Slow Living March 2013

Linking up with Christine again this month.  I am really glad that she is hosting this again this year it is great to hear what everyone is up to.

Nourish -Make and bake as much as possible from scratch. Ditch over packaged, over processed convenience foods and opt for 'real' food instead.
There has been some lovely home made meals this month and we have enjoyed our first hearty meal from the  slow cooker.  Over Easter I made some cross-less buns, I posted the recipe I use last Easter and I am always happy with the result.  I make these during the year as well and they always go down a treat.

Prepare - Stockpile and preserve. Freeze extra meals or excess garden/market produce. Bottle/can, dehydrate or pickle foods to enjoy when they are not in season.
I have been freezing the last of the capsicums and the late planting of purple climbing beans I put in are coming on nicely so hopefully there will be some of those to put into the freezer in the future.

Reduce - Cut down on household waste by re-using, re-purposing and repairing.
Nothing very exciting happening on this front.

Green - Start (or continue!) using homemade cleaners, body products and basic herbal remedies. The options are endless, the savings huge and the health benefits enormous.
I made up a big batch of laundry liquid over the Easter weekend.
I keep forgetting to post the recipe I use but it is pretty simple:

Laundry Liquid

4 litres of water
3 Cups Lux Soap Flakes
2 Cups Washing Soda (the powder not the crystals)
1 Cup Borax

Heat together in a stock pot until it is all dissolved   Then add another 6 litres of cold water blending with a stick blender as you go.  I then 3/4 fill about 4 old plastic bottles with the mix and tip the rest into a bucket with a lid.  You need to only fill the bottles 3/4 of the way as they need a good shake before using.  I use 1/2 a cup per load and have been very happy with the results.

Grow - plant/harvest. What's growing this month? What's being eaten from the garden?

I have a late run of climbing beans and cucumbers coming along and the rosellas are ready for harvesting.

We also have a self seeded Jap pumpkin that is set on world domination.  It is taking over and my comfrey has been lost below but hope fully we will get some pumpkins as my QLD Blue vine only produces one and it is a very sad looking pumpkin at that.

Jap pumpking taking over

Sad looking QLD Blue Pumpkin

Create - To fill a need or feed the soul. Create for ourselves or for others.

I am still practising my knitting and have been doing lots of scrap booking and card making.

Discover - Feed the mind by reading texts relevant to current interests.
I am still reading lots of books.  I am currently reading  "The casual vacancy" by JK Rowling and about 3 other books as well.

Enhance - Community
Planning for this years Classic Car Show is well under way again and will be keeping me busy for many months to come.  I am also in charge of organising all of the stall holders for the festival so it is a huge job.  This will be our third year and hopefully even more successful that the last two.

Enjoy - Life! Embrace moments with friends and family. Marking the seasons, celebrations and new arrivals are all cause for enjoyment.
Well we had a great time in Melbourne and over Easter caught up with friends so we have been really blessed this month.

What have you been up to?