Back to Basics Challenge ~ Week 20

Sowing seed or Planting

On Saturday morning my husband planted out some silverbeet seedlings he was given at work. I suggested planting them in the rose garden, as the roses will be bare in the winter. I found out this idea when I heard about cavolo nero in June 2006 on TV. The presenter grows it in her rose garden when the roses are dormant. However, I chose a bad time weatherwise, I hope they recover OK.

Checked on the raspberries, they seem to like the soaker hose.



We also checked on the lavenders in pots and one variety are flowering. We only lost the one plant that didn't get much water on the first day.

Planning for The Future - meal planning, the next seasons garden plan, working out storage plans or more long term goals and projects like plans for digging root cellars

I mentioned I wanted to plant sweet peas. I checked out the local, well in my supermarket, sweet pea seeds. Fothergills have five different types two in larger packets.

My meal plan is a pantry challenge. I have got several recipes worked out for the fortnight, and only have small details left to work out. I know I have enough food to make the meals.

Working for the Future - storing food, managing stores, preserving, building that home made cob or solar oven, adding house insulation, saving for manual grain mills etc

I went through my cans of food, the vegetables and everything really to do my pantry challenge.

Building Community - volunteering, donations, joining an existing community group, forming your own community group, taking a cake to a friend having a hard time, calling someone you just let drift out of your life, etc

We participated in the local Agricultural Show. In some events there are few entries so it is nice to enter into one of those and give some competition to someone else. I have posted some photos here and here of general photos of the Show. My daughter entered a recycling competition, and made two things, she didn't like the first thing she made.

Learn a new Skill

I bought an old book during the week, and found out how to preserve meat. I have wanted to know for awhile, though I doubt I will actually do it, but I may. Here is a picture of the book. I am getting better in learning how to join in at the show. We think that it is possibly OK to put plastic covers on on Show Day to replace the metal lids, when showing jam for example.

Belinda's blog, home of the Back to Basics Challenge.