Merry Christmas from The Lazy A

Have started food prep for Christmas, and now I wait for the pavlova to cook. Ive nervously checked, and  its looking great... smells how it should. We have ideas for smothering our cream filled pavlova with our own home grown berries this year. Mr 12 is head chef, and Im practicing tonight so he can make another one tomorrow... Lots of cooking to do, and this year, everyone who is going to here, will be helping. It has been thoroughly enjoyable.
We have had a good round of end-of-year functions and pre-christmas celebrations that we have all enjoyed and definitely need more sleep in general :) A bit bleary-eyed you might say!

Before I sign off, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
Thanks for reading my blog, I hope next year will be a busy year - 2012 had some big ups, and some pretty terrible lows too. Nothing we cant handle, and I know there are worse here that people have to cope with.

Where ever you are in the World, drive safely, remember your sun screen or keep yourself warm, and swim between the flags.. and pay it forward if you can...
Thinking of  those of you who have lost special loved ones this year and have an empty place at the table this Christmas...

Til next year,

Love and Abundant Blessings,
Earth Butterfly
XXXXXXXX

Bit shaky Saturday... Lights and Things

Its been a bit shaky this week. Two of significance, but not huge ones, just little wobbly shakes to remind us we are still in Christchurch I think!
Its been a busy week. Classes finished for us almost - one more child to finish, and then we are off on holiday. It is a good feeling to almost be there :) We are all really excited about getting away for Christmas day. We have always been home, but this year we arent tied at home with visitors. Of course, with the older children doing their own thing, this could change!

Last night the children got to go into town with some friends to visit the Christmas Grotto. They came home well after dark (10.45pm) and the Littles were well and truly tired but soooo happy! Apparently it was awesome. Music, bright colourful sparkly lights and lots of Christmas things from blow up sleighs to Santa himself! What more could you ask for at this time of the year when you are six and twelve!
Weve had a day of laziness, just catching up after our late night at the disco - a good success - 70 kids and around 30 adults. It was so much fun - the dj was awesome, the music really went down well, and the kids were well behaved generally. My baking even worked, and the star shaped cookies we took lasted all of three minutes.

Have had a very good crop of strawberries this year (*Chandler* variety). Once the birds knew they had to move along, and the wind chimes were put in place, weve been taking between 20-50 off the plants every couple of days. Ive started giving them to the neighbours, no complaints there :) The Alpine strawberries are not as good this year, and I dont think I ll give them much room next year.

I have fresh swede, mesculun, foxglove, aquilegia, calendula, marigold, parsley and red kale seed. The black kale is still drying, as is the red cabbage. I have had a lot of fun trying to figure out the easiest winnowing method, and will keep working on it.
Have lost a lot of my taller plants this year to the mighty winds we have had.  I need to investigate adding further wind breaks, despite putting two new breaks up this year. I guess this is something we have happen every year in between spring and summer. I just have to work around it.
Because of the constant mulching, I seem to have found a good medium - the ground retains the water better than last year, and the strawberries and their solid growth is an indication of this. I will be mulching furiously again once the growing season has slowed a little.
The comfrey has gone native, and Im pulling leaves off to add to the main compost pile almost daily. It responds really well to the night showers we have had!

Ive realized this month, after watching things in the garden go from small to tall, neat and tidy to sprawling and untidy, that collecting seed means untidy mostly!
There are always going to be things that look untidy... none of that clipped manicured look of gardening here!
Still, it is colourful this year, theres a lot of places to hide (ask Miss 6 who loves hide and seek amongst things!) and Im loving it.

More later, once things get less crazy :)

Seasons Greetings to You and Yours
From my Garden to Yours
EBUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Machinery Stuff, Wind and Seeds!

Hows about one of these?
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedcleaner.html
A DIY Seed cleaner aspirator.
I love the idea, but not being the brightest technical mind there is, I ll leave it to the experts. After winnowing by hand, I can see how these could be extremely useful :)

One of the windiest, hottest days in the year... It has been today! (sounds a lot like Yoda!)
Im not sure of temps yet, its nearly weather time, but boy! Win-dddddy!
Have lost several large poppies, a huge silverbeet, and have spent the afternoon tethering other plants, just to be safe. Its amazing how much potential you can lose if you lose something that you are expecting to seed for next season... lesson learnt!

Found out what my random flower is. Salsify. Theres a few things creeping into my garden this year that I didnt plant, its so wonderful... We have spotted a beautiful blue larkspur this afternoon. Did you know, Larkspur can be used to treat hemorrhoids? :-) The seeds can also be used as a natural insecticide!

Am also a bit on the pink side, a little touch of sunburn. Love the smell of sunscreen though, slathered thickly... Bring it on! Would rather this than a cooler day :)

Have had another handful of strawbs today, and about 500g of red currants. Into the freezer with them, to wait for Christmas and the pavlova - Yay! The bush was laden!
I see the birds have found the raspberries, but thats ok, because we have LOTs this year. I dont mind sharing too much...

