entrances will be at ground level.
4. Place the yogurt container into the ground so that the
entrances to the container are flush with the ground.
5. Put the lid on the yogurt container.
6. Check the trap after a couple of days. Throw away or compost the dead slug bodies.
7. After about two days the trap doesn’t “smell” and won’t attract slugs.
Add more bait and try again.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Slugs and snails are attracted to the smell of the beer. They crawl to
the trap, reach in and try to drink, fall in and are drowned.

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 22, 2008 4:46 PM

Posted by: artizanne at November 16, 2008 8:45 PM

Anne l have that info you wanted on Saffron Crocus.

First up you have to remember were this crocus come from, Saffron originates around the eastern Mediterranean which is dominated by hot dry summers.

Seeing you are based out of Melbourne you are little behind the eight ball, so we think we've come up with a way and so you can grow them successfully down south

POTTING MIX : the first thing to remember with your saffron potting mix is FREE DRAINING !!, mix up a brew of 50% a very good quality potting mix, 25 % course sand, 25% well rotted compost, good handful of blood and bone and a good handful of dynamic lifter, now this mix rate is based on one full bag of potting mix.

PLANTING OUT : now what we are recommending is to plant out each corm in a 6 inch pots, place each corm about 2 to 3 inches deep, then cover and water well.
The aspect of saffron a very important and it needs as much Sun as it can get no shade if possible, once you have pick your spot in the garden, built up a mounded row about 10 inches high and about 2 foot cross, made up of 50% sand & 50% garden soil, REMEMBER FREE DRAINING, Place each of the pots buried

in the top of each moundabout an inch sticking above the ground, the main thing to remember is that saffron is dormant during the summer so the soil just needs to be just damp in the pots,NOT MOIST & NOT WET just damp. To control the amount of moisture in the pots during the summer, cover the tops of them a clear corrugated fibreglass.

When you start to see the saffron leaves sticking through the surface of the soil in the pots take cover off, this should be about late summer to autumn., give them a watering with half strength fish emulsion till you see the first flower buds forming, remember that you're keeping the pots only damp , then switch to seaweed emulsion to boost flowering.

Once that saffron has finished flowering & you have harvested the stigmas (the best time to harvest is mid-morning on sunny days) the leaves should start dieing back late , pull the pots out of the mound and store them in a dark cool dry place, the next spring plant them out again in the mound, every few years you will have to repot them and divide them up :)))

just a footnote this mate of mine is a chef, he believes that most of saffron we pay a fortune for in the markets, is too old and has lost a lot of its potency for cooking
so he grows most of his herbs and vegetables in an risen no dig garden like mine with hay bale walls, he gets a jigsaw out and cuts holes in the top of the bales on on each end of beds so that saffron pots can fit into them

I hope this helps, If you want more info let me know :))))

Posted by: outbackdrifter at November 22, 2008 3:30 PM

Coffee grounds were supposed to work...didn't...salt.....ground glass?Diversionary tactics,a delicious compost heap?

Posted by: artizanne at November 21, 2008 5:22 PM

I'm not sure if the 'slugfest' was aimed at me or not, but I'm a perplexed as to how the canoe wandered into here in the first place - must have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque :)

Now, as far as slugs go, the Metaldehyde in Slug Pellets works brilliantly on them, but I'm reluctant to use pellets as they pose a threat to other things that eat them as well. It's such a dilemma when the lettuce are all popping up just to be attacked by a barrage of slugs. And I noticed my lettuce had a bitter edge last year. That kinda worried me, as Slug Pellets are supposed to have a strong bittering agent to deter ingestion by pets etc, and I reckon the bitter in the lettuce may have been from the pellets.

'Beer Traps' are supposed to work for slugs, but it sounds kinda messy *ewwww*, and I don't like the idea of using my precious amber fluid on trapping slugs :( If anyone has some organic alternatives to suggest, I'd be most appreciative.