Back To Basics - Week 14

Hi Everyone,
I have been having a bit of an issue with my shoulder which is severely limiting both my daily work and online time. My plan is to do my best to keep up with the Back to Basics Updates but my other blogging may be pretty spotty until things get a bit more under control. Some weeks I may need to drop the summaries to keep things short but please make sure you link to your own post in the comments if I do need to do that as we are all very interested in keeping up with all your progress.

Sowing seed or Planting -
Harvest

• 4 zucchini
• 3 squash
• 12 rasperries
  

Observing

• This hot weather is starting to knock things around.. some emergency measures were required for the lemon tree last week

Planning for The Future -

• Sent off an email to become involved in the Community Harvest project Montrose/Kilsyth clustergroup
  
• RSVP'ed lots of the advertised Community Harvest Events
  

Working for the Future -

• Put through a batch of apricot jam from fruit given by A's parents
• made and froze stock
• Started processing cherry plums with M
  

Building Community -

• Started working with a local pilates instructor
• Becoming involved in Community Harvest
• Attended Mt Dandenong Permaculture group meeting

Learn a new Skill -

• starting to activate those lazy abdominal muscles
  

Participant Posts
Remote TreeChanger - The lavender punnets have now been potted up and multiplied to ensure that the hedge has the best chance to make a statement when it comes to getting it all in the ground. A wonderfully informative op shop book will hopefully make recipes written in the more tradtional Italian style just a bit easier to desipher. Straw for mulch and protection, congratulations on finding yourselves a local source. It seems that insulation might be on hold for a while as money is currently being spent to resolve a condensation problem before it reaches the living areas. Ordering school supplies couldn't be easier when one of your daughters researches and comes up with online options from Kmart. Considering Linda's current reading material it looks like there might be a small business in her future.


It's All Good - The little seeds sown last week have now started making their appearance, while the sunflower seedlings are wanting to stretch their roots a little more. Forward planning is one of the most important skills in budgeting when it comes to large purchases. Lela now has a long term house plan that will be revisited every 5 years or so to ensure their house can expand with her families growing privacy and space needs when those all important high school years hit. In preparation for council cleanup the treasures in the backyard are currently being assessed for usefulness... so the new to them pavers can create a nice little section of the back yard. When rehoming clothes and borrowing out the crib it is wonderful when you get payed back in kind with someone passing on some toys their kids have grown out of and what better solution to a friends intermirrent daycare needs than giving your kids a new face to pal around with. Nice work on cracking gathering it is a skill with many uses.

A Joyful Keeper -In keeping with the trials and tribulations of living in a variable climate they got hit by frost in the middle of, summer, January. Thanks to quick thinking and a liberal spraying of water the damage was minimised but needless to say the heat loving plants were not overall happy about the events. To keep their duck breeding varied the household drake has found another home and there is a new boy on the block who seems to be earning his keep. A couple of boxes of strawberries have been put to good use in a jam pot.. some to gift and some to keep, it is a lovely feeling to know you have some in reserve. Helping out a neighbour came with the wonderfully educational experience of helping birth a goat kid, for some unusual reason the goat wouldn't let the kid feed properly but with some regular human intervention both seem to be happy and moving the right direction at this point. I have heard that milking stanchions do make life so much easier if milking is going to be a regular event.

Towards Sustainability - Harvesting is really kicking in out at Julie's place and she is specifically meal planning to make the most of it to save a few dollars while she can, so she can afford that wish list of seeds she is currently writing up. Between what looks like some marathon cooking sessions and refitting sections of the house to improve liability and energy efficiency what can I say but the girl has been buuuusssy. I hope you get some positive feedback from your friendly discussions and that your toy donations were well received.

Sticks and Stones - Like many of us the seed order has now been placed to ensure that winter is as productive as it can be. A few more summer seeds have been sown and the dirt at the new place has started being dug over and prepared to be as productive as it can be with the minimal care that will be able to be administered. Unfortunately the birds and heat interfeared with Rebecca's plans to sun dry more apricots but I am sure the ones that have been done will be savoured for the wonderful flavour they will provide. Wonderful to see you really making an effort to get out in the community and have fun as a family... as you said leading by example is the only way. Nice work on the apricots and the apron, showing that good food and creative gifts don't need to cost a lot is a wonderful step for everyone it touches.