We're moving. Wait, wait. No. We're not moving, yet. We are, however, in the process and mindset of preparing our little hovel for the market, and keeping a weather eye on house prices so we can find that precious little sweet spot that allows us an easy purchase while making buckets on our own sale. It's fun, really...Getting the house all primped like it's going on a first date. Unfortunately, it sets you into a mindflow of change.Impermanence is a concept which runs entirely contrary to most gardening philosophy. Think about it. We use words like "sustainable," "permaculture," and plant fruit trees which remain barren for two years, we build raised beds in which we intend to rotate crops over seasons to come, and so on. All of these imply a Homestead is in the bag. It assumes that we've found our niche, we've carved out our plot and are ready to dig deep and set down roots. So what happens when you're rootless?
What happens is a hell of a lot of redesign to planned garden renovations and a scramble for as many plastic containers as one can find lying around the house. Containers are portable, after all. We've switched our mentality to that of temporary landlords and now must plan our garden efforts as such.
So, today, yours truly rinsed, filled, sowed, and set out the following: 3 mixed leaf lettuce pots, 2 iceberg lettuce pots, 3 spinach pots, 4 punnets of broccoli and 2 of leek for later transplant, 2 trays of spring onion, 1 big pot of dwarf peas, and a single pot of cornflower seeds for visual appeal. Tomorrow, I'll add a couple of quick-harvest Brussels Sprouts and maybe another tidbit or two.
Aside from the container gardening madness of the day, I seem to be holding steady on my US-Seasonal-Disorder theme. First, American tax day inspired me to rework our budget. Now, American Springtime has me on a cleaning frenzy. The punchline is, I'm in Australia. But, the result has been worth it. Food is planted, accounts are in order, and my kitchen is finally a warm a beautiful place I enjoy using. Yay for False Spring Fever! I wonder how long it will last.
12 comments:
I love that you are so organised!
I have been spring cleaning too, sorting my spare room into playroom and office.
I love your kitchen, especially the Rosie Riveter I can see on the tin above the cupboard!!
Good luck with the moving business..:-)
Katie: Ha! Me, organized? You're too gracious. But I am trying, that's for sure. And thanks re: the kitchen! It was horrid before and, since January, we've replaced the cabinets, polished the floor, painted, decorated, etc. And it's -almost- done. Just needs new backsplashes and benchtops. Woot!
You're brave combining playroom and office! I wish you luck focusing on the office bit with toys around lol. Can't wait to see what progress you make. Good luck!
You guys should be really proud of the great job you did in the kitchen - it looks fantastic!
But also well done for continuing to garden even though you're moving - you can grow heaps in pots. You can always scrounge some polystyrene broccoli boxes from supermarkets / greengrocers - they make great temporary gardens!
Margo: Thank you! I'm really pleased with the kitchen and can't wait to get the last bits done so we can actually enjoy it awhile before we sell.
As to gardening, I'm hooked! I can't give it up. So yeah, pots it is. Those broc containers are great! We have two and may get more when I start my herb tea garden (subject for a later post). I'm actually getting really excited about all the seeds we're planting, and actually getting to use the coldframe potting table hubby gave me for my 30th.
Ah, I know the feeling well! But now we are in our new house, my Vege Garden dreaming is still on hold... for now! Good luck with the sale and all, and perhaps a 'working food garden' might be a selling point, as alot of people are looking for that now!
Dixiebelle: Very true about the selling point! We're hoping to have it looking nice and tidy by the time we go on the market. If you're itching for veggie growing, become a pot (pot gardening, that is!) head like me! We just picked up a boatload of herb seeds and seedlings today to add to the container-bound frenzy :) Good luck settling in!
Good luck with the plans for the sale and move. It's difficult living in that transition zone between one place and another, especially when one is interested in growing things in the ground. I'm starting to fall behind on the gardening because it takes so long to water and tend all of the plant pots we've got ready for the next place lol!
Geoff: It can definitely be an odd situation, and I wish you all the luck with your own transition. I keep having to stop myself from planning gardens and projects and our move is still at least six months away! And seriously, I -still- wish hubby's job was portable and would allow us to buy the Farmlet. Alas, it is not.
Sadly work seems to be the limiting factor for the majority of people and their dreams! Luckily there are so many beautiful places in Oz that you're sure to find a wonderful patch close enough to work :-)
Geoff: We're hoping! The Adelaide Hills seem to be calling to us, lately.
Yay! Your kitchen is lovely Miss City Mouse. We also are thinking about pulling up stakes and moving on. It's exciting and nervewracking:)
Suzan: Good luck with your ponderings! Harsh economies seem to inspire either a critical drive to stay put or a rabid itch to move on, but very little ambivalence on the topic At least, that's what I've noticed. I guess extreme times call for extreme plans! And thanks for the compliment :) I'm really enjoying the kitchen SO much more, now.
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