sweet winter. soil magic. summer dreams.

Trees, garlic, babies and sea air on a tired day. We took the littlest one to Hobson's Bay hoping the waves would lull him to sleep -but he stayed wide awake, taking it all in.

While the cold here is nothing like an Illinois freeze, I’m already dreaming of summer. August and September will have me travelling again, a couple of weeks at a time, so I am planning the Australian summer garden now, knowing that 90% of gardening is in the soil — just like painting, it’s all in the prep

Gardeners fingernails!!

I will be away half of August and half of September (not consecutively) so as usual - I travel a lot so I am used to jigging gardens around flights - I plan thoroughly. August is like March in Illinois and September like April. And I will plan accordingly.

90% of garden prep is soil. It is similar to painting a house - 90% of the work is prep. Popping the plants in the ground is the last thing we do. Focus on the soil. A deep spade dig, good compost (from my worms) into rich dark soil. Cardboard on the bottom and straw to lay on top to keep all that precious moisture in.

Rhubarb is growing beautifully. Still at the ugly stage but holds the promise of delicious rhubarb crumble.

I need to get the straw for around the rhubarb and the strawberries. But instead of going out to the barn to get a bale I have to go out to the local Bunnings and buy it! The horror!

I am prepping the new garden beds for tomatoes and zuchinni and beans for the summer. Rule Number One for your vege garden is to grow what you love to eat.

I’m planning on building two new raised beds along the back fence. Then layin the good soil I am making. I’ll use cardboard as the bottom layer (avoid plastic weed mats; weeds will eventually grow through them, and removing all that nasty plastic is a nightmare - not to mention - you know - plastic!!). We use cardboard laid low and regular weeding instead. Cardboard is a common household item, so I’m delighted whenever I find an opportunity to bury it and cover it with a deep layer of soil with all that delicious worm compost folded in. Life in a box.

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I found this lovely post with Sheila (my very favourite pig in the world) walking through the snow on a typical Illinois winter day. Pop over if you want to read a farm post from 2015.

We have been writing and reading together a long time you and I.

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Today I would like to take a moment send out love to the people flooded out in Texas (I am so sorry) the loss of life is dreadful and I also send love to the people trapped in a flooding tent camp caught in another kind of storm for captured immigrants in Florida (I am so sorry).

You are all people who deserve care and love. I hope help is getting through for you all.

I send love to our land after THIS that big bloody bill that has catapulted America backwards into coal and water pollution. We are aghast at this change.

By sidelining the largest and fastest-growing sources of new electricity in favor of finite fossil fuels, President Trump and his Congressional allies are clinging to an energy policy from the 1950s. But we have better solutions now. We’ve seen billions of dollars in clean energy investments flowing into nearly every state in recent years, creating job opportunities in communities where they’re needed most, at a time when the U.S. needs even more wind, solar and battery storage to meet growing demand. Yet the President and his congressmen decided to pull back the tax credits that were making these good things happen“. tds.org

I ache with this knowledge. This total disregard for the future. Solar is hands down the cheapest power world wide. We have solar panels in our house here in Australia installed with the help of a government backed program in this area and we have not paid for power in 6 months. There has been a huge investment in wind and solar. The industry needs nurturing not decimating. So now you and I really must think smaller and cleaner. Do all the things - I don’t need to list them for you - our power is in our corner. Look after the land you sit on or sit near - like a beach or park or your backyard. Be the one who cares.

What did Ghandi day? Be the change you want to see.

This choice affects the whole world. Not just the US. So. Keep up the good work. Grow as much green stuff as you can. Gardens work! Bushes. Flowers. And trees. Trees are so important. Today is the best day to plant a tree.

I am planting two good sized macadamia nut trees in NZ next month for two of the kitchens garden foundational members. Every person who subscribes to the kitchens garden gets a tree. The fellowship of the Farmy has been planting trees all over the world - for years now - your contribution here; plants trees. I have miles of space out in Central Illinois designated for Forest. Already your Fellowship Forest is growing. I will take pictures when I am out on the farm next month. Remind me. Piles of trees going in on the Kapiti Coast too.

We have many more trees to plant in Illinois for American readers too - so - thank you. They will be oaks this year - slow to grow but long to live. And they grow happily in Illinois

Trees are good. I have never met a tree I did not like.

For a day yesterday out we drove through the city and out the other side.

We went to the sea at Williamstown and looked out over Hobsons Bay.

Sleep becomes critical when there is a little baby in the house. There is a direct correlation between sleep and mental health.

In plain language it is “bad sleep = cranky people.

I saw this gargoyle on a roof by the sea - thought it was an appropriate representation of a crabby sleep deprived person. 🤣 Though still beautiful.

We are not getting a lot of sleep. So we took baby for a walk along the sea thinking possibly that would wear him out a little - all that lovely fresh sea air and all .. but .. no. He lay in his pram with his eyes wide open listening to the sea and the birds and the people. Thrilled to bits with himself. Then grizzled a bit then had a drink on a park bench then grizzled a bit more in the car before falling asleep for 15 minutes then popping up wide awake when we got home again.

Babies are such a joy.

The newest member of our large and international extended family is five weeks old now. He is growing so fast and looks bigger every day until one of our friends visit with their babies and he looks like a tiny wee thing. Because he is a tiny wee thing.

Thank you so much for popping in.

Oh I almost forgot to tell you - John has started harvesting the garlic crop in Illinois. It looks great! Right?

Have a gorgeous day!

Commen if you have a moment tell me about your garden and your last day out! I love the community er are building here.

Celi

PS thank you to all who have subscribed I would not be here without you. 😀