The loquat tree is in flower!

Despite everything going on in the world, the garden goes through its cycles.

#FromTheGarden #Gardening #GardeningAU #GardeningAdelaide #Loquats #GrowYourOwn

#FromTheFermentationBench

I've just strained off the latest beetroot kvass - just over 1.5l of yummy fermented tonic drink. This time it was beetroot and apple. It is delish!

The fermented beetroot is saved in the freezer for smoothies. The apple was a bit mushy to bother with.

The 2 vinegars (apple and quince) are doing great, and I am remembering to stir daily. There's weeks to go yet until the final product. They are still tasting sweet, not alcoholic or sour yet. Stages to go...

And #FromTheGarden - The plant ferment - this time I used yarrow and borage leaves - is now covered in juice that has extruded from the leaves. It takes about a week to finish fermenting then it can be strained off and used as spray or soil drench (diluted at least 1:500)

FYI it's not a weed ferment as it is not using weeds but is made from herbs, fruit and veg leaves, and can also include actual fruits and veg. Plus sugar.

#FromTheFermentationBench #Fermenting #Ferment #Fermentation #FromTheKitchen #kvass

Kid #1 informed me she'll be around on Thursday evening for dinner. As such, I've decided to make use of the overdone nashis, dried plums, dehydrated lime & umeboshi, by putting them into a marinade for a big lump of pork. Also included in said marinade are fish sauce, tamari, chilli, garlic, and Chinese five spice.

#FromTheGarden

It must have rained overnight. The garden beds are damp, as are things I potted up as gifts to other gardeners and a couple of pots I sowed with poppies yesterday. The rain droplets have gathered on the large nasturtium leaves and they sparkle in the first rays of the sun from behind the clouds.

There are about 10 beans on the 2 self-sown black-eyed pea/bean bushes (from my cold compost heap). They are so incredible. The bean pods start like very thin pencils reaching for the sky. As the beans develop inside the pods, weight and gravity eventually take over.

If I was eating them "green" (not dried) there are 2 pods that would be ready. But there are not enough to make a serving. I will remember to plant more next year. Meanwhile this year I am letting them dry on the bush and saving the beans inside for cooking at some point.

They make me very happy.

#FromTheGarden #GardeningAU #GardeningAdelaide #BlackeyedBeans

Kid #2 and I returned from camping yesterday, mostly unscathed. Today, we are farming.

#GardeningAu #GrowYourOwn #FromTheGarden

Potatoes! This is the haul from half the self-seeded plants.

I don't have a scale, but it feels like 5kg

#fromTheGarden #harvest #garden #GardeningAu

Lovely news #FromTheKitchen - I strained off the infusing pomegranate vinegar this afternoon, and it is a gorgeous pomegranate colour 😄 Can't wait to use it.

Also, #FromTheFermentationBench the vinegars (one jar apple and one quince) and the 2 beetroot and apple kvass jars are all bubbling nicely despite the cold weather.

I checked the 2 chickpea misos (one at 5 weeks, the other [this one had some live miso incorporated to help fermentation] at 3 week). Both seem to be doing well. Some tamari on each. Perhaps both could have had more weight. I really noticed the lovely miso aroma from the 5 week one.

And #FromTheGarden - I picked one of the mini mini finger limes as it was wanting to come off the tree. It is so miniature but it is the first year with fruit and it did its best.

#Gardening #GardeningAU #GardeningAdelaide #GrowYourOwn #Fermenting #Fermentation #Vinegar #Food #WhatIAmCooking