05 March 2011

i'm grateful for . . . 'pretend farming'

Greetings all,
This week along with Maxabella's I'm Grateful For . . . me, i'm 'pretend farming'.  Yes, we are still keeping eyes & ears open for the right farm in the right location (120-150 acres outside Canberra) but we won't be ready to buy for another 12-18 months (kind of need my husband in the territory/ country to help chose & pay for it) so in the mean time, i'm playing at growing herbs & vegetables.  I'm grateful for discovering over the past decade or so, that i have a bit of a green thumb.  Of course pretend farming success is easy over Summer, but here we are in March . . .
So love this calendar, it sits next to the fruit bowl.
 
 Basil, Thyme, Chives & Parsley all healthy & strong.
 Planted celery 4 weeks ago, looking good & the fireworks chillies lost a bit of sunlight for growth due to enormously successful lettuce.
 Behold the mighty (single) capsicum!!
 More celery, tomatoes & basil with a little onion in the centre.
The pumpkins are going wonderfully, with carrots shooting up through the centre.  Particulary excited about my pumpkin patch for Wintery soups.
Gardening brings me such joy, like sewing - i'm completely self taught (i can read a packet but while i'm still in faux farming mode, i'm not researching anything) & trying carrots, potatoes, basil, celery, mint in different spots, soils, mixed varieties to see where it grows best.  My grandfather was a professional gardener in England, i think he'd be proud of my efforts & enthusiasm.  It's fun, inexpensive, fresh & involves the children & puppy too.  Our big plan is to be as self subsistant as possible, growing as much as we can ourselves to feed our big family.  If i can take care of the fruit, herbs & vegetables, i'll leave handsome soldier to take care of the animals (eekk). 
Now back to my studio - huge progress in the tidy up/ space reduction/ makeover/ new bedroom addition.  Just long & slow, 6 garbage bags of junk to toss & counting.  Have happy weekends everyone, love Posie

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love this Posie! My next gardening adventure will be of the herb and vegetable variety. That calendar is gorgeous! Hope you have a wonderful weekend. xx

Maxabella said...

I aim to be a 'pretend farmer' too! Chickens, vegies, fruit trees. It will all end in tears, of course, but I just wanna have a go. Maybe 'urban farmer' is more flattering?? x

Felicity said...

There truly is a special delight in being able to harvest from your own garden. Whether it be veges, fruit or flowers, bringing something into the home to enrich it is a gift worth savouring.

Your veges look lush and lovely and you have the basic ingredients for some delicious meals.

I'm counting the days with you to when you can buy your perfect patch of paradise and we can watch with pride your dream come to fruition.

Felicity xx

PS Am SUPER impressed with your dedication to the clean up and rebirth of your studio & bedroom. x F

Anonymous said...

They all look fabulous Posie. I'm another little try-hardish farmer. I have my chookies and a little veggie patch. Something so connecting and nice about it all.

Cate said...

love the little duckie calendar...adds a gorgeous touch to your pretend farm!
And they are real plants after all, so maybe it's just 'petite farming'??
have a great weekend Posie :-)
xxxCate

Bron said...

I love the concept of practice farming....looks like you are doing Ok at it too.

Rhi@FlourChild said...

Oh yum!! A good healthy herb garden is my dream this spring/summer. I've never had much luck, except for a few years in Canberra where I had bumper basil, thyme and sage crops, in pots, in central Belconnen! Good luck with your little urban farm (and WOW on the room re-jig, that is a mammoth undertaking on you own!) xx

Lauren said...

it's real farming with limited space! he he! looks great hope it tastes fantastic!

Alice Becomes said...

i like Cate's "petite farming"...as it looks to me quite impressive

Gill xo

Brenda said...

I love your gardening ideas, everything looks so lovely and lush! I must pull my finger out and do one of my own. I bought some fresh basil last night for our usual home made pizza's, I put them in a glass of water to keep them perky only to find them sad and wilted this morning. There goes another $2.95 down the drain.

krystal said...

posie, you put me to shame! and i have many acres to "farm".

i am going to get my patch up and running again. i was so excited last weekend b'cause i found some old bathtubs sitting around unused - so hopefully, before long I will have 6 or so bathtubs full of veggies and herbs! i'm told that one even has clawed feet!!!

you are "real farming", your doing it, its great! xxox

Sarah B said...

