scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Jan 4, 2015 19:51:12 GMT 10
This year, I'm learning to make as much of our food as possible from scratch. To that end, I decided to give creating a 'starter' a go. I found this excellent resource: sourdough.comI've decided to give this recipe a go, as it doesn't require any exotic ingredients, or even a starter culture. sourdough.com/blog/sourdom/beginners-blog-starter-scratchJust white flour, rye flour and water! I'll be posting my progress reports here. I urge anyone who's interested to join the experiment! Day 1: Here's some pictures having just mixed up the brew: 15 g rye flour, 35 g white flour, 50 g water Attachments:
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 31, 2014 7:42:31 GMT 10
I don't think it makes you a bad person... I'm fed up with society, too.
Having said that, for the time being my husband and I are content with getting out of town and raising our kids as self-sufficiently as possible in the bush. Not really looking forward to a day when we can't get outside medical help in an emergency, and if our harvest fails we're up sh*t creek!
We all have those bad patches (or at least I do) where we want to go and hide as a hermit in a cave somewhere. Try to remember, this too shall pass.
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 30, 2014 14:28:33 GMT 10
Had asked my husband for a dehydrator for Christmas, but decided it was too expensive... Then, wonder of wonders, the day after I've told him not to buy it, an ezidri ultra 1000FD pops up on the buy, swap and sell for $40: still in the box, with the original receipt, too! We've been drying up a storm. We had a lovely Christmas Day lunch with the extended family, too: between the families, we had our own ham, chicken and turkey. We're hoping next year to have all our own veggies!
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 15, 2014 21:58:42 GMT 10
Ha ha. I suggested to the husband a while ago that we should try crowdfunding ourselves a cattle station. For every donation of $1000 we'll send you your very own bag of cow manure.
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 15, 2014 21:54:45 GMT 10
Just something I've noticed as a Canadian living in Australia... A few months ago, you may remember, there was an attack in Ottawa. The #prayforOttawa hashtag was everywhere. I haven't noticed any similar outpouring of prayer/support, here. The only thing I see trending is #illridewithyou.
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 10, 2014 21:53:43 GMT 10
I think it's useful to look at history -- recent history at that! -- to see what can happen when money becomes worthless. Germany post-WW1 is a prime example.
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 10, 2014 21:48:29 GMT 10
So, @mr Pete... Did you try the pigweed? We've been pickling it lately, and it's quite nice in a sandwich. Hey scout mum can you let us know how you go about pickling it, I have heaps of this growing and just eat it off the plant while I am in the garden. The wife has nicknamed it Occy as it reminds her of an octopus when it spreads everywhere. Paul We've tried a few different recipes... They all seem to work. Most recently we did a variation on this one: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/grilled-link-hot-dogs-with-homemade-pickle-relish-recipe.htmlBasically, just use the pigweed in the place of the main pickling ingredient in whatever recipe you choose. It's really a pretty versetile plant! Would love to see your booklet, also!
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 10, 2014 9:03:58 GMT 10
Looks like Abutilon theophrasti. Pretty sure it's in the same family at least. Thanks, wellrounded! Think you may be right. Glad you've joined the forum. ...If it is, apparently the leaves are edible. Going to do some research!
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 10, 2014 7:48:33 GMT 10
So, @mr Pete... Did you try the pigweed? We've been pickling it lately, and it's quite nice in a sandwich.
