Slow Living 2012 - Month 6

June has been a confusing month for me and as I sit here typing this up I am trying to make sense of it. I do know that I have turned some corners in my mind and heart about certain issues and that it’s a month with half school, half holiday. June has also brought the intense cold and layers of clothes, warm fires, comfort food and rain have all caused the hibernation instinct to kick in but the “get-things-done” mentality won’t let up. Either way here is/was our month…joining in with Christine's Slow Living Month by Month

Our June garden

NOURISH:  Soups are IT in our home for lunch every weekday. This means stock making is on the weekly to do list. Our bodies are craving steamy sweet puddings with custard and curries and stews. It makes sticking to a low carb diet very hard. My younger daughter is baking up brownies, cupcakes and vanilla sponges at the moment and my son experimenting with the new chickens we are selling to local customers.

Blueberry and apple pie smothered in custard

 We bought 10kgs of blueberries when they were cheap and in season and we have loads left until they come in again.

PREPARE: The big thing this month was olive curing time. I have cured our own olives for about 4 years now and I look forward to it each year. When the 20kgs of Black Mission olives arrive I do a little inward groan as I have to change the water every day for 2 weeks before brining, but I know that these beauties once cured will add flavour to salads through summer, end up in tapenade, on pizzas in pasta sauces or for snacks for another 9 months.

REDUCE: Still working on the less plastic goal and have to battle “green guilt” when I miss my own goal. Going to push the boundaries on this category – but I am also trying to reduce spending. I really want to be less reliant on running out to the shop to buy something when I can put a decent meal together from the ingredients in our home. 

For instance I needed Harissa Paste for a delicious yoghurt sauce with pita breads this month so I found a recipe and made it at home instead. I have learnt that if I buy the “raw materials” I can make things for a fraction of the cost and without the additives and preservatives.

GREEN: My first citrus cleaners are being used this week and are so delightful. There is a peace of mind that comes from knowing what is in the product that I am using in my home – simple vinegar, orange/lemon rind and water. It works like a dream cutting through grease and it also leaves the knitted dish clothe smelling faintly of citrus.

Soap nuts

I have also bought some soap nuts to try out in my laundry and dishwasher. I really hope they give the results I am expecting.

GROW: Pineapples it is! I received a wonderful frugal tip on my green website about growing a pineapple from the fronds and am giving it a try…will let you know in 18 months! We are eating chard, peas, herbs, bok choi, spring onions and lettuce from the garden.

CREATE: Knitting a bit slow this month but managed to knit my girls their slouch berets.

My son's free range chickens - FOR SALE NOW!

I also helped my son “create” a new business. He is now distributing free range pasture fed chickens and eggs, and some pork, to families in Cape Town. We hope this will grow and that he will eventually be able to have a good network throughout Cape Town.

DISCOVER: I found a food blog the other day that I have been meaning to go and look through. It doesn’t look like it is added to regularly but there are great recipes in the archives.

ENHANCE: I organized an outing to the Tokai Arboretum for a group of families and a fungus fundi. We had great fun looking for mushrooms then identifying them and learning a little bit about the many many different types that grow in our pine forest.

Pine Rings

 I came home with some delicious Pine Rings which ended up in a risotto.

ENJOY: The beginning of the month saw us going to one of our favourite getaways in the Grabouw mountains. It was a wonderful time with friends although a little short.

June is our garden anniversary month so it was a good time to look forward and back.

My walks with dog, child/ren and friend are always special.

Loving warm fires in the evening, the rain on some days, the mild winter sunshine, the eggs from our chickens, my children with me always and the kindness of my husband. 

Other members of my family are enjoying rugby most Saturdays, often at the stadium. So glad they can experience this with their Dad.

Youngest one played in a 3 day tennis tournament and we all went to watch his matches. So good to see him play after 4 years of hard work learning the skills.

Well that’s it for this month….how was yours?