Your vegie patches are looking great! I find it very exciting seeing my vegies grow too. It's so satisfying!
Have a great weekend :)

Kate Ward said...

I have been wondering what sort of plants I should grow in two pots on either side of my front door.

My new garden (which is only in planning phase at this stage) must be either fragrant or edible....

You have just inspired me to plant a whole selection of herbs!

x

Photography said...

Looks great! I so do not have a green thumb :-( The thought of home grown food - YUM. Looking forward to room updates :-)

Anonymous said...

We're sorting out the new bedroom here as well and lots of things being tossed and sorted as a result. I'd LOVE to have a green thumb but am more an admirer than a participant ;) Have a lovely weekend sweet Posie x

PlanningQueen said...

I have on my list for next year to do some pretend farming. I am also hoping by then I have convinced my husband to have some chooks!

Sammy said...

Hi Posie! Thanks for your comment and lovely to meet you! I like your green thumb and plan of owning a farm, home grown things are just the best.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Jenny at Red House said...

spurring me on to do a bit of planting, inside here of course for now! love your blog jennyx

melissa said...

Looking good! Gardening is so satisfying isn't it - all the hard work is worth it when you make a meal from your home grown produce.

Nic said...

Sigh. I have a black thumb. Everything I attempt tends to die. I have even killed off succulents. I kid you not. Pity you aren't nearer or I would be hitting you up for some gardening tips; yours looks fabulous! I would LOVE a veggie patch but inner Sydney doesn't offer much scope, even if I COULD garden!

Stacey said...

I find vegetable gardening incredibly satisfying. TO actually eat something you've grown is wonderful, don't you think?
Your vegies are looking good!

Cathie said...

well done Posie!
you have an amazing bit of colour & crop there.
we pretend aswell, kids love it, love to plant things & watch them grow.

we bought some more chickens the other day so have 4 running about the yard now.

keep up the amazingness ♥

rachel said...

Those vegies look awesome Posie, I just love those firework chillies. Your generosity with your studio space is incredibly impressive, I'm not giving one inch of mine! I just love hearing about your country moving plans.

littlekarstar said...

Gardens are so rewarding. I'd love a farm too! Love that calendar

Travel With Lulu said...

I am totally with you on this one! We are looking for a house in the country and dream of having chickens and a pig one day. In the meantime, I just read about bloggers living in the country :)

a country wife said...

Gorgeous Posie :) You put me to shame and I am a farmer! Well hubby is.... I can't actually say I ever get my hands dirty, hee hee. I plan to have a winter vegetable garden this year, I can't wait for some fresh zucchini, broccoli, beans and peas. Yuuuum xx

Anonymous said...

We are playing at pretend farming too but alas our produce does not look as good as yours :)
Super cute calendar!
xx

Raine and Sage said...

Great gardening adventures; even with the lonesome capsicum. I've always been interested in permaculture, and prior to our two reno's we had an acre we dreamed of being self sufficient on, so the concept always has me dreaming...
Excellent work on the 'start' of your farm. No faux about it. Remember (Paul Kelly) from little things, big things, grow..........
xxx

Brenda @ 13 Acres said...

i read your post last night, but i think i forgot to comment!!! well, i love the idea of being sustainable!! wow 150 acres - what are you going to do with all that land??? It sounds like an amazing dream and good on you for getting that dream started already with all those lovely veggies and herbs xx

Heidi said...

What don't you have your hands in Miss Fabulous...

Timothy said...

Look at how your garden grows. Well done Mrs Contrary. Beckyetal ate an entire meal grown on there farm the other night:)

Corrie said...

ohhh lovely! we have just decided to turn the sandpit into a little vegie garden which is exciting!

corrie:)

Exquisite Accessories said...

Hi Posie gosh I have missed so many post while I have been away you have been busy gosh I am so naff at blogging, love the vegi patch I am going to have to get some tips from you. Keep looking at that land your going to get it you will!!! :)))

beachvintage.com said...

Wow, that capsicum is amazing, well done.

Unknown said...

Hi Jennie! I Dont know if you remember me. Its Jessica Simpson. We Lived next to each other in Darwin. AnyWay, I Love Posie Brilliant.