Seeding now - carrot - paris ball, st valery and nutri red.
Just planted - Purple dragon carrot, solar white carrot.
Drying on the rack - Swede, Cavolo Nero (Black Kale) and Red Cabbage.
Potatoes are flowering, yams and ulloco are all bushy. The ulloco top leaves can be used as you would use spinach, and taste similar, also put into salads. It is nice when sprinkled with some feta cheese!
Hope all is well with you, wherever you are.
Hang on to your hat, if youre in Canterbury, youre bound to be chasing it down the street.

Take care
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Sunday again... Witches, Fireworks and Other Stuff!

Its that busy time of year again.
The weeks are slipping by very quickly. This year, Mr 12 is counting down. Miss 6 is going to be gutted when she realises she has lots of *non-learning* days. She loves her routine.
I have noticed the calendar has started to have scratchings of busy times ahead added to it... Im not sure why, but Im busier than ever this year, the children are getting more involved as they get older, I guess.
Theres Halloween,  Guy Fawkes, The Santa Parade, Christmas in the Park, and Christmas, New Year... all these events just keep ticking over the weeks...

The latest catch - 4lb Trout 

Mr 16 has been at it again. Catching Stuff. He makes life very interesting, this lad. Hes an all-rounder, generally good at most things. Dont tell him I said that :-) But its true. Hes a great kid. He is working when he isnt at school, or fishing. His greatest love is Fishin' an' Huntin'!! He wouldve made a great cowboy too,  weve discovered this year that hes great with cattle. We are really fortunate to have had two trout to eat this term, and a salmon. I love trout, but the salmon was *delish*... We just bake them with lemon. Its simple and so tasty. We are all mad-keen on fishing, and the yellow-eyed Herrings that come up the Avon river from the sea dont stand a chance when my little family are present with rods in the water. Great skills G!

 We got through Halloween.
Do you celebrate at Your House?
Not here, we dont celebrate it, but there are plenty around here who do. Many little local drifts of witches, ghosts, and vampires. We got passed by. I think the notice on the gate that said We Dont Celebrate Halloween helped. Bad Mummy? Callous Neighbour... meh. My choice. I certainly dont condone targetted sugar collections. Kids get enough sugar these days!
I feel a bit like the Halloween Grinch :-)
Then we head into Guy Fawkes territory. We have a few crackers usually and a bbq if the weather allows. The past two years havent been overly pleasant - usually windy at this time of year here. We do enjoy watching others Firework displays. If youre up at Victoria Park, the view is great.  It is right at the top of the Port Hills -you can see right over the entire city... Awesome!
The view from the sand dunes in North Brighton is awesome too, you can see the council firework display on the pier. Again, its usually pretty chilly, wind mostly, but theres always plenty of people present.

I think I have my own displays erupting in the Garden too. Theres Iris, some nigella, alyssum, soldier poppies, chive flowers, some big displays from the calendula too this year. The french lavender is bursting too, I love the scent when the tips are picked!

The first tall Red Opium poppies are bursting out this week. Theyre so lovely and with them opening, the bees come.




The borage has had a head start this year and its gorgeous blue flowers smother the plants. I have at least 100 strawberry flowers for the bees to get into - I dont think my broad beans were a success. They are smothered in flowers but nothing is *beaning up* Its the first year Ive grown them, will try something different next year once I figure out what went wrong this year...? It may bee (get it? LOL) pollination related.

The cats are enjoying lazing all through the rising warm piles of composting materials. Especially the straw and the grass. Lazy brats...

Have several plants about to give seed.
The carrots - Paris ball and St Valery, swede, black kale (cavolo nero), silver beet (fordhook), yellow chard, golden beetroot, celery, leeks (Caretan), calendula (Orange & yellow), lettuce (3 varieties) parsley (*Afro*), sweet cicely, figwort, purple onions (Purplette), and some sprouting broccoli... though Im not sure, I think the aphids have got to the swede tips. Im almost ok with that, to sacrifice the swede so other things dont get munched.

Still brewing my own comfrey tea.
 Had my eldest over this week to get plants and fixings for his new garden. He is so funny, he absolutely hates the smell of the comfrey tea. Incidentally, it stinks like nothing else, so I dont blame him. I think Gardeners get over the smell when they realize just how good it will be for their plants maybe? Not Dee. He was truly disgusted by the smell. I sent him off with some rubber gloves and a couple of 3 litre containers of it though. Cheap when its free eh?!!  I dont think I will see him with his own tub of comfrey, but he does have a comfrey plant!  We sorted him with some plants, some worms and some tea.


Have been applying the contents of my barrel to the garden over at the school too. The children are excited, as their strawberries are getting bigger by the day. And their potato pile is going great guns! Lots! I just hope it doesnt go the same way as our rhubarb plants. I mean to say, who actually STEALS from a community garden for gods sake. I only hope their need was greater than that of the children at school. We had plans for rhubarb and custard :( Still, the garlic for their garlic bread is well under way, and there are other plans for some wonderful plantings...

