vegetable gardening courses and workshops, edible gardening tips and seasonal recipes for home-grown produce..
Come along to tomorrow's seed sowing workshop (Wednesday 20 February) from 6pm - 7.30pm and sow your edible garden seeds for winter. One of the participants will leave with a box of gorgeous summer produce that will pretty much cover the cost of the workshop. Growing your own vegetables made easy - in summer and winter. I've just come back from … [Read more...]
I've said it before, that February is the best month to sow seeds in New Zealand. Late summer sowings can include vegetables, flowers and herbs. I've loved my cornflower 'dwarf blue', calendula 'nova' and tagetes 'eskimo' this year mixed in with the vegetables. The only things you'll get to pick from your garden will be the ones you've sown or … [Read more...]
There is something of a cucumber convention happening in my fridge. Despite giving away cucumbers to everyone we meet, taking them with us on holiday and not eating less than a single cucumber at one sitting, the chooks still get to enjoy quite a few. There are round ones, white ones, smooth shiny dark green ones and stumpy prickly ones. All … [Read more...]
Misty fully endorses the gift recommendations her predecessor, Tess, made. I've made some of my own recommendations for gardening gifts too. Taupo Native Plant nursery has a selection of native trees available in gift packs. A gift that will outlive any of us. Homemade vegetable dips are wonderful food to share and if you're dipping raw … [Read more...]
It's time to plant all types of gourds, squash and pumpkins. If you need some advice, here's the article about pumpkins I wrote for FishHead magazine. … [Read more...]
Root vegetables are transformed by roasting (50 minutes at 180 degrees C) in a slosh of olive oil and with a sprinkle of salt. They are delicious, versatile and attractive. This was our Saturday night combo - beetroot, turnip, carrots, potatoes (strictly a tuber, not a root), garlic and corn. All fresh from the garden. I could have substituted … [Read more...]
Some days in the garden in Wellington, there is nowhere better. Today was one of those days. Sun, but not too hot. Wind, but not too strong. So many tuis, blackbirds and sparrows it was almost deafening. Even the California quails were chatting to me, or perhaps I was overhearing them chatting to each other. It's perfect weather for the start of … [Read more...]
It's easy to get enthusiastic about gardening in spring, but I think February is the best time to sow seeds. Get the help you need by coming next Saturday afternoon to the fresh food garden course or the following Wednesday evening to a seed sowing session. You can take away worms for your wormery, garlic to sow in May and herbs to grow in your … [Read more...]
It's a busy time of year picking beans, cucumbers and zucchinis. The trick is to pick them before they get too big - that's why I like yellow zucchinis as they're much easier to spot. These recipes will help out on the zucchini front. Zucchini fritters can be lunch-box fillers, pass-arounds or barbecue fare. Zucchini and corn self-crusting … [Read more...]
Just over three weeks to Christmas so if you sow some lettuce seeds now you can keep them watered (either in pots or in the soil) so they'll be established enough to survive without watering if you go away. Or you'll have some lettuce to eat from your garden in the New Year. They grow quickly at this time of year and prefer some shade, particularly … [Read more...]
Get your winter fix of Kitchen Garden workshops at HANDMADE 2013
Plan your summer edible garden
Totally Totes
Spring workshops will start in October 2013 and will all be held at The Kitchen Garden in Ohariu Valley Wellington from 6-7.30pm. $29 per person. Get a group of six together and I'll tailor a workshop on a date and topic to suit you.
Planning your summer edible garden develop a plan to make the most of your garden time, space and energy.
Herbalicious growing and enjoying edible herbs for flavour and freshness from your garden to your plate.
Sow your winter edible garden to get your edible garden seeds sown for winter.
Composting for beginners
or for you if your composting isn't working well.
Soil Magic learn techniques to improve your soil and make your gardening easier - mulching, green manure, compost, aeration, double digging, soil testing and much, much more.
