Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Abundance...

And slowing down.

I thought after last week's Thursday Thoughts, I might share some of the abundance from the block.  Not so arty, but it feels creative and all about making.

We are fortunate to live in a sub-tropical landscape and to have an acre of land on which we can grow plenty of food. May I say, very often more than enough for two!

At the front we have avocados, macadamia nuts, lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits. On the terrace below the shed we have rambling pumpkins and then the coffee 'plantation'.  Over at the house we have a vegetable garden where we grow eggplants, basil, rocket, potatoes, spinach, rhubarb, chillies and more. At the back of the house we have three banana 'trees'. Imagine tho - we have four BIG bunches ripening, and they nearly always ripen at once.  That's a lot of bananas!

I mentioned it has been a year of slowing down and spending time with the block and trying to make the most of our produce.

Here's a selection of what we have managed - it feels like an abundant life….

Bell chillies by the hundreds.


Became bottles of sweet chills sauce and chilli jam. LOTS of bottles.



Basil is now pesto in the freezer - I also took to freezing basil leave just as they were when I couldn't face any more pesto.


Eggplants everywhere turned into baba ghanoush, moussaka; whilst eggplant and chilli pickle made the most of two of the most abundant crops in summer.



Our crop of macadamias was good this year; I am forever grateful to my cousin who has all the set-up to husk and hull and roast them - then deliver them back perfectly packaged!


Citrus is in overdrive at the moment - so orange cakes are being baked and popped in the freezer,

 
And Orange jam (it says marmalade but it isn't quite right!) is now ready to go as well.


The cherry guavas that were bubbling away merrily last Thursday Thoughts, are now happy jars of Jelly.


Whilst the pumpkins have been roasted, eaten and also pureed and frozen as well as made into pumpkin chutney.


Avocados are going into our pasta tonight, and last but never least - our coffee! We have been drinking our own coffee, all processed on the block, since the beginning of the year, and think we have a full year's worth this time. Pretty wonderful, single source and no food miles!


Barry is as ever my partner in crime in these ventures, and we share the load between the crops; each doing different things. He is the coffee roaster and grinder; whilst I'm pretty much the jelly maker. we both make chutney depending on who has the time and so on. A great way to spend our time.

My next blog post is my 800th.  I can hardly believe that, so I will try to do a bit of something as a giveaway with my Thursday Thoughts…

14 comments:

  1. How amazing to be able to grow your own coffee and all the rest, there are obviously some advantages to living on the other side of the world. Beautiful views as well I seem to remember from previous posts.

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    1. We are fortunate indeed; and the views are pretty special as well. I must say I think there are loads of advantages to living on this side! Go well.

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  2. I love all this abundance Fiona and the results of making the most of the produce. It's so wonderful and pleasurable to have freshly grown food with no food miles. On a smaller scale I've just replanted my vege garden and I too really enjoy picking ingredients for dinner.

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    1. It is a lovely part of our lives isn't it Helen - large or small - to be able to grow and gather your own food and work to make it last thru jams and jellies and pickles and ….enjoy your garden time!

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  3. Beautiful blog and delicious coffee. Warmest wishes from Karen Ellis @ Bowerbirds Journal

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    1. Thanks Karen - glad you enjoyed the coffee! We have been busy on the block for sure. Go well.

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  4. fiona, i knew you and barry made food, but not how extensive this farming was! a beautiful harvest.

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    1. Thanks Velma - I don't think we can be considered farmers on our small block; but perhaps we are producers! It has been a great year so far on the block and we do enjoy making the most of it. Go well.

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  5. Like Velma, I hadn't realized the extent of your farming and am in total awe.

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    1. Well J, it's really like 5 months of harvesting appearing in one blog post, so …..not as impressive as it may seem to be at first! We are lucky we can grow things here, and we feel fortunate to be making the time to value-add and really appreciate them, rather than letting them just go to waste. My cupboards feel very full and happy!

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  6. WOW! You could open a shop with that lot. When do you find the time?

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    1. Hi Jo - yep you can see a roadside stall appearing any day soon can't you!?! Laugh. It's been good to actively make the time this year to harvest and use the food…we're not so busy rushing here and there and interstate quite so much. Pottering at home and in the kitchen is a fine way to spend a morning I find. Go well.

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  7. Such abundance! What a delicious haul, that looks as good as it must taste. You and Barry have the most wonderful garden and with the workshops and the views, is really is magnificent!

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    1. Abundance is such a lovely word isn't it Carol -and that sense of abundance is truly delightful. We stop each day to reflect on our fortune - our life, our block and our view - and we feel we should honour them. Go well.

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.