Well after the past couple of grey days, its back to beautiful again. Loving the blue sky and fluffy clouds...
I hope youre all doing ok where you are... Our World has certainly had some definitive disruptions of late. My heart goes out to the people of New York. Flooding, Storms... from one disaster to another, it doesnt matter what it is, we all must help where we can, if we can.
You never know when it will be your turn to offer help or accept aid.
On that note, Im still refreshing my water bottles every three months.
Enuff Said.

Love to You
From my Garden to Yours.
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Bees and other beautiful things

I read recently, that sadly, the Clarence River area has been affected by the virus Varroa that kills off bees. How sad that is, the best honey in NZ comes from our back country. Life as we know it pales without the bees!. Of course we need bees for pollination, and it is Natures way of doing its best to maintain balance around us.
... Today, right here in the city, I watched my borage, comfrey and lavender plants, as the bees hummed  around the flowers, bouncing in, doing their business, then moving on. It wasnt a lot of bees at all, just a handful, and the odd darling bumblebee. I love watching them. I enjoy their happy humming.  Long live the bees. I hope.

There are flower buds smothering the plants here, from the citrus right through to the strawberries and the broad beans. Not a lot of pollination going on yet though. My companion plants are a bit slower to flower this year, but theyre getting there. A lot of them have been self sown, and are just starting to stretch their heads up, buds unfurling. Theres Red opium poppy, some soldier poppies, beautiful blue borage and a handful of others. New ones this year include Nigella, Snapdragon, more Granny Bonnets, and Delphinium and the gorgeous Cleome. Foxgloves have finally set their flowers free from the tall flower spikes, and Im loving their speckled throats.  The sunflowers we sprinkled in a few spots are shooting upward, Im hoping they will cope with the wind, given one of the new locations is quite exposed. At worst, I can tie them to some bamboo til they gain strength...

We have seeds setting on some Swedes, some black Kale, Leeks, Walking Onions, St Valery Carrot, and some mesculun varieties. Im loving the new Valerian and pretty Pineapple sage. Even the echinacea is poking its wee head up from the soil. We have red, white and black currants on the bushes, just waiting for more sun... I love this time of year... and blueberries... we have them growing too! (Not nearly enough to satisfy this lot, but I have plans for more bushes!)

Eating out the garden has commenced, we have a few culinary herbs that are helping things along, and of course plenty of lettuce... which I am giving away whereever I can because there is no way we can eat them all... Plenty of potatoes which along with the yams are doing their thing. The early potatoes are just beginning to develop their flowers, and I cant wait to see

So there we go, no photos this time, life has just gotten quite busy and Im finding time in the garden to be really scarce but most enjoyable. I still cant believe some of the things Ive found to be growing successfully. This gardening thing is really cool :-)

Love to All
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Kaitiaki - Being a Community Guardian...

Im learning all about the meaning of Kaitiaki. Guardianship.
I want to be a Garden Kaitiaki who protects our soil, our plants, seeds, our gardens, our produce, but also, our children. Our Furture. Nurturing them, solidifying the relationships between them. Inspiring children to think about where their food comes from, how eating healthy can make a difference to their lives.

It is important that our children know about where their food comes from. And that they understand the relationship between good food and health and wellbeing.

Guide and teach them, so they can grow their own food, provide sustenance for their families, for their communities and make good choices for their health and wellbeing.
Bringing it back to where we are here in Christchurch, we need to network within our communities. Our families need to know where their support systems are, and who they can rely on. Not the ones who always want something in return, or demand repayment. It isnt always about repaying the kindness. Sometimes it is best if what is required is given freely.
It isnt about waiting for the next disaster, or feeling shy or embarrassed. It has been noted lately, that poverty in New Zealand is a fact. So no turning of heads, it is time to remedy this with what we have, what we can do. People have become very distanced after all the stressors, and some of us who feel we have something, even something small to offer to others, need to come forward and say - Here... I can help. And if I cant help, perhaps I know someone who can?

My Challenge  -Give something to someone who needs it - Ask for nothing in return... 

Every second person you talk to in Christchurch has a sad story... And there is a sense of helplessness when it is you, and you dont know where to go for help. With the women I sat with this last week, amongst us, we had many qualifications, different skill sets and assorted capabilities. And that was just eight women. Think what we could do if we, as a community, all put our heads together - offering assistance to one another.
The light goes on and the fear dissipates. If one cannot help, perhaps another can, or the suggestions to help the problem at hand may be like brainstorming.
I love Community Hubs, the things they offer that you can see, and the intangible things that they give, that we dont see, to those who need it - compassion, empathy, an ear, a cuppa, a hug, smiles, laughing...healing. Together, and as one, we can provide Kaitiaki. Guardianship.



Simplicity and Gardens
If our Children are introduced to food production at school, to understanding nutrition, composting, an ecological awareness, and cooking and preparing the food they grow -wouldnt this be an amazing start - strengthening skills, gaining independence and boosting self confidence/esteem ?
What an awesome way to supply our children with real-life skills that they will need for the future, that they can pass  it on.
It isnt and doesnt have to be complicated. Age-old solution - a patch of dirt and some seeds.

I am passionate about helping assist change in our communities.
We need to make a difference somewhere now, for fear our children will grow up blind.

