November 2017 Issue #147

Hello,

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

1) Oh gno, gno
2) Eco gardening tips
3) Swedish or Knäckebrot Crackers

Oh gno, gno
An article in The Telegraph, says gnome sales have halved in the last 10 years and there may only be five million left in captivity in Great Britain!

The article was scathing of garden bling such as gnomes, wagon wheels, wind chimes, concrete squirrels and such like. Where was one to fit in plants with all this rustic nonsense?

Called gartenzwerge, or 'garden dwarves' in Germany, mythically gnomes dwelled underground (where some people think they should stay). Their magical properties warded off evil and helped plants to grow while humans slept.

Troubles in your garden? Perhaps give a gnome a home. This one in the picture supposedly gives you good luck if you pay him.

Eco gardening tips

• Carbon goes round and round
  Ah ha, got it... so that's a simple explanation of the how, why, when and where of the carbon cycle




• Pesky pesticides
  Research published by Science Daily show that using Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) is more effective than water, soap or bleach to remove pesticides from apples before eating. The study was for two common pesticides and only on apples, but is worth consideration. It seems you need to soak your store produce for 12 mins in a solution of roughly 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 2 cups of water. See: Science Daily




• Bee friendly
  Bees help pollinate plants, so encourage them into your garden. Some of the best plants and their flowers are herbs, such as: borage, thyme, basil, coriander, fennel, lavender, rosemary and lemon balm.
  
  

  Remember bees are peaceful unless provoked, so try not to wave your hands wildly if a bee buzzes nearby.

A stunning wooden Christmas tree that never dies. You can buy it here. Don't miss out!

Swedish or Knäckebrot Crackers

Quick, easy, and crispy deliciousy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup wholemeal flour
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• ½ cup sesame seeds
• ½ cup linseeds
• 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
• Approximately 3 cups warm water
• 1 Tbsp olive oil

Method

• In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients together and add the oil and water. Use less water if mixture is too runny — it should be like porridge.
• Grease one large or two smaller oven trays and pour the mixture onto the trays. Spread it as thin as possible.
• Bake at 265° F (130° C) for 15 minutes. Remove and cut into cracker size biscuits.
• Put back in the oven and bake for one hour or more until they are golden and crisp.
• Can be kept crisp in airtight container for weeks. Delicious with avocado, tomato, dips, butter spreads etc.

Preparation: 10-20 minutes
Cooking: 1-2 hours

Live, love and garden.
Megan