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Living beautifully and acting effectively - making country life easier for the rural entrepreneur.
Soft Fruit in the Winter Vegetable Garden.
For those of you who are following along with the crop rotation poster, we are talking this month about what to do to care for and cultivate your little piece of backyard paradise. We’ve done a round up of your main beds, we’ve covered the perennial crops in the outer beds, and this week we are going to talk about those small fruiting trees, shrubs and vines that make up the structure and variety in your bed.
Quieting the Food Noise
One of the biggest challenges for those of us who have spent years as "failed dieters" isn't actually the food.
It's the food noise.
The constant chatter that seems to run through your head all day long.
"What should I eat next?"
"How many calories are in this?"
"I know I should eat that... but I really want this."
"Why do I keep eating this rubbish?"
"Chocolate... I see chocolate... I must eat chocolate!"
Perhaps your food noise sounds a little different, but if you've struggled with your weight for years, you'll probably recognise that endless internal conversation.
What flowers to sow or plant this month.
What to flowers to sow or plant in the winter flower garden. (Check. your local climate)
Care and Cultivation of your Perennial Beds in Winter
For those of you who are gardening with the Crop Rotation Poster - here is what to do with your perennial plants in winter. Rhubarb, Asparagus, Strawberries and Herbs.
Wellbeing Wednesday. Planning: A Gentle Tool for Success
"Plan what to eat. Eat what you planned."
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most powerful.
This month I'm taking part in my own July Tortoise Diet Lite 4-Week Challenge, because I know how valuable it is to keep reinforcing the habits that lead to long-term success.
That's really what the Tortoise Diet Lite is all about – incorporating four simple habits into your daily life. As you practise them consistently, they gradually become automatic and quietly guide you towards your weight-loss goals.
One of the biggest tools for success – not just for weight loss, but in almost every area of life – is getting organised and making a plan.
One habit I strongly recommend is planning your meals in advance for the week ahead.
This Month at a Glance
What to plant in the Vegetable garden in the winter month of July in the Southern Hemisphere or New Zealand /Australia
Gardening This Month with the Crop Rotation Poster. July/Winter
July is winter here in New Zealand. We’re not long past the shortest day, sometimes called Mid-Winters Day, on the 21st June, but don’t be fooled into thinking that its the middle of winter. Winter is just kicking off as those currently experiencing heavy rain and snow will well know. I grow in a cool temperate part of the South Island so tend to speak most about what applies here but I will include more warm temperate notes as well.
Sourdough and Garlic on a Saturday Morning.
It’s Saturday morning and as I lay away early in the frosty dark I was thinking about what I was going to get up today. For a lot of us, the weekend it when we are mostly likely to get the chance to get into the garden for a couple of hours so keen to get out there myself. First thing will be to get a sourdough loaf started as it likes a good long rising period for all the good fermentation to take place so before too much gets done I’ll start that off. Some of you have kindly given me some good suggestions on how to get the best out of my culture so enjoying the opportunity to try out some different techniques.