From my heart to yours,
XX
EBUTTERFLY

PS FREE CROWN PUMPKIN SEEDS - email me or drop me a comment.

Planning and Planting - Almost that time again!~

Its almost planting time again!
I love this time of year.  The days have been very long while it has been wet, but Ive dug over some of the front garden and Ive made a list, and checked it twice (or more!)
I just cant wait to get out there, seeds in hand.
Im waiting to see if some of the cuttings Ive taken will actually grow, and Ive sprinkled some seeds around the place in the hope theyll spring forth and liven up the bare spots in the garden as companion plants (marigolds and calendula). I see borage is coming up already, also bulbs - some narcissus, to remind us that Spring isnt far away. The hollyhocks and poppies will be fantastic.

I cant wait for tomato season. I miss fresh tomatoes, basil and lettuce... but it wont be long and the lettuce will be back... I have frilled cos raising its head already, and buttercrunch have just sprouted. The new mesculun bed is looking promising amongst the little sticks Ive also planted, to keep cats out.

If we get some harsh frosts, I have made little cloches out of drink bottles, so ... hopefully theyll help.
Im starting off seeds inside too. The school are doing Scarlet Runner beans, per child, and a Sunflower plant, per child as they learn about seeds, Spring and nutrition.  Im glad I can pass the seeds along, its a good thing. Just wish I could do more.
The class gardens are going to be dug over at the end of the month, and then we can get going with the planting!

I had some lemon and kowhai seeds in the fridge, and have taken them out to get them started. I nicked the end of each kowhai seed, and will they take off quite nicely after that. I have about a dozen three inch high seedlings from last Summer, so maybe I will make good progress with these ones too. The lemon seeds are a bit stubborn, but they seem to kick off once it gets warmer. Last years lemon pips are now small but healthy trees - about two inches tall. Yes, I know... slow. But hey, Im not going anywhere, I have time to wait and watch them grow...
Then theres the Quince seeds. Theyve started to germinate. Fingers crossed I can get them to grow too.

Not much else happening on the gardening front...but its a time of promise. Soon, little butterfly, soon!! :)
Loving the sunshine, even these cooler days with no wind are great.
Watching the Olympics is a good excuse to stay inside :-)

Love to all,
EB
XX

This Old House... Clearing the Way... Spring Forward!

This Old house indeed...
It is full of cracks and this week, it seems to have developed a squeak - it now has an identifying squeak when theres a truck going past or theres an aftershock. Its been quite audible overnight and it sounds like we have mice. Better than Bats in the Belfry, I say :)
We are all concerned about the excessive speeds down our street of late, and I see one of the neighbours has sprayed big *30* signs on the road in spray paint,  to encourage people to slow down, but it doesnt seem to have worked. We have more traffic than ever before, given our main thoroughfare is blocked off and down to one way so crossing over our street, is like playing Chicken.
It isnt surprising, about the squeaky house, everywhere you look we have road works, diggers, noise, dust etc - on all sides at the moment, even our side road is blocked off with people rearranging road cones, leaning on shovels with their bright orange vests and hard hats on.
They may be filling in the crater that appeared after last weeks eq. Its quite an impressive size. With all this rain, it has filled with water, and I do wonder when we will get our own water feature. You know, you want what the neighbours have, right?... not so much, in this case :)
Its a familiar site around Christchurch though, those deep holes in the road, surrounded by road cones... theres no forgetting where you are, especially when you drive into one!

Things to be grateful for, there are a few - AWESOME WEATHER - it has taken on good form the past couple of days, and it is glorious to see the sun! We have got out and about, and taken advantage of the heat. It wont be long and it will be seed planting time again, how quickly it comes about.
I have started PLANNING THE GARDEN for this season. And clearing out the weeds that have grown over the cold snap. Im sure there will be other cold bits, but I might as well get ahead while I can.

Its nice to see some of the SEEDS COMING UP already. (self sown ones) We have a fine crop of 3 kinds of lettuce, some kind of onion and beans, and the silverbeet has survived well. I cant say the kids are keen about that :) but I am.
The berry plants have buds and are growing away quickly. Black currants, red currants, raspberries... We also have lots of self-sown plants, I love discovering them all. Strawberry, Borage, calendula and chamomile, marigold and some native trees. Ive also found some bits  I plucked off trees and bushes have grown, so  Ive got myself a fine start on a forest :)

We have been FEEDING THE BIRDS, and love watching them out the window. The bird feeders we made have been great, the birds come back again and again - carefully dodging our clumsy cats and their efforts to catch either a tasty bird treat, or climbing the tree to see if they can reach the fat with seeds in it... No luck, thank goodness theyre all far too well fed.  We have wax eyes, starlings and sparrows as usual, but also a family of three magpies, which have ventured over from the park. Theyre very polite, and wait up on the lines until Ive put the bread out before they come down.

Back to the Garden... Let is Spring, I say!
Thanks to some kind friends, I swapped some lavender for some vege seedlings, and I have a good bunch of seedlings and some mint to put in. Im going to isolate this mint, given it grows here like crazy, and we have some already that just takes over... it doesnt even mind the concrete, it just pops up through the cracks, but I have found that boiling water takes care of that. I also have an eau-de-cologne mint, which is lovely. I really like the smell of it, and have just recently been shown how to make a tea with lemon balm, the mint and honey. Very nice!

