A Back-To-Basics Groundswell
I have always been interested in growing, making and doing as much as possible for myself and my family........everything from growing food to making clothes and furniture. With the busy-ness of life and earning a crust often intervening, it hasn't always been possible to devote the time that I would like to these pursuits. But in recent years I have noticed a real groundswell of interest from so many people who want to do these things in order to live more sustainable, meaningful lives where their attachment to the earth and how we come by it's bounty is a really tangible thing. This is not just a dippy-hippie flash in the pan thing, but a real grass roots change among ordinary, thoughtful people. In part, it is a reaction to going into the supermarket and only being able to buy Chinese garlic and carrots etc, when these things grow wonderfully here. It is ludicrous to be importing food halfway around the planet - people are voting with their spades!
We ourselves have decided to devote more time and effort to our backyard food production.........we managed to eat all winter from our garden and we still have stored vegetables to last until new crops are ready. We have built this Greenhouse Hilton - a four-door poly-tunnel greenhouse already full of things popping through that should be ready to eat in a few weeks and put in new beds and started planting in the outside garden.
As a result, we expect a glut of vegetables and fruit this summer. Which brings me to a great series of classes that Tanya, who writes the Suburban Jubilee blog, is going to be offering in these parts soon. Called "Living Better With Less" she plans to cover such things as preserving your glut by bottling the excess, soapmaking, backyard poultry keeping and doing away with toxic cleansers around your house by using cheaper, safer alternatives. And she's hoping to keep the cost very minimal. You can read what she wrote about it in her blog. This is so timely for me and I am keen to learn more on all these topics, so I can't wait. If you are interested and live locally, you might like to check it out. See you there!
6 comments:
Thanks for the shout Susie, I hope we get enough takers at your end of the locality. I have had great support and the cafe owner at Ut Si in Perth has offered me her kitchen at minimal cost. If we have enough people in the Norhtern L'ton to Beaconsfield area to form another group at Exeter it would be great.
By the way I also have "polytunnel envy".
No prob, Tanya - I sure hope plenty sign up - it's just so sensible (and necessary). The polytunnel is great - we stand in there every morning and will the plants to grow.......seems to be working! It is about six times bigger than the aluminium glass house it replaced at a fraction of the cost!
BTW - I would travel to Perth to do the course.
Looking great Susie -can't beat the polytunnels with our variable weather in Tas. The production should go through the roof :)
P.S. we have a problem that mice steal our vegie seeds out of the tunnel, so have to grow on seedlings first in safe spot.
I love this. And your greenhouse is awesome. Right now the heat has the garden dead and dry, but we're lucky enough to be able to garden through winter w/out greenhouses, so I'm looking forward to broccoli and peas in January! :~)
JD, you must live somewhere WARM! It is cool temperate here - four definite seasons, not too cold (no snow where I live) not too hot, plenty of rain.......so we do have to plan seasonal gardens. Can't plant anything frost tender outside until after the first week of October.
Ahh! San Antonio......yes, very warm!
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