Green and Thrifty

I planted seeds. Many seeds, and now I am the anxious mother of the seed babies, waiting for them to pop up. So far eleven of the twenty five punnets have sprouted. I have the promise of dahlias, cosmos, lettuce, rocket and kale, spinach, globe gillia, asters, lemon balm, and this morning, the first pak choi. Growing from seed is always an anxious exercise I find. Will they? Won't they? Are they warm enough? Is there enough light (actually, seeds that haven't sprouted yet don't need any light. You can stack up the punnets on top of each other in a warm place until the seeds begin to come up). I have transplanted several of the punnets into larger quarters already, and put them out in the sunshine every day. And this week I planted tomatoes and capsicum. Fingers and toes all crossed for their success.

We have had cold and rain and snow in Tasmania this week. Not very much rain, but every little bit counts. No complaints about the cold (well, ok, maybe just a couple of tiny complaints) because half of Queensland is on fire this week, much of Australia is in drought and many places are suffering through heat waves already.

I found some more seed this week - from a great big old fennel bush flourishing in a pub car park. I spotted this while walking the dog. I can't tell you how many times I have come home from a dog walk with the dog poop bags full of seeds and plant cuttings! I always make sure I take spares in case there is something to snaffle. I also picked up two clothes pegs from the pavement while walking the dog. I have spent many odd minutes wondering how clothes pegs get dropped on pavements. I have picked up several over the last year. Who are these people who take their clothes pegs out for a walk?

I inherited a suitcase full of new-to-me clothes and bed linen this week - a friend's daughter is moving to Hobart and decluttering. I am so lucky! I also ended up with a pile of books, a big ball of jute string a wooden bowl and a wire brush from another clean out. I say Yes to everything, and then decide what to do with things later.. often I move them on to someone else. The wheels of the gift economy keep on turning.

This is not thrifty on my behalf, but I wrote an article for the spring edition of Earth Garden which has just come out, about my friends Nic and Tanya, and the sheds they built out of pallets that they collect out the back of our local big box hardware store. They are extremely clever at both scrounging and building, and are making a beautiful garden and food forest at their place, which is endlessly inspiring.

I sent two cartons of homeschooling books to a local homeschooling group where I hope they will find happy new homes. It is eight years since I homeschooled any of the children, so I probably can do without those books now. There is an area in the corner of Rosy's attic bedroom which is full of 'treasures' that need to find new homes. It is all of the things I brought with me from the old house that I couldn't bear to part with, but that have no relevance at all to my current life. I would hate to get run over by a bus and have my children have to deal with getting rid of all of that detritus. It is time for it to go. I have made a start. Onward!

My neighbour brought me eggs and a lamb bone for the dog. I took silverbeet up to his place and shared the eggs with Paul.

Eating this week:
From the garden: Lemons, silverbeet
Weeds: chickweed
Stored food: garlic
Preserved food: lemon verbena tea, dried oregano and basil, fig jam, pear butter, chutney
Gifted food: eggs, lamb bone for the dog, rhubarb from my mum

Tell me about the green and thrifty going on at yours this week..