A Slice of Organic Life

[violet]

This is edited by Sheherazade Goldsmith, with foreword by the excellent Stephanie Alexander.

I've borrowed this book from the library and am very tempted to buy it. The front cover states "bake bread, plant an apple tree, shop locally, keep chickens, grow salad on a windowsill, pick berries, collect rainwater, make jam, raise a pig, save energy, compost, design a herb garden, preserve your harvest" and that's what it covers!

The book is beautifully illustrated, and gives a really good overview on many topics, including watering plants efficiently, planting a tree or climber for wildlife, making fruit cordials...it's extensive.

I'm also enjoying this book because it's reminding me of all the dreams and schemes I've come up with in the past, when the kids were younger and we were out in the garden more.

I will be heading out to buy potting mix and some herb seeds, and am very, very tempted to finally buy the columnar apple trees I've drooled over for the past decade. The book states they can grow happily in pots, which I was never too sure about.

It's a book filled with ideas, enthusiasm and just enough info to get moving on those ideas.

[braided-rug]

Thanks violet. I was able to reserve it with the library.

I think you are right about "when the kids were younger and we were out in the garden more". I am trying to readapt that to our current life as well. Not much happening this year. I was very inspired by the Agricultural Show and the categories in the show handbook.

So I will read the book and keep looking for ideas etc. ;D

I must say, red apples on trees on English tv shows like Escape to the Country and by the roadside has given an inkling into some of the things that you don't realise you miss. They look gorgeous.

[rosebee]

The description sounds exactly like what we want to do:

"bake bread, plant an apple tree, shop locally, keep chickens, grow salad on a windowsill, pick berries, collect rainwater, make jam, raise a pig, save energy, compost, design a herb garden, preserve your harvest"

except for the pig bit!
It's available at our city library so I'll be getting this one out!
I didn't realise there were apple trees you could grow in pots, sounds like a good idea especially if you have a small space.

[braided-rug]

I can't wait until rosebee and I have read it so we can compare notes between the four of us, happyathome has read it too.

www.hearthandhome.proboards44.com/index.cgi?board=homesteading&action=display&thread=1202482950

[violet]

Yes, the apple tree in pots thing would be great here. For a few years the plant nurseries have been selling Ballerina apple trees in various varieties. They are columnar; just a thick stick with very short branches off it. They grow about a metre and a half tall. Flemings produce them.

www.flemings.com.au/retail/ballerina.asp

I would LOVE to plant a hedge of them out in our sunny front yard but keep meeting with resistance, hence my endless dreaming about moving to somewhere with a suitable backyard.

If they're not available in NZ, you could always espalier a standard apple tree or two I suppose, rosebee.

[braided-rug]

My book is here now, I may be able to read it over Easter.

[braided-rug]

I have quickly gone through the first half, and I am really impressed with the homemade baby food.

[happyathome]

How is everybody doing on this book? I agree about the pigs...and I wasout in the garden more when the kids were home, too! Now I have more time (hahaha) and I'm not out so much...whazz up with that?!

[braided-rug]

Funny enough I have spent a lot of time thinking about what they said about pigs.

What I liked is that the ducks and pigs and I think geese where given the space that you need to keep them in. We worked out for two pigs you need the size of a cricket pitch. They also said you don't need fencing, just an electric fence.

I worked out at my new house, since it is zoned rural, I could move the fence several times and they may eraticate the grass that we don't like, but some people love, the thick couch grass. Not sure how much they would smell in those conditions though. If they got out on the road, we have log trucks going past, so that isn't a pleasant thought.

One of them, the birds were good watch dogs, I liked that idea as well. Sometimes on country roads when people break down etc. people come in the middle of the night, not sure if it happens there or not.

[braided-rug]

I have the book again now to have another look.

[violet]

It's a great book to pick up, read a little of, incorporate a few changes, put it down for a while, and pick up again. It's such a nice-looking book, too.