We have had an amazing growing season here. Although the weather hasn't been as typically warm as most years, we have had LOTS of rain (over 200mm in February... 2 years ago we had about 7mm!!!). Everything has remained green, which has been lovely, and has meant no worrying about bushfires or watering the garden. I'm enjoying it, although it has meant that we have had a dismal tomaoe harvest this year.
We have enjoyed a very abundant zuchinni harvest however!!! I've had to get a bit creative with using them up! This year I've grown capsicums for the first time and I'll definately be planting them again. They have been pretty successful. I also planted sweetcorn which grew well, but we did have issues with pollination (I think our site is too windy).
Currently we are getting LOTS of apples (from our own tree as well as from friends and roadside trees). I've bottled some lovely cooking apples from a nearby organic apple orchard, and made some chutney, and cakes etc. I've also got a batch of apple and blackberry wine on the go. I'm still hoping to make a batch of apple butter or sauce or something and maybe some more bottled apples.
In the next few years our fruit trees that we have been planting will start to bear fruit and we will be able to enjoy a real abundance.
I've spent a bit of my time building a duck pen to house a few ducks for eggs. We finished it off today. As I understand it, duck are much better winter layers than hens, so they'll offset the reduced egg production from the hens. Next up on my list is to improve my vegetable garden fencing (and expand it - its currently about 8mx8m but I think double would be ideal).
Work on the house building has stalled, but I think work may start up again soon. Its hard as owner builders to find the balance between working to pay for the building and doing the actual building. Both take alot of time. I think there will be an update on the house soon on the blog.
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