Friday, March 8, 2013

Free electricity and gangster gardening!

I have a fairly random collection of things to post about today, but they all make me feel pretty passionate.

Firsty, I want to show you a pretty impressive power bill we received this month. It is summer in Perth -and even though we have had more cloudy days than normal, we still managed to create 627 units of electricity to sell back to the grid, whilst only using 486 units which we had to pay for.  Our solar panels are doing a fine job. :-)

As the seasons (hopefully) will change soon to cooler weather, we have been pulling out our summer vegetable beds and getting things ready for the autumn harvest. This is a bed recently planted with lettuce and parsley, which we added to the beetroots which are nearly ready to harvest, and the rhubarb and asparagus which are permanent features of the bed.


 Our pomegranates are on the street side of our front garden.  Recently someone called by our place and asked for some -we were very glad to share them! We have been experimenting with them in fruit platters, couscous salads and such. They look like huge Christmas tree baubles! They are at least twice the size of my fist.



Thirdly, I want to invite you to spend 5 minutes of your life, getting inspired.  I love his turn of phrase: growing your own food is like growing your own money!
Please watch this TED video then become a gangster gardener too!


Finally I am continuing to tweak the design on my 'afternoon tea with mum' quilt. Coming along nicely.


5 comments:

Linda Woodrow said...

My very favourite thing to do with pomegranate is in a Smoky Eggplant and Pomegranate Dip. Or the classic Muhammara - Capsicum and pomegranate dip. Some other favourite things - sprinkle the arils over a greek salad (the sweet acid goes really well with feta and olives and cucumber), sprinkle over porridge and add the juice, reduce the juice and use as a sauce over meat (especially good over kangaroo steaks), juice with soda water and ice. Or reduce the juice and bottle it and it works anywhere you'd use balsamic vinegar. Not that many of ours get that far - they're one of my favourite fruits.

han_ysic said...

Can you tell me if there are diff varieties of pomegranate and which one you grow, and where you bought it from? Am thinking that's one of the next on the list to get! Hannah

earthmotherwithin said...

Hi Hannah. We have a specialist fruit tree nursery near us in Wanneroo, and I go there when I want fruit trees. I don't remember the variety though. It has flourished in our climate here in Perth and fruited abundantly every year. I guess you would have a nursery near you to ask about these things for your area.

earthmotherwithin said...

Thanks Linda for the tips for recipes for using pomegranate!

han_ysic said...

Had pannacotta with pomegranate for dessert last night! Grown by someone locally and did a swap! Yum