May 2021 Update

I started this blog / site with the aim of it being all about my adventures trying to be a bit more self sufficient but I quickly realised it’s going to be a “Bitza Blog” – bits of this and bits of that – because I don’t seem to be able to maintain focus on just one thing! My overall aim is still homesteading, semi self sufficiency, living slowly and more environmentally friendly though; so I might do these updates monthly so that I can track my progress – that could be a good idea to keep me heading in the right direction. So this is May 2021 update!

My garlic that I planted on the 1st April is doing well (I reckon the Glen Large is a bit ahead of the Italian Pink) and my Mini Amish Tomatoes are coming on nicely. The plants are taller than I am! I also have San Marzano tomato seedlings in because I’ve been told that Autumn/Winter is a good time to grow large tomatoes as it’s still warm enough here in Brisbane and there’s no (or less) fruit fly. I think I should probably have started them a little earlier (I sowed the seeds 14th April) so we’ll see how those go. I have some climbing beans growing (butter, green and purple) and I’m going to put in some snow peas and some daikon radish.

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Other things happening around the garden… our curry leaf tree and birds eye chilli bush are both producing well as usual. A lot of the produce from these goes to waste as we tend to pick as we need, so this year I want to make sure I do something with them. I found a book at one of those pop up book stalls the other day that might help with ideas.

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I was checking out my bee hotel earlier for signs of life and several of the holes and tunnels look like they have been used. I was just thinking that I hadn’t seen any actual insects when I saw one little bee buzzing around. 🙂

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A few other photos – my growing coleus collection and a selection of other plants that I have propagated that are waiting for me to decide what to do with them 😉

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Looking at the quality of my photos I think I need to start borrowing Mr T’s DSLR. My phone just does not do justice to the subjects I’m trying to capture.

In other news I’ve been enjoying my crochet again and I have several projects in mind – I just finished one the other day which was a blanket for my 5yo son’s BFF. I like the uneven boarders I put around the triangles, I think it gives the blanket a bit of an arty look.

My mental health seems to be benefitting from my slower pace of life and physical activities like crafting and gardening. I do need to pay a bit more attention to my physical health though as I’m feeling pretty achey and unfit. Time to get my walking habit going again and hopefully I’ll be running again soon. So next month’s update should have some progress on that!