On My List of Must-haves this year - more carrots, more onions (more than I planted last year!) more potatoes in several varieties. Oh and Yams... Parsley, Basil and Coriander in successive plantings... and Im sure there will be other things later :)

Everyone is KEEPING WELL, despite the Winter chills. Its been a really crazy SCHOOL HOLIDAYS, but we are managing to use our time together wisely... Baking carrot cake, doing some art classes with Miss B, Reading, visiting, walking, taking some cool sea photos, packing some seeds, going to Kaikoura, going fishing (and catching a SALMON! wahoo!) and catching crabs on a handline. Lots of neat stuff. Making up for the time we spent last holidays in the hospital or at home, waiting for news.

Lots to get on with, and it looks like today might be another day outside, around in the garden.
Yes, thats why Im up early.
Roll on July!
Hope you are all safe and well,
Keep Warm
E Butterfly
XXXXXX

Brrr Frost you say? ... KEEP WARM PEOPLE!!

Greetings from the bitterfly cold Garden City.
It certainly is frosty this week! Ive been a bit busy this week with one thing and another, and its proven to be a challenge not to run inside and find a warm place to tarry.
I dont mind the frosty mornings when I have a full complement of warm clothing, but where did that bitter wind swing from? It drops the temp down completely. Thank god for woollen hats.
And for the wonderful help our schools receive from KidsCan. You guys ROCK :-)
They have provided warm lined & waterproof jackets to some of our local schools, and these kids NEED the warmth provided... Have a read on their site - FINALLY a charity that HELPS LOCAL CHILDREN. It isnt sending money for food to children in Africa, It isnt helping wild animals survive and breed, it is putting children first. And I think its the right place to start - here. In NZ. Our children.
THANK YOU from a Mum who really appreciates you helping our neighbourhood!

Mr 12 and I had a great day yesterday, once the business side of things was over (doctor) I think half of Canterbury is at the doctors this week, Ive heard of so much ill health...
Keeping our houses warm is so hard! I know we are not as bad as some, but Weve doubled our efforts here. Having gaps in gib and holes in the floor doesnt help keep the heat in however. The heat pump IS struggling. One heat pump in a disorganized style of house like ours, is hopeless.


Ive heard of people putting bubble wrap on windows as insulation, to keep the heat in.
Theres also window insulation you can purchase... but whose got the extra dosh after paying the power bill?

Have a look HERE - Perhaps you qualify for the Red cross Winter Assistance Grant. Seriously. If in need - APPLY Because this is why the money is available... We cant have our elderly, sick and young people suffering.  Wear layers, gloves, hats, scarves...

IF you HAVE EXTRA gloves, hats, scarves, blankets, hot water bottles -  how about donating them?
It makes such a difference to someone who cant afford to get their own. The Salvation Army, the Red Cross, will take them. Im sure there are other places who will take them too, Church groups etc. 

Here in Canterbury we NEED to look after our own neighbourhoods, our children, our people.

We use our hot water bottles and extra blankets at night. And theres no way its a fashion competition when going to bed, its layers baby!, any colour but layers... ooh la la, trendy!  Little One has leg warmers this year to put over her pants. She loves them, and Ive had several comments on the idea. The thing is - I  upcycled a black mohair jersey (adults) to make them... I used the arms, cut them off the jersey, measured how long I needed them, to just above her knee, then I cuffed them, with elastic in the hem, top and bottom, and they work nicely. Toasty warm. Im tempted to make myself some wrist warmers too... Mr 12 isnt interested, he would rather die than be seen in something Mum made *grin* oh. Except for his beanie. His ears are warm... and theres no chance of earache with that much snuggly wool  around his head.
Again I say... Thank God for the generosity of SHEEP - Thanks for wool  LMAO 


Fill them up in the mornings - CEREAL is great, with some fruit, but PORRIDGE is hot, sticks to their ribs, is digested slowly and fills them up for longer... Warm Porridge ... yumm!!
My kids are ALWAYS eating at this time of the year. Noodles, Fruit, Toast, Pikelets, Scones... The kids love helping make things.
Variety is good.

The kids seed envelope stuffing

DONT FORGET ... If you want some seeds to help you with next seasons garden, drop me a line
There are plenty available, and I want to share with you! 
Thank You for reading my blog.
I wish I could do more to help where it is needed.
Take care, and remember Hugs keep you Warm :)

Love
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Cracking the Whip ... Sending Free Seeds!

