I meant to show you these delightful photos I took, then forgot all about it. The ducks visited us last week, I was inside when Hanno yelled out "Ducks!!", I went out and was surprised to find an entire family on their walkabout. Of course Hanno fed them, they had a rest and off they went into the bush on the other side of our little dead end street. It's always a treat seeing all the visiting birds we get here but this was something really special.
Gracie was inside the house howling to get out so she could scare the living daylights out of the visitors. When she did get out, when the ducks left, she was on their trail, sniffing the ground as if her life depended on it.
And this is what we did after morning tea today. We broke up the garlic heads, selected the largest cloves and added them back to the jar for planting. Hanno is preparing the soil now and even though we've had a bit of rain, the soil is still as dry as a bone when you dig into it. It will probably be the weekend before the soil is ready and these are planted.
All the small cloves went back into a dish I keep on the kitchen bench, ready for cooking. I'm not sure how much organic garlic costs at the shops now but nothing beats the economy of buying good seed stock, growing your own and saving some of the crop to replant the following year. Those seeds you buy become family assets and can be given away or swapped with family and neighbours. The old farmers were a wise bunch and have taught us well.
What are you doing this week? Are you, like us, preparing beds for planting?
Oh, those ducks are so sweet! What a thrill that must have been. They certainly picked the right home to visit. Animals just know those things. Gracie looks very intent. Our soil used to be bone dry, too. We've had a lot of rain in California, so I am excited about this year's crops. I may even replace some of the fruit trees. The artichoke plants look healthy. Soon it will be time to plant squash.
ReplyDeleteAre those ducklings ever adorable! I don't think I would have been able to resist trying to pick one up, just for a moment.
ReplyDeleteCan't plant now, Rhonda. California as been deluged with rain. I am grateful since we had so many years of drought, but our reservoirs are full and we have tonnes of snow in the Sierras; so we can rest easy for a bit. The soil is taking all it can, and we even have more. Another storm is coming in on Tuesday, but the real storm should hit the south bay area and not us this time, although we will get some rain. But I don't think spring is too far off, we had a glimpse of blue sky today. I hope to be planting soon.
ReplyDeletewe've been getting beds ready down at the community gardens, planted some seeds last week, just a few to get started of the brassica family, hoping to get more in later, need chook food greens.
ReplyDeletemy own gardens are just suffering from the dry, though we are getting rain today. it's cheaper for me to grow at the markets as I don't have to pay for water.
those ducks almost look tame, trusting, she has been there before no doubt & knows it's safe
delightful post
thanx for sharing
I actually planted my garlic here in Florida about 3 weeks ago and so far it is doing well. I don't have a clue how long it will take to fruit since this is my 1 st time planting it. I do have tons of pepper plants sprouting and I'm sharing them with 3 neighbors that garden . One has already gifted me delicious loquats and I've already planted the seeds. My other neighbor gifted me baby green peppers from a plant I gifted her last year. So sharing garden delights is the best.
ReplyDeleteGarlic usually takes about 6 months, Betsy.
DeleteNothing beats home grown produce does it? I usually tuck a couple of cloves of garlic at the base of my rose bushes. They keep greenfly away and I get a little crop of garlic at the end of summer. The bulbs are only small but very tasty.
ReplyDeleteNo rain here and no planting for us. I've been making grape jelly, grape juice for the freezer and zucchini relish. All with produce from friends' gardens.
ReplyDeleteI just tonight thought I'd have a look at some of your older posts and was so surprised to find you are back!! I thought you'd retired and to find you here was like finding a little treasure again! I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis and am sending good wishes to you, and to Hanno and your family. I am so looking forward to hearing good news!
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda. I’ve recently discovered your blog after purchasing both of your books, which I THOROUGHLY enjoyed. I’m going to treasure them forever and pass them down to my daughter one day. I gave you a great review on Amazon as well. The knowledge you have shared with us all is so invaluable. Every morning I check your blog with my coffee, eager to see what you’ve written about next. I lost my mom as a young girl and both my grandparents so reading your blog and books make me feel as if I still have a grandmother teaching me these important life skills. I already have a passion for cooking from scratch, but thanks to you, I am excited to learn about knitting, mending clothes, making soap and cleaning products etc. I was already reading up on a life of simplicity, but your blog and books are what sealed the deal for me. Thank you so much for everything you share with us. It means more than you know. Now if only I could get on a plane and come and have some tea and scones with you. 😊
ReplyDeleteHello Tarryn, thank you for your kind words. I'm really pleased my writings have facilitated the changes you want to make. I'm sure you're mom and grandparents would be proud of you and what you're doing. I don't write here nearly as much as I used to but Hanno and I are still plodding along so there should be a few odds and ends to read every week.
