Like many parts of the South Pacific, we have been affected by the La Nina weather pattern bringing grey skies and a cool summer. I saw my neighbour the other day and we were joking about how much we’d enjoyed summer last Wednesday. There will still be warm days ahead and March is a lovely month as we head towards the start of what I think might be an early autumn.  It is the autumn equinox this month around the 21st March so that’s when true autumn begins.

I used to think you could never have too many plums but now that some of the trees we planted 10 years ago  are maturing, I’m not so sure!   My reasoning was that you could make a lot of preserves with them, plum jam and plum sauce being the two main ones. Or you could eat them fresh, stewed, with breakfast etc. Yes you can do all that and thank goodness for the freezer, because if you’re not ready to make jam just now, then pop them straight into the freezer and use them when you need to later on in the winter

How’s summer going for you all? I think we had it on Wednesday last week down in this part of the country.  For most of January we had to keep reminding ourselves that was still January – summer – not the middle of winter.  However, the grass and weeds are still growing so there’s still plenty of warmth and moisture out there.  The Chief Lawnmower in the family was just saying that in the time it took for him to finish his second cup of tea and a biscuit, he saw the grass grow by at least a centimetre.   I’m making good use of the lawn clippings though as mulch in a desperate attempt to keep the weeds down.

Well here in New Zealand it’s the summer solstice - our longest day. So much is ripening and ready in the garden. I’ve picked gooseberries and popped in the freezer - and as many raspberries, boysenberries and strawberries as I could before leaving them. Off away for Christmas. My favourite new potato has produced beautifully in time for Christmas dinner ( Cliffe Kidney) and the garlic is ready for  harvesting. 

In a dry day, loosen the soil around your cloves and lift. Shake off dirt and leave to dry in the sun.  You will know they are ready as the tops start to dry off. Dry well and plait up to hang for storage.

Keep up the watering for tomatoes and any other growing vegetables. When I get home I’ll be sowing more autumn/ winter brassicas and lettuce to ensure continuous supply. No tomatoes ready in my garden yet but there will be plenty once they all mature! 

Enjoy your harvest and have a lovely Christmas. 

I sometimes feel a little smug after I have managed to get my elderflower cordial made and my sparkling elderflower bottled and brewing away in the shed. I post about it and then my friend Shelley will comment that she has made hers as well but she has also MADE MARMALADE FROM THE LEFTOVER LEMONS.  I’m talking about the lemons leftover from the elderflower brewing process. I know it’s not a competition but I definitely think if it was, she would win.  Talk about resourceful!

Its not all about elderflowers this month (or you would be forgiven for thinking that if you are following my facebook page) For those of you who don’t have access to elderflowers, then why not try some rhubarb bubbly for Christmas?  Most people have some rhubarb coming away in the garden and there’s only so much rhubarb crumble you can eat. So if you love the taste of rhubarb and want to show off your homesteading skills give this one a try. I have started creating pdfs of my recipes for you to download so you don’t have to you’re your phone open to read.   Make sure you read all the notes in the blog as the recipe is just the ingredients and the method.

I look at elderflower and think…mmm… elderflower champagne and cordial followed in autumn by berry wine and nutritious cordials.  In fact, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas now without enjoying a delicious glass of delicate bubbly elderflower summer delight.  And now is the time to pick a basketful and get making.

November has raced up out of the blur that has been 2025 and now here it is.  The roses will be out this month, the bearded irises are bursting forth, the perennials are preparing to go off – and the weeds are clamoring to make their presence known as well.  This time last year I was talking about how to avoid overwhelm in the garden. I have to remind myself every year as, like many of you, I am busy at work and don’t always get out into the garden and the weeds can get away on me.