I have been pondering about a visit from a cousin of mine.  A welcomed visit for sure as last time we crossed paths his life as well as mine was very different.  It was so lovely to see him back on track and on 'his' journey.

It got me thinking though every life form comes to an end at some stage, during ones life there are also cycles and stages of growth and change.  Like seedlings, we all start out as babies ....we all grow, given a decent environment and although sometimes we take different paths than what was intended for us.. cycles start and continue until we recognise them and are willing to learn from them.  Sometimes like a neglected plant, ticking along, struggling to survive... but it tries.  Its intended purpose is to grow, change and fruit.. like us... No matter what we try to do to our lives, no matter what path we find ourselves on, we all have a purpose.. the universe has intent for each and every one of us.  It is just up to us to embrace it!

In the greenhouse the potatoes are sprouting, after eagerly watching them for the last few weeks.  I have been covering them up with compost as I see them come through.  Some have come up earlier than others which means I have odd shaped mounds in my bags which is slightly annoying because they are not evenly filled though I am sure I will be happy with the end results.

In the patch there has been a little of 'out with the old and in with some temporaries'. Our capsicum finally came out after making it through most of winter. It braved the frost and cold and on its last legs was still fruiting!


I transplanted most of the broccoli in the greenhouse in the patch as they really filled up the pots quickly and were already starting to flower even though they were only 30-40cms tall. So I have given them some more room to spread their legs.  The broad beans are still flowering which is lovely to bring some colour to the patch in winter and as a bonus the butterflies have been staying away! Love the fact that they think there are 'others' there and leave us alone... they think the flowers are other butterflies! 

Yay for some sunshine today - thankfully! I don't know about you but this weather is getting to me, I suppose we are just not used to the winter weather I know I remembered braving as a child happily.. the past few years though winter hasn't been quite as cold, perhaps I have just become used to a couple more degrees but this winter... brrrr icy.

Despite the cold we had quite the productive weekend. We got to join in on a family tradition of Italian Salami making with some friends.  I was super excited to see the generations of one family get together to process 85kgs of pork.  What I can tell you is that you combine 30g of salt per 1kg of pork, the pork used is from the shoulder and the leg... mixed with some wine, herbs including fennel and pepper and chili. They used a combination of sheep intestine and when that ran out some synthetic skins were used.  The intestines were soaked and cleaned the day prior in water with lemons and oranges. A machine which minces the chopped meat was used to make the sausages, though I was happy to see an old school hand mincer as well.  Now we have 5kg of salami hanging in our shed - 2 weeks and they should be ready - cross fingers.  Thanks to Gino and all the family of Nicola and Leo for having us!.

We met a lovely man Bob, from Bob's Beekeeping in Eltham who kindly showed us his bee hive and gave us a run through on what you need to do to keep them- really fascinating, well the bees certainly are and I loved seeing Bob get excited about his bees .  It was nice to hear that all that I had read was pretty much true, which gave me some confidence in dealing with looking after them.  To my surprise they were more active than what I thought for winter but I suppose active will be when you have 30,000 workers coming and going over spring and summer.. Off to join a club and register to get a swarm will be our next step.  I can't wait to get one of those suits too...!
 
The patch and greenhouse are kicking along.  Broccoli a plenty in the greenhouse and the patch has been fruitful too, with loads less pests due to the lucky combination I have managed to plant this time.



My girlfriend Sandy and I potted out our  potatoes in bags today.  I got these from the Diggers club, I didn't want to put these in the ground as they are heavy leachers of nutrients from the soil.  3 years will have to pass before it is good for anything to grow in.  So I brought some potato bags (12) and a gourmet mix of potatoes - King Edward, Lustre, Nicola, Kipfler, Pink Eye and Cranberry Red.  We put some pea straw in the bottom and then compost to approx 10cm from the bottom and placed 4 potatoes in each bag. We'll see how I go with these. 

I don't know how game most of you are to get outside in a Melbourne Winter but I must confess that 15 degree days make it hard to get out there rather than gazing out the window from the comfy warmth with a cup of tea in hand.  I rug up and brave that chill in the air anyhow for a few hours today at least the warmth of the greenhouse makes it a treat to work in.

Today I have painted in pots a few Raspberries which were kindly given to me yesterday after visiting some friends in Fairfield - thank you very much to Jan and Johanna for the gifts, I am quite chuffed. Johanna sweetly gave me about 5 canes of two types - one which fruits in Summer and another which fruits in Autumn from their garden.  Not sure where I will put them in the garden yet but for now I will nurse them in the Greenhouse.  I blended some compost and organic soil mix.

I also potted a Blueberry I had in a small pot and dug up the Passionfruit to see if I could save it from continually being eaten by the Earwig army.

It has been dull and bleak all day.  I've spent some of my time today snapping pictures to make me feel a little better.  The cold weather has given me the hump, a cold and not alot energy to do much other than wonder outside to check on things and potter when I feel I have enough power to.

I have a few pots with Strawberries - Nellie Kelly and Temptation, lucky for me being the only Strawberry eater in the household I say.  I probably pic half a dozen a week off them at the moment, which makes for a delightful garden treat while working.


This bed is doing well, I have planted some Heirloom Beets which I have been planting more of when I pull ready ones up.  They are a mix of beautiful, reds, orange and white.  Also we have some Leeks growing which were put in about 2 months ago, already we have used a couple which shot ahead of the rest with the warmer weather we've had.   A couple of Basil plants and Beans which are hanging in there.  Some Onions - Barletta, All Seasons Carrots, Celery, Spring Onion, Black Spanish Radish, Broccoli, Garlic and Radicchio - which is a Italian salad green. I have had no invaders in this bed at all, a very pleasing combination.


Over with the Broad Beans I have planted some more Radicchio leaves which have taken off, these were planted by seed when I put the beans in.  If you like your bitter greens they are awesome in flavour and nothing seems to bother them.