Thanks to Sophie, Im just about to send the second wave of free SISTERHOOD seeds...
We still have lots left, so if you're reading this and you want some (NZ ONLY SORRY) We can send you a selection. You need to send us a wee note here DONT FORGET your address :)

Our seeds include vegetables, some herbs and a few companion plants...and the odd tree.
The list looks something like this ... Flax, Chamomile, Tansy, Sunflower, Poppy, Hollyhock, Pyrethrum, Echinacea, Broccolli, Capsicum, Kowhai, Tagaste, Chilli, Pumpkin (3 types) Squash (2 types) Angelica, Parsley, Carrot, Onion, Silverbeet, Radish, Lettuces (4 var)...Lg Marigold, French Marigold, Calendula, Tomatoes in 15 different varieties...
Im sending in lots of five pkts, and what you get is what the munchkins packaged this weekend, while I cracked the whip (made them a yummy pizza and supplied treats (bribery?). They even made the envelopes, bless them... So there you go, Cockeyed stamping, gluing and sticking all included, totally made with love and devotion... They did a fabulous job!

Any questions about how to grow what you get, dont hesitate to write, I should be able to help, as Im growing most of what Ive sent myself or have done... Just remember, seeds need the soil to be warmed up a bit, and most like some kind of compost. Love em, and they will grow!

Hope youre keeping warm, its been a gorgeous sunny day, but the wind chills you to the bone.
I found my teeth chattering this morning, whilst waiting for things to happen...
Star Jumps... and warm coffee... that ll fix it :)

Love to You and Yours - Happy Growing,
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Marmite Shortage... Plants... Seeds etc

Almost a week since I wrote a post, I cant believe how quickly that week has flown by!
Its wet and we are hunkered down today. Mr almost-12 didnt want to get up, and I cant say I blame him. Yesterday was a stunner, very warm. Last night even, was warm, a perfect weekend really, despite the aftershocks weve been feeling of late. The hedgehogs were out snuffling along the drive, looking for remnants of cat food. They make so much noise! We caught sight of one, and Blaise got the torch while Arlais got out of bed to have a closer look. He was a good size, they are such interesting, cute creatures...

So, here I am. Ive just lightly spread my last (ever maybe?) pikelet with marmite. Who'd have thought we would have a shortage of one of our kiwi staples? So Im picking the stores will be selling out too. Its such an unusual taste, but people either love it, or dont like it at all, or prefer Vegemite. Personally, we grew up with vegemite only - Mother loved it on her toast. Ex-hubbys family had marmite. We, when married, always had a jar of both...
Heres the story here - MARMITE SHORTAGE

Anyways... I spent a greater part of a very hot, pleasant day out in the garden yesterday. I dug over the soil and composted. I added horse poo and dug it in. I pulled out many! weeds and spent plants - beans that had given their all to make the remaining pods into seed pods, brown and twisted... and Tomato plants that had really done their dash - time to get ready for Winter and build up the soil. Ive also kept my marigolds tidy and the seed pods trimmed (seed saved) They make a splash of colour in the Winter garden, when not much else is around, and are excellent companion plants to most vegetables, also they create a general deterrent for most garden pests. Ive grown mine alongside my  potatoes, under my tomatoes and around my strawberries.Planting marigolds enhances the growth of basil, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, kale, potatoes, squash and tomatoes. Marigold also makes a good companion plant to melons because it deters beetles.

Loving the seeds I am harvesting this season. After having three bean plants last year, we had NINE this year. Next year Im going to continue with our old staple - Scarlet Runner, but try something like a butter bean and a string bean, and see if I can successfully get a better crop of Borlotti. I just cant quite keep them healthy for some reason (possibly hedgehogs!!) They grow pitifully.

I have a huge Winter deluxe pie pumpkin seed stash. Next year Ill do three plants of those instead of this years one vine... And hopefully keep the hedgehogs away. I had two live pumpkins on the vine still, but one died -- small nibbles like wasp bites or slug sucks? The other I found yesterday and I gather the vine holding it onto the plant has been bitten open. Im not expecting it to last long. Annoying!
I would also like to try a squash variety next season... I got one squash off our Hubbards golden nugget vine this season. It did very well, given it was late into the soil.
This is whats been happening around here...

Drying Tomatoes to store for stews and soups

Black Cherry - Sweet, but must be eaten quickly. Tend to crack if not picked when ready.

Black Krim and Purple Calabash. The Pleated one is Purple Calabash

A small Yellow Brandywine - GORGEOUS beefsteak that is fruity to taste, excellent cooked

Small Freakazoid Tomato, from F1 seeds. Grape Sized & Sweet!

Tommy-Toe cherry (red) Yellow Pear or Jaune De Coeur du Pigeon

Dried Tomatoes

Hubbards Golden Nugget Squash

Harvest - Black Boy Peaches, Green ripening Toms etc

Green Tomato & Lime Jam

So thats what we are up to... Hope life is treating you kindly.
Love
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Awesome Autumn... My Fruit Rant :)

Harvest

Well its Autumn... and its been awesome so far - not too much of the wet stuff, but lots of the windy stuff, which we anticipate at this time of the year anyway. It would be great if todays low cloud could blow away and the sun could climb through.
Have been thinking a lot this week about Japan and her people. Im hoping theyre slowly starting to heal and rebuild. I know how we feel here, and the numbness takes a long time to abate, the healing is slow, and time ticks away before you know it. The memories of our Events come back. And we are so lucky we didnt have the complications they had in Japan. My heart goes out to them, I wish there was more we could do, or say, that would help.

