Additional Working Bee on a wet Sunday 19th November, 2017

 Due to the spring growth around the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua, an additional working Bee was held on the 19th November. It was a wet day, so the turnout was low, but enthusiastic.

In the glasshouse, many of the seeds for our Heroic garden festival plantings have now been started. Consequently, space in the glasshouse is at a premium so be sure to harden off and/or plant out your seedlings as soon as possible.

Heroic seedlings 1

Heroic seedlings 2

On-growing seedlings, coraled together

Sarah clearing the end of our Pea crop.

Before...

And after.

 John and Mort complete the planting of our new mara kumara garden.

It's looking good!

Liz worked on the abundant herb garden.

It's looking wonderful.

 Bev, Karine and Nigel began the huge task of digging out the worst of the weeds from Rebekah's old plot. A huge task.

Before...

And After

Jenni, worked again in the food forest.

And this is how good it is looking...

We were delighted to have Wendy from 'Friends of Oakley Creek' join us for lunch and a piece of Sarah's delicious coconut jelly sweet - yum!

 We had another good day at the Grey Lynn market - thanks Trevor - with only a few vegetables leftover - leeks, kale, cavolo nero, and lettuce's.

A new pathway was established to make access to the mara kumara garden more logical and direct. 

The new path.

And the old path dug over with transplanted plants and a narrow weeding border.

Leading directly to the entrance now

The Sanctuary Mahi Whenua is looking lush and verdant.

A classic gladiolus (singular of Gladioli!)...

 Delightful remnants from our 'Family Day' keep Helen, our Hugelkulter, company in the food forest.

Another load of green material from today's working bee is ready to go into our compost factory!

The Poppy display is lovely with these unusual colourings.

A small, but perfectly formed, working bee in the wet, the hot sunshine and the gusting breeze. Happy Auckland gardening everyone!

Working Bee - Sunday November 12th 2017

It was a beautiful, warm sun-shining day for our working bee. The main event was the planting of our new mara kumara garden.

All hands to the deck as we start our planting.

 John digs compost into the kumara mounds before planting.

Everyone hard at work L-R; Eloise, Pauline, Bill, Janet and Ann.

Meanwhile Marita, Sarah and Rose start to build the new Hugelkulter in the gourd area. (See the Oct 16 blog to find out more about Hugelkulter) 

Three varieties of Maori potatoes were also planted. Karine digs out the rows.

Marita lays in the Comfrey leaves ,for an added dose of potassium, for the potatoes. Behind, the Hugelkulter work continues with Bev, Sarah and Rose.

L-R; John, Ann, Eloise, Janet, Bill (obscured) Bev and Pauline (obscured).

Bill and Janet assist with the weeding with another load off for the compost heap.

L-R; Janet, Rose and Pauline, 

with Arthur and David in the background working on the compost. 

The classic red poppies were in full bloom for Armistice day on the 11/11.

Arthur sets another compost bin.

Sinead helps to weed around the outside of the new mara kumara garden...

And Bill lends a hand as well.

The kumara are planted. 

L-R Marita, Alison, Melissa, Bev, Sarah, Karine, Eloise and Rose.

Ka pai ra tenei mahi.

This work is good.

Watering in...

The Sanctuary is looking beautiful with the profusion of flowers, feeding the insects and bees.

Jan, with Aila, weeding the garden edges.

Cathy harvests some leeks for our communal sharing.

The potatoes are planted and...

...are firmed in by Ann and Marita.

Our leek harvest.

And beetroot

Rosie weeds the front flower garden.

Melissa, a new 'friend of the Sanctuary', cleaning the tools. 

Alison heads back to the shed.

Welcome to David and Pauline, new allotment holders.

Shamus.

The completed Hugelkulter and planted kumara and Maori potato gardens. 

Bev shows Eloise to her new allotment plot with Ann. Welcome Eloise.

Birthe, back from the market.

Active transport to the Sanctuary on a perfect day for a cycle ride.

Finally, here's a simple but truly delicious soup to make with today's leeks.

Early Spring Vegetable Soup

For the stock

Use water or better, boil 8 cups of water with some of the leek greens, chard stems, and parsley. Also add nettles too!

The Soup

3 Tsp butter or olive oil

4 - 5 small leeks, white parts only, sliced

1 medium potato

3 - 4 sticks of celery diced

Salt and pepper

Half a cup of frozen peas - or fresh if you're growing them!

8 branches of parsley or chervil

1 handful of Sorrel leaves or 3 lovage leaves

1 small bunch of Spinach or Chard (Silverbeet) - stems removed, roughly chopped

6 Cups of water or light stock (see above)

Nutmeg

Lemon juice to taste

Cream - or creme fraiche - Optional

Saute the leeks, potato and celery in the butter or oil, with 1 tsp of salt and 1 cup of water. Cover the pot and cook gently for 15 minutes. Stir once or twice to ensure the vegetables are not sticking to the bottom of the pot and if they are, add more water. 

Next add the peas, herbs and greens, cover and continue to cook until the greens have wilted - about 5 minutes.

Add the 6 cups of water or stock. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.

Puree with a blender stick. 

Season to taste with a few scrapings of freshly grated nutmeg, lemon juice and salt and pepper if needed.

Reheat before serving and add a swirl of cream or creme fraiche with freshly ground black pepper.

Delicious!

Happy Gardening everyone.