Bonnie & Clyde stayed with us for a little while but I found their real owners - there were a couple of kids (well 20 and 21) who were looking after the house whilst their parents were away and they didn't secure the hens properly so they got out. They were so relieved when I turned up :)
The summer vegies have produced prolifically but are starting to die back now. The tomatoes are still making a heroic effort despite being shredded by hail and then fried to a crisp on a 40 degree day.
The sunflowers are all dying back as well, I'm waiting for them to form seeds so I can harvest.
Each day we harvest a few pale zucchini, gem squash and a few trombocino zucchini.
The Collingwood Childrens Farm have a great farmers market that we visit each month, but each month the crowds grow bigger and bigger.
I return for my Holy Goat fix :)
We've had to give produce away as we've had so much
We've been visiting our favourite Spanish grocer for the best Portuguese custard tarts in the world!
We kept wondering why the mandarins kept falling off the tree. That is until I decided to pry one open to find to my delight that actually they were falling because they were ripe! So very tiny and still green but so sweet and juicy on the inside!
Summer has meant lots of picnic dinners in the garden.
Well lovely until the chooks steal your dinner that is. Gotta be quick with them getting bolder. I've given a lot of thought to whether or not to bond with them and name them. But it looks like they've decided for me and Miss Bok has named them Snowflake (light sussex), Koko (barnevelder) and Summer (welsummer). I'm still heartsore over my last 2 flocks but I'll get over it in time - or perhaps I won't!
Your produce looks so divine. Missing mine right now in winter for us.
ReplyDeleteMy veggie garden may look lush but not much is coming out of it yet. I can't believe yours is dying back already. You were pretty quick with yours and had veggies much sooner than me. i think I will watch this space next year and plant the same time as you.
ReplyDeleteOh and about bonding with the chickens. I have a new attitude that sees their lives as a bit transient. So I bond with them and give them the best life I can while they are with us. But if they die or get taken by a dog or a fox, I can sort of deal with it. It is all a matter of attitude...and who can resist bonding with them anyway...as if you have a choice. LOL
ReplyDeleteWhat a great harvest! We only just yesterday had our first tomato so we are well behind you.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you found the intruder chooky's home and that yours are settling in well :)
Mid January for sure and we are suffering from the mid winter blahs here and grocery store veggies. Your fresh produce looks so yummy. Love the photos of the kids and the chooks--one happy family.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear Bonnie and Clyde found their home. Picnics in the backyard look like fun with the chooks but i wouldn't be sharing those yummy custard tarts!
ReplyDeleteFarmer's markets are so popular now,i finally encouraged my other half to come to our local one and we nearly came home with geese!!
Glad to hear that you're all ok and that the garden is blooming with delicious produce! :D
ReplyDeleteI might be able to help on the pumpkin front. It looks like a golden nugget and the trick is (like all puumpkins) to wait until the vine dies down completely before you harvest them. the taste is much better then. In fact it improves even more with storage. We grew these last year and they stored well for 4 months or so.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone! Fantastic tip Funkbunny, thank you!
ReplyDeleteI've missed you Mrs B! Glad to see that all is well! I bet the poo size has increased in your garden with the standard sized chickens!
ReplyDeleteYour pumpkin does indeed look like a golden nugget, but I'm a bit confused... I'm consuming mine constantly (right after picking) and they taste great. The one that I left on the bush for a while went all woody and horrible. Mine must be some kind of super golden nugget though, because between my three plants they have now produced about 40 pumpkins.
ReplyDeleteSo encouraging to see the sun, flowers, and veggies in full bloom on the 13 degree (F) morning. Your pumpkins look a lot different than ours in the States. Do you know if there is a difference? I too was relieved to read you were able to return someone else's flock. Few understand their relief like you. Thanks for another great post Mrs. Bok
ReplyDeleteI've missed your posts too. Terrific photos. Such abundance!! Have I missed sunflower season until the end of the year now? Oh and those custard tarts have me salivating :-)
ReplyDeleteWow so much produce. Like Hazel I'm not getting as much yet. When did you plant your tomatoes. Surely before Cup Day? That picnic dinner looks great.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much bright summery goodness here. Beautiful photos x
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! I know, I can't believe how fast this year is spinning along. Only one week left of school holidays!!! Looking great in your garden and so happy to hear bonni and clide are safe home. We too are growing trombocino zucchini and really enjoy eating them in a variety of ways. We planted them last year but had a very poor crop, I saved seed from my best one and tried again this year, so glad I did. Take care, Yollie (the human)
ReplyDeleteyep, I said the same thing: can't believe we're halfway through January already! We have just taken charge of two little Light Sussex - so cute! (except I think one is a boy...ah well). Can't believe how prolific your garden is - our sunflowers get their heads torn off by the Cockies way before they mature...sadly...and no tomatoes at all. We have had nothing but rain rain rain rain...it's getting me down! Meanwhile, you guys have had heatwaves - go figure. Happy New Year Ms Bok Flock. You won't forget your other girls... I never do either...but you'll enjoy these ones x
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of the kids in the garden. Your produce looks quite amazing! So do those custard tarts.. Rachaelxx
ReplyDeleteDrooling over your harvest. It is winter where I am but the days are getting longer and spring is not too far behind, I hope. Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteIt always amazes me that your seasons are the other way around. I can't get my head round it at all!! But I LOVE these photos - it makes me miss summer so much!
ReplyDeleteAnd yearn for chickens too!
I've signed up to follow your delicious blog!
Sarahx
Bountiful lovely harvest! Like the picnic scenes in your garden.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what type of tomatoes you grow?
ReplyDeleteHi! I grew tommy toes (favourites), black Russian, Apollo, green zebra and Isis candy. The lemon drop didn't work put too well.
ReplyDelete