Winter Deluxe Pie - Pie Pumpkin

I was washing dishes (arent I always?) yesterday, and I washed a lid of a jar that had 3/12 scribbled on it. I had a flash back to last year, all my preps were covered in the date 3/11 because it was then I had started to prepare in case of emergency. I thought back to my confusion. Then, it was so obvious to me. I have grown since then. I actually AM better prepared than I was. There IS less confusion. I DO know what Im doing, and I am well guided, by whatever that force is that motors the Intuition.
I looked through the Preps. We could do a short stand-off (LOL Like theres going to be a Siege?)
Now to prep for the mid-length stand-off... Its all a part of my plan, to down-size, live harmoniously, but to live SIMPLY. Thats the hard one.

Cornucopia of Tomatoes!

This week, I heard on our TV news that Parents have been criticized for feeding their children too much fruit in their bid to feed their children their 5+ a day... which has been leading to accelerated rates of tooth decay.
See, I worry about reports like this. Firstly, parents DO THEIR BEST. With whatever knowledge and resources they have available, for the most part, parents DO try their best. Criticism hurts and doesnt change a thing, nor teach us how to counteract the problem.
Secondly -Why do the media choose such a strong way to get this message across? Responsibility. They have no accountability for what they write, its ok to take a negative stance... and it sells. And everything has become about the dollar.
It is also about educating Parents about the problem and how to solve it, without that condescending attitude.
People need to want to learn new things at any level  - Educate people on the importance of Milk and Water being offered with every serving of fruit, or put fruit after the main meal. Argh. Its NOT about criticism, it is about CHILDRENS HEATH. It is about Educating people, so they can make strong decisions based on good information.
PUT OUR CHILDREN FIRSTHave we forgotten the art of diplomacy and tact? I think as we fracture in society, we are becoming Islands. It is sad, but it is happening. Who can you depend on to give you accurate information about the things you need to learn? Do you learn something new every day?
We get out of the way of learning, but sometimes, it is just as important to REFRESH OUR KNOWLEDGE about important things, and not stop learning all together.



Broccoli - Waltham Seeds in Pods

 Prepping this week involves saving more seeds for next season. I have brocolli, lettuce in three kinds, soon to be four if Im quick :) And beans galore. I love the pink scarlet runners... Happy Beans!
We have Lollo Rosso, which is dark red, and likes low light and cooler days, a frilled green which grows everywhere and makes an attractive addition to a mixed salad. Theres a traditional buttercrunch, and Im waiting to see if we can catch up with seed from Little Gem who is a one-person sized  lettuce, compact and sweet. I often find Miss 5 hanging around the Little Gem, the leaves are very tasty. I have iceberg growing too, and it seeds later. I love watching the lettuce towers as they grow tall and then go poof! The seed is like dandelion fluff, the seeds at the bottom of the fluff go everywhere. Great for self-seeding.
Finally collected seeds from our carrot flower which seems to have been there for forever. Its taken a good four or five months, but we finally have some Nutri-Red carrot seed. These are our favourites, so theyll be replanted. Im trying to keep other carrots to seed, but it is so hard when the kids prey on them :)

Lettuce Fluff!

Well I best be getting on with it. The sun is making an appearance!
This week is shaping up to be a very diggy one.
Lots of weeds to evict... and poo to shovel.
Hope all is well with your world,

Scarlet Runner Beans - 3rd year!

Take care,
Love
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Quick Post - Echinacea Haven is Bumblebee-tastic!

Its freezing cold out there, and the wind is nasty, and still these little bumbles work over time.
I love seeing bumblebees at work, they are so busy, and seem so happy at what they do :)
Snapped this photo, the echinacea flowers always seems to get mobbed, and the bumblebees cling to their spiny cones, sometimes gathering pollen, sometimes just resting on top and riding the flowers in the breeze.
I never realised just how gently scented the ech flowers are, heavenly!

Love,
E Butterfly
XXXXXX

QUICK POST - A LINK about the secret food code conspiracy

Just thought you might like this to read...
More about the THE SECRET FOOD CODE CONSPIRACY -
If we cannot trust in our Government to make good decisions for us, WHO will make them?
WE MUST NOT LET THIS BILL BE PASSED.

Long Time, No Blog... LOTS of Progress Outside.. School Holidays and All

Dear Diary... Well, thats what this seems like sometimes...
Its been a while since I wrote. Ive thought of doing so often, I just didnt quite make it inside to hover long enough... outside the weather has been GORGEOUS and sunny and we are LOVIN' IT!For a start its School Holidays.
The first week is nearly over, and we have survived. Not too many disagreements as yet. I dislike school holidays, as they usually end in arguments. Teenagers who dont want to be home etc. and have that dislike for Parental Controls, Rules, and Generally Anything At All ...

So far, so good. We have cut down some seriously big trees, made piles of green stuff to be chipped or mulched, or composted. But, do not fear, Dear Devics,  I have plans to replace said felled Trees. Lots of Ideas.
The front trees have been trimmed.

