April 2020 Issue #176

Hello,

What fun that we both love gardening. Thanks for joining me.

1) Wise Gandalf
2) Eco gardening tips
3) Broccoli Cheese Bites

What better time to garden your heart out. Fight the swamp of opinions and fake news.

One of the most creative, enjoyable and treasured aspects of the ancient activity of gardening is the selection of the next task: deciding on the plants and choosing the right spot; the seeds and preparation; the feels and smells all coming together.

So to gardening's spiritual, communal and therapeutic qualities, let's add the delights of the unbounded, magical potential available to all for a few dollars or even for free when fellow gardeners gladly share their experiences, not to mention their leftovers (when this sad lockdown is over).

Let's roll!

Eco gardening tips

• 'Ere 'ere for 'erbs
  Three cheers for herbs. I've read more than once that a herb garden has a magic and beauty all its own! Magic – piffle, nothing magic about them, they're just unequivocally indispensable. Herbs love sun and light soil, although a few herbs like shade (chervil, bergamot and angelica) and can even be planted under trees if they get enough water.
  
  

  Remember not to overfeed herbs as they will lose some of their flavor. 'Ere's our 'herb page.




• Herb love
  Rosemary, thyme and sage are perennials, so depending where you live, they usually slow down but still produce a few leaves for winter use. Mint is temperamental and it's best to trim it right down after summer. Most other herbs, such as dill, basil and coriander are annuals and bolt to seed at the end of summer.




• 'Oi that's enough of 'erbs!
  Then there's parsley which is a biennial (every 2 years). It grows lush stalks of green usefulness in first season, then waits patiently for next summer then bursts to life sending up a large flowering stalk before dying. With luck you can often gather a few good stalks in this second season before the flower stalk ruins it all and makes the plant tough and bitter. More insights on growing parsley.

I DO love mine! Peaceful gardening at last...

Hearing damage can start at exposure to sustained noise over 85dB. Average lawnmower and garden tools sit around 95dB. These high fidelity earplugs allow you to hear conversations but block the machine noise. They won't interfere with your other safety equipment such as sunglasses and hats. Up to 26dB noise reduction. Click HERE

Broccoli Cheese Bites

I don't eat much bread but I'm partial to sour dough bread. Tried to make my own, made a lovely…br….brick! Anyway made some into breadcrumbs and tried this recipe. So nice and you can get the kids to help and then watch them scoff the lot!

Ingredients

• 500g very lightly cooked broccoli pieces
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1½ cups grated cheese
• 3 eggs
• Salt, pepper and garlic to taste (optional).

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix together with a fork.
3. Take small spoonfuls of the mixture, shape as desired and place on lined baking tray.
4. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden, making sure to flip halfway through.
5. Remove and cool before serving.

Preparation time: Approximately 30 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Makes: Never enough... (about 2-4 people for snacks).

Live, love and garden
Megan