Independence Days Challenge Update

It's Monday so it is time for another Independence Days update...


Read more about why I am participating in Sharon's Independence Days Challenge, here.

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Planted something - Borage, corn salad, spinach, celery leaf, horseradish.


Harvested something - Snow peas, lettuce, starfruit, lemons, mushrooms, thyme, parsley, cress, rocket.


Preserved something - Lemons (lemon cordial and frozen juice), ginger (grated and frozen in ice cube trays).

Bulk nuts & seeds.

Reduced waste - Received two bulk order deliveries: a hormone-free, grass-fed beef hamper from Spring Hill Beef Hampers and bulk dried fruits and seeds from Honest to Goodness (still waiting on a delivery of assorted bulk grains and flours from the bio dynamic Demeter Farm Mill); made chicken stock from roast chicken bones; made banana muffins from some mushy over ripe bananas and froze the rest.

The grass-fed beef hamper taking up a whole shelf in the fridge.

Preparation and Storage - Knitted another dishcloth (using a new-to-me soy/bamboo cotton); finally sorted out my thrifted yarn and needles and listed them in my Ravelry notebook so I actually know what I have!; bought more organic pasta on special for 99c; purchased a jar of tincture of Benzoin to add to our home first aid kit; bought three more 8.5L and two 5L storage containers on sale; started using the Butter Bell (okay so far); cleared an area of garden in our backyard for a potential future chicken pen.


Eat the Food - Bulk batch of honey toasted muesli & low-fat muesli bars; crustless quiches with lots of greens; chicken noodle soup.

Bulk toasted muesli (granola).

Building Community - Was contacted by two of the co-ordinators of Transition Towns Newcastle, and was asked if I would consider entering Sustainable House Day this year, although we can't participate as one of the qualifying criteria is having solar panels.


Learned a New Skill - Home roasting green coffee beans.

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