DeleteThose ducks!!! I love ducks; they're just such fun creatures to watch. This is the first time in my life I haven't lived by a duck pond and I desperately miss going to watch them regularly. How fun that you had an entire family and were able to get close enough to hand-feed them!!!
ReplyDeleteGracie!!! She is SUCH a cute dog!
How sweet were the ducks! We had our worst ever garlic year in 2018. They barely germinated, and we think we have mites which then bring in disease. Our usual seed source went out of business. Here's hoping for a good garlic year for all. It's been incredibly wet here for months, so we can't begin working in the garden. We managed to plant a few shrubs, and I've been doing a technique called chop and drop (break up prunings and place around trees, then cover with mulch... helps to smother weeds and to fertilize).
ReplyDeleteThe ducks picked the perfect place to visit! Your garlic looks wonderful. We still have 2 feet of snow and it was -36 degrees below 0 (F) this morning, so we aren't anywhere near planting season yet. I will plant vicariously through you until we see the soil.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet mama duck and her babies!!
ReplyDeleteHAve some bottle lambs. Just busy with an adorable sweet little one. Mini miniminimo 3lbs or so. And work and stay warm. Good news is that temp will go to zero. Yeah!! Was frigid here with -46 and I hough of you and your gardening.. feels warmer with such thoughts.
Hi from AB!
Wilma
Still harvesting last of summer crops here in the south. Hoping to plant garlic potatoes and broad beans for winter.The white cabbage butterfly is a real problem with brassicas. Do so love your photos thankyou x
ReplyDeleteOur garlic was planted in the fall and is hopefully still cozy and well under all this snow. And what sweet visitors you had! I love ducks so. They're so funny, just a delight.
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteBeen following along with your blog for a while and just managed to borrow your books from the library. I can't wait to get stuck into them!
You've inspired me to add some life to our garden and I'd like to start with garlic and luffa as they seem (relatively) easy to plant. Can you suggest any sites where to buy organic seeds from? I'm located in South Australia if that helps. Poor Bunnings didn't have anything to help. Thanks heaps! Kate
Hello Kate, it's good to see another backyard becoming productive. You're better off sowing heirloom seeds because you'll be able to save seed at the end of the season and sow them again next year. Store the leftover seed and any new seeds, absolutely dry, in a glass container in the freezer. I use a little Pyrex square container. The only place I know of in SA is https://www.heirloomharvest.com.au but I just visited there, searched for garlic and loofahs and they have neither. Your next bet is https://www.diggers.com.au. They have both. It's always wise to buy your seeds as close to where you live as possible. Good luck with your garden and keep in touch.
DeleteHow cute is the family of ducks coming to visit...nature is really wonderful. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane
ReplyDeleteVery cute photos of the ducks Rhonda. Something like that just makes your day doesn't it? We are preparing our garden beds here for planting so it will be a big decision as to what to plant.I haven't grown garlic here in Mackay before as I am worried it could be a bit too humid. They grow it beautifully up at Eungella where it is cooler. What do you think? Best wishes, Pauline
ReplyDeleteI'd try it, Pauline. Send me your address and I'll post up a few Glen Large cloves. It's a warm climate variety which we grow here. If it works, you can buy it from Green Harvest next year.
DeleteI have your address, Pauline and will send in the next day or so.
DeleteLoved the ducks and Gracie's reaction!
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how do you protect your winter plantings from the white butterfly?
Hi Kate. We don't plant any of the brassica family anymore but back a few years we sprayed with Dipel. It's a certified organic spray with no withholding period. https://www.bunnings.com.au/yates-40g-natures-way-caterpillar-killer-dipel-insecticide_p2961898 You spray it on the leaves, not the butterflies and you have to reapply after rain.
DeleteThose ducks are the sweetest! Poor Gracie not being able to guard her year. LOL
ReplyDeleteAggie is mostly secured in her yard but comes on walks with us where she can free range a little. Sometimes gets a scent and runs off into the bush, occasionally we hear her barking with great excitement and once or twice we hear the odd yelp and she scuttles back to us. I think she sometimes startles the big lizards that stand up to her and she gets a fright. HA!
Grant has been salvaging plastic and once we have enough we will lay it where we want our beds to be to rot the grasses under it so we can begin to prepare the soil for the veggie beds. I thought we had a spare old tarp over the weekend to do this with but I was mistaken. Your garlic looks lovely, I look forward to growing it.
xx
Reminds me of a delightful book called "Make Way for Ducklings" by Robert McCloskey, who summered in Maine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Make_Way_for_Ducklings An absolutely delightful book, which the description only vaguely portrays.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing the mama duck and her babies, so cute! dealing with a major cold spell here that forced me to cut all my daffodils so they wouldn't die. inside it looks like spring but it feels like winter outside!
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