NZ Resilient

January had a couple of themes: 'harvesting' and 'water security'. Something new I'm trying this  month is a 'Gratitude' section to help with my motivation and morale.  Harvesting There's a lot of produce coming through thanks to the constant sun, water and attention. It's a good problem to have.  In previous years, it has felt more like I worked for the garden rather than vice versa. Being able to throw stuff in the freezer for drying later has been a great relief. I won't repeat the roll-call of what's growing now, because it's the same as last update. The one exception is the potatoes - I finally kept my promise to myself to harvested and replace the current crop. Looking ahead, the last 'lots' of summer crops have been planted, and my thinking is turning towards autumn crops.   The Zen Of Harvesting To stay on top of the harvesting, I started an early 'morning patrol' of the gardens.  I was surprised to discover a cons...

Recently, I put in an improvised water tank. This post outlines the why, and the pros and cons of my chosen solution. This solution is relevant to gardeners and households who Want up to 1000 litres of water storage Are confident with DIY at the level of wrapping up an extra-large Xmas gift, and Are comfortable with bridging the gap to domestic fittings/irrigation. (see Fun Fact #1) The stored water is suitable for gardening purposes but should be filtered/treated prior to use in food preparation or drinking. To keep things focused, I only outline the construction and a couple of key considerations for people new to IBC totes. For myself, I only have space for two or three units. So in the long-term, c ommercially-available tanks that are space-efficient and more solid, look like better value. What Is It? The main features of the tank are: Stores approximately 1000 litres when full Captures rainwater that fall on it's roof, though this is offset by evaporation. Is independent ...

Recently, I started using a Harvest Right domestic freeze-drier. After a small number of loads, here are my initial impressions of the products usefulness.  Rather than  repeating the usual unboxing videos and demonstrations on e.g. YouTube, I focus on some of the practical costs and benefits.  Some ballpark operating numbers follow the main text. For myself, this remains a good purchase.  The main benefits so far are in the volume I get from my garden, increased flexibility for my life, and preserving food more consistently. Saying that, actual payback will take some years.  In my opinion, a freeze-drier is most justified when you're c ommitted to a lifestyle involving food production and storage .  As such, I wouldn't recommend it to most people/families I know.  If you're stocking up for one of the standard Civil Defense emergencies, or only run a small garden that you snack off, then I don't consider it value-for-money.   Why A Freeze-Dryer? I...

As I have to remind myself constantly, you actually have to use what you put aside. In this case, Cottage Pie from - Home-canned minced beef from late '20 and '21 (boiled for 15 minutes as per US FDA recommendations.) - Home-dehydrated carrot, celery and peas - Home-grown potatoes - Store-bought onions, tomatoes - Salt and pepper Not shown: beef stock, tomato paste that I threw in spontaneously. PS: It was gooooooooooooood!