 Ive begun clearing the vines down the side of the property, and as you can see, we removed a huge overbearing cabbage tree from the house guttering, which lets so much more light into the front porch. Weve also sorted out some pea straw and mushroom compost.

The roses have been pruned rather harshly, given its the first time in ages, and Weve used all the recycled bricks from out of our chimneys in the garden edging.
I have my fingers xed that they stay there post quakes, but I guess time will tell. Ive heard it looks attractive, I have yet to be happy with the result, it will look MUCH better when there is something growing in the front garden. I am not sure, but Im thinking FLOWERS! ... The pretty cottage garden type perhaps. It reminds me of that song... Nana Mouskouri...Uh Oh, here I go again *sings*

In An English Country Garden

How many kinds of sweet flowers grow

In an English country garden?

We'll tell you now of some that we know

Those we miss you'll surely pardon

Daffodils, heart's ease and Phlox

Meadowsweet and lady smocks

Gentian, lupine and tall hollihocks

Roses, foxgloves, snowdrops, blue forget-me-nots

In an English country garden

How many insects come here and go

In an English country garden?

We'll tell you now of some that we know

Those we miss you'll surely pardon

Fireflies, moths, gnats and bees

Spiders climbing in the trees

Butterflies drift in the gentle breeze

There are snakes, ants that sting

And other creeping things

In an English country garden

How many songbirds fly to and fro

In an English country garden?

We'll tell you now of some that we know

Those we miss you'll surely pardon

Bobolink, cuckoo and quail

Tanager and cardinal

Bluebird, lark, thrush and nightingale

There is joy in the spring

When the birds begin to sing

In an English country garden

How many kinds of sweet flowers grow

In an English country garden?

We'll tell you now of some that we know

Those we miss you'll surely pardon

Daffodils, heart's ease and flox

Meadowsweet and lady smocks

Gentain, lupine and tall hollihocks

Roses, foxgloves, snowdrops, blue forget-me-nots

In an English country garden

*************************

Lately, we've talked endlessly about seeds. Today, we sat down and sorted through. Ive just bought a large quantity online, and cant wait for them to arrive so I can start growing things. Several new varieties of Tomato, some lettuce, carrots, onions, Chamomile, Soapwort, Chard and Silverbeet, oh and some Parsnips, Pumpkins and Snapdragons!
I got given a pumpkin last week that Ive saved the seed from. I tried finding out about it, as we are used to the typical grey crown variety... This one just happened to be DELICIOUS, and rather pretty! -  a Winter Luxury Pie pumpkin... It is really yummy, thick and sweet - SEE HERE

I would like a couple of citrus trees, and Im investigating growing lemon trees from seed. I know it takes a while (up to five years) for them to fruit, but Ive got plenty of time, and theyre an attractive addition to the pots whilst they grow big enough to plant out... 
A lime, a mandarin or two, and a couple of Meyer Lemons are on The Planting List... and now I have the perfect sunny spots for them. We cut away the jasmine or honeysuckle vine that had been growing there since goodness knows when! It will come away again, and be away in no time I guess, but this time we can train it. I have replanted a seedling pittosporum. I love the crinkly leaves, and in no time it will be a good hedging plant.
We are clearing room for a huge root veggie crop. In mind we have some maori potatoes, some sweet potato (kumara) and some potatoes of the mashing kind ( our kids favourites!) ... Looking forward to seeing it all come together. Also want to add some yams. Boy they taste good when roasted...

It is really nice, seeing things coming together... One step further to the Goal of being Self Sufficient!
Going to hire a mulcher and use all the bits weve collected as a bed to the things we would like to grow.
The conifer we cut down was left as a stump that looked reminiscent of The Eiffel Tower, until our dear neighbour came over with his chainsaw and took it off at the base for us. It now is a lump of quite nice fire wood... The pine needles piled high at the base as the tree fell and we have added bucket fulls of them to the compost pile.

Bucket of *Chocolate Hail* - Conifer needles

We had some lard and bird seed with mince pieces inside it, hung on the tree for the birds

LOVING these dear little creatures. Waxeyes or Silvereyes are so pretty... Love watching them!

Another bed in progress. Got to get out the flaxen plant thats swamped my red rose... Loving Memory



We grow the finest silverbeet and spinach.
We also grow the fattest laziest of black moggies youll ever find... Love him tho! (Zander)




This is my Island in the Sun!! Zandy loves his new bed of peastraw!



Occarina - the smallest of our mogs, she is feisty and independent. Not often seen for a photo.

And so there we be... Waiting for the postie and the seed parcel... Ive just found another place to look online http://www.rosesonline.co.nz/

And the next step is getting into sprouting some new plants for the new beds...

Hope youre keeping safe and well... And if youre in our part of the World, that you are safe, well and WARM! Weve just had a heatpump put in, and my lord it is bliss! Changes the whole energy of the house when you dont have to be constantly concerned about childrens cold feet, bare chests, coats, hats etc.

Lovin' the good weather and getting outside!
Take care,

Love

E BUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXX
Love especially, to those in the Coromandel.Miss YOU!
XXXXXXX