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 10, 2014 7:38:41 GMT 10
Thanks for the suggestions! It's a pity I didn't get a picture of the flowers while they were open... They don't have that squashy shape. Here's a look at the seed pods. we're thinking whatever it is (if it's not a weed?) might either have not been fertilized or might be the result of cross-pollination? Either way, I think I'm going to pull it up. The husband keeps telling me we should try eating a bit and see what happens... :/ Attachments:
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 8, 2014 20:04:30 GMT 10
Does anyone know what kind of plant this is? From time to time, we have strange things pop up in our garden, and we tend to let the grow until we figure out what they are... We've had a few lovely surprises! This, though, is pretty big and has flowered, but we still have no clue! Thought at first it was a bean, then a cucumber, but the pods have pretty much ruled out both those things. So... Is it a weed? Is it edible? Poisonous? Attachments:
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 4, 2014 21:23:04 GMT 10
I also had a friend of mine whose brother is currently a soldier ask him what they like in a care package... Here's what he said:
Toiletries! Toothpaste, toothbrush, shaving cream, razors, deodorant, soap, a facewasher. Lollies- like mintiess or snakes, jelly beans... We can get gum and peppermints, so nice lollies are wanted. Little fruitcakes for Christmas Magazines - ask some newsagents if they can spare some of their returns = free... Some books - anything to fill the time.
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 4, 2014 21:21:08 GMT 10
Our church sent two packages: one to a male and one to a female. In each one: two puzzle books vics vapo-rub fisherman's friend lozenges deodorant socks talcum powder minties pictures from the Sunday School kids and a card Attachments:
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 2, 2014 9:43:27 GMT 10
Thanks for the tips everyone! We're in a kind of funny area... Classed as sub-tropic, but weird weather patterns. Like I said, most of the big gardeners around here don't even try this time of year. Closest nursery is an hour away and in a different climate (mountain range dividing).
I'm going to have a go with container gardening some summer veg in our green house: fingers crossed!
Used to be Diggers members, actually... Loved their products. I got sick of their politics, though, and didn't renew my subscription.
Thanks again! I'll keep you all posted on how the summer garden goes.
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 1, 2014 22:04:54 GMT 10
Is it possible to grow small scale, high-nutrient items such as sprouts and herbs? Even indoors? I've grown these in dry hot Perth summers - it's gotta be better than nothing post-crunch... Our family's big on sprouts, but I found last year the heat was buggering them: they'd go all slimy before they were harvestable. Had big problems with flies laying larvae in them, too. :/ Might give it a go in our cement room under the house... Pretty cool down there, but the sprouts won't get much light. Better than nothing, though, as you say!
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 1, 2014 22:00:08 GMT 10
I didn't know you could eat the leaves. Thanks for the tip! Definitely going to give it a try...
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 1, 2014 8:39:13 GMT 10
Looking for some advice on what we can plant (if anything) right now. We have a few plants right now (tomatoes, silverbeet, beans) but the heat is starting to visably get to them. Most of our friends around here are finished with their gardens for the season and tell me it's pointless to try to plant anything in the summer.
There are two problems: 1) the heat (40+ in the shade some days) 2) the wet (so far this year it's been a bit of a no-show, but heavy rain can wash away a lot of the soil)
That being the case, is there anything edible I can grow right now?
...We do have a greenhouse, currently overrun with baby ducklings. I've been thinking about attempting a barrel of sweet potatoes in there.
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Nov 26, 2014 19:13:06 GMT 10
Currently in the dehydrator is 11 small mangoes worth of fresh puree (I don't have the weight because hubby put it on). I'm hoping it works out all right going on raw, because with the apple and strawberry leather I've made the fruit was stewed first. The white you can see down the bottom edge of the tray is just a bit of spray oil that we use to grease the fruit leather tray before the puree went on: Wondering how it went being raw? Better/worse than stewing?
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Nov 26, 2014 11:51:02 GMT 10
AHH I see, conflicting information one says 5th other says 8th. I think I'll aim for before the 5th. I read the 5th, but then realized the Stuart Robert one says 2011... 2014 seems to be the 8th. Going to talk to my church about putting together a few packages. I'll get my Sunday School kids to do up some letters... Thanks for posting this, Mr. Burgundy!
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Nov 26, 2014 8:23:08 GMT 10
Thanks, 'Ron'! It says the packages must be sent by Dec 5, so we still have a little time...
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